Attendances

Due to the way we are playing and the inconsistencies of our results, sadly our home crowds are suffering, and our away support numbers seem to be going down which is sad.  I can only see us scrapping a bit past 4,000 on Tuesday night against Colchester.  Hopefully we can rally again and get a good home win.  Sadly expectations aren't great under MB at the moment and I for one would accept two points out of the next two home games to help us limp over the 50 points barrier.  If we don't put up a couple of good shows in the next two home games, there will be a heap of pressure on MB's shoulders already.  Money is crucial  to Town and we have to keep our great support together, MB;'s style of football, and 6 wins out of 18 games so far is sadly impacting on both fronts.

Lets hope we can get back on track on Tuesday night.

UTM

This moment was always going to happen. We've been riding on a wave for several seasons of having arguably the best team in the league and expecting to beat every team we play. Attendances will rise when the goings good.

Unfortunately that isn't the case in this league and even if we had back to back promotions there gets a point where a team starts to stutter and run into difficulty and subsequently attendances drop off.

Generally we're OK and will be safe which was the minimum expectation. Next season will be better if we can spend some of the Bogle money.

I would suspect the board have accounted on an average home gate of 4,500 this season. 4,000 on a Tuesday night will fit into that average fine.

Quoted from TheCodfather1966

Due to the way we are playing and the inconsistencies of our results, sadly our home crowds are suffering, and our away support numbers seem to be going down which is sad.  I can only see us scrapping a bit past 4,000 on Tuesday night against Colchester.  Hopefully we can rally again and get a good home win.  Sadly expectations aren't great under MB at the moment and I for one would accept two points out of the next two home games to help us limp over the 50 points barrier.  If we don't put up a couple of good shows in the next two home games, there will be a heap of pressure on MB's shoulders already.  Money is crucial  to Town and we have to keep our great support together, MB;'s style of football, and 6 wins out of 18 games so far is sadly impacting on both fronts.

Lets hope we can get back on track on Tuesday night.

UTM

Why? He's hardly had any time at all.

Quoted from ginnywings

Why? He's hardly had any time at all.

Why? Because it's a results based business.

I think most people can accept we're playing better teams and aren't going to be winning every week. It's the nature of the defeats that causes people to stop going.
I've been a town fan for over 50 years and I won't stop now, but having been to Stevenage and listened to Crewe, Morecambe and Newport I'm not remotely bothered about going to Orient.
If we turn up and play with passion I can take defeats, it's part of the game.

Great comments from Tagg and Buckstown, 100% agree with both of you.  Football is completely a results orientated business, simple fact, any manager is judged as such.  Do people honestly think Steve Evans and Neil Warnock are constantly in demand because of their sparkling personalities ?  I will never stop following Town, never, just the same as Buckstown, but the reality is that the level of performances under MB has been truly shocking at times.  Of course we are not going to win week in and week out at this level, but Town fans always respect 100% effort and commitment by players and managers alike.  Sadly so far under MB, this commitment has not been evident in many of the away games so far.  Rose coloured glasses are a great thing, however, finances and reality bites as the coffers will show after Tuesdays below than average attendance.

UTM

I made the trip south for the Morecambe game, and what I saw actually shocked me. I remarked before the game to the legend that is the Barralad that the away attendance was much smaller than normal. I'd been so looking forward to this game because of the excitement generated by the new signings, and was told beforehand that the excitement wasn't misplaced.

Not only was it misplaced, it was non existent. A four or five nil scoreline wouldn't have flattered Morecambe. Although we lost a really, really, stupid goal through awful defending very early on, for the next 20 minutes we took the game to Morecambe and basically bossed it, and then......nothing. The tactics were rank rotten, playing mainly long balls after the first 20 minutes which inevitably ran out of play on the wet surface and high winds - but nothing changed, this just kept on happening.

