stuart1974
Proper Gas
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Post by stuart1974 on Mar 10, 2016 20:04:56 GMT
I seem to recall that JW had the chance to save us from relegation from what is now the Championship in his first spell in charge. He managed our relegation and built for the next season by blooding young players early. I know the league status issue is huge but I still remember this as a good period. I hope that in future we remember this period too, for good and ill.
Litmus test time, a little over 18 months ago we were losing to the likes of Altrincham and the seriousness of the Sainsburys issue was becoming known. If you were told that in 18 months we would be looking at an automatic place for League 1, been to Wembley, the stadium and other facilities were within touching distance and the board had been replaced by a wealthy foreign investor appointing the former Wembley CEO would you believe me?
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Post by Okebournegas on Mar 10, 2016 20:27:34 GMT
I seem to recall that JW had the chance to save us from relegation from what is now the Championship in his first spell in charge. He managed our relegation and built for the next season by blooding young players early. I know the league status issue is huge but I still remember this as a good period. I hope that in future we remember this period too, for good and ill. Litmus test time, a little over 18 months ago we were losing to the likes of Altrincham and the seriousness of the Sainsburys issue was becoming known. If you were told that in 18 months we would be looking at an automatic place for League 1, been to Wembley, the stadium and other facilities were within touching distance and the board had been replaced by a wealthy foreign investor appointing the former Wembley CEO would you believe me? I would of thought you may of had an addiction problem!
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Post by Topper Gas on Mar 10, 2016 21:07:58 GMT
I seem to recall that JW had the chance to save us from relegation from what is now the Championship in his first spell in charge. He managed our relegation and built for the next season by blooding young players early. I know the league status issue is huge but I still remember this as a good period. I hope that in future we remember this period too, for good and ill. Litmus test time, a little over 18 months ago we were losing to the likes of Altrincham and the seriousness of the Sainsburys issue was becoming known. If you were told that in 18 months we would be looking at an automatic place for League 1, been to Wembley, the stadium and other facilities were within touching distance and the board had been replaced by a wealthy foreign investor appointing the former Wembley CEO would you believe me? I guess unless you support the likes of the top 6 Premier sides you are always going to be supporting a team who you feel are under or over achieving? Probably our dreams started when the UWE plans were first announced as without those we wouldn't now have a wealthy investor etc?
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Post by aghast on Mar 10, 2016 21:57:55 GMT
I think it's a bit too early to be calling DC our best ever manager, as some here have.
I'm not criticising him. He's done a great job so far. Promotion at the first time of asking and a solid playoff place at the moment are great. But it's too early to judge. We could yet miss out on the playoffs and be mid-table at Christmas, at which point Al-Presidente might think fresh blood is needed. How would DC be judged then?
I don't think that will happen. But it very easily could. 7 or 8 other teams chasing playoff places will be trying as hard as we do.
Let's wait until we get promoted and see how we do in League 1 before favouring DC over say Don Megson or Gerry Francis. He might outperform both, and every other manager, and I hope he does. But I recall some on the OF saying in April 2013 that JW was one of our best ever managers after the miraculous feat of taking us from 22nd on Boxing Day to the verge of the playoffs in 4 months. And that didn't end well.
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Post by socrates on Mar 10, 2016 22:02:42 GMT
Dragging up all that horrible past makes me feel sick. I don't want to talk about those terrible mistakes we can Look forward now we can be proud as a club UTG.
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Post by Okebournegas on Mar 10, 2016 22:06:52 GMT
I think it's a bit too early to be calling DC our best ever manager, as some here have. I'm not criticising him. He's done a great job so far. Promotion at the first time of asking and a solid playoff place at the moment are great. But it's too early to judge. We could yet miss out on the playoffs and be mid-table at Christmas, at which point Al-Presidente might think fresh blood is needed. How would DC be judged then? I don't think that will happen. But it very easily could. 7 or 8 other teams chasing playoff places will be trying as hard as we do. Let's wait until we get promoted and see how we do in League 1 before favouring DC over say Don Megson or Gerry Francis. He might outperform both, and every other manager, and I hope he does. But I recall some on the OF saying in April 2013 that JW was one of our best ever managers after the miraculous feat of taking us from 22nd on Boxing Day to the verge of the playoffs in 4 months. And that didn't end well. What ! People said JW was one of our best managers for missing out on a playoff place?
