Scapegoat

I am not trying to 'bash' or 'boo' Holloway - genuinely think he is a good player that has added a lot to our team. I like his attitude and effort too. However, I do think that 0.08 goals per league game (based on full appearances and assuming all his goals have been scored as a starter and not as a sub), is not a great stat - and my thought was does he get rested and give another partnership a try with a player high on confidence. AAH coming off the bench, with something to prove and fighting for his place (and maybe a contract) might be what is needed to see him grab a couple of goals before the end of the season. However, I accept that I appear to be in a significant minority of 1 in questioning him.

Appreciate the assessments of my ability to "know" football ;-) I dont doubt Holloways ability to hold the ball up and bring others into play - it's a really key facit to have in a front line. It has been a big factor in our improved performances. But being good at that doesn't mean that you cannot contribute goals. Last season Main did the same but managed to score some goals. Holloway is good - but I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest a player that can hold the ball up but contributes to the scoresheet themselves shows a lack of "knowing football". Erwin, has the potential to do both IMO, but accept that as recently as Southend (a game I didn't see) that it didn't work.

I wonder about Erwin though. Clearly a confidence player that was lacking it completely early on. Now seems to have it and all round game is better. I'd happily give Lee and Tope a go, I like AHH but lack of goals is becoming an issue for me and would like to see another partnership given a go. Maybe a game on the bench will give Holloway a bit of focus - or show me I know nothing about football ;-)

In terms of impact i.e. goals, Erwin is having a bigger impact than Holloway though? Holloway good player, but him and Lee too similar, and can you afford a striker that doesn't score?

Best all round performance I've seen this season, against a team 3rd in the table and with a great away record. 2-0, and could have been more. Erwin looking more and more like a genuine forward - would be happy to keep him. As for the Fleetwood fan video - amazing that his father is OK with the language that will be "broadcast" on the web.

Cannot make my mind up on Taylor. Yesterday he was clearly playing a wing-back role, as was McLaughlin, being a full-back when required and a wide option when going forward. In defensive positions, he could not be faulted - very solid, good positionally and read the game well. However, compared to his counterpart on the other side, I felt he was lacking offensively. Rarely looking for the ball, and made very few attacking interventions in the game. Taylor was, and still is in my mind, an attacking player - and that is what we need. It might be him, it might be instructions from JS (but McLaughlin is managing to attack), but he has not delivered. Next season? Depends on what we want from him, and what else we could get for the same money. I'd imagine you pay more for a good attacking wide player than you do a defensive midfielder - as long as we are getting what we pay for if keep him.

Worked very well, don't need a scoreboard for me now. Club should put a deadline on people asking for their money back, and any remaining donate to the Trust Playershare and use it in the summer to strengthen the team.

Including. The figures quoted are all with away fans

6300, and that was about a 10-15% bump on previous season. We are well down on the attendances we had prior to that successful-ish season (and we'd had a couple of seasons of being almost competitive around that time as well). 7 seasons of struggle has damaged attendances - all below the 5,000 mark. 5,800 would be a 30% increase on current, maybe I am being optimistic with that.

Less than 7000 in a season where we finished 3rd in the Second Teir; less than 10,000 in the pinch me season. In fact, not averaged 5 figures outside the top flight since the mid seventies! And that followed a period of 2 quick promotions and then they reduced to half her over the next decade when competing in a new higher division. IMO a successful season in this division - top 6 finish - would see us getting on average 5800. If that ultimately resulted in promotion, then I'd expect 7,500 to following season.

....ly depressing. Just thought I'd finish the sentence. The attendance link is interesting. Sub-5000 on a couple of occasions in the second tier and almost totally below 8000. Not sure what people think we would get with a season of promotion from this league, and then in the next league up. I'd guess 6000 in a promotion year, and maybe 7,500-8,500 the next season at best.

Didn't realise we paid a fee? What was he Latics career - something like 13 minutes at Hull City away in 1991.

Also - we had a few seasons in the top flight which will skew the peak before the trough. If extended back to the early 80s it would be interesting. Seem to recall some pretty poor crowds when I first started going.

This thread's version of Mornington Crescent. Awful, awful player. Truly awful. Wigan away was the lowest, of lows.

25 years. 1992? 26 years?

In my head we are absolutely terrible against 10 men (or even 9 on occasions). Wonder what our record is and how it compares to the norm? We were just getting in touching distance of having some clear water between us as the scrap and then we do this. Still 2 points clear of enough teams to keep it on our own hands...

Not kept up to speed with this - but watched this week at Latics and seems simple. New advertising boards to hopefully increase revenue and not linked to the scoreboard fund.

The same as last year, fantastic form since Shez returns, and still in the mire near the end of March. Last day before mathematically safe IMO

8 points clear of Swindon and same number of games - think we can write the bottom 3 off now. Whilst there are 2 teams below us, points difference is tight and both have game(s) in hand. A real shame we couldn't hold on to the 3 points today. Whilst Charlton and MK are within reach, I suspect the final spot will go to Bury/Gillingham/Shrewsbury/Gillingham/Vale or us. 1 from 6, and we are hard to beat and picking up points on a regular basis at the moment. Feel positive by not relaxed and wouldn't be surprised if we went into the last game still not mathematically safe.

....and breathe! Some serious pent up frustration in that post - which I am sure many people will agree with some of it. But not sure how much benefit we'll get from raking over the past. We all know that we are not the best run club in the country. Bradford deal is amazing, but they have the advantage of big crowds. How does £300 compare to others in League One?

Ripe for copying Joe Royles pre-match approach at Portsmouth many (many) years ago. Print it out, stick it on the dressing room door and walk out.

Ripley mentioned Motherwell in his recent interview? Must have been a fan of SR?

Agreed. Not sure why the post was not removed, or at least a warning to say not appropriate. Not going to boycott, and hope BP1960 changes his mind. Don't always agree, but always posts with opinions and backs them up with reasoning without resorting to abuse.

I'd imagine the thought process behind the low budget start of season, followed by a bit of a splurge in January boils down to a couple of key points. (1) If you sign players like Taylor, Holloway etc in January, they generally cost you half of what they would if you signed them in August. We can afford them for half a season, but not a full one. (2) I don't recall Joe Royle spending a lot of money comparatively to create a successful team. As unlikely as it might be, but on occasions teams get lucky whereby a low value squad for this division they are in can out-perform expectations. I'd guess that SC is buying the equivalent of a lottery ticket each August and hoping for the best. If 2000 fans paying c.350 and another 1000-2000 paying up to £24 on the day buys you this approach then we are in a vicious circle. Not enough money to change the approach. The outcome of the approach doesn't increase your income.

Thought there were no credit card fees?