League one forever

1 minute ago, LightDN123 said:

The issue is the squad, the balance is embarrassing. 

It needs work yes, but there’s to many times under Mellon where they’re all awful, not poor, absolutely awful. When the entire team is repeatedly shit, and many of them have played higher it goes beyond the players. 
 

Mellon is taking us backwards. 

That’s me done till next season. 
 

I can not watch another game where we start like it’s a knockabout in the park. That first half hour was fucking disgusting. 
 

How do you beat Oldham? 
 

Just press them. That’s it. 
 

We folded like a deck of cards, no leaders, no fight, not working anywhere near hard enough. Awful in possession- hack it anywhere or pass to them. No pattern of play, no intensity to our attacking play. Plays two midgets up front and lobs high balls up-to them. I’m fucking sick of it. 
 

They went 3 up and sat off and we started playing. . . 
 

ANYONE CAN PLAY AT 3-O NIL DOWN LADS WHEN THE OPPOSITION AREN’T TRYING ANYMORE. 
 

I know the squad needs work, but them players are miles better than that- but they keep churning out the same shite, and sooner or later you have to look at the Manager. Teams are always a reflection of the manager. . 
 

Things we continually do. 
 

Start poorly. 
 

Hoof it- when Mellon explicitly says this isn’t what he’s asking them to do. 
 

Panic in Possession. 
 

Have no tempo. 
 

Don’t work hard enough. 
 

Have no pattern to our attacking play. 
 

Serious questions about the manager now. . I know the board won’t sack him before the end of the season- but if it’s like this again in the first 5 games next season he needs to go. 

19 minutes ago, BradKnowles1 said:

Another comment from Brabin saying we were near the bottom when they come in. We were 13th 3 points from the play offs 

Yeah, Mellon has said it a few times recently as well- funnily enough when our results started dropping off. . .
 

I’ve admired their honesty at times, but this is just bollocks and a little desperate. 

So grateful the Rothwells are here, but when you look at that- who would be a football owner. . 
 

Imagine having to pay so many players who are nowhere near the side or been frozen out.
 

It must be galling. 

2 hours ago, Londonboy said:

I actually think he is done ok and could do a job for us next season. Regular 7/10 week in week out for me. 

Let's be honest our probability of going up this season is below 10%.

He rarely let's us down and I've not seen him down tools like many others seem to have done at various stages this season.

He will be an invaluable squad player and leader next season....and we haven't got those in abundance so good decision in my book.

 

Im with you. 
 

Played centre half, left back, right wing back- good pro and always puts a shift in. We aren’t getting promoted, and he’s good enough for this division. So no issue with one more year. 
 

19 minutes ago, Can Neil Redfearn Do It said:

Fair enough, I don't think it's unreasonable though to dismiss budget criticism from fans unwilling to commit what amounts to six quid a week.

It’s never that simple.
 

People have their own circumstances, and if they can only make a few games they have as much right to comment as someone who goes every week. 

 

38 minutes ago, Can Neil Redfearn Do It said:

It's not just the income that's important here, ST sales indicate how busy BP is likely to be on match days and the associated income and expenditure. Plus they give a feel for the 'vibe' around the place and the better that is the easier meetings with prospective sponsors and signings become. In short, season ticket sales go a long way to dictating how big the club is - pay-on-the-dayers might be more lucrative but they come and go with the weather (often literally).

I mostly agree with this- especially the size of the fanbase/club, the vibe,  selling to sponsors. Where I’d disagree is associated expenditure- I think season ticket holders are just as likely to miss as POTD as their game cost is very cheap, loads of times this season the announced attendance is nowhere near the actual attendance- and that can only be season tickets giving it a miss- but still included in the gate. 

6 minutes ago, Can Neil Redfearn Do It said:

Nobody is suggesting season ticket sales are the budget,

They are mate. 

The conversation started with somebody saying- I hope those not buying a season ticket don’t moan about the playing budget. 
 

6 minutes ago, Can Neil Redfearn Do It said:

but they are by far and away the most solid aspect of the forecast.

Agreed. 
 

But the key word there is aspect. 
 

They’re an aspect to the overall budget/incomings but nowhere near the whole thing. 

1 minute ago, mcfluff1985 said:

Might cover the gap in common sense you have

You seem very angry again. You ok? 

5 minutes ago, Can Neil Redfearn Do It said:

 

Come on mate, season ticket sales are paramount when establishing a playing budget, which itself will have parameters dependent on how the season is panning out.

