[Jud]

Now then. Things aren't great. I know this, you know this, we ALL know this. I am somewhat critical of what appears to be the mismanagement of the club over the last couple of months and the unrecognisable side we now have compared to that of May. And this from a happy clapper.

However.

I am sat watching The Damned United. I had almost forgot why I owned it, and there she was, Saltergate, in all her pomp. Memories came flooding back and I no fooling got a lump in my throat as I remembered the smell of fags and those half-time slashes. But amongst all the memories, a simple truth was staring me in the eye...however frustrated we may be, however disheartening it was to see our star players leave in the summer and however disappointed we might be with Master Saunders and how the board have handled the last few months, it's easy to forget what we were back in 09, isn't it?

Not making excuses for the mess we're in, but my god...it's a much tidier mess than it used to be, isn't it?

Also, how old is Johnny Giles meant to be?

[azul]

Jud, on 12 October 2015 - 10:13 PM, said:

Now then. Things aren't great. I know this, you know this, we ALL know this. I am somewhat critical of what appears to be the mismanagement of the club over the last couple of months and the unrecognisable side we now have compared to that of May. And this from a happy clapper.

However.

I am sat watching The Damned United. I had almost forgot why I owned it, and there she was, Saltergate, in all her pomp. Memories came flooding back and I no fooling got a lump in my throat as I remembered the smell of fags and those half-time slashes. But amongst all the memories, a simple truth was staring me in the eye...however frustrated we may be, however disheartening it was to see our star players leave in the summer and however disappointed we might be with Master Saunders and how the board have handled the last few months, it's easy to forget what we were back in 09, isn't it?

Not making excuses for the mess we're in, but my god...it's a much tidier mess than it used to be, isn't it?

Also, how old is Johnny Giles meant to be?

Yes

2009, we were going through a transition year with John Sheridan that would us see promoted the next season We had new hope, a new chairman with money and a 5 year plan. We had a new stadium on the horizon that would rid us of debt for decades to come. We had a cosy home end and bovril sold on the ground

2015, we are going through a transition year with Dean Saunders that will see us {insert here}. We have an old chairman with no plan other than to clear massive debts at any cost, plastic seats and real ale sold on the ground

How things change

[Jud]

azul, on 12 October 2015 - 10:31 PM, said:

Yes

2009, we were going through a transition year with John Sheridan that would us see promoted the next season We had new hope, a new chairman with money and a 5 year plan. We had a new stadium on the horizon that would rid us of debt for decades to come. We had a cosy home end and bovril sold on the ground

2015, we are going through a transition year with Dean Saunders that will see us {insert here}. We have an old chairman with no plan other than to clear massive debts at any cost, plastic seats and real ale sold on the ground

How things change

Hahaha! I can see your angle, Azul. Believe me, I can. You wouldn't go back though, surely?

[azul]

Jud, on 12 October 2015 - 10:33 PM, said:

Hahaha! I can see your angle, Azul. Believe me, I can. You wouldn't go back though, surely?

If golden bud was sold from one of the shacks on the ground and lemon blocks were put in the open sewers that passed as bogs, probably yes

[Jud]

azul, on 12 October 2015 - 10:41 PM, said:

If golden bud was sold from one of the shacks on the ground and lemon blocks were put in the open sewers that passed as bogs, probably yes

...And with that delightful scenario, you've gone and hosed down the last shred of positivity I was clinging onto. Damn you, Azul. Damn you.

[calvin plummers socks]

There's a new Cloughie film out this week also

[martatcross]

Tidier than it used to be Yes will give you that And Im not for one minute saying we are going there but there are some good clubs/ grounds in L2 and the conference

[Tha Knows...]

Jud, on 12 October 2015 - 10:13 PM, said:

Now then. Things aren't great. I know this, you know this, we ALL know this. I am somewhat critical of what appears to be the mismanagement of the club over the last couple of months and the unrecognisable side we now have compared to that of May. And this from a happy clapper.

However.

I am sat watching The Damned United. I had almost forgot why I owned it, and there she was, Saltergate, in all her pomp. Memories came flooding back and I no fooling got a lump in my throat as I remembered the smell of fags and those half-time slashes. But amongst all the memories, a simple truth was staring me in the eye...however frustrated we may be, however disheartening it was to see our star players leave in the summer and however disappointed we might be with Master Saunders and how the board have handled the last few months, it's easy to forget what we were back in 09, isn't it?

Not making excuses for the mess we're in, but my god...it's a much tidier mess than it used to be, isn't it?

Also, how old is Johnny Giles meant to be?

We were in the oldest ground in the country, dilapidated saltergate. We should have been out of there years earlier. Many other smaller clubs had already got new stadia. I don't miss it at all. It's great that we have moved on but I don't see the point in saying look how shabby things used to be. Surely it's all about making things better than they are right now. We need a serious investor with a genuine interest in the club. When Tony Stewart saw momentum he built on it, whereas DA chose to grab money back. Stewart talks of the premiership as the promised land, a pipe dream but a dream nonetheless. For us the championship is the promised land but DA doesn't share that dream, and we could be going in the opposite direction if we are not careful.

