Is 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
Read moreAlex Cooke reports on a second win of the League Two campaign for Swindon Town. Two red cards, five yellows, two missed open goals, one clear penalty, a rumpus in the dugout, an ex notching twice and redemption via the first touch of a substitute. As a game, Swindon 2 Rotherham 3 had everything. And if Sky were looking for
Read moreIt was only last week that Alex Cooke introduced Leon Clarke on this site. Now Alex reviews Di Canio’s awful decision to sign Clarke. “Paolo Di Canio in heated confrontation with Swindon’s Leon Clarke”, “Paolo Di Canio and Leon Clarke Come To blows” and “Di Canio’s Tunnel Bust Up”: it was exactly what the national media had been waiting for –
Read moreHaving failed to impress at his many previous clubs, Alex Cooke asks if Leon Clarke can lead the Di Canio revolution at Swindon Town? Sunday taught us all many things: marking the opposition centre forward is a good idea, arguing with the referee is pointless, and no one looks good in yellow. But what we didn’t learn was how new striker Leon Clarke
Read moreAlex Cooke reports on the action at Town’s visit to Cheltenham. New manager, new division, same old story: Swindon’s ability to implode at Whaddon Road remains a depressing constant. And while this time it didn’t end with the same poison as the 2001 defeat, some Town fans still vented their anger, apparently in one case at Oliver Risser, however, throughout the game Billy Bodin
Read moreWith pre-season now drawing to a close, Alex Cooke looks back at past seasons to establish whether pre-season and form taken into the campaign make any difference for mounting a successful promotion push. Can anybody predict promotion from pre-season? What exactly does a crushing 11-0 win against a Norcia XI teach us? What can Paolo learn from a match as
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As the managers countdown draws to a close Alex Cooke delves behind my statistics to present his case for who is the worst Swindon Town manager. The numbers are clear: Paul Hart is Swindon Town’s worst manager. His managerial reign could be described as a car crash – except at least a car crash is compelling to watch. But the statistics couldn’t
Read moreNew writer Alex Cooke gives his view on one of the least talked about summer departures. “If we’ve ever spent good money on one individual then it’s been Ken, he’s been absolutely outstanding.” At this point you are probably racking your brain to work out which Ken then caretaker boss David Byrne was eulogising to the Evening Advertiser about back in 2008.
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The Washbag 