Old faces, rumours and tickets!

Its been what, a week since my last update? I couldn't bring myself to retelling the horrors of our derby clash at the memorial stadium. We tried hard and succeeded to make it an excellent day out even with the drab performance and match, and the wintery weather. Excellent day, that's the end of that.

Football's a funny old game, a win at Rovers would have been 5 wins on the bounce. Wasn't to be though and now ahead of the visit from Brighton, more than ever we need the players to exhibit some bounce-back-ability. I've used the term already this season, following our open day shock hammering at Gillingham, and it does seem to be an oft used adage at the County Ground, but with a tough and busy Christmas period fast approaching, come January we could truly see with Town fans can hope for a playoff push or a mid-table obscurity come the end of the season.

The above "tough Christmas period" starts tomorrow as the seagulls fly west from the coasts of Brighton, though their league position may not suggest it. Brighton have been somewhat a banana skin for Town in recent meetings, having recorded 1 victory over the 'gulls in the last 5 meetings. That lone victory being in April of last season as we recorded an uncommon 3-2 victory at the Withdean.

A high-profile encounter between the two sides happened in the semi-final of the Division 2 playoffs in 2003/2004. A capacity crowd filled the County Ground for the home leg to see Brighton take a 1-0 lead back to the Withdean thanks to a deflected goal. And, after unfortunately not being able to make the trip, I remember watching the reverse fixture on Sky Sports as Sam Parkin levelled the scored with 9 minutes to go to secure extra time. My then favourite player Rory Fallon scored an extra time goal which looked to be sending us on our way to Wembley, only to be scuppered by an Adam Virgo headed equaliser with just seconds to go. Heartbreak followed as Town crashed out on penalties as Andy Gurney and Tommy Mooney both missed their spot-kicks.

Fun fact - of the two times I've been to the Withdean, I've been snowed on and rained on - and couldn't have written a match report to save my life. The Withdean is a terrible stadium, yet I keep going back.
Anyway, back to present times, and as the Brighton coach unloads tomorrow there will be two familiar faces entering the County Ground. Gus Poyet took charge at the Withdean in November and he had a short stint as player/assistant manager next to Dennis Wise at the County Ground back in 2006.

“It's going to be nice to go there and nice to see a few people. We had great times together but I need to go there and get the three points."

“It is going to bring back good memories, especially seeing the Magic Roundabout before getting to the stadium. Let's see if we can get through it on the bus!"

The Uruguayan jumped ship at the County Ground as he and Wise formed the new Leeds management team in the Championship after just 3 months with League 2 Swindon - perhaps unloyal but an opportunity that no doubt had to be taken. The pair returned to the County Ground in a playing capacity for Christian Roberts' testimonial in 2008 after the fan favourite was forced to retire at the age of 28 due to a long-standing knee injury.

The other familiar face on Saturday will be that of giant Slovakian 'keeper Peter Brezovan. Once tipped for a great career, Brezovan was signed on loan by Wise in 2006, allegedly "a favour from an agent". Brezovan had a magnificent debut between the sticks, capping an inspired performance which included two penalty saves to secure a 1-0 victory over fellow promotion favourites Hartlepool in the opening game of the season. Town went on to secure 5 more consecutive victories, whilst looking mediocre at best, thanks mostly to Brezovan's fine form - a start to his County Ground career that earned him PFA Player of the Month for September and the adulation of Robins followers and Dennis Wise confirmed that the big clubs were circling the County Ground to get a look at the Slovak stopper.

Then disaster struck. As Swindon held a comfortable 2-0 lead over Grimsby, Brezovan fell awkwardly, badly breaking his left arm. Fearing the in-form 'keeper would be kept sidelined for a while, fans were reassured by Wise that no potential deal would break down, as the current loan contract ensured that Town had first dibs on any permanent signature for Brezovan. Wise departed the County Ground in October, and Paul Sturrock filled the hotseat. Phil Smith filled Brezovan's boots for the rest of the season, and earned himself Supporter's Player of the Year thanks to a fine season. Though never seeing Brezovan play, Sturrock signed him on a permanent 2 year deal in March.

The 2007/2008 season saw Sturrock stick with Smith between the sticks, remaining loyal to the man who had served him well so far. Brezovan's appearances were restricted to Cup matches, and he did little to earn his place back, looking understandably shaky and nervous on his arm. Despite this, the slovak's name was still being banded around in the media, as the big keeper was linked with Premiership clubs. He joined Everton for a three day trial in September. Smith suffered a minor injury in October, and as Brezovan was called upon again, he slowly began to find his feet and return to the form that had one the Town fans over in his first season.