Second half and I thought Town would come out of the starting blocks and really go for it. How wrong could I be? Morecambe played a very intelligent game on the break to which we had no answer to. The amount of times I saw them basically run through the centre of our defence like a hot knife through butter was genuinely embarrassing, and we did nothing to stop it. They won nigh on every second ball, they kept the ball on the deck, in fact they did everything we should have done but were clearly incapable of doing. Doubt I'll be tempted down south again for a while.

Fan are right, it is a results driven business. Our lack of a plan A, let alone a plan B, meant we floundered. First half Morecambe pumped the ball long down the left wing every opportunity they got. A very basic tactic, but at least it was a tactice, and it led to their goal. Instead of putting the ball out for a throw, Pearson tried to play the ball out over the byeline but failed, then goal, game over. Second half Morecambe were much more cute and their build up play was good to watch at times, but the number of times I witnessed Town defenders turning their backs on Morecambe's forwards as they ran at them really left me scratching my head.

Clearly, it's work in progress but watching your team losing 1-0, and needing to win to keep outside chances of the Play Offs alive, and have to  wait until the 83rd minute for a shot at goal in the second half was definitely worrying. It was a disastrous day, but chatting to Barra during the game he said it was nothing like Crewe. Thank feck I never went to that one.

Quoted from jock dock tower

I made the trip south for the Morecambe game, and what I saw actually shocked me. I remarked before the game to the legend that is the Barralad that the away attendance was much smaller than normal. I'd been so looking forward to this game because of the excitement generated by the new signings, and was told beforehand that the excitement wasn't misplaced.

Not only was it misplaced, it was non existent. A four or five nil scoreline wouldn't have flattered Morecambe. Although we lost a really, really, stupid goal through awful defending very early on, for the next 20 minutes we took the game to Morecambe and basically bossed it, and then......nothing. The tactics were rank rotten, playing mainly long balls after the first 20 minutes which inevitably ran out of play on the wet surface and high winds - but nothing changed, this just kept on happening.

Second half and I thought Town would come out of the starting blocks and really go for it. How wrong could I be? Morecambe played a very intelligent game on the break to which we had no answer to. The amount of times I saw them basically run through the centre of our defence like a hot knife through butter was genuinely embarrassing, and we did nothing to stop it. They won nigh on every second ball, they kept the ball on the deck, in fact they did everything we should have done but were clearly incapable of doing. Doubt I'll be tempted down south again for a while.

Fan are right, it is a results driven business. Our lack of a plan A, let alone a plan B, meant we floundered. First half Morecambe pumped the ball long down the left wing every opportunity they got. A very basic tactic, but at least it was a tactice, and it led to their goal. Instead of putting the ball out for a throw, Pearson tried to play the ball out over the byeline but failed, then goal, game over. Second half Morecambe were much more cute and their build up play was good to watch at times, but the number of times I witnessed Town defenders turning their backs on Morecambe's forwards as they ran at them really left me scratching my head.

Clearly, it's work in progress but watching your team losing 1-0, and needing to win to keep outside chances of the Play Offs alive, and have to  wait until the 83rd minute for a shot at goal in the second half was definitely worrying. It was a disastrous day, but chatting to Barra during the game he said it was nothing like Crewe. Thank feck I never went to that one.

What has your tag line got to do with football?

Quoted from TheCodfather1966

Due to the way we are playing and the inconsistencies of our results, sadly our home crowds are suffering, and our away support numbers seem to be going down which is sad.  I can only see us scrapping a bit past 4,000 on Tuesday night against Colchester.  Hopefully we can rally again and get a good home win.  Sadly expectations aren't great under MB at the moment and I for one would accept two points out of the next two home games to help us limp over the 50 points barrier.  If we don't put up a couple of good shows in the next two home games, there will be a heap of pressure on MB's shoulders already.  Money is crucial  to Town and we have to keep our great support together, MB;'s style of football, and 6 wins out of 18 games so far is sadly impacting on both fronts.

Lets hope we can get back on track on Tuesday night.

UTM

I think the writing may have been on the wall a little when we player Mansfield as when you take out the 1300 odd Mansfield fans what was left was not what we have been used to in recent months.

