Once again, my apologies for a lack of updates. My health has not been too good recently, but hopefully I am now on the road to recovery.
24-0.
No, not the score we will put past Oxford United ;) nor a result of a Swindon RFC game, but rather the wonderful statistic of our friendly campaign to date. 24 goals scored, none conceded! I think we are the only British team to boast such a great record in pre-season friendlies in recent times!
As you will no doubt have seen, more players have arrived since my last blog. The two Alan's (Connell & McCormack), Etienne Esajas (sadly injured after last night's game at Cirencester), Alessandro Cibocchi and Mehdi Kerrouche. At this rate, we'll be renamed 'The Foreign Legion!'
However, the recruitment is not over yet - as Paolo has said that he wants a target-man type striker and a winger/defender. A new Goalkeeper might also come in, and it has been rumoured that Dean Brill could be joining soon as Yeovil Town did not take him on following a recent performance for them against Truro City. Steve Brooker could fit the target-man mantra, whilst Cardiff City utility defender Alex Evans could be poised for a loan deal. The Wales Youth International has played for Cardiff's Reserve Team last season and is tipped to be a big star of the future.
In Paolo we trust - Forza Swindon!
Tuesday 26 July 2011
Thursday 14 July 2011
Italian Tour Concludes, 16 Goals, Optimism Rising?
Two great performances on tour have given Swindon fans a real sense that they are in for a very good season.
An 11-0 win over a Norica XI, followed by a 5-0 win over a Marche XI meant that the brief tour to Italy concluded on a very positive note.
With new recruits Comazzi, Da Vitta, Lanzano, Atiku and Risser all signed up for the new season and Etienne Esajas tipped to sign soon, Swindon Town have pulled in some very exciting names and coupled with some good performances should be a strong bet for automatic promotion.
However, we have seen it all go badly wrong before - and Swindon fans will not need reminding that whilst hopes can be built up they can easily be knocked down. 1990 and 1993 are cases in point - 1990 saw Swindon Town win the Play-Off Final at Wembley only to be denied promotion, whilst in 1993 Swindon Town had high hopes for the Premier League - these were short lived and relegation became a certainty.
There is talk that Matt Ritchie, Simon Ferry and Paul Caddis could move on, with Anthony Edgar, Gavin Mahon and Kyel Reid possibly coming in on free-transfers to replace them. Various League 1 clubs are targeting Ritchie, who would cost £400,000 and Hamilton and St. Mirren respectively wish to sign Ferry and Caddis.
Two new strikers are due in shortly, believed to be David Mooney and Ben Burgess. Cheltenham Town and Yeovil Town are said to be after one time target Jason Prior, whilst Chris McDonagh is heading to Macclesfield Town on trial.
An 11-0 win over a Norica XI, followed by a 5-0 win over a Marche XI meant that the brief tour to Italy concluded on a very positive note.
With new recruits Comazzi, Da Vitta, Lanzano, Atiku and Risser all signed up for the new season and Etienne Esajas tipped to sign soon, Swindon Town have pulled in some very exciting names and coupled with some good performances should be a strong bet for automatic promotion.
However, we have seen it all go badly wrong before - and Swindon fans will not need reminding that whilst hopes can be built up they can easily be knocked down. 1990 and 1993 are cases in point - 1990 saw Swindon Town win the Play-Off Final at Wembley only to be denied promotion, whilst in 1993 Swindon Town had high hopes for the Premier League - these were short lived and relegation became a certainty.
There is talk that Matt Ritchie, Simon Ferry and Paul Caddis could move on, with Anthony Edgar, Gavin Mahon and Kyel Reid possibly coming in on free-transfers to replace them. Various League 1 clubs are targeting Ritchie, who would cost £400,000 and Hamilton and St. Mirren respectively wish to sign Ferry and Caddis.
Two new strikers are due in shortly, believed to be David Mooney and Ben Burgess. Cheltenham Town and Yeovil Town are said to be after one time target Jason Prior, whilst Chris McDonagh is heading to Macclesfield Town on trial.
Monday 4 July 2011
Estonian International Next To Sign?
Estonian International Left-Back/Left-Midfielder Taijo Teniste has joined Swindon Town on trial, according to today's Swindon Advertiser.
Wikipedia lists him as having played seven games for Estonia, with 112 appearances and nine goals for Levadia Tallinn. He scored 16 goals in 17 appearances for former club Premium Tartu.
Not the tallest of players at 5ft 8.5 in, but he certainly sounds quite decent nonetheless.
Also being linked with us is Finnish striker Roope Riski, who is a current U21 International player currently at AC Cesena.
Wikipedia lists him as having played seven games for Estonia, with 112 appearances and nine goals for Levadia Tallinn. He scored 16 goals in 17 appearances for former club Premium Tartu.
Not the tallest of players at 5ft 8.5 in, but he certainly sounds quite decent nonetheless.
Also being linked with us is Finnish striker Roope Riski, who is a current U21 International player currently at AC Cesena.
Friday 1 July 2011
Knight-Mare For Leon, But Deals Close For Remaining Trialists?
Leon Knight's time with Swindon Town has ended almost as quickly as it began.
Less than 24 hours after going on trial with The Robins, fitness problems have ruled him out of travelling with Swindon Town to Italy next week. A shame for Leon, as he seems a more mature person now, but hopefully he will get a new team soon. Good luck to him.
Meanwhile, fellow trialists Oliver Risser and Ibrahim Atiku remain with the squad - and Risser could soon be a permanent addition to the squad as he is being tipped to sign a one year deal. Mattia Lanzano is expected to sign a contract this weekend as well.
