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Five Things We Learned: Swindon Town 1-1 Fleetwood Town
Swindon Town finished 2016 at the County Ground with a 1-1 draw at home to play-off chasing Fleetwood Town and Total Sport's Ryan Walker tells us the five things he learned from the festive fixture.
1) Luke Norris is finally showing his worth
When Luke Norris signed for the Robins from Gillingham at the start of the season, there was a certain buzz within the Swindon faithful as they knew that they were getting a player with a lot of potential.
After previous spells at Gillingham, Brentford, and Northampton, the 23-year-old forward knows lower league football better than most, and after scoring in successive home games at the County Ground, including his first league goal of the season against Fleetwood at the weekend, it appears Norris is building his confidence and once again finding that goal-scoring touch.
This Swindon striker is certainly an exciting young talent, but with the January transfer window just around the corner it might just be too little too late for Luke Norris.
2) Swindon lack consistency in performances
Just a week after suffering a 4-0 away demolishing to second-placed Sheffield United, it was anyone’s guess as to how Swindon would perform in Saturday’s matchup against Fleetwood.
Fortunately Town played good attacking football and in truth were unlucky not to take home all three points from their last home match of 2016.
With Tim Sherwood in charge performances have certainly started to improve with Swindon moving further away from the relegation zone, but with consistency in positive results an issue, it’s hard to see Swindon moving further up the League One table.
3) Tim Sherwood doesn’t know his best side
Making regular changes and failing to field the same starting XI in consecutive games since taking over as Director of Football signifies that the former Spurs and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood does not yet know his best side.
This is certainly one of the contributing factors towards Town’s lack of consistency in performances as players struggle to build chemistry and partnerships on the pitch, but it also shows that Sherwood isn’t happy with the players he has at his disposal.
Being put in charge of transfer’s means that Sherwood will be able to find players to fit his system and build his own Swindon side.
4) January signings are needed
With the January transfer window nearly open football teams around the Country will be looking at possible players to bring into their side in order to strengthen their teams, and Swindon Town are definitely a side that will look to buy in the winter window.
Currently sitting in 19th position on 24 points just three points above the relegation zone, it’s fair to say that the Wiltshire side have had an underwhelming season to date. Swindon’s lack of ability to score goals has been their biggest problem though so it is expected that Sherwood will look to bring in an established striker and possibly a recognised winger in order to stretch opposition defences.
Injuries to key defenders has also been a major issue for Town this season and with ex-Blackburn defender Chris Samba being linked with a move to SN1, this would be another area that Sherwood will look to build in. Signings are obviously needed but how willing will Lee Power be to opening his chequebook is the big question.
5) A clear out of players is required
As much as there is a need to bring players in, there is an equal need to get players out the door at Swindon Town.
Players not willing to give their all and put their bodies on the line will not survive under the Tim Sherwood regime, and with Luke Williams already stating that some of his players haven’t done enough to warrant a place at the club in the New Year, it will be interesting to see who will be walking away from SN1 this winter.
With Swindon readying themselves for what is set to be a testing relegation battle in the second half of the season, the likes of Bradley Barry, Nathan Delfouneso, and Luke Norris, will be wondering if they are on borrowed time at Swindon Town.
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