One thing I don't agree with is what you have said about expectation as we in general expect quite a lot as Town fans, sometimes we are unrealistic in what we expect.

Marcus came in to a team placed in the play offs as the fixtures till then had been kind. He then "talked up" quite a lot of things thus setting higher expectation and to his credit some excitement that in recent weeks we have not lived up to. All of that along with telling the public that there was not enough technical quality in the squad AKA the players we have are crap just shows a lack of experience and nothing else.

Is he under pressure? Only in the minds of some fans as JF is a very patient "non chairman".

JF may be patient, but he is also a business man at heart as well.  When the club starts to leak money left right and centre, then JF might not be so patient.

UTM

Barring a disaster between now and the end of the season I would think it is highly unlikely that MB isn't in charge come the opening day of the 2017/18 season. I'm still concerned as to how his tenure is going to pan out though.

The positives are that we have some good players like Osborne, Jones, Mills, Pearson and Andrew and some of them have the potential to improve further as they've only just begun their professional careers. We've then got three or four pretty dependable players with FL experience like Collins, Davies, McAllister (should he ever be fit again) and Clements who aren't going to let you down too often and have the type of experience that you need when the going gets tough.

The negatives are that we don't seem to have a goalscorer amongst our strikers and unless Yussuf or Asante can up their game either this season or by the start of next then that is going to need sorting pronto. This isn't entirely MB's fault as the sale of Bogle was always likely to happen and was out of his hands and Hurst created a squad that had virtually no goal threat other than Bogle. However, Yussuf doesn't strike me as the sort of player who will be your main goalscorer and there have to be question marks over Asante's fitness given his record. I think both could be useful strikers to have available and could contribute if in a system that suits them but we need someone to be our main man and if that means spending some of the Bogle money then so be it because without someone properly replacing him we'll be in trouble.

We also desperately need some exciting wide players. We've struggled to create chances nearly all season and our lack of real pace or players with the ability to go past men has been partly to blame. Tombola can go past men but then normally messes up the final ball so he doesn't really count, I still think he'd be an excellent impact sub but not good enough for a starting eleven.

I think another area overlooked by many is the role of screening the back four. We're not blessed with pace at the back so it's vital that we stop players picking up the ball in the hole and running at them like Morecambe did yesterday. I don't think Comley is good enough, certainly not with the ball at his feet, and I don't think Gunning is either. If McAllister isn't the man to patrol this area of the pitch for us then I think we need to make this one of the main signings in the summer, get somebody mobile and aggressive in there who will stop teams hitting us on the break and get us winning some of the second balls.

My main area for concern is the lack of an obvious set of tactics or game plan. I think generally the better performances have come about because of players playing well that day, rather than our management out-thinking the opponents'. The real sign of a savvy manager is a plan B for days when player performance is below optimal and we just don't seem to have any idea. Too many games have petered out without us ever putting pressure on the opposition for a sustained period and the scenario at Stevenage with 4 strikers on the pitch and not a shot between them was just embarrassing. I know it is still early days but he's had a few weeks to work with this current squad now, usually a full week too, and there is still no evidence that we seem to be moving in the right direction. When people questioned whether it was wise to change the squad so drastically mid season I always argued that it was wise to start now to get a headstart but if we're not making any head way then it will have essentially written off the season for no gain and lost the interest of some of the fan base.

There is still plenty of time for MB to get the squad in place that he wants and to mould them into a team with a recognisable plan A and back up plans for when things aren't working. However, the lack of fight in many of the losses recently plus the team looking like a bunch of strangers for long periods has erased a lot of the patience and goodwill he was afforded when he came in. If the team doesn't show signs of progressing or doesn't hit the ground running at the start of next season, I think he'll be under a lot of pressure early on.

Quoted from TAGG

Why? Because it's a results based business.

We won the last game and drew the one before. It's not like we are losing every week and in danger of relegation. I want us to win and play well every week, just like the next man, but i also take into account that manager has been here a very short time and surely people can give him a bit more before sharpening the knives?

