[Zigsuk]

Defeat at MK which is very likely and the doomsters really will go into overdrive. Doubtless we will be in National Lrague North in two seasons. Walton calls everyone who doesn?t share his pessimism a happy clapper. I have never been that, nor a doomsayer, but more of a realist who sees both sides. On our day we are as good as anyone at this level but ultimately aren?t quite good or consistent enough to achieve success this time round.

I hate to think how the doomsayers would have carried Bon back in truly dark days of a few years back.

[Fit as a Nelson]

You posted once that you stopped going in the dark days of a few years back, Walton was still there.

[The Earl of Chesterfield]

Man City have one of the world's best managers.

They have some of the world's best players.

They also play a style similar to ours'. A style which's made them one of the world's most successful sides.

Yet they're experiencing a stinking run. Partly because of injury to key players, partly because other outfits employ tactics to stop 'em.

Sound familiar?

We're heading in the right direction. Even though there'll always be poor performances delivering poor results. If folk can't look at that bigger picture the problem's with them...

[Osborne again]

The Earl of Chesterfield, on 02 December 2024 - 09:02 AM, said:

Man City have one of the world's best managers.

They have some of the world's best players.

They also play a style similar to ours'. A style which's made them one of the world's most successful sides.

Yet they're experiencing a stinking run. Partly because of injury to key players, partly because other outfits employ tactics to stop 'em.

Sound familiar?

We're heading in the right direction. Even though there'll always be poor performances delivering poor results. If folk can't look at that bigger picture the problem's with them...

Exactly, well said.

[Benno Spire]

I remember when we got a draw at Dover just before Covid ended the 2019-20 season that only just helped us escape relegation to national league North. I would have given everything that day to be where we are now. We are on a journey, just like driving to Cornwall, there will be roadblocks, delays and frustrations along the way but the aim is the destination, which I feel Cook and the owners are heading towards.

[Mr Mercury]

Benno Spire, on 02 December 2024 - 09:59 AM, said:

I remember when we got a draw at Dover just before Covid ended the 2019-20 season that only just helped us escape relegation to national league North. I would have given everything that day to be where we are now. We are on a journey, just like driving to Cornwall, there will be roadblocks, delays and frustrations along the way but the aim is the destination, which I feel Cook and the owners are heading towards.

Went to the final game pre lock down away at Chorley knowing that all other leagues were about to stop and mathematically realising that defeat there could well plunge us into the relegation places and then even relegate us depending on the NLs decisions going forward. Arguably one of the least remembered but most important wins in the history of the club.

[Mr Mercury]

Zigsuk, on 02 December 2024 - 06:51 AM, said:

Defeat at MK which is very likely and the doomsters really will go into overdrive. Doubtless we will be in National Lrague North in two seasons. Walton calls everyone who doesn?t share his pessimism a happy clapper. I have never been that, nor a doomsayer, but more of a realist who sees both sides. On our day we are as good as anyone at this level but ultimately aren?t quite good or consistent enough to achieve success this time round.

I hate to think how the doomsayers would have carried Bon back in truly dark days of a few years back.

Tbh looking at the players we were signing last season, Naylor, Grigg, Jacobs, I think that was done with an eye on being more than this just being a consolidating season, add to that the signings of Dunkley and Madden in the summer convinced me that we were very real top 3 contenders, I’m sure others at the club felt the same, and although the first few months have been far from a disaster it maybe we just have to water down expectations a little bit. I for one am guilty of underestimating the strength of the division a tad and expected a bit more of an easy ride than we?ve had. A dip in form and results coupled with a pretty bad injury list is certainly not helping. Saying that, if we can maintain a healthy top half position between now and the opening of the transfer window when I?m sure we?ll see a couple of new additions along with a couple leaving, maybe permanently, and the return of some injured players I still think a play off place is well within the reach of the club, both in terms of Ownership backing, the experience and knowledge of the management team and the quality of the squad.
Saying all that if it ends up being a season of consolidation and is just part of the learning curve in our progression back to L1 I?ll happily take that after the six years of purgatory we?ve had.
Chesterfields return to where Paul Cook left us in L1, wasn?t built in a day I think some philosopher once said

This post has been edited by Mr Mercury: 02 December 2024 - 10:40 AM

[Bald magician]

Zigsuk, on 02 December 2024 - 06:51 AM, said:

Defeat at MK which is very likely and the doomsters really will go into overdrive. Doubtless we will be in National Lrague North in two seasons. Walton calls everyone who doesn?t share his pessimism a happy clapper. I have never been that, nor a doomsayer, but more of a realist who sees both sides. On our day we are as good as anyone at this level but ultimately aren?t quite good or consistent enough to achieve success this time round.