Another change of manager saw Brezovan fall out of favour with Maurice Malpas. He was unfairly blamed for goals by Malpas, and was later dropped to the bench in February as Smith returned to full fitness. Bizarrely , Brezovan came back into the fray after a month as Smith's performances were unconvincing, and Brezovan remained in goal for the rest of a frustrating season. In close season, Swansea and Tottenham were the latest teams to be linked with Brezovan, and the keeper himself admitted that though he was enjoying his time at the County Ground, he was uncertain where his future lay.

Despite all this, Brezovan was still on the books for the 2008/2009 season. Malpas again chopped and changed his number 1 as both keepers went through a truly awful spell. Brezovan lost his place after missing a through ball to allow an easy Colchester goal in a 3-1 home defeat. Phil Smith was called upon, himself making two consecutive blunders to give Brezovan the jersey back for a Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie against Hereford. With confidence looking low among both keepers, no doubt thanks to Malpas' heavy handed attempt at dealing with the catastrophic cloud that was forming over the County Ground, Brezovan made yet a further mistake, mis-handling a tame shot gifting Hereford a goal. Having seen the true ability of both keepers, the fans called for Malpas to choose one and stick with them to try and build some confidence. Malpas chose Brezovan who, beginning to build confidence, helped Town secure two badly needed back-to-back victories in October. Brezovan wouldn't remain Town's first choice however, as an ankle injury forced him out shortly after, for Smith to come back in again.

As Malpas got the chop, and a new manager was finally hired in Danny Wilson, Brezovan made a return on Wilson' first game in charge - Boxing day in a 2-1 away victory over Leyton Orient. Though Brezovan's confidence appeared to improve, he looked half the player that stole the hearts of the Town faithful years before, and after being criticised by fans for yet another costly error, he was dropped again. This time, Smith grabbed the bull by it's horns and played out the remaining ten games of the season and Brezovan was released in the summer.

Brezovan has today told local newspapers that his departure from the club was due to not seeing eye to eye with Wilson, though there are no hard feelings. I'm sure Swindon fans will join me in wishing Brezovan all the best at Brighton, just not tomorrow. A costly error will keep you in Town fans hearts forever.

Sorry if this edition is dragging, there's a lot I wanted to get through in today's rant. Moving on now to a rumour that has been circling the County Ground that has been shot down today. David Byrne (Head of Player Development at the County Ground, not the lead singer of the band Talking Heads), as rumoured to have applied for the vacant Cheltenham Town job, following Martin Allen's departure. He's categorically denied this rumour, though refused to deny a possible urge to take up a job in a managerial capacity in the future. Byrne held the fort at the County Ground as caretaker manager twice, following the departures of both Paul Sturrock and Maurice Malpas. Though named as a possible candidate for the position Wilson took, many fans called for his resignation as changes were needed. Seen as a true servant to the club, "Budgie" was "moved sideways" to Head of Player Development in recognition of his loyalty, and his success as youth team manager a few years before.

And finally, to wrap things up...I MANAGED TO GET FULHAM TICKETS! Yes I am a season-ticket holder, and yes we got first dibs when the highly sought after tickets went on sale for the FA Cup 3rd Round tie at Craven Cottage went on sale. But I didn't get off my ass, left it too late and now had to fight with the muggles to get my hands on the gold dust like tickets. Swindon's initial allocation of 3,900 tickets sold like hot-cakes. Fulham were originally going to keep two-thirds of the away stand for their popular "neutral tickets" that you may have heard about in the media. However, when hopeful Town fans bombarded the Fulham ticket sales line begging for tickets, they gave up another 2,000 or so tickets, which are also looking like they are going to sell out extremely quickly. Meaning we should be 6,000 strong for our big day out in London! This is huge for Swindon, though I'm not sure where they all were for the round before at Wrexham? Gig, myself and 424 other fans made the trip to North Wales for the not so glamorous tie! Bloody fair-weather supporters ;-) Oh well, just make sure you're in good voice at Craven Cottage, I lost quite a bit of sleep over the prospect of not getting tickets!

Gay jokes aside, lets give the Brighton boys a right seeing to tomorrow!