 

I doubt the owners have a fixed subsidy in mind and wouldn't be surprised if they actually pushed that boat out further in the event of higher than expected sales..

 

Season ticket sales provide income to the club over the Summer. Why was the closing date set for just after the last game of season? How can they set a budget when they don’t know which contracted players they can move on? 

But much more that- 

The season ticket sales last season generated circa 1.1 million. 
 

That’s 21.5k a week. 

We know Nors and Nutall are on very good money- let’s 8-10k a week. 
 

How are we paying the other 28 members of the squad if the season ticket sales were paramount to setting a budget? 
 

6 minutes ago, mcfluff1985 said:

Not being the brightest are you. Either intentionally or not

Oh dear.
 

Personal - again.

Tut tut. 

1 minute ago, mcfluff1985 said:

Clearly not. As stated they'll use it to gauge the budget. Not use it as the whole budget. 

Ahhh. Riiiiiight.

Well their ‘gauge’ of last season was an absolute country mile off what they’ve actually spent. So hopefully they’ll rethink and budget for a whole instead of a ‘gauge’. 

14 minutes ago, mcfluff1985 said:

Don't think anybody suggested that was the whole budget. That would be silly

Except you. .  
 

55 minutes ago, mcfluff1985 said:

Think the point is the season ticket money is what they'll gauge to budget for the season.

9 minutes ago, mcfluff1985 said:

You think clubs don't adjust budgets etc based off season ticket sales?

Of course- it’s a big part of the budget. 
 

My point is- season tickets aren’t the whole budget. . as this season obviously shows.
 

There is no way last seasons ticket money alone is paying for the current squad. 

Just now, mcfluff1985 said:

Think the point is the season ticket money is what they'll gauge to budget for the season. If nobody bought them or there was a drastic drop I'd imagine that would affect recruitment in the summer

I know. But that’s a myth.
 

We sold circa 4000 season tickets last season at £280 a pop.
 

That’s 1.1 million. 
 

There’s no way we set our budget off that last season. 
 

Norwood

Nuttall

Reid

Kurt 

Fondop

Them five alone would be the best part of a million in wages. So what pays the other 20 odd players in the squad??
 

In the article on the official website it says our average home attendance is 6800- that is what the playing budget will be decided on. 

1.1 million in season ticket sales divided by 52 - £21.5k a week. 
 

Circa 3000 POTD paying £25 for 23 games- gives you 1.725 million. 
 

1.725 million divided by 52- 33k a week. 
 

Our playing budget is therefore anything up to 54.5k a week. Which is far more realistic with a squad of 30 players. 

36 minutes ago, JED said:

Be good to see those NOT committing keeping quiet when there are questions being asked about the cost of the squad next season. Those buying a season ticket are contributing to the running of the club and backing Frank and co, and ‘buy’ the right to comment.

Your season ticket buys you a season ticket not a superior right-
 

Season ticket is important money over the summer, but it doesn’t fund everything over the course of the season. That’s where match day and POTD revenue comes in. 
 

I’ve spent more this season by POTD, than people paid for their season tickets. So by your rationale- I deserve  a bigger say than you because I’ve financially made a bigger contribution. . . 

Or maybe we should realise it’s each to their own, no fan is better than the other and each individual does what works for them. 

6 minutes ago, BradKnowles1 said:

Looks set for another year. Looks like we have given up going up this season    

How do you correlate the two? 

15 minutes ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

 

I don't think it is but I'd agree in that it'd need a remarkable upturn in our form / tactics.

 

I could see us getting four wins and still somehow missing out!

 

It's a funny game, football.

Here’s what will happen. 
 

We’ll get enough points from, Flyde

Alty, and Rochdale to still have a sniff. We’ll lose at Oxford, who are worse than awful- then win at Halifax- somehow we’ll still be able to sneak in but need to be beat Wealdstone on the last day and hope other results go for us. The results will go for us and we’ll draw - snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. 
 

Flyde- D

Alty- W

Dale - W

Oxford - L

Halifax - W 

Wealdstone - D 

Finishing 8th. 

Just now, Lee Sinnott said:

It's not completely out of the realms of possibility that Oldham will beat Fylde in a game of football...

True, but it is beyond the realm of possibility that we’ll win at least 4 of the last 6 in my view. 
 

1 hour ago, TheBigDog said:

Following the D&R performance, I too lost my enthusiasm for Latics… so much so that I cancelled my trip up for the Fylde game.

 

I presume it will be available to watch on National League TV so at least I’ll avoid a 400 mile round trip

Yeah, the apathy has kicked in again.
 

