Steve_R

Can see him going to Altrincham and ripping it up as they finish 11th

Tremendous research! I knew if I asked the question someone would know the answer

More importantly, has the team who finished 12th gone on to win the league next season?

Unsworth has said we have 19 fit players at the moment, and can only imagine Mgahey is currently injured., so I’m guessing he’s told a few they won’t be in it. Whether we can get shut is another matter.

Doesn’t sound like he’s going anywhere according to the Oldham Times, and surprisingly enough he won’t be fit for the start of the season

Never understood the pile in on BP1960 by a certain few on here, who pull him up on everything he posts. He can be a bit touchy and maybe a bit ‘know it all’ regarding scouting and youth football, but he no doubt does know more than most of us on these subjects. He seems a sound bloke to me, who’s opinion I respect, although I’ve never met him.

Whether you agree with him or not he’s entitled to his opinion. We all contribute financially to the club (obviously not on Frank’s scale!) but if if he thinks we’re better spending money elsewhere then what’s wrong with him saying that?

Can’t say I remember him from our two games against them, but a mate at work who watches Alty now and again tells me he’s a good player for this level and reckons he’ll do well for us. we need to be signing other clubs best players who they’re desperate to keep, not sifting through those who’ve been released, so this is a good start.

Unsworth said we were well down the line with the players we are hoping to bring in, so would expect it’ll start happening in the next few weeks. He’s banged on about the importance of pre season practically from the moment he got here, so presume he’ll want them all in before training begins, which should be towards the end of June.

We He was one of those two shite keepers Shez signed when he wouldn’t have Jonny Placide forced on him. The other one is playing for Coventry in the play off final.

A couple of their players impressed me, but I don’t recall his name as being one of them, but I could be wrong. A good footballing side who looked well coached, so hopefully he’ll be a good addition if there’s any truth in it.

I agree. Good as he’s been I’d be surprised if a league club came in for him, and as Chesterfield released him a couple of years ago I doubt they’ll be prizing him away from us. It all seems a bit strange, but I guess he didn’t actually sign the extension for next season and is chancing his arm on getting a bit more money than is currently on offer, especially on the back of his player of the season award. I’d be surprised if he’s not signed up in the next couple of weeks.

There does seem to be a bit of unrest at Hartlepool though. The owner has put them up for sale as he’s had a load of grief from the fans who blame him for their relegation. He’s local to the area and saved them when all seemed lost and were on the verge of going under (sound familiar?). he turned them round, they got back in the league and I seem to remember their fans singing his praises in the protest game at our place last year. Admittedly I don’t know much about it all there, but somethings gone wrong and he’s had enough, although he has said he won’t walk away and will help fund it till a buyer can be found.

Are there any decent or believable rumours? The only ones I’ve heard are the midfield player from Maidstone and Willoughby from Chester, but I’m sure I’ve seen somewhere that Unsworth has said they’re a no go. I hope whoever we go for are their clubs main men who they’re desperate to keep, and not necessarily players who just been released

If we score 116 league goals next season I doubt many will be complaining about a lack of entertainment

I can see both sides of the argument here. The aim of any football match has to be to win the thing, as you don’t get points for artistic impression. But there has to be some form of entertainment and enjoyment though. I agree with you that, if we’re up there from the start and in the thick of a promotion push the games will seem better, even if in reality they’re not. Those 1-0 wins will be a lot more valuable and the atmosphere will be better. I hope he lets off the leash more and am happy to give him the chance to sign better players and do so, but I can also understand those who don’t think it will happen. He has improved as the results show. Whether it’s enough to lead us to a successful and enjoyable future, we can only hope.

Definitely the same one

Liam Kelly captaining Coventry against Middlesbrough in the playoffs. I liked him but he got a bit of stick while he was here, but could be leading his team in the premier league next season

I’d probably be in the next bed

My dislike of the playoffs is just my personal opinion. They’re here to stay so they are the option if all else fails. It just seems to me that some are happy to settle for them before a ball has been kicked or the squad put together for next season, which baffles me. You’re right though, as long as those that matter within the club are aiming high, which I’m sure they are, then that’s all that matters. I think me and Monty might be on the same wavelength!

I would hope they are aiming at top spot and think they will be. I suppose I just have a bee in my bonnet about people going on about the playoffs when that should only be the fall back option if the title starts slipping out of sight.

The premier league is the most competitive league that the same team keeps winning, and barring Leicester the big boys win everything up there anyway. I think Dorking’s exploits have been brilliant, but what their expectations are for next season are of no concern to me. The good thing about any sport is that anything is possible, but the best teams always emerge as the winners. Not necessarily the biggest clubs, but the best team. I think you misunderstand what I’m saying. Taking aside my dislike for the playoffs anyway, I think we should aim to win the league. I’m not saying we will win it, or even that I think we’ll win it, but we should aim to be battling right at the top of the league, where like Wrexham and Notts County this season, we don’t want to be in the playoffs. We shouldn’t be happy if we end up 7th. That may change as the season unfolds, but the planning and aim now should be to go up automatically.

I’m not arsed what Dorking do or think they should do. And in reality the division shouldn’t be equalised. The best teams over the course of the season should go up, not someone who’s been average at best for the bulk of it but comes with a late run and nicks seventh place. I’ve never liked them but It’ll never change and they have done a lot of good in keeping the season interesting for longer. I suppose I’m still cursing the injustice of 1987.

Unsworth might as well not open his gob then. If he can’t emphasise the ambition to go up automatically without worrying people will twist his words then we might as well give up. I accept the playoffs are here to stay, but they’re not right. It’s more the fact that it lowers peoples ambition that irks me though. Instead of aiming for automatic promotion the playoffs is the new bar, which usually means the last playoff place. There’s no success in getting in the playoffs unless you win them. We need to aim as high as possible, and if we can’t win the league finish second or third. The best chance you have of winning the playoffs if you end up in there is to be the best team in them, but it seems like nowadays 7th is the holy grail.

All of what you say makes perfect sense, but Unsworth doesn’t have to say we’re going to win the league, but that the aim is to try to win it. Maybe it’s just me but I hate talk of the playoffs at any time. Throughout the season teams are judged on how they are doing by how many points they are behind the last play off space. Teams in the bottom half of the table are judged on ‘only x amount of points’ off the playoffs, instead being say 14th and possibly way behind where they should or expect to be. Personally I’d scrap them and go back to automatic promotion. I know it’ll never happen, but let’s face it, if only two go up anyway you shouldn’t be anywhere near having a chance if you finish seventh.