I put up with Hurst for years, so i'm sure i can give MB a bit more leeway before i start threatening not to turn up to games. This is lower league footy, we don't go for the glamour and i'll be there on Tuesday. MB may well turn out to be another Newell but surely now is too soon to judge.

Quoted from mariner91

Barring a disaster between now and the end of the season I would think it is highly unlikely that MB isn't in charge come the opening day of the 2017/18 season. I'm still concerned as to how his tenure is going to pan out though.

The positives are that we have some good players like Osborne, Jones, Mills, Pearson and Andrew and some of them have the potential to improve further as they've only just begun their professional careers. We've then got three or four pretty dependable players with FL experience like Collins, Davies, McAllister (should he ever be fit again) and Clements who aren't going to let you down too often and have the type of experience that you need when the going gets tough.

The negatives are that we don't seem to have a goalscorer amongst our strikers and unless Yussuf or Asante can up their game either this season or by the start of next then that is going to need sorting pronto. This isn't entirely MB's fault as the sale of Bogle was always likely to happen and was out of his hands and Hurst created a squad that had virtually no goal threat other than Bogle. However, Yussuf doesn't strike me as the sort of player who will be your main goalscorer and there have to be question marks over Asante's fitness given his record. I think both could be useful strikers to have available and could contribute if in a system that suits them but we need someone to be our main man and if that means spending some of the Bogle money then so be it because without someone properly replacing him we'll be in trouble.

We also desperately need some exciting wide players. We've struggled to create chances nearly all season and our lack of real pace or players with the ability to go past men has been partly to blame. Tombola can go past men but then normally messes up the final ball so he doesn't really count, I still think he'd be an excellent impact sub but not good enough for a starting eleven.

I think another area overlooked by many is the role of screening the back four. We're not blessed with pace at the back so it's vital that we stop players picking up the ball in the hole and running at them like Morecambe did yesterday. I don't think Comley is good enough, certainly not with the ball at his feet, and I don't think Gunning is either. If McAllister isn't the man to patrol this area of the pitch for us then I think we need to make this one of the main signings in the summer, get somebody mobile and aggressive in there who will stop teams hitting us on the break and get us winning some of the second balls.

My main area for concern is the lack of an obvious set of tactics or game plan. I think generally the better performances have come about because of players playing well that day, rather than our management out-thinking the opponents'. The real sign of a savvy manager is a plan B for days when player performance is below optimal and we just don't seem to have any idea. Too many games have petered out without us ever putting pressure on the opposition for a sustained period and the scenario at Stevenage with 4 strikers on the pitch and not a shot between them was just embarrassing. I know it is still early days but he's had a few weeks to work with this current squad now, usually a full week too, and there is still no evidence that we seem to be moving in the right direction. When people questioned whether it was wise to change the squad so drastically mid season I always argued that it was wise to start now to get a headstart but if we're not making any head way then it will have essentially written off the season for no gain and lost the interest of some of the fan base.

There is still plenty of time for MB to get the squad in place that he wants and to mould them into a team with a recognisable plan A and back up plans for when things aren't working. However, the lack of fight in many of the losses recently plus the team looking like a bunch of strangers for long periods has erased a lot of the patience and goodwill he was afforded when he came in. If the team doesn't show signs of progressing or doesn't hit the ground running at the start of next season, I think he'll be under a lot of pressure early on.

Good post that 91

Its the lack of fight shown at Crewe,  Stevenage and Morecambe that concerns me more than lack of experience at League two, we need some of the team spirit and fight back that we had last year, even when we win its seems that we are not in control of events on the field like we were under ****** tenure, I hope he`s ruthless in his decisions for Tuesday and starts with a team of fighters not frighters

Quoted from ginnywings

We won the last game and drew the one before. It's not like we are losing every week and in danger of relegation. I want us to win and play well every week, just like the next man, but i also take into account that manager has been here a very short time and surely people can give him a bit more before sharpening the knives?

