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Post by warehamgas on Feb 3, 2023 23:09:51 GMT
Like they do in many parts of Australia. UTG! What Australian cricket team shares with a soccer team. AFL, yes as the game was created for cricketers to play in the winter season. Doesn’t matter when they play, they share grounds. 😉 UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Feb 3, 2023 20:45:05 GMT
Wolves v Liverpool. 1-2 Hull v Cardiff. 2-0 Luton v Stoke. 1-1 Reading v Watford. 1-2 Gas v M K Dons. 2-1 Port Vale v Wycombe. 1-1 Portsmouth v Barnsley. 1-2 Sheff Wed v Plymouth. 1-1 Bradford v Mansfield. 2-2 Colchester v Barrow. 2-0 Boreham Wood v Chesterfield. 1-1 Kidderminster v Scarborough. 2-1
UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Feb 3, 2023 14:04:45 GMT
It's not as straightforward as that is it and it's totally disengenius to suggest otherwise. We were relegated in 2021 and with relegation there is financial consequences. For example the L1 prize money and solidatiry payments total £1.35m. In L2 that drops to £902k. Thats a deficit of nearly £450k before you factor in any other commercial losses you may incur. So choices have to be made about where money is spent and a development squad will probably take up around £250-£300k in salary for management and coaching plus the commitment of the central league fixtures versus can that money be spent on the first team and having a right good go at promotion. When you look at the teams in L2, I think only 3 have U23 set ups anyway and likely there will be a geographical advantage to them having one as opposed to it being a neccessity for their business model. I do get that and take your figures on face value. But, given our current rate of financial losses, is it any more viable to have a U23 squad now than it was in 2021? Because if it's not, what is Barton talking about? Did he not say this past week that he is funding some non playing positions out of his own pocket? If that is true it makes his comments even more non sensical. That's my point. Les, it’s no more viable now than back then from a financial point of view. But JB tends to say a lot of things when someone pushes a microphone in front of him. Some make sense and some don’t. I think the idea of a development squad from a football perspective is sensible but considering our losses not financially viable. He’s got his mate in charge of recruitment and we still struggled to get players in (no Tommy W to blame.) I have no idea of the reasons for that given JB said he had to rail Wael in from spending more! Perhaps, and just perhaps, JB does see this job as a much longer term venture than others think it is and that JB will be happy with consolidation this season. As he couldn’t get the players he wanted he decided to wait for the summer when he may find it easier. No idea, just speculation really. Had we won the last few matches it would never have come up as a topic but we haven’t so it did come up esp when some feel the window was “underwhelming”. UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Feb 3, 2023 13:53:32 GMT
When we are winning then none of this is an issue that gets discussed. Personally i welcome it but i understand many just want to go to a game and have no interest in longterm goals. As you get older, you just hope that there will be a club for younger generations to enjoy and that have the same rite of passage as you did. For me, being a rovers supporter was a huge part of my upbringing and brought me many moments of joy plus i made lifelong friendships. I do not even worry, too much, about stadium issues, not right now as i just hope we can make the club sustainable I don’t tend to come on here and post as much as I used to as this place really does get depressing at times. I love the club and always will but I tend to stay out of the politics of it all , as you said , I simply turn up on a match day watch the game and go home , I used to spend way too many years stressing about this club 😂 Treat it like the telly okebourne. Some threads are drama, some more like Eastenders, and some are pure comedy. Best not to treat it too seriously. 😉 Hope all’s well with you.👍 UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Feb 3, 2023 13:50:02 GMT
That he is calling for an under 23 squad which he oversaw the disbanding of as part of the management team in 2021. Does that sound coherent to you? It's not as straightforward as that is it and it's totally disengenius to suggest otherwise. We were relegated in 2021 and with relegation there is financial consequences. For example the L1 prize money and solidatiry payments total £1.35m. In L2 that drops to £902k. Thats a deficit of nearly £450k before you factor in any other commercial losses you may incur. So choices have to be made about where money is spent and a development squad will probably take up around £250-£300k in salary for management and coaching plus the commitment of the central league fixtures versus can that money be spent on the first team and having a right good go at promotion. When you look at the teams in L2, I think only 3 have U23 set ups anyway and likely there will be a geographical advantage to them having one as opposed to it being a neccessity for their business model. Yes, that sounds about right. JB