Paolo will also be hoping to push through three deals by Monday morning - one can only assume that will include two strikers and a wide player. So maybe this will mean David Mooney, Rene Howe and Joe Anyinsah joining up? Three potential gems there, just waiting to be unearthed by Paolo.
No updates on Steffan Jones joining - it seems very strange that no team is looking at him, as he is undoubtedly a player who has potential to do well at League 2 level. A free agent, who would not command a huge salary and can overlap/come short/track back and tackle with a good eye for goal too. Pretty much a 'slot him in and he'll do the business' type player and over 6ft tall too! So a real handful for opponents at set-pieces.
Also, I've been asked (kindly!) to post this link about a proposed Sports Village/Complex that it is hoped will be built on the site of RAF Lyneham in the future:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sports-Village-For-Lyneham/
I have to say, it seems like a brilliant idea - far better a use than just sticking a bunch of houses there. Besides, if it can help Swindon Town out and be a sports hub for the area then great! All for it!
Less than 24 hours after going on trial with The Robins, fitness problems have ruled him out of travelling with Swindon Town to Italy next week. A shame for Leon, as he seems a more mature person now, but hopefully he will get a new team soon. Good luck to him.
Meanwhile, fellow trialists Oliver Risser and Ibrahim Atiku remain with the squad - and Risser could soon be a permanent addition to the squad as he is being tipped to sign a one year deal. Mattia Lanzano is expected to sign a contract this weekend as well.
Paolo will also be hoping to push through three deals by Monday morning - one can only assume that will include two strikers and a wide player. So maybe this will mean David Mooney, Rene Howe and Joe Anyinsah joining up? Three potential gems there, just waiting to be unearthed by Paolo.
No updates on Steffan Jones joining - it seems very strange that no team is looking at him, as he is undoubtedly a player who has potential to do well at League 2 level. A free agent, who would not command a huge salary and can overlap/come short/track back and tackle with a good eye for goal too. Pretty much a 'slot him in and he'll do the business' type player and over 6ft tall too! So a real handful for opponents at set-pieces.
Also, I've been asked (kindly!) to post this link about a proposed Sports Village/Complex that it is hoped will be built on the site of RAF Lyneham in the future:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sports-Village-For-Lyneham/
I have to say, it seems like a brilliant idea - far better a use than just sticking a bunch of houses there. Besides, if it can help Swindon Town out and be a sports hub for the area then great! All for it!
Tuesday 28 June 2011
Apologies & Latest Developments
Sorry that the Blog hasn't been updated in a while - I've been in and out of hospital the past week having surgery on my back. Thankfully, the good staff at the Great Western Hospital seem to have put me right for now!
Anyway, to matters Swindon Town and Paolo is close to signing Alberto Comazzi. The former Verona defender would be a key player for us, and has experience of playing at the top level of European football. Paolo's hopefully caught a good one there!
However, I am equally baffled as to why Paolo is entertaining the troublesome Leon Knight. The former Brighton and Northampton Town striker, who has a very questionable reputation, has been invited to trial with Swindon Town pre-season. I cannot help but feel that signing him would be a mistake. He has had more clubs than Arnold Palmer and would be a liability. Best to avoid him and get a target-man like Ben Burgess or Rene Howe in, or go for a non-league striker like Michael Wilde, Carl Preston or Chris McDonagh.
Also, another departure confirmed today - captain Jonathan Douglas has quit the club and is moving to Brentford. Good luck to him.
Anyway, to matters Swindon Town and Paolo is close to signing Alberto Comazzi. The former Verona defender would be a key player for us, and has experience of playing at the top level of European football. Paolo's hopefully caught a good one there!
However, I am equally baffled as to why Paolo is entertaining the troublesome Leon Knight. The former Brighton and Northampton Town striker, who has a very questionable reputation, has been invited to trial with Swindon Town pre-season. I cannot help but feel that signing him would be a mistake. He has had more clubs than Arnold Palmer and would be a liability. Best to avoid him and get a target-man like Ben Burgess or Rene Howe in, or go for a non-league striker like Michael Wilde, Carl Preston or Chris McDonagh.
Also, another departure confirmed today - captain Jonathan Douglas has quit the club and is moving to Brentford. Good luck to him.
Thursday 23 June 2011
Three More Players Due, As Paolo Moulds His Squad
Paolo expects three more players to join Swindon Town, with strikers being key to his recruitment.
Rumours abound over who will be added to the squad, with ex Reading youngster Abdul Bell-Baggie being linked as well as Blackpool striker Ben Burgess and Peterborough's Rene Howe.
Rumours abound over who will be added to the squad, with ex Reading youngster Abdul Bell-Baggie being linked as well as Blackpool striker Ben Burgess and Peterborough's Rene Howe.
Da Vita Joins Paolo's Army
Former Blackburn Rovers and Livingston striker Raffaele Da Vita has today signed as a Swindon Town player.
The Italian striker scored 21 goals in 67 appearances, whilst at Livingston, and will hopefully be a pivotal player for The Robins in their quest for promotion. Impressive scoring stats, but I'm sure that he'll find League 2 more tough than the Scottish Second Division!
Still, not a bad signing by the looks of things - Benvenuti a Swindon, Raffaelle!
The Italian striker scored 21 goals in 67 appearances, whilst at Livingston, and will hopefully be a pivotal player for The Robins in their quest for promotion. Impressive scoring stats, but I'm sure that he'll find League 2 more tough than the Scottish Second Division!
Still, not a bad signing by the looks of things - Benvenuti a Swindon, Raffaelle!
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