Longlostfan

Think there were quite a few neutrals there. How many on here were there? - I was for one.

Now the season has finished I'd expect it to take a few days to talk to the players individually. We might not be happy with the effort or attitude of some (many?,all?) but a properly run club (which we aspire to be) surely would do them as 1:2:1 Some will be quite short - 'Thank you (maybe through gritted teeth) but we aren't going to offer you a new contract' 'Thank you but you don't figure in our plans so we plan to transfer list you/ you would be best served by finding another club' Perhaps there is a longer conversation with one or two about a new contract. Then a statement ' x has returned to their parent club, y has been released, z has been transfer listed' would suffice.

I don't think it is just about the really big payouts for a replay against an EPL side- though they are so big they distort the picture with clubs whose ambition is to get to round 3 for a payday. There is a trickle down going on further down the pyramid too. That eighth tier side getting a share of a 5000 gate and some TV money for a first round replay could transform their prospects. Add to the above some of my best memories are from replays. I'm against scrapping them.

Let's imagine Halifax scrape into the playoffs and do well Are there any league regulations about quality of pitch that would be required? My quick search of the EFL handbook only found items on size and that an artificial pitch needs to be removed before the first game of the season. There were various items requiring formal league consent to use another ground- so IF the same applied in the National League that could contribute to the delay. The EFL handbook also had a requirement that a club sharing a ground must have the ability to cancel any other activity within 48 hours of a game that might jeopardize the fixture. Wouldn't help with a weekend rugby game followed by a Wednesday but I thought it was an interesting provision.

wasted 10 games under Sheridan before DR brought Rhino in wasted 10 games under Unsworth before DR changed it up risk is we waste 10 under MM- unlikely to win the league with another 10 game handicap not sure we have seen enough to say MM is the answer on balance I'd go with him but he has to get it right over the summer- however limited the budget may turn out to be. We he/ the team cope with that expectation?

we already have no one knowing when they are going to turn up and play

I'm not sure it as binary as that Andy. Others have made the point that he can tackle but then doesn't do much with it. More players showing for the ball would give him easier/ better options. If his pass completion rate was better would we think him such a liability?

I think Milligan looked better than he was because of the players around him. In fact I was disappointed when he was brought back. All Milligan had to do was make a tackle and knock it 5 yards to either side of the pitch- 2 fast tricky wingers and two running fullbacks made him look like a match winner. When Sheron wins a tackle where is his Holden, Adams or Barlow?

all we need is to win every remaining game and we finish as champions 4 points clear coyb

be happy for you to take 9/9

I know some of the football and effort levels have been dire but that seems a bit harsh

makes a cameo in the highlights of the facup 5th rd in 1977 link from lookerstandandy's thread of footage

Great player. Had a lot of power in his boots. Seemed an old man to the young me but boy could he play. As said above part of a gradual rebuild to better things. RIP John

can't see them winning BBC suggests they used one bottle over Christmas and New Year- lightweights https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-67891534

maybe in time but it wouldn't be in my first 4 upgrades

I'd be happy to see Barnet and Bromley drop points. We are close enough to Alty not to worry at this stage. 2/3rd gives an advantage and looks a stretch but...........

Think that is a fair observation Dave. The bottom four maybe not full blown latics crisis but not sure any of them are healthy. Don't know if anything is happening behind the scenes at FGR but they look on course for successive relegations Sutton look like they have peaked Rapid manager turnover at Colchester -You probably have more intel on what's happening there than I do Hopefully Salford have peaked and we pass them on their way down

Not sure Dave, 4 possibly of the top 5 'recently' promoted? which supports the best of NL competes with L2 argument 3 of the bottom 4 I'd think of as non league teams punching above their weight (- but these things all hinge on when you started watching football.) Colchester will be on their 8th manager in 3 years- that feels like an indicator of decline.

I think it clear he has talent. Start of September they said he would be out for six months. Made his return on boxing day and did what 30 mins of normal time today. We've had a lot of crocks nursed between games in recent times- I'd want to see him reestablished before I spent money on him. EFL window about to open- I'd be happy for MM to use his contacts and bring a loan or two to the end of the season. We must look a better prospect for a loanee now than last year.

Isn't there a takeover in the offing? Anything could happen. Bit of a gamble though- the lad has had two cameo appearances since a major hamstring issue.

Finally we have someone scoring against a former club- rather than an ex scoring against us. COYB

Listening to the local BBC commentary they sounded pretty much the same as we normally are.

Not really Pidge. Under the muppets we had a lot of short term loanees who didn't seem interested whilst we weren't bringing on much of our own. There were notable exceptions Lang , Surridge, Bryne, Iverson, Palmer etc and the best of them probably raised the game of those around them I agree that if we brought a couple in there might not be anybody missing out now but I think it has been an issue in the past. I agree it works well for the higher clubs and your point about them hoarding players who then drop out is valid too. On greedy league budgets it is relatively cheap to keep a teenager on what for most people would be an incredible salary on the off chance a few of them make it or can be sold on for millions. I'm not sure how one would legislate for it but some element of 'use them or release them' with some sort of cap on overall numbers might release a few more nearly men whilst they are still hungry.

That is the downside of the loan system- someone who isn't good enough for their club gets game time in a lower division and improves potentially denying one of our own the chance. However Stones has improved us, and I'd be OK with 2-3 loanees to the end of the season if it filled those problem positions with Stones' quality and workrate. The fact that smiley is improving Stones is a reason why if the player has a choice he might stay another month

Might be more worthwhile to get them to do something with/for the less privileged. Plenty of opportunities for them to do some good whilst reflecting on their special position.