A column by Link STFC Correspondent Alfie Howlett
The average summer will be wet and contain a variety of irritating blunders at Swindon Town Football club.
This off-season, The Robins are basking in the sunshine while each piece of the jigsaw appears to be falling into place.
Here are three delightful words which I’d use to describe Swindon’s business to date. Organised, efficient, and targeted.
To begin with, Town have ensured that what was working remains in order. Top performers Joel McGregor and Connor Ripley will be joined by Tom Nichols on a permanent basis. Currently, adding to this trio is a set of fresh faces in Darren Oldaker, James Ball, Joe Snowdon and Filozofe Mabete.
What’s apparent about the early recruitment is the drive to address the middle of the park. Ian Holloway is building an army of midfielders. In doing this, he’s addressing a slight weakness from last season.
At times Holloway’s football would be organised chaos, stemming from the match situation. Positionally it could be difficult to work out with the emphasis pointing towards overloading the wide areas and throwing numbers into the box.
Consequently, the midfield at times felt bypassed, with Gavin Kilkenny and Nnamdi Ofoborh left exposed as sweepers.
To be a top team Swindon will need a midfield with control who are able to dictate the tempo. The midfield will arguably be the most important part of the team; they’ll act as the glue between the phases. This’ll undoubtedly take time to stick.
But in having the likes of Oldaker, Ball, Nichols, and Snowdon through the door early, Holloway will be able to mould his midfield.
I like the idea of pairing Kilkenny with Darren Oldaker in midfield. Kilkenny had a 81% pass completion rate last season, while Oldaker had an 87.3% pass completion rate at Chesterfield.
Arriving from The Spireites, Oldaker has a reputation for playmaking from deep, as well as title winning experience with Chesterfield as captain. A potential Kilkenny and Oldaker pairing with Tom Nichols linking up as a more advanced midfielder certainly takes my fancy.
The fact that we can have these ideas at this stage is certainly refreshing, and a welcome contrast to the usual array of trialists and academy players which shape pre-season. In my opinion, the last time Town went into pre-season in such positive shape was in 2019/20 - when very similarly, despite the background noise about the club, Richie Wellens like Ian Holloway went about chipping away and adding the right faces to his mould.
And of course, we all know what that team went on to achieve.
I strongly believe that Town’s early business could be the beginning of something. I have no doubt that there’ll be a handful of additions to come. Especially as clubs begin to get their ships in order and make players available for loan.
But, compared to the past, Swindon are ahead of schedule. Today, I read that 25% of bets on the League 2 winner have been placed on Swindon.
It turns out Town fans love a signing.
This off-season, The Robins are basking in the sunshine while each piece of the jigsaw appears to be falling into place.
Here are three delightful words which I’d use to describe Swindon’s business to date. Organised, efficient, and targeted.
To begin with, Town have ensured that what was working remains in order. Top performers Joel McGregor and Connor Ripley will be joined by Tom Nichols on a permanent basis. Currently, adding to this trio is a set of fresh faces in Darren Oldaker, James Ball, Joe Snowdon and Filozofe Mabete.
What’s apparent about the early recruitment is the drive to address the middle of the park. Ian Holloway is building an army of midfielders. In doing this, he’s addressing a slight weakness from last season.
At times Holloway’s football would be organised chaos, stemming from the match situation. Positionally it could be difficult to work out with the emphasis pointing towards overloading the wide areas and throwing numbers into the box.
Consequently, the midfield at times felt bypassed, with Gavin Kilkenny and Nnamdi Ofoborh left exposed as sweepers.
To be a top team Swindon will need a midfield with control who are able to dictate the tempo. The midfield will arguably be the most important part of the team; they’ll act as the glue between the phases. This’ll undoubtedly take time to stick.
But in having the likes of Oldaker, Ball, Nichols, and Snowdon through the door early, Holloway will be able to mould his midfield.
I like the idea of pairing Kilkenny with Darren Oldaker in midfield. Kilkenny had a 81% pass completion rate last season, while Oldaker had an 87.3% pass completion rate at Chesterfield.
Arriving from The Spireites, Oldaker has a reputation for playmaking from deep, as well as title winning experience with Chesterfield as captain. A potential Kilkenny and Oldaker pairing with Tom Nichols linking up as a more advanced midfielder certainly takes my fancy.
The fact that we can have these ideas at this stage is certainly refreshing, and a welcome contrast to the usual array of trialists and academy players which shape pre-season. In my opinion, the last time Town went into pre-season in such positive shape was in 2019/20 - when very similarly, despite the background noise about the club, Richie Wellens like Ian Holloway went about chipping away and adding the right faces to his mould.
And of course, we all know what that team went on to achieve.
I strongly believe that Town’s early business could be the beginning of something. I have no doubt that there’ll be a handful of additions to come. Especially as clubs begin to get their ships in order and make players available for loan.
But, compared to the past, Swindon are ahead of schedule. Today, I read that 25% of bets on the League 2 winner have been placed on Swindon.
It turns out Town fans love a signing.
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