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Post by knowall on Apr 15, 2017 9:00:19 GMT
When the Gas fell out of the football league, I said it was probably a good thing. It was, because the Club badly needed a new direction and emphasis, and that is what happened - from a Club employing seasoned professionals who 'did enough' in their work to stay at the club and being over-paid for their efforts - DC brought in younger, hungrier players prepared to listen and do as they were told. And, my goodness, look how that has worked. BUT NOW it seems we have got as far as we can with this formula and perhaps another change is needed. Better quality players alongside the younger, hungrier players - but that implies better paid? players? and for that DC needs help with his budget. In the short term that cannot be a problem because any budget can be temporarily increased but in the long term, of course, that can only be achieved with a better income at the Club, and that in turn can only be achieved with bigger attendances. I cannot envisage that being attained at the Memorial Stadium - so UWE (or another stadium) has to be secured to provide the opportunity to increase attendance and income and the sooner the better to ensure we capitalise on the fantastic work that has taken place during the last three years.
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Post by BishopstonBRFC on Apr 15, 2017 9:38:17 GMT
When the Gas fell out of the football league, I said it was probably a good thing. It was, because the Club badly needed a new direction and emphasis, and that is what happened - from a Club employing seasoned professionals who 'did enough' in their work to stay at the club and being over-paid for their efforts - DC brought in younger, hungrier players prepared to listen and do as they were told. And, my goodness, look how that has worked. BUT NOW it seems we have got as far as we can with this formula and perhaps another change is needed. Better quality players alongside the younger, hungrier players - but that implies better paid? players? and for that DC needs help with his budget. In the short term that cannot be a problem because any budget can be temporarily increased but in the long term, of course, that can only be achieved with a better income at the Club, and that in turn can only be achieved with bigger attendances. I cannot envisage that being attained at the Memorial Stadium - so UWE (or another stadium) has to be secured to provide the opportunity to increase attendance and income and the sooner the better to ensure we capitalise on the fantastic work that has taken place during the last three years. It's the balance of decent League 1 players and young hungry players. It makes me nervous talking about spending money to sign quality as the last manager to try that was Trollope but what he signed was rubbish.
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Post by knowall on Apr 15, 2017 9:53:49 GMT
When the Gas fell out of the football league, I said it was probably a good thing. It was, because the Club badly needed a new direction and emphasis, and that is what happened - from a Club employing seasoned professionals who 'did enough' in their work to stay at the club and being over-paid for their efforts - DC brought in younger, hungrier players prepared to listen and do as they were told. And, my goodness, look how that has worked. BUT NOW it seems we have got as far as we can with this formula and perhaps another change is needed. Better quality players alongside the younger, hungrier players - but that implies better paid? players? and for that DC needs help with his budget. In the short term that cannot be a problem because any budget can be temporarily increased but in the long term, of course, that can only be achieved with a better income at the Club, and that in turn can only be achieved with bigger attendances. I cannot envisage that being attained at the Memorial Stadium - so UWE (or another stadium) has to be secured to provide the opportunity to increase attendance and income and the sooner the better to ensure we capitalise on the fantastic work that has taken place during the last three years. It's the balance of decent League 1 players and young hungry players. It makes me nervous talking about spending money to sign quality as the last manager to try that was Trollope but what he signed was rubbish. But DC is not Trollope and evidence so far gives me real confidence that DC will continue to get it right. I did not suggest spending money - but wages are important and is the real budget cost
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Post by titchthephot on Apr 15, 2017 10:10:29 GMT
The day we went out of the league was probably the worst day of my football life but it turned out to be a blessing. We needed that jolt to get rid of dead wood and take on a new direction. The problem now is that we have been spoilt. Two consecutive promotions and we all automatically think that is how it should be every season. Yesterday against Gillingham was a reality check. We do now need to stop and take stock of where we are and where we are going. I really believe that the owners must now focus all there efforts on UWE (or wherever) but I am sure they are doing this anyway. We have a huge amount to be cheerful about this season. Yes, our away form hasn't been what it should have been but the games at home have been a joy to watch (most of the time!). In marathon terms we have 'hit the wall' so we must now catch our breath and look towards the future. New ground, better infrastructure, new exciting players and more content supporters. I am the happiest I have been with Rovers since the mid seventies - and I really believe this setup can go on to better that. UTG.