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Post by aghast on Mar 10, 2016 22:14:33 GMT
I think it's a bit too early to be calling DC our best ever manager, as some here have. I'm not criticising him. He's done a great job so far. Promotion at the first time of asking and a solid playoff place at the moment are great. But it's too early to judge. We could yet miss out on the playoffs and be mid-table at Christmas, at which point Al-Presidente might think fresh blood is needed. How would DC be judged then? I don't think that will happen. But it very easily could. 7 or 8 other teams chasing playoff places will be trying as hard as we do. Let's wait until we get promoted and see how we do in League 1 before favouring DC over say Don Megson or Gerry Francis. He might outperform both, and every other manager, and I hope he does. But I recall some on the OF saying in April 2013 that JW was one of our best ever managers after the miraculous feat of taking us from 22nd on Boxing Day to the verge of the playoffs in 4 months. And that didn't end well. What ! People said JW was one of our best managers for missing out on a playoff place? They most certainly did, until we were battered 4-0 at Bradford and playoff dreams disappeared. Since the OF no longer exists, I can't prove it, so you'll just have to believe me.
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Post by Okebournegas on Mar 10, 2016 22:19:20 GMT
What ! People said JW was one of our best managers for missing out on a playoff place? They most certainly did, until we were battered 4-0 at Bradford and playoff dreams disappeared. Since the OF no longer exists, I can't prove it, so you'll just have to believe me. I've got no reason to disbelieve you. I have only been going down the mem as a season ticket holder for the last three years so that's just before my time. Im just surprised at how fickle some fans are if comments like that were made.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 22:22:48 GMT
What ! People said JW was one of our best managers for missing out on a playoff place? They most certainly did, until we were battered 4-0 at Bradford and playoff dreams disappeared. Since the OF no longer exists, I can't prove it, so you'll just have to believe me. That's when Rich started his Ground Breaking thread,that result crashed the bus
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Post by Okebournegas on Mar 10, 2016 22:26:06 GMT
They most certainly did, until we were battered 4-0 at Bradford and playoff dreams disappeared. Since the OF no longer exists, I can't prove it, so you'll just have to believe me. That's when Rich started his Ground Breaking thread Excuse my ignorance but does he still post on here? Before I joined this forum I used to enjoy reading his threads. Wasn't he always super positive about everything ?
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Post by gashead1981 on Mar 10, 2016 22:27:07 GMT
DC was never to blame for the relegation. He was handed a side just outside the zone admittedly, but by the time he had it Elliot Richards was swapped for a crooked Alan Gow, we couldn't sign a striker and ended up with Gillespie who was no good, Tom Parkes had put on a stone and could barely turn let alone run and JJOT announced quite publicly that he was off if we went down and basically didn't give a toss. It was a total shambles.
Higgs was mainly to blame for that season. JW wanted to stay to save us from relegation the previous year then get a DOF or youth role but Higgs persuaded him to stay. Because of the mess we had with both Buckle and McGhee we needed to start a fresh with a young manager and sweep it all out. Instead we got an elder statesmen who's heart wasn't in it and who's methods were antiquainted at best. We looked threadbare and unfit from day one.
Higgs should have had the balls to sort it out then but he didn't and he took the club down with JW who then jumped off a sinking ship.
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Post by midlandgas213 on Mar 10, 2016 22:28:35 GMT
Who is the red who voted no never p**s off south of the river we don't want you here
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Post by Okebournegas on Mar 10, 2016 22:31:13 GMT
DC was never to blame for the relegation. He was handed a side just outside the zone admittedly, but by the time he had it Elliot Richards was swapped for a crooked Alan Gow, we couldn't sign a striker and ended up with Gillespie who was no good, Tom Parkes had put on a stone and could barely turn let alone run and JJOT announced quite publicly that he was off if we went down and basically didn't give a toss. It was a total shambles. Higgs was mainly to blame for that season. JW wanted to stay to save us from relegation the previous year then get a DOF or youth role but Higgs persuaded him to stay. Because of the mess we had with both Buckle and McGhee we needed to start a fresh with a young manager and sweep it all out. Instead we got an elder statesmen who's heart wasn't in it and who's methods were antiquainted at best. We looked threadbare and unfit from day one. Higgs should have had the balls to sort it out then but he didn't and he took the club down with JW who then jumped off a sinking ship. Couldn't agree more that's pretty much how I see it but you've explained yourself clearer !
