SWINDON TOWN: Williams: "Italy tour will be like nothing I've experienced"

6:00am Tuesday 26th June 2012 in Local

Andy Williams Andy Williams

BY HIS own admission, nothing could have prepared new Swindon striker Andy Williams for his first taste of a pre-season tour of Italy with Town boss Paolo Di Canio.

The 25-year-old forward joined the Robins last week after turning down the offer of a new contract at Yeovil, and he will soon find out first-hand what he has let himself in for when Di Canio takes the Swindon squad to his native country for a two-week training camp, which begins on Sunday.

While Williams has experienced plenty of pre-seasons during his time with the Glovers, Bristol Rovers and Hereford, he conceded that he expects the next month-and-a-half to be a step up in intensity.

But he thinks the fortnight-long trip will be hugely beneficial to both himself individually, and the team as a whole, in the long run.

“A lot of the time at Yeovil we tended to spend around this country and previous times I’ve been abroad a little bit but I don’t think anything will have geared me up for this trip to Italy,” he told the Advertiser.

“The best thing about a trip abroad is it’s the only chance you get to spend 24 hours a day with your teammates and get to know them and hopefully gel as a group together.

“Then, when we come back to this country, we’ll be ready for the season to start.”

Williams is one of six new Town recruits so far this summer, and the Advertiser understands one more name could be added to that list before the Robins fly off to their Lake Garda base this weekend.

In the interim, however, several players are expected to leave the County Ground - and the exodus started with the news yesterday that frontman Mehdi Kerrouche has had his contract with Swindon cancelled by mutual consent.

The Algerian, who netted eight times during his one-season stay in Wiltshire, has found himself out of favour under Di Canio since the turn of the year and is now free to find a new club.

A number of other players, including two regular members of the side which claimed the League Two title in 2011/12, are also set to be offloaded in the coming days.

Comments(22)

Sparticus says...
7:49am Tue 26 Jun 12

"Offloaded"?! Show a bit of respect for whoever they are, please.

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mallorca says...
8:13am Tue 26 Jun 12

I guess he and new players will be in for a shock with training methods??
Odds on Pdc falling out with 60% of them.let's hope they are all semi fit and keen.
as an ex Roal marine all work and no play,you all kknow the story.
Big Hi To Mac mcleod used to drink in the Bulldog,think it's demolished now and one leh Mick Black ex 45 cdo Rm don't think Pdc would have lasted the pace.
Joking aside do wish the new lads all the best and pdc please think before you leap

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the wizard says...
8:18am Tue 26 Jun 12

I wonder if any of their new team mates have been in touch to tell them what to expect ?

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EastleazeRed says...
8:24am Tue 26 Jun 12

Lets face it they get paid more in a month than some of us do in a year , so its good to see them earning there money .

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Psychedelic Syd says...
8:26am Tue 26 Jun 12

Agree with Sparticus, offloaded is a terrible choice of word. Our squad this year has been 100% committed to the cause and all the players deserve respect for their professionalism and enthusiasm - even those who are not quite as good as some others. Whoever it is that goes now can leave with their head high because everyone played their part in our promotion.

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mallorca says...
8:33am Tue 26 Jun 12

Payment when I look back to march11th 1962 I enlisted at 5 pounds a week plus kit upkeep allowance of 10 shillings a week.
Still I say good luck to them there carreer in Footbal is a short one.Not all are on mega wages that's for sure

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stfclondon says...
9:14am Tue 26 Jun 12

mallorca wrote:
I guess he and new players will be in for a shock with training methods?? Odds on Pdc falling out with 60% of them.let's hope they are all semi fit and keen. as an ex Roal marine all work and no play,you all kknow the story. Big Hi To Mac mcleod used to drink in the Bulldog,think it's demolished now and one leh Mick Black ex 45 cdo Rm don't think Pdc would have lasted the pace. Joking aside do wish the new lads all the best and pdc please think before you leap
What is the point of posts like this? Why do people still feel the need to have constant digs at the manager? Surely he has proven that his methods work? He has high standards and expects players to toe the line. If they don't, they're out. He's the boss, what he says goes.

Nobody criticises Alex Ferguson for falling out with players, including some huge names, because he's proven time and time again that he knows what he's doing. Players have too much power these days, so I'm glad we have an old school manager who stamps his authority on the team. If one or two players fall by the wayside because they can't handle it, then it's their loss.

