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Reply | Dorking
at 18:07 13 Apr 2024
Apart from a few half decent efforts near the end, it was yet another borefest. Results may have improved ( compared to an awful season last time out) but entertainment (Hayes the notable exception) hasn't changed.
The buck stops with McNulty I'm afraid. This league is way below the standard of L2 of last season, and even that wasn't a strong league.
The Manager alone sets up the way we play and endlessly pass it around for no reason. Yes...it comes off once in a blue moon, but for goodness sakes; we were playing a part time team who had recently played another match before an arduous journey up here. We should have been flying at them instead of making them look at least as good as us for long periods.
As others have rightly said; how is Jim-ball going to encourage people to purchase a season ticket next year? |
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Reply | Gateshead Game Predictions
at 11:20 30 Mar 2024
The counter arguments discussed previously are exactly what you get playing the style we have adopted.. There are a handful who go ott with criticism, whilst an opposite handful are very supportive of the Manager. The truth is probably somewhere in between, although there have been too many occasions where I've watched in growing frustration as we fail to attack.
In all honesty, I'm growing bored in general at the way we have played for the past 4 seasons or so, and it seems to be actually worse this season in terms of the passing around for no reason (that I can see) Was it this bad under BBM? (who I blame for starting the decline alongside the evil Bottomley)
As others have said; this is not a good league, and given our squad (with a real bonus of having Hayes with us for a good number of games) we really should be in contention in the top 4 or 5.
Several teams have been impressive against us, but none (Chesterfield apart) have been so much superior that we stood no chance against them. And I'm aware that we drew against them recently. Gateshead beat us fair and square yesterday without really breaking sweat, whilst we never laid a glove on them. Their keeper will have had few easier afternoons.
So I'm in the McNulty isn't good enough camp. Yes he comes across well in interview and he obviously cares about the club, but he is so tactically negative that it's not true. Even in the 5 minutes added time yesterday, there were numerous times when we chose to play backwards rather than push forward. If it's true that our current Chairman likes watching the way we play; then he isn't the man for the job. Where's the ambition to thrill the crowds or ; heaven forbid attract new supporters?
It is an entertainment business, and if people are not feeling entertained then we will struggle. Sadly, I can count about 5 or 6 games where I have felt entertained. Probably 15 to 20 where it's been negative rubbish and baffling selections and tactics. |
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Reply | Gateshead Game Predictions
at 16:17 29 Mar 2024
Thought it was fairly even until they scored but they've been much better since. Rodney seems to be too deep and Mitchell largely ineffective so far.
Gateshead look a decent team. |
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Reply | The Ogden Family
at 15:21 25 Mar 2024
On the face of it; this is brilliant news for all concerned. Let's hope all is as it seems, but the local connection, plus the statement issued by the Ogden Family are both very positive. |
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Reply | The Exiles are back in town…..
at 12:32 24 Mar 2024
Yesterday game was a bit of a curates egg.
Good: Home win; third win on bounce, building a bit of momentum; keeper looked good.
Not so good: We could and probably should have won by more, but endured several nervy moments against a poor team; Hayes injury; Somewhat negative tactics after Hayes injury.
Overall; We are a mid table team who could have challenged for a play off spot. Strange decisions have cost us quite a few points.
Really hope we can get good quality new owners in and have a stable base from which to operate.
There are signs that the team can progress on the field.
Up the Dale |
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Reply | This is awful
at 17:41 9 Mar 2024
Its awful The fans have been more than supportive of the negative football we have played for the majority of the season .. but it has to stop.
Those who clap at the end of another dismal performance are becoming part of the problem. |
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Reply | Refwatch: Ebbsfleet United v Rochdale
at 18:52 2 Mar 2024
I'm overseas currently so could watch the game. It was pathetic tactics. Nothing else.
Tuesday shows what we can do if we attack. Today shows the negative rubbish if we don't get on the offensive.
Nothing else to comment on . |
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Reply | Trust statement - Resignation
at 07:46 29 Feb 2024
So sad to learn this news. I honestly don't understand why George has reached this decision, but for goodness sake, its awful news for the trust, and therefore for all supporters.
I'd like to thank George for his hard work in recent times during an increasingly difficult environment. I'm really not sure how the trust will manage now. |
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Reply | EGM + statement
at 09:03 22 Feb 2024
What an absolute mess.
It's like turkeys being asked to vote for Christmas whilst they are on the butchers block in February. Death now...or in a few months.
