SWINDON TOWN: Bostock happy to play the waiting game

6:00am Thursday 18th October 2012 in Sport By Sam Morshead

Swindon Town's John Bostock Swindon Town's John Bostock

JOHN Bostock is happy to play the waiting game as he bids to build up the match fitness necessary to hold down a place in the Town side.

The attacking midfielder made his first start of the season in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home to Coventry, but was withdrawn after 51 minutes with Adam Rooney taking his place.

The Tottenham loanee has had to endure long spells on the sidelines during his two spells at the County Ground, but believes he needs to get a run of games to show what he is really capable of.

“Because I have not played in a little while I think I am lacking that bit of match fitness, and no matter how hard you train you can never quite get that match fitness without playing matches,” he said.

“If I can get a run of games and show the fans and the manager what I can do then I can make it my own.

“For any footballer you have to be patient and wait until the manager thinks it is right for you to play.

“Saturday was my first game in a little while, but I am ready and have been training well and I am ready if the chance comes again.

“It is always good to play, and the reason I am a footballer is because I just love playing games.

“I thought I did okay, but I am still learning my trade so I think the more I play the better I will do.”

Swindon Supermarine lost 1-0 at home to Shortwood in the Red Insure Cup last night.

Comments(19)

LeGod says...
6:18am Thu 18 Oct 12

As much as i hate criticising players that play for Town the performance last week by Bostock was woeful to say the least.
There didnt seem any desire, there was too much interest in him looking for the player when the ball was put in his direction and too much diving abaout like he had been shot and i thought he was going off after 20 minutes which has happenned a couple of times to a couple of players in the past.
Sorry John but you were bad and i felt we were carrying you in the team last week.

There were alot of people around felt the same and more effort and desire is required from him in future. There is no doubt he is talented but there needs to be a work ethic to go with it as well.

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grove red says...
6:48am Thu 18 Oct 12

LeGod wrote:
As much as i hate criticising players that play for Town the performance last week by Bostock was woeful to say the least.
There didnt seem any desire, there was too much interest in him looking for the player when the ball was put in his direction and too much diving abaout like he had been shot and i thought he was going off after 20 minutes which has happenned a couple of times to a couple of players in the past.
Sorry John but you were bad and i felt we were carrying you in the team last week.

There were alot of people around felt the same and more effort and desire is required from him in future. There is no doubt he is talented but there needs to be a work ethic to go with it as well.
Well said he was very poor and should have come of after 20 mins. though will let him of as it was his first game this season. I think pdc made a mistake and should have played collins from start. Would like to see collins and rooney up top together on saturday.

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Swindon1984 says...
7:02am Thu 18 Oct 12

Got to say I thought Bostock showed flashes of what he could do in terms of link up play between the midfield and attack, but it didn't work with just him and Benson, he really needs to feed two attackers and sit in just behind. It's a shame it's not working out better for him as he's exactly the type of playmaker we could use to give us that plan B when the wing play isn't reaping rewards. Anyone know if we have him on loan for the whole season?

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Wickham Red says...
7:57am Thu 18 Oct 12

Swindon1984 wrote:
Got to say I thought Bostock showed flashes of what he could do in terms of link up play between the midfield and attack, but it didn't work with just him and Benson, he really needs to feed two attackers and sit in just behind. It's a shame it's not working out better for him as he's exactly the type of playmaker we could use to give us that plan B when the wing play isn't reaping rewards. Anyone know if we have him on loan for the whole season?
Hope it is just match fitness he needs because he was certainly lacking something. I agree I would like to see him play just behind the frontmen if that's suits the system but he was going ground far to easily looking for the free kick. I'm pretty sure he is on loan till January

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stfc2012 says...
8:21am Thu 18 Oct 12

Comments of Bostock being very poor quite harsh. He was playing in a system rarely played by us after many weeks on the side line. Granted his 1 v 1s were not great and he went down easily a few times but he was made a scape goat for a very poor side first half. He still nearly scored and also set up a decent opportunity which I think is a good start as for a player known for his skilful feet he was chasing long balls most of the half and he's not a target man. When we switched formations and Roberts played as the advancing midfielder in a diamond he had 2 strikers in front of him and more options for dangerous passes. The long ball stopped for the most part. Roberts is a class act and has the confidence Bostock currently lacks which is evident through his nervy touches. He plays like a man who's manager is looking for a reason to slate him and who's fans get on his back immediately. It's funny how With Rooney people will say 'he should have scored' and that's it. But he made a huge mistake and cost us 3 points by not scoring a few yards out from a free header. Shall we all start slating him and shouting at him? When Williams had a lean spell people were saying 'he's getting in good positions, it will come'. It took him a while and it did come. But with Bostock it's all too easy to blame him. The lad has even been humble in the press and despite once being a big young signing at Spurs hasn't acted like a big time Charlie. How about singing his name or doing something that may help him click, that is being a supporter.

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SeanG92 says...
8:55am Thu 18 Oct 12

He has shown in small bursts, what he is capable of. Anyone who went away to Gilingham last season will know that!

That was his first start so perhaps the match sharpness was lacking. Hopefully he can push on and really show why he was tipped as one of the best young players in Brittain a few years ago!

But he does need to stop this falling over!!

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Psychedelic Syd says...
9:30am Thu 18 Oct 12

I rate Bostock highly - I didn't think he was that bad against Coventry, he runs with the ball well, has excellent skill and often opened the play out on the left with his passing in the first half. He is still young and has massive potential. I'd like to see him start far more often, he is a thoroughbred though, not a workhorse.

