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Post by mftc on May 28, 2022 15:15:59 GMT
Vale v Mansfield. Darell Clarke v Jon Joe O Toole. It’s a really hard choice about who to cheer for isn’t it? Or Clarke v Clarke - Darrell V Ollie? Ollie is a Bristolian with 10 years loyal service, scored some cracking goals and presumably could see the writing on the wall when BG came in. Could have accepted a testimonial and took his cash but probably knew the side was going to struggle and didn't want to be in another relegation battle. If he never had so many bad injuries between 16 and 20 he could have made many more appearances and potentially had been a better player. Never got the credit he deserved in my opinion. Remember Linesy named him as the best midfield partner he had (above Campbell) and he won the Player's Player of the Year. Often did the unnoticed dirty work that many supporters just can't see. If he did stay under BG, yeah he might have had quite a few red cards (because he cared) but no doubt he would not have let us go down without a fight (and more red cards!).
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Post by mftc on May 26, 2022 6:51:44 GMT
Even at Rovers, it is difficult to compare managers as they don't have the same financial situation.
Garner and Grayson had to work on reduced budgets. Joey probably had the biggest budget ever - most clubs would have had no financial scope to bring in anyone after Brown, so we were very fortune to get in Elliot and Whelan, who both made a massive difference.
With rumors that are squad was around £2 million more than we could afford (without Waels money), it does make you wonder where we would have finished if we had a level playing field with the rest of the teams in the division.
Then again, Buckle and Atkins had relatively large budgets and messed up.
No doubt reset 2 is going to make it an interesting summer.
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Fan Bans
May 26, 2022 6:42:25 GMT
via mobile
Post by mftc on May 26, 2022 6:42:25 GMT
Are these regular supporters or just glory hunters?
It could be the banned fans have just turned up since Exeter H and have now caused serious problems.
Try marketing Rovers at a new business pitch and this is on the headlines.
Even in this day and age there are some parents that don't want their children exposed to violence, drugs and even bad language, so the club may lose out of some family supporters for ever.
If they are banned for 5 years, then they should pay the club for 5 years worth of season tickets for compensation and damages.
And maybe when it is really cold and wet they should do community service type programme selling and let the likes of Sue on the Mem gates have a well earned breather. (Without trying to make these fans sound guilty of all ills, I would make sure that the monies were actually collected by someone else though). I am sure there must be lots of dogsbody jobs that they could do - paint the yellow lines on terracing etc
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Post by mftc on May 25, 2022 20:15:00 GMT
I would have assumed that they have already taken staff who receive tickets from the availability?
Plus journalists, comps, scouts, wives and girlfriends, agents et al, this probably comes to over 100 free places taken before STs went on sale.
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Post by mftc on May 25, 2022 6:56:02 GMT
Yeah and just imagine if Ollie Clarke never had those injuries early in his career.
Probably 20-30 years ago they could have been career ending (Wayne Jones etc).
Losing a yard of pace could well have been the difference of being a championship player or league 2.
Fine margins.
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Post by mftc on May 21, 2022 8:43:08 GMT
I think we should be looking at quality not quantity.
At the start of the season the young midfielders looking to break through included, Liddle, Hargreaves, Tomlinson, Walker, Budd, Kinsley, Martinez, Mehew and Jones. If we never paid up his contract Barrett would have been here as well.
If there was just one or two they could have played 3-4 cup games and a sub appearances in the league they might have had a chance to progress.
I think Budd was the best in pre-season, but Hargreaves and Liddle got in the squad for the first few games due to the extra experience.
If we just had Jones and Budd, Mehew or Tomlinson, I think there might have been more chance of two of them being kept on. They wouldn't cost that much and maybe that would help later developers, similar to Finlay (22 or 23 before he made his league debut?)
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Post by mftc on May 21, 2022 8:32:06 GMT
Connor Jones
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Post by mftc on May 21, 2022 8:30:26 GMT
I know Southampton offered Tovers a fee for Phillips before he committed himself his home City club but the short term fix and brief was promotion at first time of asking and the development squad was ended as was Chris Hargreaves role. The pathway from youth under 18s to first team has been brokenLuca Hoole is the exception and as previous posts have said Greenslade and Egan both have major obstacles to overcome to enable them to get into the squad. Hulbert, Phillips Mehew, Tomlinson Martinez have all become victims of pre Barton group and that must be disappointing for them and current academy players who are being sold a dream. How many players made the move from Development Squad to the first team player, the only one I can recall was Micheal Kelly but he never made it as a first team regular, Hoole must be the first Academy player to make the grade for years perhaps JB's keeping the dream alive, not that you'll give him any credit for doing it. Quite a few played for the first team but not anything substantial apart from Alfie. Of the top of my head the others included Meyanese (we did sell him - not sure what price), Hargreaves, Kelly, Dunwald, Andre Jnr think there may have been at least one more. (I wouldn't count Telford as he was on loan). Not sure if Mehew, Tomlinson, Ward, Philips, Walker etc count as they came through the youth system but they all played at least in the EFL trophy. If they are not on loan, I would expect Egan, Ward, Jones and Greenslade to play in the cups/trophy next season, together with Saunders. I think Heal is not 100% fit so unable to find a new club and therefore the club have to extend his contract similarly to Thomas, Virgo and Bevan. Although not many long term successes or large transfer fees received, I think it would surprise many people how many youngsters have come through the ranks to at least play one first team game (including EFL trophy and equivalent) I would guess over 75 since we have been at the Mem. C'mon Mike go and name them! Ps I heard Lita was spotted by us after being released as a kid, played in one of our development training match and City scouts were there and then they tripled our offer and off he went.