I only going on Friday because I promised my daughter, I’ve tried suggesting other things but she won’t budge. The excitement in our house is palpable. . . 

32 minutes ago, deyres42 said:

So the expectation in August was that we'd be happy with 17 goals by Easter?

If he had played every game, I’d say that was a bit underwhelming. But he hasn’t. He’s scored 1 in 2 for a side that creates very little. That’s decent- and to answer your question, yes he meets expectation at 1 in 2. 

35 minutes ago, deyres42 said:

Which goal/s has he scored that made you think, blimey that was good?

Some strikers are scorers of great goals and some are great goal scorers. He is the latter. I can’t remember one worldie, but I can remember his movement, his calmness and his poise in front of goal. All of which are levels above anyone else at the club. 
 

38 minutes ago, deyres42 said:

How many games has he really stood out in

Plenty. 

40 minutes ago, deyres42 said:

dragged his team along in?

This does need to improve. 

Things that need sorting. 
 

A right back. 
 

Competition for Kitch. 
 

Signing some wingers. 
 

Having a consistent style of play. 
 

Playing to a tempo for 90 minutes. 
 

Passing to a team mate 10 yards away. 
 

Things that don’t need sorting. 
 

Identifying our top goal scorer as a major issue. 

Spitting abuse doesn’t help, and a line needs to be drawn. 
 

But booing at the end is an acceptable way to demonstrate your frustration. The idea everyone just quietly walks away and suppresses their frustration to protect the players is never going to happen- and nor should it. 
 

They love coming over after a win, they need to be big enough to cop a bit when we are abject. 

5 minutes ago, nzlatic said:

To persist with my already thin metaphor, would people buy it though? There is more too it than just creating good food as if it was that simple loads of people would have successful restaurants. I'm not comparing a restaurant with a football team though, so maybe metaphor is the wrong word. It's just an example of a business that should sound simple but definitely wouldn't be because there are all sorts of other things that go into creating a succesful restaurant. Same with football... new owner, spruce up facilities, hire manager with good record, sign good players - it sounds like a simple recipe (sorry) for promotion but if it was that simple then everyone would do it.

 

I've just listened to the pod, so this comment probably more relevant in that thread, but as Matt said, we're moving forwards, not backwards. As we do that, the changes that will be needed for long term success will be less drastic over time. Starting this summer. I think we have the bones of a very good team, so I don't think we need a complete overhaul.

I have such mixed feelings about us. 
 

On the one hand, I see the bigger picture and the health of the club is very positive. 
 

On the other hand, we should be doing better this season given the calibre of manager and the pedigree of players. 
 

I suppose I’m just struggling with a few places higher being seen as enough progress. Feels like clutching a little bit. 
 

Even Mickey said the target was playoffs. . . 

3 minutes ago, Frankly Mr Shankly said:

 

I personally don't think getting into the play-offs is too big an ask. There's a lot of assumption that Halifax, Alty and Gateshead are not going to be caught but they have a lot of matches to cram in. However the three matches beyond that feel a stretch too far for me, with two tough away assignments before you even get to Wembley. One from Bromley, Barnet, Aldershot or Solihull I'd reckon.

Yeah, agreed. 
 

I’ve stayed off here all weekend because the dreaded apathy has set in a bit, as I don’t think we’ll make it now. We need a complete turnaround in form and it’s not happening. Marc White said at the start of the season we’d finish 8th, and I want his lottery numbers because I think he’ll be spot on.
 

I’ve defended Mellon, and if- as expected we don’t make the playoffs, he still gets the summer to rebuild and the start of next season to see if he can push us on. 
 

But- there’s no denying, he has underachieved this season.  We were mid-table when he came in, he had an underachieving squad and got some results, he has then been backed with 5/6 signings and the net result is- we are a few places higher.
 

That’s a poor return. 
 

He’s wasn’t brought in for gradual improvement, he was brought in to win promotion. He said himself the target this season was playoffs- that doesn’t look like happening and he’s under big pressure next season. 
 

10 minutes ago, Sloshed Joe said:

Good luck to the lad. Shame he’s missing our league match but great that he’s starting in the U21 qualifier. Not sure if the line up I saw is correct, but it had him starting left in a front three.

Yep. Good to luck him.
 

As far as we are concerned, he’s a development player in my view. He looks and plays like an enthusiastic boy in a man’s game. Loads of energy, and picks up good pockets of space but if you get knocked off the ball so easily it’s difficult to be effective. 
 

A summer in the gym, and hopefully he kicks on next season.