Mr Rotavator (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Mr Rotavator
6:00am Saturday 18th August 2012 in Sport By Sam Morshead
Paolo Di Canio (left) and Claudio Donatelli talk tactics
PAOLO Di Canio will begin to rotate his squad over the next few weeks, as Swindon are greeted with a fixture pile-up at the start of the new campaign.
After beating Brighton in the first round of the Capital One Cup on Tuesday, Town have been handed a draw with Stoke in round two - which has since been confirmed for Tuesday, August 28.
That means the Robins will open up with six games in the season’s first 19 days - a hectic opening to the new term.
The intense pre-season fitness work that Di Canio subjected his players to will no doubt prove to be effective over the coming fortnight, but the Swindon manager has admitted he will be mixing his options around to try to protect his squad.
“It’s obvious that I will be in some way obliged to rotate my players. It’s not the moment to change four or five because it’s the beginning and we can play two games in four days,” he told the Advertiser.
“We trained hard for this but someone can recover a bit late, the age is a bit important for the rusty men - hamstrings and calves - and this year will be even more crucial to study our players mentally.
“Every player wants to play and maybe they play at 60 or 70 per cent to try to handle the situation to handle some pain.
“We will read it carefully this year because for long periods we will play Tuesday-Saturday, Tuesday-Saturday.
“The recovery, not now but in two or three games when you play hard game like we are going to play Saturday, will be more difficult even if we have trained with high intensity.
“A little problem came for Gary (Roberts) because previously he received a little kick near the calf and he had a haematoma and he pushed more.
“The recovery will be crucial in how I play my players.”
Nevertheless, Di Canio insisted he would not change his side just for the sake of it.
He said: “I have more options but I am not only rotating just to rotate.
“I have to check the opponents. We win 3-0 but the opponents maybe have some different quality and I maybe think with three different players I can beat the next opponent.”
Meanwhile, the Advertiser understands former captain Paul Caddis has not travelled with the Town squad to Hartlepool. Di Canio has left the door open for the Scot to return to the side despite stripping him of the captaincy last week, but the Italian has decided he will not be involved in today’s game.
Comments(19)
old town robin
says...
8:05am Sat 18 Aug 12
Also see Myles Weston has left Brentford to join the Gills, what a waste, with his ability he should be going up not down. Unplayable on his day, he's a bit like Rooney blows hot and cold, but a good signing for them me thinks.
No new news on who we might be bringing in, I think the adver are struggling to find somrthing to write about this morning, lets hope it gets better this afternoon.
old town robin
says...
8:34am Sat 18 Aug 12
It's a pity Sam doesn't do a little research on the opposition instead of prattling on in his column about some yobs spoiling his day on the village green at Collingbourne Ducis.
I had to go on the Gallows (their forum), to see they've got Steve Howard up front, Colin Nish is also a useful player and has just turned down a move to Kilmarnock and then there is Monkhouse who always seems to score a goal or two against us, but hopefully not today. They (the forum) are quite complimentory of our team with no anti Paolo comments although 1 or 2 do call us Swindles for some reason. A few on their prediction league have us down for a win, so not much confidence there after the mauling from Crewe.
One of their fans was interviewed and singled out Benson as our quality
player. They definitly think they have to tighten up with 5 across the middle with Howard up front, but concencus of opinion is Cooper will stick with a 4-4-2, which hopefully will be an open entertaining game.
SAPFanSTFC
says...
8:42am Sat 18 Aug 12
.
I can't make the trip today but would have loved to have gone as we'll have 2 or 3 changes from Tuesday which will make us almost unstoppable at the start....Hartlepool losing 5-0 in the week won't help their fans mood if we get an early goal.
===
Don't Forget the Predictions League!!
..
Thread down below from yesterday at 10am (ish).
----
Oi Den!
says...
9:02am Sat 18 Aug 12
old town robin wrote:Mud sticks. "Swindles" (or "Swindle Town") goes back to our dodgy dealings in the late eighties.