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Post by mftc on May 21, 2022 8:11:20 GMT
After being one of many on the pitch after promotion, I was amazed at how much space there is from the goal line to the beginning of the clubhouse terrace, surely we can move playing area nearer to the terrace and replace the south stand with a much bigger tent, or put a walkway in front of the clubhouse terrace enabling us to get more in there. Or both I think the reason this has not happened is it moves the location of the halfway line. This means the 2 side stands wont be centrally aligned. It therefore means the tv gantry will also not be on the halfway line . Im guessing that the tv gantry is a requirement from the FA/Efl. If this is a requirement, the South Stand could still be moved forward as someone suggested. If it is 10 yards, or even feet, it would still provide space for a few hundred more fans.
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Post by mftc on May 20, 2022 7:02:18 GMT
The arguments against it are valid, but the cost of doing nothing is worse. It is far from an ideal situation and the clock is ticking. Maybe Slam could pass on any suggestions at meetings with the club. I am sure that many would have been happy to sit on a bench in front of the big screen so they could have been there for the Scunthorpe game. I must have missed it when it was posted but how did SAG make us lose approx 2,000 spaces when it was ok pre COVID?
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Post by mftc on May 19, 2022 17:57:15 GMT
Rodman and Joey seem to have a good relationship and Rodman has a business masters degree and studying something else currently I believe? Coaching role maybe?
I'd be happy with that, but given his age and recent injury record I'd be surprised if he was part of the playing squad; particularly now we're back in L1.
I remember Joe Davis playing in the reserves to help the youngsters. I think a few Prem teams have now added an experienced 33+ year old to the Prem2 league, which is mostly academy or first year pro teams, just to have experience on the pitch. Maybe a bit like cricket when players sign white ball (limited overs) contracts, maybe someone like Rodman could be assured of playing cup games to help any youngsters and then be a squad player for the league? One advantage is his versatility and he is decent in the air and with his non league background, I don't expect he is amongst the bigger wage earners.
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Post by mftc on May 19, 2022 8:46:15 GMT
I think many on here can think of improvements but they need to be sent to Tom and the two Dave's (Bright and Fear) - sounds like a TV cop show - good brainy cop and bad scary cop?
They may fall on deaf ears and be too micro economic for the powers that be, but if a couple are successful then that can only be good.
I know the SC practically demanded more programmes be printed for the FGR and Scunthorpe games and lo and behold they sold out.
Might have only made £1,000 more profit but it is still extra revenue for just a few minutes work sending an additional email message from Dave Bright.
The accumulation of small quick wins could lead to quite a lot.
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Post by mftc on May 19, 2022 6:48:52 GMT
Nice novelty item.
Who else can say they own a actual piece of the Mem from a truly magical moment.
Whoever wins it needs to re-plant it in a house plant pot and put subbuetto players on it!
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Post by mftc on May 19, 2022 6:43:10 GMT
While not a promotion souvenir, got to say the early 80's replica shirt mug with Toshiba on it looks great.
I hope they are paying some kind of sponsorship money!
Looking back, between 82 and 85 what a great squad that was; D Williams, Barret, Randall, Archie, Ollie, G Williams, White, Parkin, McCaffrey, B Williams, Slatter, Kite, Pulis, Bater, Cashley, Hughes, Curle, Bannon, O'Connor and of course Channon and Ball! and Errington Kelly.
In 83/84 we finished 5th in the league and a practical reserve side lost the EFL Trophy area final against a Bournemouth side we beat in the league and league cup. I think we were 7th and 6th in the league in the other seasons at that time.
If only they brought in the play offs and Wembley finals for the EFL trophy back then!
I heard a rumour several years later that in 1982 we tried to sign John Aldridge but couldn't afford him, so signed Paul Bannon instead. To be fair he did have a pretty decent goal scoring record for us, but Aldridge surely would have been the difference between top 7 and top 3.
Mike Jay can fact check me.
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Post by mftc on May 16, 2022 20:28:41 GMT
The world has definitely changed since Justin Fashunu. (Ps, what a goal for Norwich v Liverpool!)
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Post by mftc on May 16, 2022 20:26:51 GMT
Not so sure of that. I told my workmates we would win 6-1!
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Post by mftc on May 16, 2022 19:45:27 GMT
Glad to see someone has finally brave to come out.
Best of luck to the lad.
Great to see his club and teammates have been so supportive. That how I would hope our club, players and fans would respond.
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Post by mftc on May 15, 2022 16:33:45 GMT
Wanted Man City to win for Gareth Taylor.
I remember being told that the SC contacted lots of ex players who played in the Premiership and Championship asking if they could join the Share Scheme and pay £2 a week, as this would have been great publicity. (As well as additional donations).
After all, we helped them on their journey, but very few could be bothered to put their hands in their pockets, but Chesney did.
Has been an oversea coach for Man City for promising youth players and the women's coach for some time. I wonder if he will want to try and manage in the mans game?
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Post by mftc on May 14, 2022 20:43:18 GMT
Remember being in a convoy of about 20 coaches when the Duke beat Derby - 1st time a 4th division team (in old money) beat a Premiership side away.
Always thought he was worth a couple of million at least but the club HAD to sell him for an initial £800k. Let's hope we are not ever in the same boat.
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Post by mftc on May 14, 2022 20:38:02 GMT
Great new line - teletext mug - kids ask your grandparents.
Can't tell but does it have 7(Seven) like the Grandstand vidiprinter!
Watch this space for book and DVD.
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