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Post by eric on Apr 21, 2024 19:48:44 GMT
It’s what they say to fans. Lower expectations and then have internal target to do better. It’s so obvious. The dressing room will have higher ambitions. Good to see owner taking pressure off. We were aiming for the Championship a couple weeks ago, a month ago it was the Premiership, now it's top 10 in league 1. I don't trust the new owners at all at the point in time. If in next few weeks they reveal their big plans for the stadium then I may change my tune, but right now we are just being fed lines, mostly negative ones. I wonder when we will get to see the plans? I don’t see why they can’t release some artist impressions of what they are hoping to build with clear caveats (which should be fairly obvious anyway) about subject to approval etc….We get to see artist impressions of other big developments in other industries so don’t see why us fans (paying customers) can’t be allowed to have an idea of what the club is hoping to achieve. |
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Post by richhertford on Apr 21, 2024 19:51:52 GMT
Why don't they just employ somebody good at PR, as I doubt just being honest with football fans ever sold season tickets. Why not say just something like: "MT has been given a competitive budget for next season and with the help of the new recruitment team we hope that he can put together a far more competitive, and fitter, squad than the previous manager managed last summer. Whilst our main aim is to continue to make progress in L1, hopefully, MT can put together a squad which could challenge for a top 8 or better finish Our main aim is still to get promoted to the Championship within the next 3 years or so" Or just use the ground-breaking goal technique. 😂 |
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Post by singupgas on Apr 21, 2024 20:01:31 GMT
We were aiming for the Championship a couple weeks ago, a month ago it was the Premiership, now it's top 10 in league 1. I don't trust the new owners at all at the point in time. If in next few weeks they reveal their big plans for the stadium then I may change my tune, but right now we are just being fed lines, mostly negative ones. I wonder when we will get to see the plans? I don’t see why they can’t release some artist impressions of what they are hoping to build with clear caveats (which should be fairly obvious anyway) about subject to approval etc….We get to see artist impressions of other big developments in other industries so don’t see why us fans (paying customers) can’t be allowed to have an idea of what the club is hoping to achieve. It frustrates how secretive WAQ was and now HAS is. Everything always protected by some kind of confidential agreement... Old Trafford will will have plans printed world wide before we get to see what the Mem might look like. It's ridiculous. Unfortunately for WAQ it's clear now that with the confidentiality agreement, not even he knew what was going on. |
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Post by phillistine on Apr 22, 2024 9:05:30 GMT
Its just public rhetoric at the end of the day and deliberately understated to lower expectations and with it pressure . Surely we have learned from this season that it is better to expect less and over perform than it is to have high hopes and come crashing down to earth when things do not go as we would wish. The fact that the owners are talking about building a foundation and having a longer term plan should be a relief as it means that they wont be upping sticks and wanting out when we inevitabvly hit a few bumps along the way. But will the they be happy with reduced s/t sales and income? Wael came out with similar comments about long terms plans but it wouldn't be that big a surprise if he now cut all his ties with the club by this time next season. You may be right or you may be wrong. i dont think that Wael had a problem with being involved but maybe he just underestimated how involved he would need to be day to day to feel that you are in control. Now that the new owners are more hands on and with a clear plan then he will stay involved . Its not as if someone is going to pay off all the losses that he has incurred to date or he is depsperately short of cash on a personal level - he has hopefully weathered the storm and the ship will steady going forward. |
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pirate
Forum Legend
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Post by pirate on Apr 22, 2024 9:20:13 GMT
The development side is a good idea, but it needs to be properly funded. I like the Brentford B team model where they recruited from non-league, academy releases and young gems from abroad and arranged an eclectic games programme against clubs from non-league, to development/academy sides in this country and abroad. They also employed specialist coaches for the "marginal gains". Peterborough are obviously an excellent example of a club buying and developing young players and Wycombe have had a good B team/Development setup too over past few years. We can learn from these clubs and others.
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Post by percy on Apr 22, 2024 16:14:54 GMT
More from the owner on the stadium and Quarters plans
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Post by stuart1974 on Apr 22, 2024 16:56:24 GMT
"On the stadium plans, AlSaeed said: "We have two main infrastructure projects. The Memorial and the training ground and we’re working on both at the same time. For the Memorial, we are, more or less, close to two weeks or maybe a bit more away from completing the plans but we cannot share anything at the moment until we complete it and we also share it with the council members and see what their reaction [is] about what we intend to do.