Such a crying shame that it has come to this. The Board came into the club on the back of the removal of Bottomley and Rawlinson, and had the support of 99% of fans. There was an absolute wave of goodwill from the wider football community.
Sadly, they have managed, through a wide variety of awful business decisions, to completely destroy that goodwill, and have now become the target of fan angst themselves. It was almost impossible for them to have done this so quickly, but; they've done it.
A series of catastrophic business decisions have brought us to this point, and sadly, the fingers are pointed firmly and squarely at those who have been in the Boardroom recently. Have these people got any business sense? It really appears not from outside looking in.
What happened to change the Boards mindset from challenging the MH share transfers as being illegal to going cap in hand to them to buy up their shares at an inflated price? Was our legal advice flawed? If it changed, did we consider legal action against our advisory team?
What happened about a former Director who I believe still posts on here telling me personally that we were taking Bottomley to Court and " guaranteed a six figure pay out "?
In fact... what happened at the court case? We haven't had an update and it will have happened by now?
Why did the Board deem it good business sense to turn down offers of assistance from many people with vast knowledge and experience in the football world? That advice and help was offered unconditionally, but it appears that it was declined outright.
Giving Stockdale the transfer budget to waste and then sacking him so quickly into the season was hopeless governance. Followed by the desperate attempts to appoint his successor only to land an out of work journeyman and then give him a 2 year deal when he would have worked almost on a week to week deal.
Why did they repay a substantial (and low interest rate) loan which took up valuable cashflow? Baffling business sense. Cashflow is king in any small business.
Who oversaw the Ethan Brierly sh*tshow transfer episode? Sending him on loan to a club under a transfer embargo, and only bringing him back when it was too late to sell him elsewhere. Genius.
I bought my few thousand pounds worth of shares not in the expectation of getting a return on it...or even ever getting anything back, but to help my football club. The same principal should apply to those who are now desperate to find a buyer. Don't put money into a football club if you might need it back in the future.
The Trust has once again been shafted here, and all of us who gave money, shook buckets and undertook all manner of fundraising projects can feel likewise hard done to. If this motion is passed, the Trust will have no voice, no power and no authority whatsoever. The Trust Director must feel like an absolute fool, and should be withdrawn from the Board today. |
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Reply | No other games postponed
at 13:04 20 Feb 2024
Seem to recall (under the Dunphy Chairmanship) that we had a guarantee on an old pitch, provided we maintained it to the installation companies terms. Sadly, we didn't stick to what was recommended, and the pitch failed badly. Think we bought cheap sand instead of what they told us, and it clogged everything up drainage wise.
Hope we have learned from that mistake. |
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Reply | Match thread v Solihull
at 19:36 17 Feb 2024
True James. We can play with pace and with Hayes back together with the long awaited return of Rodney, there are some positives. |
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Reply | Match thread v Solihull
at 19:18 17 Feb 2024
He also says it should have been a draw and has a pop at the pitch (fair enough...its awful) and bemoans our bad luck throughout the season.
Whilst its a clever move to praise the supporters, he must realise that our slow plodding play was streets behind Solihull, who thoroughly deserved the win. |
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Reply | Match thread v Solihull
at 16:07 17 Feb 2024
They look very dangerous on the attack, and will probably feel they should be ahead. Pitch looks to have suffered with all the recent rain. |
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Thread | Match thread v Solihull
at 15:13 17 Feb 2024
Can't see a match thread, so here goes.
Absolutely awful start. Our full backs are all over the place. |
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Reply | Style of play - Players interaction
at 10:16 15 Feb 2024
Pretty much agree with this. We can debate all we like if we only have one style of play or several, but the bottom line is it's not entertaining for the main part, and it will be difficult to attract new fans whilst employing these tactics; let alone keeping hold of current supporters especially if prices rise as is obviously needed. |
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Reply | Match referee
at 09:20 6 Feb 2024
Looked a penalty to me... it was certainly a clumsy and somewhat lazy challenge. Right on the edge of the box and gave the referee a decision to make right on half time.
Referee wasn't good throughout, but then again, we were very poor and negative . |
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Reply | Rod Brierley
at 20:00 2 Feb 2024
Another club stalwart who was a key member of the board for many years.
Thank you for your service Rod, and RIP. |
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Reply | Deadline Day Signing*
at 18:31 1 Feb 2024
Delighted with this news. He made such a difference to the whole team last time. Well done to all concerned. |
| | dawlishdale
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