did pull the plug in 2021 but the development squad didn’t seem to be working that well for a few years before. JB just confirmed what had been slowly happening. In the circumstances it was probably the right decision. Whatever as pirate has said it needs to be done properly if you want the youngsters to come through, and whilst we had a “squad” in place it was run on a very low budget. Istr several years ago (‘16, ‘17) the cost of the development squad being approx £220k. (Someone posted that from a set of accounts) Many said that represented good value until you realised no players were coming through the squad into the first team. Did Alfie come through it or did he come straight from the youth? Perhaps Michael Kelly? Can’t think of others but prepared to be corrected. UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Feb 2, 2023 22:45:59 GMT
Can we ground share at the cricket ? Like they do in many parts of Australia. UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Feb 2, 2023 22:45:03 GMT
It's too expensive as it is and lower league football clubs should be ever thankful that the fans turn up in the numbers they do. I'm sure it's a struggle for many. A new or redeveloped stadium is the only answer, not milking the faithful fans for ever more money. And if the money or will to get a new stadium isn't there, then we either need to accept that we stagnate, or accept that the owners aren't the moneybags we once hoped they were and will at least keep us afloat. Do you really think that? When comparing to other Entertainment Industry pricing, its pretty reasonable. Where else can you get 90 mins live 'entertainment' for £20? Cricket? It will cost an adult £20.00 to watch a days cricket in Taunton starting at 11.00 and getting 6 hours of top class English cricket. And in fairly comfortable conditions with proper facilities. My season ticket for Somerset CCC cost me £189.00 for that I get 28 days of cricket. You can do the maths but it makes it very good value. And of course the club still makes an annual profit as it has for the past 5/6 years. Btw it’s hard to compare football and cricket properly and I wouldn’t expect cricket with 6 hours every day to be the same £ per hour as football, so I’m doing this a bit tongue in cheek. I think lower league football is very expensive but I understand why. The model of lower league football is completely broken and has been since the advent of the PL. Nothing lower league clubs can do but do their best and pray for a millionaire prepared to spend big for little return. I do feel threads like this are just another circular argument where you either feel the most important thing is a new ground or you just want to enjoy the football and us doing very well. Whatever, without a new ground we will never generate enough income to make us a serious challenger for the Championship with the ability to stay there. Sad but I think true. UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Feb 2, 2023 22:14:22 GMT
Not sure who the manager was when we scrapped the u23s. It was dwindling along for a while and a token gesture for ages, especially in the latter days. Even when we started it DC said the lads in u23s were earning peanuts anyway. Wael said it was the managers choice to get rid of the under 23s, as he wanted to put all of the money into the first team. I think it was coughlan that decided to get rid of it. I’m sure you’re correct about this but…. When taking over 7 years ago Wael in his “evolution not revolution” speech outlining what we would see Wael said that development of our own youngsters would be important. Yet he let a manager decide upon the direction of the club when it was disbanded. I like what Wael has done but sometimes it comes over as a scattergun approach to future development. And it comes over that whilst he had great enthusiasm and gave us a list of things that would happen I fear that the realities both financial and other areas are proving far more problematic than he anticipated. And of course the same problem regarding the formation of any development squad will continue to face the same old difficulties, the players we get will usually be those which other clubs have decided aren’t good enough. Now we may turn 1 or 2 into the first team squad but most will be seen not to be good enough to be in a team that is challenging for the Championship. I hope I’m wrong. UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Feb 2, 2023 12:20:22 GMT
Alexis Andre Jr had a brilliant debut for us and never featured again. One match does not a keeper make. True but I think Ward is better and others seem to think he is as well. I never saw his game against Blackpool but we complain sometimes about the PL signing all these youngsters and not giving them a chance and loaning them out. With a talented keeper like Ward the same argument could be used against us. We have him, I just wish we would have given him a chance. I fear he won’t get that under the present management. Aaron Ramsdale now at Arsenal was signed by AFCB at 17 and was then loaned out to Chesterfield, played about 20 matches and was relegated out of the league, loaned to AFC Wimbledon played and was relegated. Came back to AFCB played all season and was relegated out of PL. Returned to Sheffield U was relegated again. Enough relegations to destroy his confidence but none his fault although the Chesterfield fans were not over pleased with him. Now he’s preparing to be a PL winner. My point is Ward needs similar exposure to league football and I wish he would get it with us. UTG,