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 22:36:13 GMT
That's when Rich started his Ground Breaking thread Excuse my ignorance but does he still post on here? Before I joined this forum I used to enjoy reading his threads. Wasn't he always super positive about everything ? He has done,but not so much lately,not a fan of his ground breaking posts myself, but a lot were
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Post by dinsdale on Mar 10, 2016 22:38:01 GMT
The club had been heading ou the league for years due to the appauling way it was being run. Thing got even worse when Higgs replaced Dunford which is something i never thought possible.That aside JW and DC both had a part to play but it was the making if DC so maybe something that had to happen.
I don't recall this many people saying it was nothing to do with DC at the time but hey ho.
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Post by Okebournegas on Mar 10, 2016 22:41:43 GMT
Excuse my ignorance but does he still post on here? Before I joined this forum I used to enjoy reading his threads. Wasn't he always super positive about everything ? He has done,but not so much lately,not a fan of his ground breaking posts myself, but a lot were It used to make me chuckle to be honest but I can see where you are coming from
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Post by Okebournegas on Mar 10, 2016 22:54:17 GMT
The club had been heading ou the league for years due to the appauling way it was being run. Thing got even worse when Higgs replaced Dunford which is something i never thought possible.That aside JW and DC both had a part to play but it was the making if DC so maybe something that had to happen. I don't recall this many people saying it was nothing to do with DC at the time but hey ho. There is only so much input an assistant manger can give a manager I remember not so long after the relegation twentyman had a phone in one Friday night for a sort of question and answer with DC and he was asked about if he agreed with JW style of play and his reply was a resounding no! He went on to explain that he could put his ideas to the manager in regards to a more attacking formation but JW was having none of it ( or words to that effect) again this could of all been lip service from DC to get us fans onside. JW style of football was outdated in my opinion , for the record I still maintain that DC was not responsible for our relegation, but I will be the first to admit I wasn't doing back flips when he was appointed I would if like to of seen someone like Martin Allen. ( glad that we stuck with DC though forgive obvious reasons !)
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Post by Okebournegas on Mar 10, 2016 22:56:03 GMT
The club had been heading ou the league for years due to the appauling way it was being run. Thing got even worse when Higgs replaced Dunford which is something i never thought possible.That aside JW and DC both had a part to play but it was the making if DC so maybe something that had to happen. I don't recall this many people saying it was nothing to do with DC at the time but hey ho. There is only so much input an assistant manger can give a manager I remember not so long after the relegation twentyman had a phone in one Friday night for a sort of question and answer with DC and he was asked about if he agreed with JW style of play and his reply was a resounding no! He went on to explain that he could put his ideas to the manager in regards to a more attacking formation but JW was having none of it ( or words to that effect) again this could of all been lip service from DC to get us fans onside. JW style of football was outdated in my opinion , for the record I still maintain that DC was not responsible for our relegation, but I will be the first to admit I wasn't doing back flips when he was appointed I would if like to of seen someone like Martin Allen. ( glad that we stuck with DC though forgive obvious reasons !) * for the not forgive
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Post by BlueQuarter on Mar 11, 2016 0:15:59 GMT
It should be noted that relegation cost John Ward the Director of Football role he held for five weeks.
I surmise: 1. That DC would have preferred not working under a DoF; and 2. That NH and the board would have had to allow DC greater freedom over recruitment, contracts, backroom staff and more.
The fashion in which DC has transformed the team and the spirit is nothing short of astounding. Would the same licence and opportunity to change things from top to bottom have come around if we had stayed up? We will never know.
Let's get behind DC and the team and push onward.
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Post by socrates on Mar 11, 2016 0:37:43 GMT
They most certainly did, until we were battered 4-0 at Bradford and playoff dreams disappeared. Since the OF no longer exists, I can't prove it, so you'll just have to believe me. I've got no reason to disbelieve you. I have only been going down the mem as a season ticket holder for the last three years so that's just before my time. Im just surprised at how fickle some fans are if comments like that were made. To be fair he took us from rock bottom to being very close to a play off place in half a season which was bloody good going and a very good achievement. Unfortunately all the good he did that season was undone in the following disastrous season. It's easy to say fans are fickle and I agree we can be but on the other hand things change quickly in football sometimes. One minute I was singing "John Wards Barmy army " as he dragged us off the bottom of the league and up to within a few points of the play offs and a year later I was shaking my head not believing what I was seeing as we fell lower than ever before. If that makes me fickle then yeah I am but when times are good you enjoy it you don't hold it in because your scared that maybe things will go wrong down the line and you'll be proven wrong. UTG
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