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Five Things We Learned: Swindon Town 0-0 Southend United
Total Sport's Ryan Walker was at the County Ground for an uninspiring 0-0 between Swindon and Southend but did manage to learn five things from the dour draw.
1) Tim Sherwood has failed to impress
When the former Spurs and Aston Villa manager was brought in at the helm of SN1 at the start of November, many expected a turn around in fortunes for Swindon Town. However with the club sitting in 19th position on 25 points, just two points above the relegation zone, it hasn’t been the turnaround that many fans and pundits alike expected.
Admittedly Sherwood has been working with players brought in by previous management, but with the January transfer window now open, there will be no excuse if Swindon don’t improve in the second half of the season.
2) Michael Doughty and Darnell Furlong will be a miss
When Swindon Town took to the field for their first match of 2017 against Southend on Monday, it was the last match that Michael Doughty and Darnell Furlong would play for the Wiltshire club after being recalled from their loan spell by Ian Holloway’s QPR.
In a season where most Swindon players have largely underachieved, Doughty and Furlong have been the rare bright sparks providing creativity, flare, and pace in their respective positions on the pitch. And with both now on their way out, fans can only hope that Sherwood and co will bring in suitable replacements.
3) Fans must prepare for a relegation battle
Just two seasons after reaching the play-off final, fans of Swindon Town must now prepare themselves for what is set to be a hotly-contested relegation battle in the second half of the season.
With just six wins to their name from 25 matches this season, it’s fair to say that Swindon deserve nothing less than to be in the position they currently find themselves in.
With the January transfer window now open and Luke Williams confirming that players will be brought in, Swindon Town fans can only hope that they can do enough in 2017 to avoid the drop.
4) Quicker play is needed
When Swindon took to the field against Southend on Monday, the one thing that was recognisable is that Town seriously lack an injection of pace in the relatively young side. Build-up play from the back is slow and the way in which the ball is moved through the field isn’t quick enough to threaten opposition defences.
Bringing in pacier players won’t guarantee winning results, but with Town’s current strike force failing to impress all season, Sherwood will look to the transfer window to bring in quicker players who will threaten opposition defences by running in behind.
5) New signings must have proven track record
When Williams was given free reign of the club's transfers prior to the start of the current season he brought in players that have potential but don’t have a proven track record of performing. And with Swindon in danger of dropping down to League Two, the temptation may be to spend big in the hope that big money players will guarantee results.
However Tim Sherwood must bring in experienced players that will provide an immediate reaction. It won’t be an easy task, but with Sherwood’s Premier League experience I am confident that the right players will be brought in.
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