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Post by warehamgas on Feb 2, 2023 12:03:15 GMT
Sorry but you are wrong. Taking loan players is that best way to go for a club like ours- just ask Plymouth as half their team are on loan too. it is all very well Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday buying players- but look at the size of the crowds and how much they are splashing out to get them. Elliott Anderson and Connor Taylor were key players for the Gas last year but the only reason they came here was because of the loan system. We would not have Coburn and i suspect that we are soon going to find that the 2 youngsters signed this week will be impressive once they get used to the physicality of League1. The difference between the Championship and League 1 is huge and whoever gets promoted will more or less need a new team to survive. If however all the players are under longer term contracts then you are stuck with them even though that are not up to the required standard. When the loan players go back to their clubs at the end of the season then you can sign at least 5 new players capable of playing at the higher level. You are correct of course in that Yeovil got themselves into a pickle - but that was not just the loand players You think I am wrong and your opinion has many likes. I am not rigidly stuck to my opinion but your reply has not convinced me I am wrong. With others mentioning sustainability and Wael financing the club, surely there has to be better balance between loan players and sellable assets? I understand that it is possibly less risky in some ways; if players do not make it you can return them. The problem as I see it is that if they are successful it will only be for one season and you get no material gain. Coupled with that, you are guaranteed to have to rebuild your squad every single season. I do not see how that helps the club in the long term and no one has been able to allay my fears. I get all your points about loans, I guess most can see that. What I disagree with is you’re comparing us to Yeovil. The idea seems to have grown that Yeovil did what they did and built well on loans to over-achieve. They probably did but their demise was due to other factors not being dependent on loans. They continued with loans in their descent downwards. Just not such good ones! All teams benefit from loans and Plymouth and Bolton have used the system well to get good players. You’re right about originally saying it papers over the cracks. Yes of course it does but we all know as I’m sure the club does that last year Elliot A, Connolly and Taylor weren’t ours but what do we expect the club to do? Not get them and hope we avoid going out of the league? And yes we do have to rebuild a team every year. I suppose you say “paper over the cracks” I’d say it’s preparing for cover or injury or filling a gap somewhere. Nothing wrong in that surely? You may have a point about loans not helping the club in the long term but I’d say that it does help the long term growth of the club. Getting back into a higher league last year, albeit using loans, did help the club and were we to do that (I’m not suggesting we will btw) from this league to the Championship then the club will have grown even more. The use of loans esp if they become your better players can be dangerous as you’ve said but atm we have some very good players who are contracted to us. Clearly we need more. The danger of loans as I see it is where the owner says I’m not going to put as much money into the club and I will expect the manager to get loans in to cover us. We need to owner to convert good loans into permanent. Others will know more than me but spending to get getting Connolly, Westbrooke (I can’t believe I’ve said that), and others for money shows that he will do that. Although of course there’s no getting away this window may be seen to have been disappointing depending on how the players turn out. As ever, optimistically, UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Feb 1, 2023 8:08:34 GMT
can't believe DC would trust that man again after he did the dirty on him last time, once a snake always a snake Yes agree, very surprised. Istr the press conference soon after that DC gave. I’m also surprised that MT appears to have fallen out of favour at Oxford after a decent record. I wonder what DC will say after the fans give him his customary welcome in our return match? UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Feb 1, 2023 0:15:54 GMT
Well in the end I guess we brought in defenders and possibly a CDM in Bogarde and we may hear more tomorrow from free agents who’ve been released today. We were never going to get any strikers were we with what we’ve got. We needed defenders and a central midfielder and we got them, just. I understand feeling underwhelmed but I’ll wait to see them play and trust that they’ll be decent signings. I was very happy and excited about signing Zain Westbrooke. 😉
Welcome to the gas Lamare and Callum.
UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Jan 31, 2023 17:25:03 GMT
Such wisdom yatton. I just put the kettle on, pulled up a chair and read all the crap. It’s been very entertaining. Stress? Blimey we’re gasheads it comes with the territory. I’m sure JB will be hailed as a mastermind at 11.30 tonight. UTG! That’s the first time I’ve read wisdom and Yatton in the same sentence. I need a lie down . 😮 Nearly as surprised as me writing it. But you are right……for once. 😉 UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Jan 31, 2023 16:33:50 GMT
Are deadlines days always this stressful? First time I have followed closely. Sam Frost seems to expect signings at least. There’s nothing stressful at all , just a few stressy people . Such wisdom yatton. I just put the kettle on, pulled up a chair and read all the crap. It’s been very entertaining. Stress? Blimey we’re gasheads it comes with the territory. I’m sure JB will be hailed as a mastermind at 11.30 tonight. UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Jan 31, 2023 16:28:38 GMT
Wish I was a mod so I could delete this thread… But we still need a midfield Gaswood! 😉 UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Jan 31, 2023 16:24:48 GMT
I’m sure if the need is for office staff to stay they will stay. UTG! Wareham .... believe me they are out of the door moving at pace to their cars come 4.30pm... Have witnessed it first hand. Only people left if anyone tonight will be Barton, Mangan and maybe Uncle Tom Gorringe. Fair enough. So you were the stalker in the car park, see, you are itk! 😉 Seriously though I’m sure thee will be someone there to do all the stuff. If there’s anything to do. 🙏 UTG! ps. Eric, you beat me to it.
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Post by warehamgas on Jan 31, 2023 15:11:12 GMT
I take it the rule ‘attack the post not the poster’ doesn’t now apply. Do the mods have a view about this change in rules and when did it change? UTG! I've never really understood that. By attacking the post aren't you automatically attacking the poster? I know I've attacked the poster of the tennis girl scratching her bum back in the Athena days, but that's a whole different story. Ah yes the famous poster. You too? 😉 UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Jan 31, 2023 15:05:35 GMT
We’ll he talked about getting another what 5 or 6 in ? He’s got less than 10 hours left so I’m not sure if it’s even possible for a club of our size to sign that many players in such a short space of time considering the logistics , Medical’s , admin etc Personally I’d be happy enough with 3 Commanding centre half. Midfield general in the Rossiter mould ( but not inj prone) Inside forward ( in the Anderson mould) We need that to finish mid table /top half. Anything less and I think we’ll be looking at a nervy end to the season. In reality they probably only have a few hours left as I can't imagine any of the office staff staying after 4.45 pm Hopefully Joe knows how to work the fax machine. I’m sure if the need is for office staff to stay they will stay. UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Jan 31, 2023 13:29:20 GMT
Anyway, our midfield eh? Sheesh. Yes! Only a few hours to go Dr. You’re prediction for 6th was looking good. Still believe! 😉👍 UTG!
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Post by warehamgas on Jan 31, 2023 13:25:30 GMT
That’s cool with me. I have no problem in that but i don’t say we will be championship or that we will be playing city and so much more. Maybe some perspective would be relevant Its just a different type of bollocks thats all... Except there is more chances of the bollocks that comes from JB of us getting to the championship than the bollocks of any of the heinious things that you and the likes of Swiss say is going to happen actually coming to pass... Hows that for perspective??!! I take it the rule ‘attack the post not the poster’ doesn’t now apply. Do the mods have a view about this change in rules and when did it change? UTG!
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