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RAYSPARROW says...
9:56am Thu 18 Oct 12

I cannot put my finger on it. But I would say not enough aggression.

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Another view says...
10:33am Thu 18 Oct 12

Vastly different views above, yet it's difficult to argue with any of them. I'm inclined to agree with stfc2012, while the long ball tactic is being over used then the job of the front men becomes that bit harder.

In fact this discussion mirrors what we were saying in the relegation season after Charlie had gone. Grella and Andrews worked their socks off in the dying days of the season, but they were constantly watching balls from their team mates sail over their heads, only for most of them to be returned by the opposition.

Maybe the long ball should only be used as an alternative as opposed to the norm.

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SeanG92 says...
10:48am Thu 18 Oct 12

Another view wrote:
Vastly different views above, yet it's difficult to argue with any of them. I'm inclined to agree with stfc2012, while the long ball tactic is being over used then the job of the front men becomes that bit harder.

In fact this discussion mirrors what we were saying in the relegation season after Charlie had gone. Grella and Andrews worked their socks off in the dying days of the season, but they were constantly watching balls from their team mates sail over their heads, only for most of them to be returned by the opposition.

Maybe the long ball should only be used as an alternative as opposed to the norm.
Indeed it should be. When we play the ball on the deck we have shown we can beat just about anyone! This long ball approach should be a Plan B not our main tactic.

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LeGod says...
10:58am Thu 18 Oct 12

He's from a premier league club so i think we should expect more too much diving about in my book. He needs to concentrate, be committed, have desire and show us the skilles we know he has. You have to earn the right to be on the pitch ,not because you come from a premier league club. It may sound harsh what im saying but we have all been looking forward to him getting a game and i was very disappointed last saturday in his performance.

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Oldhamred says...
12:48pm Thu 18 Oct 12

He is short of game time.....nothing more. I am sure that once he has had a couple more outings his quality will shine through. He was very well thought of at THFC according to a friend who loves all things spurs (poor disillusioned soul).
I also believe that he his out of contract in January so could sign for us on a permanent deal subject to him having the opportunity to impress, but of course this would require the transfer embargo to be lifted which may or may not be a stumbling block.

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SAPFanSTFC says...
1:14pm Thu 18 Oct 12

I think all of the above are part right and that add them all together and you have the probable cause...he does look good gives a good glimpse of what COULD be but a combination of these is holding him back:
1) Lack of match fitness
2) Played in the wrong position should be in behind 2 attackers
3) Needs to man-up a bit and stop falling over
---.
PDC needs to start playing him else we won't see the best of him before he goes back in January...although I hope he doesn't look too good and we can't get him back for the rest of the season!
---.
So play well....but not TOO well please!!
:-)

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Swindon1984 says...
1:16pm Thu 18 Oct 12

It is a bit harsh to be too critical of his performance against Coventry - there were far, far worse performances than his in that first half. The long balls didn't suit him (lost count of the times he challenged for a ball in the air and can't remember seeing him win anything - but then that's not his strong suit) and he did some nice link up play, passing was reasonable but just looked a bit nervous on the ball when he could have ran at the opposition with a bit more intensity.

Raysparrow - the aggression thing may be a part of it. Looking at his posts on twitter he comes across as far too nice! :-)

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Wilesy says...
1:28pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Great player but not match sharp and not sure of his best position either.

Was no poorer than the rest of the team for those 51 minutes.

Poor tactics as well - long ball not the answer.

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Wickham Red says...
1:37pm Thu 18 Oct 12

SAPFanSTFC wrote:
I think all of the above are part right and that add them all together and you have the probable cause...he does look good gives a good glimpse of what COULD be but a combination of these is holding him back:
1) Lack of match fitness
2) Played in the wrong position should be in behind 2 attackers
3) Needs to man-up a bit and stop falling over
---.
PDC needs to start playing him else we won't see the best of him before he goes back in January...although I hope he doesn't look too good and we can't get him back for the rest of the season!
---.
So play well....but not TOO well please!!
:-)
You have summed it up in a nut shell. I hope he is given more match time I'm sure he can play a big part in our push for promotion

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smirg kcab says...
3:15pm Thu 18 Oct 12

I think S.W.P told paolo he had to play him due to his wage demands.
Onwards and downwards

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joey butler says...
6:55pm Thu 18 Oct 12

I really must have missed something here?

So one of our highest paid players and he is only on loan and is not match fit?

When we have very serious financial problems as a club. What on earth is going on????

I do not need to be PDC or indeed the new Chairman to give this very polite lad a lift to Swindon station and buy him a one way ticket to Paddington.

Little wonder we have blown our financial budgets, this is beyond embarrassing.

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old town robin says...
10:17pm Thu 18 Oct 12

joey butler wrote:
I really must have missed something here?

So one of our highest paid players and he is only on loan and is not match fit?

When we have very serious financial problems as a club. What on earth is going on????

I do not need to be PDC or indeed the new Chairman to give this very polite lad a lift to Swindon station and buy him a one way ticket to Paddington.

Little wonder we have blown our financial budgets, this is beyond embarrassing.
Joey, if we make an agreement to take another clubs player for a period of time, we can't just send him back because of the cost of his wages, have you forgotton the Grella fiasco when he decided he didn't want to stay with us, but we still had to pay his wages. (by the way he is throwing his toys out the pram at Scunthorpe because Knill isn't playing him regularly).

Back to Bostock, personally I believe he has great potential and would like to see him signed on a permenant if we get this embargo lifted, definitely Championship level..

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