I hate to think how the doomsayers would have carried Bon back in truly dark days of a few years back.

Why is a defeat to MK Dons highly likely? I absolutely don't see it that way and our away record and goal tally doesn't suggest that either?

[Bonnyman]

It?s a massive step up in class, teams are week in week out 10-15 % better than last year, there are not really any bad sides , last year was full of them, we extended contracts of a lot of players last season , imo a mistake, it?s obvious now that it?s tough for some, some players are having very average seasons so far, some are not good enough, some are surprising . We will need stronger younger more robust players going forward, we need more pace, especially up top, but most importantly we need a settled side.We need a good 2nd half of the season from Mandeville , Naylor and Colclough, I don?t think any of those 3 have played to the standard I feel they are capable of.

[Osborne again]

Benno Spire, on 02 December 2024 - 09:59 AM, said:

I remember when we got a draw at Dover just before Covid ended the 2019-20 season that only just helped us escape relegation to national league North. I would have given everything that day to be where we are now. We are on a journey, just like driving to Cornwall, there will be roadblocks, delays and frustrations along the way but the aim is the destination, which I feel Cook and the owners are heading towards.

Again,I totally agree. I never thought we'd win this league this year, although I wouldn't mind if we did obviously.

[Bald magician]

Mr Mercury, on 02 December 2024 - 10:39 AM, said:

Tbh looking at the players we were signing last season, Naylor, Grigg, Jacobs, I think that was done with an eye on being more than this just being a consolidating season, add to that the signings of Dunkley and Madden in the summer convinced me that we were very real top 3 contenders, I?m sure others at the club felt the same, and although the first few months have been far from a disaster it maybe we just have to water down expectations a little bit. I for one am guilty of underestimating the strength of the division a tad and expected a bit more of an easy ride than we?ve had. A dip in form and results coupled with a pretty bad injury list is certainly not helping. Saying that, if we can maintain a healthy top half position between now and the opening of the transfer window when I?m sure we?ll see a couple of new additions along with a couple leaving, maybe permanently, and the return of some injured players I still think a play off place is well within the reach of the club, both in terms of Ownership backing, the experience and knowledge of the management team and the quality of the squad.
Saying all that if it ends up being a season of consolidation and is just part of the learning curve in our progression back to L1 I?ll happily take that after the six years of purgatory we?ve had.
Chesterfields return to where Paul Cook left us in L1, wasn?t built in a day I think some philosopher once said

Yes this is where I?m at.

It?s a fact teams are better than what we faced last year.

It?s a fact we have some injuries ( like most sides)

Its a fact we are a transitioning team / club


People need to calm down and support the team. They need us !

[gordon_brittas]

Bonnyman, on 02 December 2024 - 11:24 AM, said:

It?s a massive step up in class, teams are week in week out 10-15 % better than last year, there are not really any bad sides , last year was full of them, we extended contracts of a lot of players last season , imo a mistake, it?s obvious now that it?s tough for some, some players are having very average seasons so far, some are not good enough, some are surprising . We will need stronger younger more robust players going forward, we need more pace, especially up top, but most importantly we need a settled side.We need a good 2nd half of the season from Mandeville , Naylor and Colclough, I don?t think any of those 3 have played to the standard I feel they are capable of.

💯

[boot]

Bonnyman, on 02 December 2024 - 11:24 AM, said:

It?s a massive step up in class, teams are week in week out 10-15 % better than last year, there are not really any bad sides , last year was full of them, we extended contracts of a lot of players last season , imo a mistake, it?s obvious now that it?s tough for some, some players are having very average seasons so far, some are not good enough, some are surprising . We will need stronger younger more robust players going forward, we need more pace, especially up top, but most importantly we need a settled side.We need a good 2nd half of the season from Mandeville , Naylor and Colclough, I don?t think any of those 3 have played to the standard I feel they are capable of.

