Boss For The Day: Swindon Town vs Peterborough

With Total Sport excluded from all pre-match press days at Swindon Town, we are not allowed to discuss the Robins’ next game with actual manager Mark Cooper. But who needs an actual manager, anyway?

For one day only, we’ve invited a Town fan to take over the role of gaffer and be the subject of our own mini press conference. Today, it’s the turn of Chris Hughes, a 26-year-old carer and a lifelong Swindon Town fan. Currently living in Southampton, Chris says his famous last words are ‘they look a good team, who are they?’.

Our press conference soon got under way…

Hello Chris, thanks for lending us your time in what has been a very hectic week. It’s the elephant in the room, but we can’t avoid mentioning it, what happened at Oxford?

“You’re welcome. Lee Power thought only six lads actually turned up. I joked that next week that might be the actual case. Look I don’t want to wheel out the excuses guys. The first 30 minutes we played well and looked the better team, not bad baring in mind likes of Brophy, Branco and Barry were plucked from non league. Oxford have gone in different direction and have got lads like Sercombe who oozes experience. Experience is the difference. We are a young team and we got to be patient.”

Unfortunately, losses have been coming thick and fast. Barnsley, Burton, Colchester, now Oxford. How have things got like this for your side, and how are you looking to change things around?

“Barnsley game aside its been the odd goal. We need to be more clinical and actually get shots on target. When all the lads are back things will look rosier. The model works and it will work again. We got to work with what we’ve got. We are aware we need few extra bodies before the weekend and are working hard to bring them in.

League one is such a tight league. I think come late October it will settle down and you will see a top 10 or 12 who will all think they are capable of promotion or a trip to Wembley. Theres no stand out team. You can make a case for at least six or seven at the moment.”

What’s the morale like right now, we can’t imagine it’s too high?

“No, but with this squad they will go home play Fifa and will move on. Nathan is a shining light for this club and is a great leader. He’s been putting his shoulder around the lads and picking them up. Me and Luke have spoken to the lads in training and have told them to draw a line under it. The boys know they are capable of going on a run and are confident of getting a result against my old club.”

On to tomorrow’s game, what is the team news ahead of Peterborough? We know you have somewhat of an injury crisis on your hands, but what’s your starting XI and why?

“We are hoping to get a new centre back and maybe a wide midfielder. We have seen Roberts and Ajose lose some of their attacking talents by being put out wide. I took off Hylton and Ojamaa to rest them for weekend. But the line up is to be similar, as we’ve not got much in the way of players.

Vigoroux

Bangoura, Branco, Brophy

Ojamaa, rodgers, traore Obika, Hylton

Ajose Robert

3,5,2 did us well last season.”

You’ve had a couple of days to recover and prepare after Oxford, what have you been working on in training down at Beversbrook?

“Discipline and tackling – about putting tackles in at the right time. The two goals were poor defending made Roofe look like Messi it was embarrassing. Obviously young Jordan knows better and that did not help, but we spoke about it once and drew a line under it.”

Let’s talk about Peterborough, how much do you know about your opponents, and in what areas could your side potentially win or lose the game?

“We have talked about adapting slightly and hitting them on the counter attack. It may just be case of picking our moments.

Our brand of possession football works in limiting teams chances. The strikers are quick and powerful and in top form. Away from home they only won twice so we must not fear them. Its imperative we put away our chances evidence shows we will get lots of chances. Their manager is under instruction to play attacking football. They will press us and maybe we may have to try and counter that.

You can see that is the style other teams have adopted and it’s worked. We’ve got lads with pace who, when given space, can trouble their defenders. Hopefully Anton and Traore can break up their play. It will be a busy day for them as they will need to protect their defence.”

With all the injuries hampering the squad, we’ve heard word that you now have all the lads taking part in yoga and meditation sessions – any truth in this?

“Ha, no thats not true. I have asked Lee Power to extend the physio room as it’s tight for space. He is busy chatting to people about the training ground. I have also asked for an airport to get the lads back quicker from international duty. We’ve got Sports scientists who analyse every part of the guys diet and lifestyle. I went to WHSmiths the other day with 50 pounds worth of pennies to buy the guys bubble wrap…”

Given results, there has been a murmurings of unrest around some sections of the County Ground. Why do you still think you’re the man for the job, and what do you have to say to those fans calling for your dismissal?

“It is ludicrous this question is being posed to me. I am the man for the job my win rate is 54 per cent, bettered only by managers in recent times who have either got us to the promised land or almost got us there, if you exclude two managers who had quality squads in the fourth tier. I am behind Hoddle and Macari. I will take that

Its classic modern day football. The situation here is akin to Liverpool the fans have heightened expectations from last season. My misses told me there’s a deluded Cooper twitter page which I thought it was brilliant banter, but in context its destabilising. In football nothing is certain – my contract runs out in the summer. I’d love to continue the project ultimately as Lee said getting promotion makes it easier to keep our best players.”

Finally, money doesn’t solve everything – and it isn’t even the transfer season… but if it was and we handed you a ten million pound budget right now, how would you spend it?

“Leather seats for the fans or a left sided player to support Brophy. The boy is a gem and can play anywhere and has been a real find this season. We can’t beat around bush we need a replacement for Kasim and maybe a centre back or two.”

If you want to take part in ‘Boss for the day’ ahead of an upcoming Swindon Town match, get in touch via [email protected] to let us know of your interest.