nzlatic

Absolutely. And this is how they are being used I think. I’m sure it’s been said that the stats tools are used to identify possible players from a wider selection. They are then shortlisted and scouted in the more traditional sense. The way some are talking is as if DR is using statsbomb like top trumps, seeing a striker with 10/10 for shooting and signing him to a 3 year deal.

A medical room with all these new fangled machines and devices to help physios deal with injuries and rehabilitation better? What tosh. Nothing wrong with a bucket and a sponge.

We were 2 divisions higher then so better loanees were much easier to come by.

Probably explains why people say a manager needs a few windows to properly sort a squad. Trick this summer will be this to replace 6 that haven’t worked out with 6 as you have described there. 2 great, 2 ok, 2 not ok. Then we’re 4 players better off.

Who would have to pay to police 1800 away fans if it’s held at another ground?

Love the enthusiasm! Plenty will say there’s no chance but if that was the case why bother watching sport? Slim chance of it happening, but as you say there was a slim chance of us winning the last 3 in 1993. You never know…

Yeah seems massively unfair on us. We could have had a lot riding on that game (might still I guess!) but get left with just 38 hours between matches.

Will it be us specifically or just the pure numbers? Barnet and Ebbsfleet will be much lower numbers. With our game it’ll be an extra 1500 at least to police.

You forgot to mention they’ve had the same manager since October 2021

Yeah I saw that. Bit strange, would have thought he’s done more than enough to get the gig.

Gateshead is the one team in the top 10 that's changed manager mid season other than us. Given Williamson left and took players with him he's done a great job.

Solihull manager was appointed Jun 28th 2023.

He’s 52

And a couple of rugby games in between no doubt.

Would it have to be behind closed doors if moved to another venue at this late stage?

I’ve mentioned this a few times now so it’s probably getting boring!.. Chesterfield were right at the top end of the table in Feb 2022 when their manager left and Cook was appointed. They’d played 26 and had 54 points. Cook came in and got 23 points from 18 games, they clung on for 7th. Did he improve them? Clearly not. He hadn’t won anything for 5 years. Did they give him time? Yes. Next season they were flying high but had a bad 10 games and dropped down again. Again, they didn’t panic and they won the league by miles in his second full season. The 8 above us on the league all bar one (Gateshead) have managers who’ve been there at least 1 full season. The top 4 have managers that are in their 3rd seasons at least. We just have to give someone some proper time.

Mellon did that wouldn’t you say? 11 wins and 4 draws out of his first 20 league games. Then a bad run followed. But it seems for many that bad run of 8 games is enough to get rid.

Only 2 games to go off so too early to tell yet, but there are signs with Lundstram that Mellon was right and they’ve worked with him on those issues and we’re now seeing a better player. Hopefully that can be applied to others too. We may not need a massive overhaul to the squad if so. Mellon should have enough behind him to not be fazed by the job. Might just need…. time!

This is Parkinson’s 4th season in the national league. He’s finished 17th, 14th, 17th and is now in the play offs. At a club that was part time til recently and probably had very little expectation from the fans or the board. Would he get that sort of time here? Would he be able to handle the pressure of a big club at this level? It’d be a massive punt.

Who has shown the ability to get out of this league more recently than Mellon who is also a realistic target?

Mellon?

We’ve tried young unknown coaches, we’ve tried experienced managers. We’ve tried club legends, we’ve tried outsiders. One thing we’ve not tried for a decade is starting and finishing a season with the same manager. Even if we start slowly I’d be surprised if we’re in relegation trouble so I’m of the view that Mellon needs to be given the full season next year.

Exactly. No one, no matter how positive they were (myself included), was crowing about things being brilliant.

Perfect summary.

They’ve got to play 3 games in 6 days on that pitch starting Wednesday. Surely any sort of rain on the day puts any of those games in doubt.