Resurgent Robins: The Swindon Reclamation Project
Swindon Town: The New Force in League Two
It’s got to drive the supporters of Walsall and Bradford crazy when they see what’s going on at the County Ground. Swindon Town’s just three points off the pace in League Two, and the Robins have a game in hand on Gillingham and Notts County.
And they’re doing it with offense, something Bradford City could really use at this point. Through eight matches, Bradford has scored six goals. At the same time, Jake Young, who’s on loan from Bradford at Swindon, has nine goals to his name. Because of that, the Robins lead League Two with 22 goals on the campaign.
Walsall’s also looking on with some envy, given who Swindon’s manager is. Michael Flynn washed out at Walsall, finishing with one win in his final 19 matches at the Bescot Stadium. In 17 of those matches, the Saddlers scored one goal or less, making it rather difficult to put any results on the board. So Flynn was out, replaced by Mat Sadler, his assistant.
And yet, when the sides met at the County Ground, Flynn’s side was boss. Swindon honestly could have done even worse to Walsall than the 2-0 scoreline had it done a better job with its chances. Along with Mansfield Town, Swindon’s one of just two teams in League Two that doesn’t have a loss on its record.
How is this happening with a seeming collection of castoffs? Here’s a look.
Flynn’s In The Right Spot: A Managerial Fit
When we discussed Michael Appleton at Charlton, one of the aspects of his story was his experience of needing to choose his clubs more carefully. Flynn seems to have been in a similar situation with Walsall. He never got comfortable at the Bescot, an opportunity he got after jumping from Newport County during the season.
This time, he appears to have waited for the right opportunity and chosen a good fit for him. Swindon was looking for a man with League Two experience and willing to be patient during the offseason. Flynn didn’t have to force his way into a situation and try and save a sinking ship; he was able to calmly approach the upcoming season and lay out his vision.
He doesn’t have all of the pieces he wants at Swindon yet, as he still thinks the side needs another leader on the pitch to bring along his less experienced players. But to have gotten most of his targets in the fold in just one transfer window represents a board and manager who are on the same page with what they need. Flynn appears to be a good fit with Swindon, and it appears the Robins are willing to be patient if needed with their young players. So far, they haven’t needed to show any patience; it’s worked beautifully.
Recognizing Value: The Impact of Jake Young
Swindon did an excellent job in spotting that Bradford had made a mistake with Jake Young, or at least didn’t have space available to give him playing time. Young had been productive at Forest Green Rovers two years earlier, but couldn’t crack Mark Hughes’ lineup and ended up spending the second half of last season on loan.
When a young player goes on loan in the same division, it can cause a crisis of confidence. Going on loan to a lower division is one thing; it means that the parent club wants to give a younger player playing time but doesn’t have the space to do it. Sending a player on loan in the same division usually reveals a player as surplus. The parent club believes they can get by without the player in question just fine, and they’ll let one of their competitors in the same league have the player for the season.
Young’s taken it personally, and he’s playing like a man who believes he’s playing for his future. Truth be told, he probably is. Given how open Young is about his lack of success at Bradford, he likely will not be returning anytime soon. But he seems to have found a home in Swindon, and what’s more important, he has a manager who believes in him.
Flynn’s made him part of the focus of the attack and paired him with a wise veteran in Charlie Austin. That’s a great way to build Young’s confidence, and the results are showing on the pitch. Young won player of the month for September, so the results speak for themselves.
Can Swindon See This Out? The Road Ahead
If the offense continues to click like this, the reclamation project could well land the Robins in League One. A lot’s going to depend on if Young and Dan Kemp are allowed to play out their season-long loans at County Ground, which Flynn believes they will.
What’s clear is that this is a team playing with confidence and playing freely. This collection of pieces has played with nothing to lose, and a team that can play like that can do great things. It’s still pretty early, but so far, the Swindon reclamation project is on track to produce some pretty solid results. It might not earn rave reviews in Walsall and Bradford, but at the County Ground, fans are pretty pleased with this offensive outburst and even more pleased with the wins on the board.