"But we will be looking to increase the capacity to around 16 to 17,000 from this level plus have more seated stadium than now. We hardly have about 5,000 at the moment with the South Stand but we will take that to about 12,000, maybe 13,000 seated.
"So this is the main element of course to complete it and we have empty spaces that we’re working with the architect to close and to make it a really friendly surrounding plus upgrading the executive and VIP lounges to make it more family [friendly] and reception to the older members of families. That’s basically what we intend to do."
Regarding the training ground, a significant part of the ownership's pledge to take Rovers up to the next step is investing in the academy to allow it to progress from category three status to category two which would allow them to implement a development team on top of the under-18s.
Currently, the under-18s is the highest level of the academy before the first-team which is a sizeable gap to bridge. Clubs higher up the pyramid tend to have an under-21s or 23s team as well as their under-18s and that is a major target for the Gas to achieve.
Rovers did in fact have a development squad led by Gas legend Lee Mansell before it was disbanded in 2021 due to financial constraints and therefore withdrew from the Central League. Former manager Joey Barton made the point that the club needed an under-23s programme on a few occasions and Matt Taylor has made similar suggestions since his arrival in December.
However, getting to category two will require notable investment with such status, according to PlayerScout, "given to teams whose infrastructure falls just short of the investment and resources implemented by category one teams" which is measured in millions. Barnsley, Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic are the only League One clubs with such status and all have previously been in the Premier League, although League Two sides Colchester United and Crewe Alexandra also have category two academies.
Additionally, Executive Vice President Abdullatif AlSaeed revealed in the Fan's Q&A back in March that a small stand will be built at The Quarters for development team games once that stage is reached. The vision is to eventually have the first-team, academy and Women's team all training at The Quarters
On the Women's team, as part of its return to club management and going semi-professional, the Gas Girls will also be using The Quarters when they train alongside playing their home games at the Mem.
All of this points towards the target of eventually seeing the club promoted to the Championship with three years the target set out by the Chairman in his open letter earlier this year. However, the Kuwaiti has repeatedly stressed the point that it will take time and first the club needs to build sustainability to ensure that, if they are promoted to the second tier, that they stay there and don't come straight back down.
"Yes, as first step but slowly," AlSaeed said when asked if the stadium is being prepared for eventually reaching the Championship. "We don’t want to get anybody’s hopes up. We’ve seen a lot of the clubs go very quickly up and go very quickly down but we want to be on a solid ground and to make solid ground means good infrastructure, Memorial plus the training ground. The training ground is just as important because that’s where you attract good players, that’s where you make the good players, that’s where you train and it’s just as important.
"We’re working on the plans to develop it and to also take our academy from cat. three to cat. two which will also open an opportunity to have more young players for this club and eventually develop them and we’ve been known to give chances to young players and I think that’s a golden opportunity. But we need the right facilities to attract those young players which we are aiming to do as well."
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Post by seanclevedongas on Apr 22, 2024 16:56:47 GMT
It’s what they say to fans. Lower expectations and then have internal target to do better. It’s so obvious. The dressing room will have higher ambitions. Good to see owner taking pressure off. We were aiming for the Championship a couple weeks ago, a month ago it was the Premiership, now it's top 10 in league 1. I don't trust the new owners at all at the point in time. If in next few weeks they reveal their big plans for the stadium then I may change my tune, but right now we are just being fed lines, mostly negative ones. We all know those statements were made to help sell season tickets don't we? It does rather sound like we are in for another mediocre season though! |
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Post by walterwhite on Apr 22, 2024 17:44:44 GMT
IMO I don't think mid table finishes are a bad thing, it's not what we want but rather that than fighting relegation but if he's true to his word which is what we all want to happen (long term championship football) just got to hope it all works out until a gashead wins the euro millions then goes all out Roman abramovich lol UTG
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Post by Topper Gas on Apr 22, 2024 17:49:47 GMT
We were aiming for the Championship a couple weeks ago, a month ago it was the Premiership, now it's top 10 in league 1. I don't trust the new owners at all at the point in time. If in next few weeks they reveal their big plans for the stadium then I may change my tune, but right now we are just being fed lines, mostly negative ones. It does rather sound like we are in for another mediocre season though! The latest statements would probably make most fans think twice about getting a season ticket? It seems like some massive investment will be required it the Mem seating capacity is being increased from 5,000 to 12,000/13,000, the Academy upgraded from Cat 3 to Cat 2, a Development Squad set up, the Gas Girls turning semi pro and also moving to The Quarters, whilst also building a Championship chasing squad. |