Very slow this morning is everyone having a lie in or on the bus to H'pool.
It's a pity Sam doesn't do a little research on the opposition instead of prattling on in his column about some yobs spoiling his day on the village green at Collingbourne Ducis.
I had to go on the Gallows (their forum), to see they've got Steve Howard up front, Colin Nish is also a useful player and has just turned down a move to Kilmarnock and then there is Monkhouse who always seems to score a goal or two against us, but hopefully not today. They (the forum) are quite complimentory of our team with no anti Paolo comments although 1 or 2 do call us Swindles for some reason. A few on their prediction league have us down for a win, so not much confidence there after the mauling from Crewe.
One of their fans was interviewed and singled out Benson as our quality
player. They definitly think they have to tighten up with 5 across the middle with Howard up front, but concencus of opinion is Cooper will stick with a 4-4-2, which hopefully will be an open entertaining game.
the don69
says...
9:12am Sat 18 Aug 12
Oi Den! wrote:Yeah your right Den!but most teams were doing what we did!the difference was,we got caught!they never and when Spurs did,they threatened court action and got off lightly!!!!!!!!!!
old town robin wrote:Mud sticks. "Swindles" (or "Swindle Town") goes back to our dodgy dealings in the late eighties.
Very slow this morning is everyone having a lie in or on the bus to H'pool.
It's a pity Sam doesn't do a little research on the opposition instead of prattling on in his column about some yobs spoiling his day on the village green at Collingbourne Ducis.
I had to go on the Gallows (their forum), to see they've got Steve Howard up front, Colin Nish is also a useful player and has just turned down a move to Kilmarnock and then there is Monkhouse who always seems to score a goal or two against us, but hopefully not today. They (the forum) are quite complimentory of our team with no anti Paolo comments although 1 or 2 do call us Swindles for some reason. A few on their prediction league have us down for a win, so not much confidence there after the mauling from Crewe.
One of their fans was interviewed and singled out Benson as our quality
player. They definitly think they have to tighten up with 5 across the middle with Howard up front, but concencus of opinion is Cooper will stick with a 4-4-2, which hopefully will be an open entertaining game.
old town robin
says...
9:21am Sat 18 Aug 12
old town robin
says...
9:30am Sat 18 Aug 12
the don69 wrote:Don, not so much that we caught, more like sold out by an indictive former secretary who had ambitions to be a director I believe.
Oi Den! wrote:Yeah your right Den!but most teams were doing what we did!the difference was,we got caught!they never and when Spurs did,they threatened court action and got off lightly!!!!!!!!!!
old town robin wrote:Mud sticks. "Swindles" (or "Swindle Town") goes back to our dodgy dealings in the late eighties.
Very slow this morning is everyone having a lie in or on the bus to H'pool.
It's a pity Sam doesn't do a little research on the opposition instead of prattling on in his column about some yobs spoiling his day on the village green at Collingbourne Ducis.
I had to go on the Gallows (their forum), to see they've got Steve Howard up front, Colin Nish is also a useful player and has just turned down a move to Kilmarnock and then there is Monkhouse who always seems to score a goal or two against us, but hopefully not today. They (the forum) are quite complimentory of our team with no anti Paolo comments although 1 or 2 do call us Swindles for some reason. A few on their prediction league have us down for a win, so not much confidence there after the mauling from Crewe.
One of their fans was interviewed and singled out Benson as our quality
player. They definitly think they have to tighten up with 5 across the middle with Howard up front, but concencus of opinion is Cooper will stick with a 4-4-2, which hopefully will be an open entertaining game.
I think last year this was dicussed a little and I understand she has now passed on. Didn't leave much of a legacy I'm afraid.
Stilloyal
says...
9:48am Sat 18 Aug 12
More than happy it's about Paolo though.
I think it'll be Collins and Williams up front today and maybe Ferry replacing a rested midfielder. Just my thoughts as Paolo referred to "age" in the column.
the real Tosh man
says...
