After much fanfare when Lukas Magera joined in late August, the Czech striker remains an unfamiliar and as yet unproven player at Swindon. To give you an idea of what to expect, Matt Davies analyses Lukas’ performances against Rotherham and Barnet. Shooting Tall strikers are not normally known for their shooting prowess and this proved to be the case when Lukas Magera didn’t
Read moreAlex Cooke looks at the rules on home-grown players and how they are stopping Di Canio picking, playing and signing the footballers he wants. For once the ‘too many foreigners’ brigade are right. Not because their blinkered, dust-brained views on who can and can’t ‘do it’ on a windy night in Barnet are remotely correct, but because the rules say so.
Read moreFollowing the publication of the defensive rankings yesterday, it’s time to check out how efficient each team has been in the 9 games so far this season at the other end of the pitch. Again these attacking rankings studies five key statistics covering a wide variety of attacking play. These are then followed by the overall League Two rankings. Will
Read moreThroughout this season I’ll be analysing all teams in League Two and attempting to put some reason behind League form and position. Our rankings are divided into both defensive and attacking phases of play. Five separate measures are used within each defensive and attacking areas to rank the performance of all League Two teams. The best a team can score in
Read moreThe 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
Read moreIs Swindon’s 442 too open? Alex Cooke looks at the blueprints for Paolo’s master plan. No one could doubt that Paolo Di Canio is demanding: his pre-season training, half-time tantrums and full-time ABH prove at that. But tactically Paolo also asks a lot of his players because he has created a system that demands discipline and athleticism, and can yield great results, but also leaves little margin
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The derby build-up continues as The Washbag links up with We Are Going Up! The WAGU! podcast co-presenter and STFC supporter Carl McQueen looks at the passion and anger behind the A420 derby and why this is the only game that matters. You big wigs can have your Manchester derby, your Merseyside derby, even your North London derby. League Two types don’t ‘do’ derbies named
Read moreAfter 8 years, 8 months and 12 days – or 274,572,000 seconds if you prefer – the rivalry with Oxford United will be reignited this Sunday afternoon, like one of those trick candles that won’t blow out. Swindon versus Oxford is one of those intensely local, yet underrated derby games that is rarely appreciated and understood outside of these parts. Here is a match full of passion and with its fair
Read moreAfter the City game was postponed, Johno cast his tactics eye over the Crewe game last weekend. Not to be confused with the legendary ‘Townsend’s Tactics’ with Andy Townsend in the back of a white van during ITV’s The Premiership programme, but much like the former midfielder, I’ll try to assess where it went well and wrong for Swindon most
Read moreUnlike the postponement of the England versus The Netherlands International Friendly and cup games in London, the decision to call off our League Cup 1st Round tie at Ashton Gate yesterday did come as a surprise. Whatever my own thoughts regarding delaying the fixture until the 24th August being a tad of an overeaction by the authorities, clearly being tucked up in suburban Swindon I’m
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The Washbag 