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Post by gas2 on Apr 22, 2024 17:59:28 GMT
I dont think there will be much change to the stadium it will still be on antiques road show
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Post by gasandelectricity on Apr 22, 2024 18:22:16 GMT
Sounds like they won’t be touching the terracing that remains which frankly makes the project sound underwhelming and as if it will be done on the cheap
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Post by Gasshole on Apr 22, 2024 18:35:59 GMT
Keep the terracing and add some more seats…..what’s not to like about that.👏👏👏👏👏
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Post by jongas1 on Apr 22, 2024 21:21:27 GMT
Sounds like they won’t be touching the terracing that remains which frankly makes the project sound underwhelming and as if it will be done on the cheap "But we will be looking to increase the capacity to around 16 to 17,000 from this level plus have more seated stadium than now. We hardly have about 5,000 at the moment with the South Stand but we will take that to about 12,000, maybe 13,000 seated. I’d be really interested to see how you can fit in 7000 extra seats without touching the terracing “on the cheap” And I wouldn’t say that increasing capacity by 25% and a seating increase from 40% to 75% of capacity is underwhelming considering out track record…assuming it gets built of course Not the shiny new stadium many have dreamed of, but hopefully it’s actually deliverable and without the need for any canvas or posts! |
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Post by yattongas on Apr 22, 2024 21:47:15 GMT
As an anti social git , I’m quite looking forward to having spare seats all around me in our new super stadium watching mid table div one footy 😃
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Post by stuart1974 on Apr 22, 2024 22:14:29 GMT
Sounds like they won’t be touching the terracing that remains which frankly makes the project sound underwhelming and as if it will be done on the cheap "But we will be looking to increase the capacity to around 16 to 17,000 from this level plus have more seated stadium than now. We hardly have about 5,000 at the moment with the South Stand but we will take that to about 12,000, maybe 13,000 seated. I’d be really interested to see how you can fit in 7000 extra seats without touching the terracing “on the cheap” And I wouldn’t say that increasing capacity by 25% and a seating increase from 40% to 75% of capacity is underwhelming considering out track record…assuming it gets built of course Not the shiny new stadium many have dreamed of, but hopefully it’s actually deliverable and without the need for any canvas or posts! It's 12,000 seats out of 16,000 (or 13,000 out of 17,000) either way that's 4,000 terrace spaces. The North Terrace is about 3,000 and 1,000 for the unaffected West stand. If that's the case then the East stand should be fully seated. Going by that, I wonder if we are looking at building a small stand behind the North terrace with the final makeup roughly being*: South stand - 3,500 seats West stand - 1,000 seats (including SW stand) and 1,000 standing North stand - 3,000 standing and 3,000 seats East stand - 5,000 seats *Figures are illustrative only, we could retain the terracing on the East side and go fully all seater on the North. Various permutations are available at this stage. |
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Post by kruger on Apr 23, 2024 4:10:08 GMT
I've been trying to find the interview. Does anyone have the link please?
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Post by daniel300380 on Apr 23, 2024 5:26:38 GMT
Sounds like they won’t be touching the terracing that remains which frankly makes the project sound underwhelming and as if it will be done on the cheap Did he say the terracing would remain how it is? Didn't he mention safe standing in a previous interview, some people prefer to stand. If the aim is to get to the championship, you can't have old fashion terracing can you? I assumed the rest would be safe standing. |
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Post by percy on Apr 23, 2024 6:58:31 GMT
after years and years of arguing on here about locations of new stadiums we all thought we'd never see in our life times, I am surprised at those still bemoaning improvements to the Mem.
The "quick and dirty" south stand is a lot bigger and better than anyone predicted this time last year.
turning the north stand into half safe standing should maintain the atmosphere
an east stand the length of the pitch with no columns and MUCH better facilities will make a huge difference
Yes we'd all like brand new super stands, but we also want a sustainable club and without owners with never ending funds, that is not ever going to happen.
Enjoy the small things in life. Its much less stressful that way
UTG
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Post by gasandelectricity on Apr 23, 2024 7:22:08 GMT
This is all assuming it’s safe standing with renovations rather than leaving two whole stands as they are with normal standing.
Because if that’s the case then that’s basically a tin structure over the top of the North Stand bar and probably low quality extensions to the East Stand.
I’m a fan of the south stand and I think the Mem can be redeveloped well with an East Stand extension but to me his words suggest that it’s basically the same with the east stand and north stand. Which doesn’t put to bed endless complaints about the stadium and desire for renovated stands or a new stadium.
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