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grove red says...
9:16am Tue 26 Jun 12

skysports say we are to sign exeter center back archibald henville.

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stfc4ever!! says...
10:27am Tue 26 Jun 12

grove red wrote:
skysports say we are to sign exeter center back archibald henville.
yeah just seen that. anyone know anything about him?

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RobinsTalk says...
10:42am Tue 26 Jun 12

stfc4ever!! wrote:
grove red wrote:
skysports say we are to sign exeter center back archibald henville.
yeah just seen that. anyone know anything about him?
Only that it'll cost a fortune to have his name printed on the back of your shirt, so my kids better not like him too much! Ha ha.

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swindonjason says...
11:08am Tue 26 Jun 12

Heard from a source inside the club that preston North End away has been moved to Sunday 2nd September and is live on Sky Sports.

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NEWBURYREDS says...
11:28am Tue 26 Jun 12

archibald henville. if he signs what a great name for town end to sing,he's 6'2 AH with flint or Alan Mac who will it be??

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the wizard says...
12:20pm Tue 26 Jun 12

All the pieces of Paolo's new jig saw slowly but surely coming together. Most of us are thinking that a GK is next, but maybe he will surprise us once more..............ma
ybe ???

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shered says...
12:26pm Tue 26 Jun 12

I have a feeling that Flint is going to be one of last season's players that is going to be let go. I don't have any "inside" knowledge its just a gut feeling.

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the wizard says...
12:31pm Tue 26 Jun 12

shered wrote:
I have a feeling that Flint is going to be one of last season's players that is going to be let go. I don't have any "inside" knowledge its just a gut feeling.
I think there may be concerns over his long term fitness especially with his ongoing groin problem which rares up its head from time to time.

I was under the impression that surgery was required as a long term cure.

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NEWBURYREDS says...
12:41pm Tue 26 Jun 12

Sky Sports understands that Exeter centre-back Troy Archibald-Henville is set to sign for League One new boys Swindon.

The 23-year-old defender has spent the last two years competing in the third tier with the Grecians, having previously spent time with the club on loan.

His contract at St James Park expired at the end of the 2011/12 campaign and he is yet to agree fresh terms.

Swindon are now understood to be keen on offering him the chance to remain at his current level.

Paolo Di Canio has been given licence to bring fresh faces into his Robins squad, and he considers Archibald-Henville to be a useful addition.

The former Tottenham trainee would command a transfer fee, as he is under the age of 24, but Swindon have made it clear that they are prepared to spend if required.

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the wizard says...
12:55pm Tue 26 Jun 12

Are his socks still on ?????

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Northern Red says...
2:17pm Tue 26 Jun 12

swindonjason wrote:
Heard from a source inside the club that preston North End away has been moved to Sunday 2nd September and is live on Sky Sports.
Hope this is true as I'm away for that one...

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P*ssed Off says...
4:22pm Tue 26 Jun 12

Northern Red wrote:
swindonjason wrote:
Heard from a source inside the club that preston North End away has been moved to Sunday 2nd September and is live on Sky Sports.
Hope this is true as I'm away for that one...
All these sources are b*llsh*t. The two games on Sky that day are at Coventry and Crawley!

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the wizard says...
5:22pm Tue 26 Jun 12

P*ssed Off wrote:
Northern Red wrote:
swindonjason wrote:
Heard from a source inside the club that preston North End away has been moved to Sunday 2nd September and is live on Sky Sports.
Hope this is true as I'm away for that one...
All these sources are b*llsh*t. The two games on Sky that day are at Coventry and Crawley!
http://www.thisisswi
ndontownfc.co.uk/new
s/headlines/9782987.
Town_s_Preston_trip_
moved/

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London Red says...
5:36pm Tue 26 Jun 12

Not on Sky but moved

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Is that you Lovesey says...
6:20pm Tue 26 Jun 12

the wizard wrote:
shered wrote: I have a feeling that Flint is going to be one of last season's players that is going to be let go. I don't have any "inside" knowledge its just a gut feeling.
I think there may be concerns over his long term fitness especially with his ongoing groin problem which rares up its head from time to time. I was under the impression that surgery was required as a long term cure.
Uh I didn't think there was an actual groin injury, I thought he needed time off for another reason....

Meh, who knows !!

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