DerekWilson_1968

I have to say Paul, that belly reference apart,that pretty much sums up my feelings about the club at the moment. This season has seen my lowest number of attended games since I can't remember when. I'm not sure if I will bother with the Southend game or not (and I certainly won't be going to another away game) - if I don't go I will only have attended half the home league games this year as a season ticket holder. I haven't been to a cup game at BP. I have been to a few away games, but very few in comparison to my normal number. I don't really know what it is - I just know I don't feel like I want to be there any more. It feels like a waste of time and money, I can't even be bothered to be bored by them at the minute. Doubtlessly the move from the Lookers has had a major effect on my mood surrounding all things OAFC. I feel like an away fan in the RRE - plus the facilities are absolutely diabolical. The Main Stand and Chaddy I just don't like at all and never really have. The club needs out of this division post haste to give fans a renewed appetite. I will be completely honest and even go as far as to say I don't think it would be the worst thing in the world for us to get relegated because promotion seems like a mere pipe dream. We need pastures new for me - absolutely anything is better than stagnating in the ever murkier waters of division 3. An injection of cash, whilst welcomed, would probably have seen an overly expectant fan base calling for automatic promotion again for next season. What the club really needs alongside the cash though, is an injection of enthusiasm from the players and board to try and convince an ever decreasing and apathetic hardcore fan base to stick with them. I can't remember the last time I heard any positive sounds coming from BP regarding the future - the club is dying on its' backside. Perhaps a sabbatical for a year will do me good, I know that even if I hadn't lost my job I wouldn't have bothered with parting with over £300 to watch bottlers again next year. A bit of football tourism for me in 2009/10 I think - I may even go and finish the 92 off (though I did want to do it with Latics). Derek.

So does Derby mate - the wifes family live in Derby - there is an enormous Indian community down there. Derek.

Definitely Hibs Rick, I think the other one is Dundee United. Derek.

I like to think of it as more of an equilibrium Pete. Every silver lining needs a cloud ;). Derek.

Absolutely agree Pete but I do think he is fighting in what he believes by trying to force home the point he is trying to get over to so many - this club is dying on it's arse. I think the sad thing is that no one really bothers taking any note of it. Derek.

Yes I do have those needs. A team that looks like it wants to win, a team that looks like it cares about it's job, a team that can represent my adulation and hard work going watching them. Not a bunch of slackers that give up every :censored:ing February. Best and Clough are good examples of misty eyed romanticism, as we are suffering now. Best :censored:ed off when the going got tough and Clough saw Forest get relegated. Derek.

QED. Derek.

Get yer Bolan out Stipey. T-Rex. Derek.

Yes, I grasp this concept. There is a different generation of fans now though. Let me give you an example of the point that I am trying to put across. I could sit in a pub, with say Royton Blue Lad, have a few beers and start talking Latics. I start talking for hours and hours about Goram, how wonderful he was, what an agile keeper he was, that I went on the train with his Dad to Hibs and Hearts for his first Edinburgh derby and he was just stunning in that game. Chris turns around and says he was a fat :censored: that shipped seven against Cardiff. Can I deny this fact? No. He believes what he saw himself, with his own eyes - rather than words about times long past when he wasn't there. Hypothetical conversation mate. The same will go for Joe - thousands of our faithful don't remember the last time. There is little sentiment there for him other than what they have read. Should he stay, the future will be Joe's legacy. Derek.

It's generational Garcon. I could sit and have a conversation with you about AG and recall shadows leaping toward the intersection of the bar and post to push a seemingly impossible to save shot around the post with almost feline agility; then harp on and on about penalty saving prowess and a thirty year old or less 'Tic would wonder what the hell we are talking about. They remember a big fat buffoon - and you know what, we do too. The most recent memories are the ones that stick more immediately. The same will go for Joe, having said that - he stayed a good year and a half than he should have in my mind anyway. The clouds have been with me a long bloody time. Derek.