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Post by knowall on Apr 15, 2017 10:14:52 GMT
The day we went out of the league was probably the worst day of my football life but it turned out to be a blessing. We needed that jolt to get rid of dead wood and take on a new direction. The problem now is that we have been spoilt. Two consecutive promotions and we all automatically think that is how it should be every season. Yesterday against Gillingham was a reality check. We do now need to stop and take stock of where we are and where we are going. I really believe that the owners must now focus all there efforts on UWE (or wherever) but I am sure they are doing this anyway. We have a huge amount to be cheerful about this season. Yes, our away form hasn't been what it should have been but the games at home have been a joy to watch (most of the time!). In marathon terms we have 'hit the wall' so we must now catch our breath and look towards the future. New ground, better infrastructure, new exciting players and more content supporters. I am the happiest I have been with Rovers since the mid seventies - and I really believe this setup can go on to better that. UTG. Thanks - exactly the points I was making - you probably summed it up better than me.
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Post by countygroundhotel on Apr 15, 2017 10:27:40 GMT
The day we went out of the league was probably the worst day of my football life but it turned out to be a blessing. We needed that jolt to get rid of dead wood and take on a new direction. The problem now is that we have been spoilt. Two consecutive promotions and we all automatically think that is how it should be every season. Yesterday against Gillingham was a reality check. We do now need to stop and take stock of where we are and where we are going. I really believe that the owners must now focus all there efforts on UWE (or wherever) but I am sure they are doing this anyway. We have a huge amount to be cheerful about this season. Yes, our away form hasn't been what it should have been but the games at home have been a joy to watch (most of the time!). In marathon terms we have 'hit the wall' so we must now catch our breath and look towards the future. New ground, better infrastructure, new exciting players and more content supporters. I am the happiest I have been with Rovers since the mid seventies - and I really believe this setup can go on to better that. UTG. Why was it a blessing? Had we stayed up then DC would still have been manager and able to build the club and squad. The implications of saying it's a blessing is that by being relegated DC became a great manager but if we'd have stayed up he wouldn't have become a great manager.
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Post by BishopstonBRFC on Apr 15, 2017 10:31:57 GMT
The day we went out of the league was probably the worst day of my football life but it turned out to be a blessing. We needed that jolt to get rid of dead wood and take on a new direction. The problem now is that we have been spoilt. Two consecutive promotions and we all automatically think that is how it should be every season. Yesterday against Gillingham was a reality check. We do now need to stop and take stock of where we are and where we are going. I really believe that the owners must now focus all there efforts on UWE (or wherever) but I am sure they are doing this anyway. We have a huge amount to be cheerful about this season. Yes, our away form hasn't been what it should have been but the games at home have been a joy to watch (most of the time!). In marathon terms we have 'hit the wall' so we must now catch our breath and look towards the future. New ground, better infrastructure, new exciting players and more content supporters. I am the happiest I have been with Rovers since the mid seventies - and I really believe this setup can go on to better that. UTG. Why was it a blessing? Had we stayed up then DC would still have been manager and able to build the club and squad. The implications of saying it's a blessing is that by being relegated DC became a great manager but if we'd have stayed up he wouldn't have become a great manager. We'd have gone down eventually anyway. It needed to happen. If we'd stayed up I think at best we'd have been a mid to low finisher in League 2 and I'm not so sure we'd have new owners.
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Post by Topper Gas on Apr 15, 2017 10:56:55 GMT
Isn't this basically the same topic being discussed on the "DC interview" thread?
If DC is the great manager we think he is why would we have got relegated under his management? DC would have rebuilt the squad if we had avoided our relegation and we could well now be a Championship side. NH may have even found other investors willing to back his UWE project, it's all ifs & buts.
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Post by countygroundhotel on Apr 15, 2017 11:04:24 GMT
Why was it a blessing? Had we stayed up then DC would still have been manager and able to build the club and squad. The implications of saying it's a blessing is that by being relegated DC became a great manager but if we'd have stayed up he wouldn't have become a great manager. We'd have gone down eventually anyway. It needed to happen. If we'd stayed up I think at best we'd have been a mid to low finisher in League 2 and I'm not so sure we'd have new owners. Personally I think DC would've turned into the manager he is today had we stayed up, obviously you think he would've been failure had we stayed up. Oh well all about opinions.