9:50am Sat 18 Aug 12
macca.y
says...
9:56am Sat 18 Aug 12
click on sport, not there, click on football, not there, click on stfc and you get last years pre season photo's...
update the site please...
whats the questions on prediction league sap
Stilloyal
says...
10:10am Sat 18 Aug 12
macca.y wrote:You'll find the link on Hartlepool V Swindon column mate.
cannot find the prediction league anywhere.. click on sport, not there, click on football, not there, click on stfc and you get last years pre season photo's... update the site please... whats the questions on prediction league sap
the don69
says...
10:12am Sat 18 Aug 12
old town robin wrote:Yep Spot on Old Town!Too far for me to make it today,so will be checking for scores (hopefully ours) this afternoon!!!!!!!
the don69 wrote:Don, not so much that we caught, more like sold out by an indictive former secretary who had ambitions to be a director I believe.
Oi Den! wrote:Yeah your right Den!but most teams were doing what we did!the difference was,we got caught!they never and when Spurs did,they threatened court action and got off lightly!!!!!!!!!!
old town robin wrote:Mud sticks. "Swindles" (or "Swindle Town") goes back to our dodgy dealings in the late eighties.
Very slow this morning is everyone having a lie in or on the bus to H'pool.
It's a pity Sam doesn't do a little research on the opposition instead of prattling on in his column about some yobs spoiling his day on the village green at Collingbourne Ducis.
I had to go on the Gallows (their forum), to see they've got Steve Howard up front, Colin Nish is also a useful player and has just turned down a move to Kilmarnock and then there is Monkhouse who always seems to score a goal or two against us, but hopefully not today. They (the forum) are quite complimentory of our team with no anti Paolo comments although 1 or 2 do call us Swindles for some reason. A few on their prediction league have us down for a win, so not much confidence there after the mauling from Crewe.
One of their fans was interviewed and singled out Benson as our quality
player. They definitly think they have to tighten up with 5 across the middle with Howard up front, but concencus of opinion is Cooper will stick with a 4-4-2, which hopefully will be an open entertaining game.
I think last year this was dicussed a little and I understand she has now passed on. Didn't leave much of a legacy I'm afraid.
topsecret
says...
10:18am Sat 18 Aug 12
old town robin
says...
10:29am Sat 18 Aug 12
topsecret wrote:Great fixture, might be televised. I would expect a big crowd for this one, unless the plod decide they don't want us there.
oxford away in jpt whoop
Just can't see them beating us 3 on the trot. Just hope Paolo doesn't build this one up as a cup final, too much hype last 2 times.
BillyLucas4me
says...
10:37am Sat 18 Aug 12
7:16am Sat 18 Aug 12
Paolo Di Canio (left)??!!
Should have gone to Specsavers”
Good spot! Especially as the print below the picture is very faint.
(it is on my computeri)
umpcah
says...
3:32pm Sat 18 Aug 12
Stilloyal wrote:ALAN : I thought you were Tractorboy !
Blimey , I saw the headline and thought this was going to be a story about me, Mr Rotavator being my business name :-)
More than happy it's about Paolo though.
I think it'll be Collins and Williams up front today and maybe Ferry replacing a rested midfielder. Just my thoughts as Paolo referred to "age" in the column.
umpcah
says...
3:33pm Sat 18 Aug 12
Stilloyal
says...
4:18pm Sat 18 Aug 12
umpcah wrote:No when I had my landscape business I was Mr Rotavator Creative Gardens. Tractorboy was just my pen name on here.
Stilloyal wrote: Blimey , I saw the headline and thought this was going to be a story about me, Mr Rotavator being my business name :-) More than happy it's about Paolo though. I think it'll be Collins and Williams up front today and maybe Ferry replacing a rested midfielder. Just my thoughts as Paolo referred to "age" in the column.ALAN : I thought you were Tractorboy !
madterrier says...
7:16am Sat 18 Aug 12
Should have gone to Specsavers