Longlostfan

ah- Ok. I thought he had only been contracted until 2019.

He went to Rotherham after us and was then released. In a better world we would be able to compete with Rotherham- not saying we can in our current plight. Think both Ripley and Iverson are at Preston now?

Monty- I'm not saying anyone them would have come under this management structure, more making the point there were options (for a well sorted organisation) to have built better with what has already passed through. I fully accept many were just passing through on the way to better things- but not all of those who were most effective have caught were they went to. Imagine if over the last 3 years we had kept a couple of the better players from each year who were available what a core of a team we would have had. If that had been what was meant by 'slowly slowly' I think some would be happy with the progress.

Isn't that the rub. The list of ex-players is pretty long. Gets longer by a whole squad every season. Some clearly have gone up and away and could never come back. But there are plenty who would/ could have been available. Surridge has made it- just need to enjoy the memories. Doyle in my mind goes down as one who could have been acquired. Matty Palmer, Iverson , Curtis Main anyone? Could have had a solid core from players who were here and could have been available.

In the biog for (one of ) his book(s) it says he is a Prof at Manchester but lives in London. I don't think too many Profs spend a lot of time lecturing first years.

Great effort Craig, thanks for sharing. Good luck for the rest of the season after 18:00

that's at least 3 of us then

There are a few more twists and turns before its over. Think there are six games between the sides we are competing with for a play off place, and those sides play the top three 7 times. Tranmere play the top three, Forest Green and Crawley who may still need to play- could conceivably not get another point. Fg have an easier ride but play 2 play off sides and a hopefully resurgent Macc .

Isn't this where the inevitable Baxter references start?

Mansfield have lost, six of the teams above us playing each other today must be a chance to make up some ground. COYB

Maybe Scholes sees something in Coke

It doesn't feel like they even out though does it. The was a piece in the times around the 3rd round weekend that rated the sides left by 'how lucky they were' They included if you played higher division opposition and if you were drawn home or away- I think it was over 60 years IIRC we were about the third least lucky. Sometimes it feels that way.

For nearly all the 700 odd teams that enter the FA Cup each year it ends in disappointment. You either get spanked, get unlucky, or put on a show and still lose. If it goes well you have a game or day out or two to remember. Most when they calm down will reflect on two tricky aways at new grounds with a injury time winner, a massive day out beating a premier league side and a competitive defeat to a side near the top of the division above. All things considered that's not bad.

Lucky not to have been sent off for that. Violent conduct is when a player uses or attempts to use excessive force ....... against a team-mate, team official, match official, spectator or any other person, regardless of whether contact is made.

I agree more bodies doesn't necessarily mean better. Perhaps Sefil, Vera and Sylla will go on to be great but at the moment I think they offer less than the Surridge and Lyden did. How much spare cash I have isn't really relevant here - I haven't bought a football club. We have been told AL is having to put lots of money in every month- that need would have been obvious looking at any div 3/div 4 clubs books. The point I was trying to make was that for whatever reason we haven't strengthened in this transfer window. Committing to spend a little bit more in the last couple of weeks might have got us something a bit more on the pitch. For example rather than a 37 year old centre half as emergency striker maybe a fleet footed loanee from a bigger club. The way the finances of the FA Cup work success magnifies the returns hugely as you progress. A replay would be worth what? Probable shared progress payment £125K, 45% gate receipts say 6000 at £10 £30K, possible live Tv £72K - something more than the £200k he says he puts in a month The win would have been worth what? prize money £ 180k, probable TV money as lowest ranked side £247K, probable all the progress fee £250K and £40k gates share at home or a big payday at a big club.- something around his losses for the rest of the season. What would a quality addition have cost him? 6 months at £5k a week? I was trying to make the case that here there was an argument for strengthening as the upside outweighs the downside, even leaving aside the possible benefits from improved league form. That isn't the same as saying blow everything on one flip of the dice. If he hasn't that £5k then he shouldn't have bought the club or been smarter with how he has spent the monies to date.

I wasn't keen when the draw was made. But that game was winnable. Lots of effort, some bad luck/poor decisions. A couple of additions might have made a difference. A win would have been worth what £180k for the win, probable £250k for last league 2 team, good chance live TV money and at decent gate receipt, something north of £800k? Still we've saved 5 months wages for those 2 or 3 additions that would have made the difference. Nice one AL

Billy, Just be careful mate. Its clear to most of us you are doing a good job. I think there are plenty who enjoy the sales' updates (although the guys running the prediction league might not.) You will get questions, some might look like moans. You will get moaners who might look like they are asking genuine questions. Please be very measured in your response. None of the keyboard warriors have anything to lose by posting on here- apart from maybe the respect of other posters. When you post even in your spare time you 'represent the club', I'd hate you to be in disciplinary procedures because to rose to someone's bait.

Based on the last 20 years its more likely to be a pantomime than a musical but here's hoping

Some continuity is key. Typically first game of the season it looks like strangers playing together for the first time and in recent years it has been. I don't care where they were born, I'm OK if we build slowly rather than blow whatever funds are available then spend the next 10 years hand to mouth. I'd like to see George and Hamer develop for a few years and more of the youth come through. Some of our better players will get sold- if we can develop them to get a good fee ( and sell ons....) and recycle that money in to raising the average standard of the team we could see us compete at a higher level. If we brought two youth through each year and sold one of them for a six figure fee two years later, and did the same with some of AL's imports couldn't that be successful? I've no idea if Sylla will be a success. I hope he is. A contract to end of next season shows some confidence. I'm pleased We have what - half a dozen contracted to be here next year? If the buy/ develop sell on model is to work some of the current squad need tying down. Regardless it would be good to have a core playing in April who start in August. It used to be the team evolved slowly from season to season- a couple of signings, a couple released/ retired, an occasional sale. Maybe those days have gone for ever . But I think I would feel more of a connection if they were 'our players'. - ones we had watched for a couple of seasons and that obviously had some 'pride in the shirt'. Don't care where they were born or where they played before.

Was thinking about our head to head against Macclesfield - wondered what it looked like against this division. Macc are one of 8 we have lost to more than we have beaten, pretty much evens with 4 and ahead against the rest. won drawn lost balance Crewe 41 18 18 23 Lincoln 23 6 10 13 Mansfield 27 17 16 11 Cambridge 10 11 6 4 Northampton 16 9 12 4 Newport 5 2 2 3 Swindon 22 15 19 3 Tranmere 34 21 32 2 Crawley 3 2 2 1 Colchester 14 20 13 1 Bury 15 18 15 0 Cheltenham 4 5 4 0 Forest Green 0 2 0 0 Morecambe 1 0 1 0 Notts County 36 22 36 0 Oldham n/a n/a n/a 0 Stevenage 3 1 3 0 Macclesfield 1 0 2 -1 Grimsby 28 12 30 -2 Port Vale 29 19 32 -3 Exeter 9 7 12 -3 Yeovil 5 6 8 -3 MK dons 7 4 12 -5 Carlisle 27 19 36 -9

Based on our head to head record these are better than us. Played 3, won one lost two. (scored 4, conceded 4) Win today we nudge ahead on goal difference! COYB

Just unlucky or trying too hard to impress? Either way good luck to the lad

Its not a great draw, lacks glory, TV money, new ground or big gate payday. The money will be important to them so don't think they will arrogantly see it as a distraction, but it is winnable. Big money, TV giant killing can wait for February.

There is an argument for going drinking in Bollington- only a few minutes in a taxi and some pretty good pubs.

Using VAR today.