So, 2 replies to BTs budget squad predictions. Anything but that midfield and the most depressing front two ever seen. Makes great reading doesn't it? This is what we are going to get looking at things as they are now. I wonder if people are starting to see through the tints a little and realising that what the Corp has been banging on about for months is now just moments away? Privately I have agreed with just about everything he has posted - he is man enough though to fight his corner without me backing him up. Don't be optomistic folks, be worried. Very worried about the future of our club. Derek.

I have no idea O4U. As I pointed out in the Lids going thread, I would hate for Joe to be remembered as a failure as Goram is. He was a great manager for us, but sadly I feel his time has gone. Next season would cast a horribly gloomy shadow over his time at BP if he stayed on I feel. New blood - totally unconnected with the club would be the way forward for me. Derek.

..and I would be exceptionally disappointed if he was. Derek.

No and no. Are you moving to the dark side there DS? Me 'n Coco will start doing membership cards soon I think! PS - remember to take your finger off the shift button when typing '1'! I won't mention the erroneously placed comma. Derek.

Firstly, good luck to Lids - he has been a great servant in my mind and I for one am sad to see him leave without us having the opportunity to say a farewell to the lad. Of course his legs had gone but there were few at the club, if any, that had the poise on the ball that he had. I expect he will be sadly missed by few judging by the flack he gets on here - but yours truly thinks he is a loss to an ever depleting squad. Secondly and with more of a worry, and as a few others have mentioned, who is making these decisions????? The manager or the board of directors? Is the cloth being cut accordingly now to show us the standard of player we can expect next season in line with the promises from SC that the budget will be cut? Is BFJ setting out his stall for shaping the team in his own image? Personally, I am worried about the implications of both the scenarios I have listed above. Long term, and by this I mean beyond the end of this season, Joe isn't the man for the job for me. He isn't the fresh faced new kid on the block with crazy ideas about scoring more than the opponents that arrived here over thirty years ago. He is looking like a bit of a dinosaur and is unable to motivate and organise the team to wins against even the most ordinary opposition. Please go Joe - don't let your history at BP be tarnished by effectively what is a bit of a hit and hope punt from the owners. I would advise a conversation about a goalkeeping prodigy you discovered, one Andrew Lewis Goram. Speak with fans and ask if they remember a superbly agile and effective goalkeeper that went on to be a world beater or a fat buffoon shipping seven against Cardiff. It didn't work for AG and it isn't working for you - one point from twelve against bottom of the league Cheltenham in injury time isn't what we all hoped the return would be. If the board of directors are taking the scissors to the cloth, well who the hell will want to come and work with them under these circumstances????? Worried. Worried. Worried. Derek.

The rate that we are going at with shipping experienced pros out of the club the next stiffs fixture will be on Friday, Carlisle away. Derek.

Blimey, you are hopeful. I reckon this happened a few weeks ago. Derek.

Packed up yet Pete? It has come to pass even more quickly than I thought possible. Derek.

How the do you know how good or bad Westlake is you Catalan You wouldn't even know what he looks like without your tool. you get on my nerves. Yes you have got under my skin. L***s Derek.

I can take the fact that the team have performed poorly. I can take the fact that we have lost because we were second best at the races. What I can't take is the fact that we were blatantly cheated by a referee and a diving bastard. It was never a penalty and Orient were never involved in the game until the ref started throwing decisions around them like confetti. No faulting the effort in the first half, second half we were poor. The ref and Morgan are cheating bastards - no escaping the fact. Derek.

Only before 9am Lisa. After that he was the most staggeringly drunken drunk that I have ever seen anyone at a football match ever. Carried into the ground until the rozzers saw him! Myself included - yes even Bournemouth! Derek.

For us definitely. 10.35 here matey. You can look after Nik when he gets slung this time Derek.

I have spoken to British Transport Police and National Rail today and both of them tell me that the trains have not been designated as dry. Just passing on the information - don't shoot me if anything changes. Derek.

When does he ever Matt? Derek.

I think that you will find that statement isn't quite as true as you think it may be BJ. Derek.