The Crawley game marked Paolo Di Canio’s tenth game in charge of Swindon Town. With all the hype surrounding his appointment and the influx of signings that followed, the burning question is however; just how has the ‘Di Canio Project’ fared so far? Andrew Steele-Davis investigates.

The summer had been a manic but very exciting time for everyone connected with Swindon Town. Paolo’s arrival beckoned a flurry of activity in the transfer market with the majority of the previous seasons failing squad flying the nest, beckoning a fresh start at the County Ground with a total of 16 new players. Oliver Risser, a journeyman footballer from Nambia, was chosen as the man to lead Paulo’s new look army into battle.

The game to kick start the new era at the County Ground came in the shape of Crewe Alexandra, a game which pitted one of the game’s greatest servants against the apprentice. Di Canio’s first ever competitive starting XI included four players from the sixteen new recruits that had been lured to SN1 over the summer. His team failed to impress in a dour first half but the brand of ‘sexy, attacking football’ that Paolo had promised over the summer came to the fore in the second half, his new charges ripping through the Crewe backline to record a resounding 3-0 victory. The highlight being a stunning strike from distance from new boy Oliver Risser and the celebration by Di Canio that followed after.

Two slender 1-0 defeats to local rivals Cheltenham Town and John Still’s Dagenham and Redbridge followed first bringing to attention Paolo’s habit of tinkering with the team, when maybe it wasn’t always necessary to do so. Significant changes were made for both the Cheltenham and Dagenham game which ultimately proved disrupt full and unsuccessful. The changes were seen as being needless by some; however they would later be seen as a masterstroke.

Sunday 21^st August was a date that was eagerly circled by all Town fans at the start of the season, the visit of the hated neighbours from down the A420. This was seen by many as Di Canio’s first real big test as a manager and a win was wholeheartedly expected by the whole town. A 2-1 defeat courtesy of two James Constable goals saw the boo boys creep out of the woodwork and severe criticism of Paolo’s selection policy began to echo around the County Ground. Many fans were asking themselves the same question; ‘does Di Canio actually know his strongest XI yet?’

Salvation was found at Ashton Gate, where a memorable Tuesday night under the floodlights saw Swindon dump Bristol City out of the Carling Cup. De Vita’s first goal for the club lifting the gloom that had set in following the aftermath of the game against ‘them’ in the yellow and blue. However a 2-1 defeat away at Shrewsbury was to follow, leaving Town in the lower rungs of the table, giving the vocal minority more ammunition against the Italian.

The Southampton game won’t be remembered for the classy free-flowing football of the Saints, or the attempted comeback by Town, instead it will be forever known as ‘Clarkegate’. An unsavoury incident which saw the daggers of discontent unfairly aimed in the direction of Di Canio by the national media, who to be fair had probably been waiting for something like this to happen since his appointment.

However, much to the disappointment of the many outsiders and media who wanted Di Canio to fail in his first managerial job, this incident seemed to galvanise not only the Town squad but the proving of manager himself. Di Canio learnt an early lesson in the type of player who he could work with, as well as highlighting real homework was needed on all future signings. The unity amongst the players and staff were there for all to see against table topping Rotherham United, as in front of the Sky cameras, Swindon turned in a breathtaking performance to win a scintillating contest 3-2.

Southend and the return of ‘Luggy’ followed where Di Canio’s ‘sexy football’ prevailed once more but his side now became wise to League Two football, showing they can dig in and play ugly when the need arises too. The blossoming partnership of Mehdi Kerrouche and Alan Connell was a high point and the previous negative mutterings swirling around the County Ground seemed to have been put firmly to bed.

Now, the whole point of this article was to examine Di Canio and the impact he has had after ten games and it is fitting then that the game against Crawley summed up his reign thus far. Yet more changes were made to a winning side which was seen as being risky with the opposition having made such a blistering start to their campaign. But these changes, including retaining McCormack in the centre of defence and dropping Simon Ferry, proved to be inspired. We witnessed a new resolute approach coupled with the free flowing football which blew the hosts away despite a nervy second half. Kerrouche showed his abilities by grabbing another two goals and already looks to be the pick of Di Canio’s recruits.

So after the ten game mark, Swindon sit in tenth place, one point separating them from the playoff places. The young and developing squad look to be finally coming together and the bad feeling generated by Leon Clarke has now been firmly banished to the history books. The football played is easy on the eye but in recent games there has been a new rugged approach added to it which will serve Swindon well if they are to live up to expectations in League Two.

Paolo Di Canio has brought the feel good factor back to the town and created a united stance with not just the team but everyone connected with the football club. As symbolised by that image of him, arms aloft in the middle of the Broadfield Stadium pitch, donning a STFC beanie hat.

The good times are firmly back at the County Ground.

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