Nail on head - strength, physicality and pace lacking overall - technical ability generally good for this level, but we can't be described as powerful, and it does make the difference. Cook knows what's needed I'm sure, but the hard bit is getting the players. Three year project maybe, as per National to League 2. Via the play offs this year would be brilliant and it currently looks like our best chance. Two outstanding signings in January could make all the difference though.

This post has been edited by boot: 02 December 2024 - 12:56 PM

[stainlessstephen]

Bald magician, on 02 December 2024 - 12:36 PM, said:

Yes this is where I?m at.

It?s a fact teams are better than what we faced last year.

It?s a fact we have some injuries ( like most sides)

Its a fact we are a transitioning team / club


People need to calm down and support the team. They need us !

Well said.

We are very much in transition still. This will be a slow burn.

PC won't get it right all the time, every time. But I'm confident in him and the management team to get it right most of the time. And that is something they have proved.

[tedspireite]

Osborne again, on 02 December 2024 - 09:58 AM, said:

Exactly, well said.

Seconded.

[HaslandBlue58]

Bonnyman, on 02 December 2024 - 11:24 AM, said:

It?s a massive step up in class, teams are week in week out 10-15 % better than last year, there are not really any bad sides , last year was full of them, we extended contracts of a lot of players last season , imo a mistake, it?s obvious now that it?s tough for some, some players are having very average seasons so far, some are not good enough, some are surprising . We will need stronger younger more robust players going forward, we need more pace, especially up top, but most importantly we need a settled side.We need a good 2nd half of the season from Mandeville , Naylor and Colclough, I don?t think any of those 3 have played to the standard I feel they are capable of.

Do you not think that to keep a settled side last season could have been the reason behind contract extensions to get us out of the league of hell?

[Bonnyman]

HaslandBlue58, on 02 December 2024 - 03:38 PM, said:

Do you not think that to keep a settled side last season could have been the reason behind contract extensions to get us out of the league of hell?

I doubt players were knocking on the door in feb asking for extensions, we extended a few players contracts that I thought were strange , but there may be more to that than meets the eye, we did get a fee for quigley which was a miracle in itself.

[Zigsuk]

Bonnyman, on 02 December 2024 - 11:24 AM, said:

It?s a massive step up in class, teams are week in week out 10-15 % better than last year, there are not really any bad sides , last year was full of them, we extended contracts of a lot of players last season , imo a mistake, it?s obvious now that it?s tough for some, some players are having very average seasons so far, some are not good enough, some are surprising . We will need stronger younger more robust players going forward, we need more pace, especially up top, but most importantly we need a settled side.We need a good 2nd half of the season from Mandeville , Naylor and Colclough, I don?t think any of those 3 have played to the standard I feel they are capable of.

Agree about the three named, although Mandy and Coco haven't really had a decent run, whilst Naylor is finally played in his best position and then gets injured. I would also add Dobra to that list of underachievers.

[Zigsuk]

Bald magician, on 02 December 2024 - 11:18 AM, said:

Why is a defeat to MK Dons highly likely? I absolutely don't see it that way and our away record and goal tally doesn't suggest that either?

Hope you're right and I'm wrong, but I have an uneasy feeling about it. We seem rather fagile and wildly inconsistent whilst the injuries are really taking their toll.
Maybe I'm turning into Brittas! He has an uneasy feeling before every game.

[Search & Destroy]

Zigsuk, on 02 December 2024 - 06:51 AM, said:

Defeat at MK which is very likely and the doomsters really will go into overdrive. Doubtless we will be in National Lrague North in two seasons. Walton calls everyone who doesn?t share his pessimism a happy clapper. I have never been that, nor a doomsayer, but more of a realist who sees both sides. On our day we are as good as anyone at this level but ultimately aren?t quite good or consistent enough to achieve success this time round.

I hate to think how the doomsayers would have carried Bon back in truly dark days of a few years back.

You expect us to lose?

I?m with you by the way, fully expecting a comprehensive defeat

This post has been edited by Search & Destroy: 02 December 2024 - 07:43 PM