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Post by warehamgas on Apr 15, 2017 11:05:55 GMT
It is all ifs and buts Topper you are right. But if DC had saved us in 2014 it would have been great. He would still have had a big clear out and started afresh. Being in the league perhaps recruitment might have been different. Perhaps everything might have been advanced by a year!! UTG!
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Post by knowall on Apr 15, 2017 11:08:19 GMT
Isn't this basically the same topic being discussed on the "DC interview" thread? If DC is the great manager we think he is why would we have got relegated under his management? DC would have rebuilt the squad if we had avoided our relegation and we could well now be a Championship side. NH may have even found other investors willing to back his UWE project, it's all ifs & buts. No this is more about 'pinch points' and the effects. We were relegated because we needed a clear out and that is what happened on and off (eventually in the boardroom) the pitch.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2017 13:35:32 GMT
Sinclair,Taylor,Leadbitter etc , how would fans have reacted to signings like that if we had stayed up. Plus we gained momentum being promoted from the conference, which might not have happened in L2. But like has been said all ifs and buts.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2017 13:59:19 GMT
When the Gas fell out of the football league, I said it was probably a good thing. It was, because the Club badly needed a new direction and emphasis, and that is what happened - from a Club employing seasoned professionals who 'did enough' in their work to stay at the club and being over-paid for their efforts - DC brought in younger, hungrier players prepared to listen and do as they were told. And, my goodness, look how that has worked. BUT NOW it seems we have got as far as we can with this formula and perhaps another change is needed. Better quality players alongside the younger, hungrier players - but that implies better paid? players? and for that DC needs help with his budget. In the short term that cannot be a problem because any budget can be temporarily increased but in the long term, of course, that can only be achieved with a better income at the Club, and that in turn can only be achieved with bigger attendances. I cannot envisage that being attained at the Memorial Stadium - so UWE (or another stadium) has to be secured to provide the opportunity to increase attendance and income and the sooner the better to ensure we capitalise on the fantastic work that has taken place during the last three years. It's the balance of decent League 1 players and young hungry players. It makes me nervous talking about spending money to sign quality as the last manager to try that was Trollope but what he signed was rubbish. On the topic of getting a 'quality' squad and a mass clear out of the current lot, I don't think that is possible without the new ground - otherwise you have a Trollope situation on your hands again. Best thing to do is sign a couple of experienced players, and maybe pay a decent fee for a striker from L2 or the Conference. Players eager to prove themselves have been the constant in the last few years, and we've got loads of them.
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Post by singupgas on Apr 15, 2017 14:03:13 GMT
Isn't this basically the same topic being discussed on the "DC interview" thread? If DC is the great manager we think he is why would we have got relegated under his management? DC would have rebuilt the squad if we had avoided our relegation and we could well now be a Championship side. NH may have even found other investors willing to back his UWE project, it's all ifs & buts. John Ward relegated us.
