The Swindon Town Rubik’s Cube returns, just when you think you’ve solved the equation, you return to the previous conundrum.
Holloway’s young guns have revitalized Town, but in the absence of Ryan Tafazolli and Ollie Clarke, they remain naive, particularly without home comforts.
Consecutive 3-1 home victories had me purring, days later a four-goal hammering at York had me stirring memories of past woes.
At SN1, Swindon looked every bit the part as they climbed to second in the table early on. Aaron Drinan, last season’s League 2 Player of the Year, continues to look sublime. In midfield Town had more soul, with youngster Anthony Munda providing energy alongside Ben Middlemas and Jack Thomson’s elegance.
Louis Millard and Joseph Hungbo have breathed fresh life back into The Robins' wings, providing trickery and excitement.
There’s an element of orchestrated chaos which opposition outfits are unable to answer, high and trigger pressing, dynamic running, and direct passing. Swindon are a force to be reckoned with at home.
Swindon’s chaos can structurally leave problems, but at home it’s a gamble which will hit the jackpot. Stephan Negru and Connor Ripley will save the day, paired with the pillars of Tafazolli and Clarke.
Now, away from their home fortress, without those two pillars, Swindon are prone to crumbling. Their away record is poor, but overall, without Tafazolli and Clarke it’s abysmal.
It’s understandable, if you’re missing two seismic leaders with well over 800 combined appearances, you’re going to struggle. But you might recall we’ve already found this combination on our Rubik’s cube.
Ian Holloway knew that as dependable as his two veterans are, their availability is not. They need to find something to fill the gaping gap which they leave. I’d like to see a less gung-ho approach which can absorb pressure, get stuck in, and pick their moments.
Of course, that can be guided and applied by Tafazolli and Clarke. But Ian Holloway has over a thousand games' experience in management; away from home when the going gets tough, he needs to step up for his team and lead.
Last season he wilted. In trying to tighten up away, he lost his famous exuberance on his home turf. To his credit, I can see elements of change for the better.
Now, from his side he’s trying harder to build a relationship with us, the fans. Small gestures such as acknowledgement at the end of games go a long way. His demeanour is calmer and more measured, tactically his substitutions are more often than not hitting the spot.
I admire his attitude to embracing change, particularly at this stage of his career. I said that he had to hit the ground running, and on the whole, he has shown signs of putting the blues behind him.
Watch this space, but I see potential for Town to be on the other side of the rainbow, leaving rain behind for the sun. A big statement win away from home would feel like a turn closer to solving this STFC Rubik’s Cube puzzle.
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