[BlueRover52]

Jud, on 12 October 2015 - 10:13 PM, said:

Now then. Things aren't great. I know this, you know this, we ALL know this. I am somewhat critical of what appears to be the mismanagement of the club over the last couple of months and the unrecognisable side we now have compared to that of May. And this from a happy clapper.

However.

I am sat watching The Damned United. I had almost forgot why I owned it, and there she was, Saltergate, in all her pomp. Memories came flooding back and I no fooling got a lump in my throat as I remembered the smell of fags and those half-time slashes. But amongst all the memories, a simple truth was staring me in the eye...however frustrated we may be, however disheartening it was to see our star players leave in the summer and however disappointed we might be with Master Saunders and how the board have handled the last few months, it's easy to forget what we were back in 09, isn't it?

Not making excuses for the mess we're in, but my god...it's a much tidier mess than it used to be, isn't it?

Also, how old is Johnny Giles meant to be?

No argument about the ground or facilities.What's happening on the pitch is the problem.Watching non league games in a smart ground would be no consolation.

[newboldsteve]

Spire-Power, on 13 October 2015 - 10:51 AM, said:

We were in the oldest ground in the country, dilapidated saltergate. We should have been out of there years earlier. Many other smaller clubs had already got new stadia. I don't miss it at all. It's great that we have moved on but I don't see the point in saying look how shabby things used to be. Surely it's all about making things better than they are right now. We need a serious investor with a genuine interest in the club. When Tony Stewart saw momentum he built on it, whereas DA chose to grab money back. Stewart talks of the premiership as the promised land, a pipe dream but a dream nonetheless. For us the championship is the promised land but DA doesn't share that dream, and we could be going in the opposite direction if we are not careful.

an investor would suggest making money all you want is a sugar daddy to come and pay for your dream

[The Earl of Chesterfield]

newboldsteve, on 13 October 2015 - 05:57 PM, said:

an investor would suggest making money all you want is a sugar daddy to come and pay for your dream

When DA first took over he clearly stated the second tier as his "dream".

[Cartman]

MDCCCLXVI, on 13 October 2015 - 06:34 PM, said:

When DA first took over he clearly stated the second tier as his "dream".

DA would obviously like to get to the Championship - to suggest he wouldn't want the club to go up is daft

He would then own a more valuable asset

However, what he appears to not want to do is spend loads of money to get there

I find it a bit weird that we hear that we have the biggest player budget ever now, yet we couldn't fund a proper replacement for Doyle or any very good loan players to supplement the squad going into the final part of last season!

[The Earl of Chesterfield]

Cartman, on 13 October 2015 - 06:40 PM, said:

DA would obviously like to get to the Championship - to suggest he wouldn't want the club to go up is daft

He would then own a more valuable asset

However, what he appears to not want to do is spend loads of money to get there

I find it a bit weird that we hear that we have the biggest player budget ever now, yet we couldn't fund a proper replacement for Doyle or any very good loan players to supplement the squad going into the final part of last season!

I think DA's only ambition is to retrieve as much of his money as quickly as possible then sell the Club.

Hence cutting overheads and the debt to make it more attractive to a potential buyer.

[Cartman]

MDCCCLXVI, on 13 October 2015 - 06:43 PM, said:

I think DA's only ambition is to retrieve as much of his money as quickly as possible then sell the Club.

Hence cutting overheads and the debt to make it more attractive to a potential buyer.

best way to do this would have been promotion last year

2k away fans most games

club more valuable to potential buyer in the 2nd tier

[The Earl of Chesterfield]

Cartman, on 13 October 2015 - 06:47 PM, said:

best way to do this would have been promotion last year

2k away fans most games

club more valuable to potential buyer in the 2nd tier

Yup, can't argue with that.

However there's always been a disconnect between such rational fan-thinking and the Boardroom.

[fishini]

The only difference as I see it between the last years at Saltergate and the present in the Proact is the ground itself. The crap football, the incompetence of the board and the lack of ambition all remain the same

[Tha Knows...]

Cartman, on 13 October 2015 - 06:47 PM, said:

best way to do this would have been promotion last year

2k away fans most games

Agree. We would get £6m but the thought of championship wages might have given DA dysentry.

[h again]

MDCCCLXVI, on 13 October 2015 - 06:43 PM, said:

I think DA's only ambition is to retrieve as much of his money as quickly as possible then sell the Club.

Hence cutting overheads and the debt to make it more attractive to a potential buyer.

Cutting overheads and debt is usually a good strategy for any business. Presumably in your capacity as Business Consultant you'd like to se us increasing overheads and debt?

[Wooden Spoon]

h again, on 13 October 2015 - 08:01 PM, said:

Cutting overheads and debt is usually a good strategy for any business. Presumably in your capacity as Business Consultant you'd like to se us increasing overheads and debt?

Unless it's to the detriment of the product on offer and likely to damage your customer base.

Presumably in your capacity as message board clown your happy with the football and results so far?