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Post by horseshoegas47 on Apr 15, 2017 14:37:34 GMT
I think Darrell has done fantastically well, better than anyone expected but let's be clear, whilst John Ward left us in a difficult position Darrell was his assistant so can't be blameless and when he took over he had enough time to have an impact and keep us in the league. His immaturity as a manager and his ego (I am the boss I am going to change it) were as much to do with us being relegated as anything BUT that's history and as it turns out it probably did us good in the long term. However we should be careful with any expectation for bigger signings so called higher level players as I honestly believe Darrell is at his best dealing with honest hard working non league lads that are greatful to be playing league football, this is a group that Darrell can get the best out of. I have seen enough and heard enough to convince me that I really don't think he will be able to handle big players who will command big wages it goes against everything he stands for so we should keep going as we are adding the odd non league/low league gem to add to what we have. It is clear Wael is prudent and careful, we are still losing £10k per week and as such whilst we will see a modest wage bill increase next season we won't break the bank and rightly so
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Post by knowall on Apr 15, 2017 15:47:29 GMT
I think Darrell has done fantastically well, better than anyone expected but let's be clear, whilst John Ward left us in a difficult position Darrell was his assistant so can't be blameless and when he took over he had enough time to have an impact and keep us in the league. His immaturity as a manager and his ego (I am the boss I am going to change it) were as much to do with us being relegated as anything BUT that's history and as it turns out it probably did us good in the long term. However we should be careful with any expectation for bigger signings so called higher level players as I honestly believe Darrell is at his best dealing with honest hard working non league lads that are greatful to be playing league football, this is a group that Darrell can get the best out of. I have seen enough and heard enough to convince me that I really don't think he will be able to handle big players who will command big wages it goes against everything he stands for so we should keep going as we are adding the odd non league/low league gem to add to what we have. It is clear Wael is prudent and careful, we are still losing £10k per week and as such whilst we will see a modest wage bill increase next season we won't break the bank and rightly so There is plenty of quality about that would not demand big wages - I don't think anyone has called for that. But there is a need for quality the higher in the leagues you go. You only have to look at Lumley and Sweeney for examples of what real quality/experience brings.
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Post by gregsy on Apr 15, 2017 16:01:37 GMT
ask yourself this question folks, if dread the thought we ever run into trouble at the foot of league 2 again.... would you say i believe relegation to the conference is what this club needs because it sorted us right out last time? ?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2017 16:33:02 GMT
I think Darrell has done fantastically well, better than anyone expected but let's be clear, whilst John Ward left us in a difficult position Darrell was his assistant so can't be blameless and when he took over he had enough time to have an impact and keep us in the league. His immaturity as a manager and his ego (I am the boss I am going to change it) were as much to do with us being relegated as anything BUT that's history and as it turns out it probably did us good in the long term. However we should be careful with any expectation for bigger signings so called higher level players as I honestly believe Darrell is at his best dealing with honest hard working non league lads that are greatful to be playing league football, this is a group that Darrell can get the best out of. I have seen enough and heard enough to convince me that I really don't think he will be able to handle big players who will command big wages it goes against everything he stands for so we should keep going as we are adding the odd non league/low league gem to add to what we have. It is clear Wael is prudent and careful, we are still losing £10k per week and as such whilst we will see a modest wage bill increase next season we won't break the bank and rightly so. A good post - but at some time in the not too distant future he will need to start biting the bullet and start attracting 'mature/established league players otherwise we will always remain as he describes a Paul Trollope type team. He also stated yesterday that his players have "over achieved" which suggests that they are effectively now at the limit of their capability. Of the 11 players currently contracted to the club next season I see 6/7 that will form the nucleus next year but equally I feel we need an injection of quality to compliment these players and push on which again is what he has stated is his aim. He will need financial backing - maybe not in transfer fees but certainly in attracting the players that will demand probably £2/3k +'per week in salaries. Stating the obvious we have not had the strength in depth of some other clubs in the league and this is reflected in where we are likely to finish - this has worked against him in his modus operandi of rotating the team - the quality wasn't there to continually change 3/4 players per week. He knows he will need to address this during the close season if he is allowed to. Other clubs will no longer see him as a 'Rookie' Manager and clearly now he has found his feet as a League manager his confidence and ambitions will rise accordingly and IMO if the BoD do not support him and more importantly if the UWE project stalls even further we will be in real danger of losing him. I would not be at all surprised if overtures have not already been made through third parties about his availability- hopefully I'm wrong but his stock has certainly risen and enquires will be made - I have little doubt.
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Apr 15, 2017 16:36:24 GMT
ask yourself this question folks, if dread the thought we ever run into trouble at the foot of league 2 again.... would you say i believe relegation to the conference is what this club needs because it sorted us right out last time? ? Well, I think it did sort us out, and if we find ourselves at the foot of L2 again we will know that in fact it didn't!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2017 6:37:18 GMT
Isn't this basically the same topic being discussed on the "DC interview" thread? If DC is the great manager we think he is why would we have got relegated under his management? DC would have rebuilt the squad if we had avoided our relegation and we could well now be a Championship side. NH may have even found other investors willing to back his UWE project, it's all ifs & buts. John Ward relegated us. Really? And there was me thinking that he had already left the managers job.
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