I put up with Hurst for years, so i'm sure i can give MB a bit more leeway before i start threatening not to turn up to games. This is lower league footy, we don't go for the glamour and i'll be there on Tuesday. MB may well turn out to be another Newell but surely now is too soon to judge.

He I'm with you but it's just the way it is now.
A bloke who won the prem and is in the knockout stages in Europe was sacked because his results weren't good enough of late and his players are swinging the lead.
If our results and performences don't improve MB will be under huge preasure it's just the way it is.  
I'm not crazy about MB but he needs time, unfortunately in the modern game managers don't always get it 💩

Quoted from Garth

Its the lack of fight shown at Crewe,  Stevenage and Morecambe that concerns me more than lack of experience at League two, we need some of the team spirit and fight back that we had last year, even when we win its seems that we are not in control of events on the field like we were under ****** tenure, I hope he`s ruthless in his decisions for Tuesday and starts with a team of fighters not frighters

I agre with the lack of fight. I can take losing but I am worried about the apparent lack of togetherness. Maybe we have been spoilt after all  

Don't know if this has been mentioned on other threads but I am concerned about the name and shame bit in the media. To my mind you never ball out a player publically, do what you want behind closed doors, but it is a sure way of causing splits in a group.

Hope we start better on Tuesday than we did in the reverse fixture

Quoted from Garth

Its the lack of fight shown at Crewe,  Stevenage and Morecambe that concerns me more than lack of experience at League two, we need some of the team spirit and fight back that we had last year, even when we win its seems that we are not in control of events on the field like we were under ****** tenure, I hope he`s ruthless in his decisions for Tuesday and starts with a team of fighters not frighters

Bit in bold made me smile

Quoted from Cloudy

I agre with the lack of fight. I can take losing but I am worried about the apparent lack of togetherness. Maybe we have been spoilt after all  

Don't know if this has been mentioned on other threads but I am concerned about the name and shame bit in the media. To my mind you never ball out a player publically, do what you want behind closed doors, but it is a sure way of causing splits in a group.

Hope we start better on Tuesday than we did in the reverse fixture

I am not happy with the "naming and shaming" additionally I was not happy that MB came out publically and criticized the technical ability in the squad he inherited, he was right they where an average squad but I'm not convinced it was good for unity to put that out there.    

Quoted from Cloudy

I agre with the lack of fight. I can take losing but I am worried about the apparent lack of togetherness. Maybe we have been spoilt after all  

Don't know if this has been mentioned on other threads but I am concerned about the name and shame bit in the media. To my mind you never ball out a player publically, do what you want behind closed doors, but it is a sure way of causing splits in a group.

Hope we start better on Tuesday than we did in the reverse fixture

I completely agree with this and mentioned it on another thread. The last thing you want when you've made a mistake at work is for your manager to throw you under the bus, I imagine it's the same for footballers.

You want a boss that shoulders responsibility.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

What has your tag line got to do with football?

Some people can't accept that people with differing political opinions might just be wrong or have an alternative perspective, but instead need to constantly tell everyone (and themselves) that their opponents aren't even human.  I'm also puzzled as to why it's necessary on a football forum, but there you go. No fathoming some people.

Quoted from TheCodfather1966

Due to the way we are playing and the inconsistencies of our results, sadly our home crowds are suffering, and our away support numbers seem to be going down which is sad.  I can only see us scrapping a bit past 4,000 on Tuesday night against Colchester.  Hopefully we can rally again and get a good home win.  Sadly expectations aren't great under MB at the moment and I for one would accept two points out of the next two home games to help us limp over the 50 points barrier.  If we don't put up a couple of good shows in the next two home games, there will be a heap of pressure on MB's shoulders already.  Money is crucial  to Town and we have to keep our great support together, MB;'s style of football, and 6 wins out of 18 games so far is sadly impacting on both fronts.

Lets hope we can get back on track on Tuesday night.

UTM

I don't think it's anything to do with the way we are playing or inconsistencies. It's the league table that drives attendances far more than anything else. If we won the next 6 games with boring 1-0 draws attendances would pick up more than six consecutive 9 goal thrillers in which we won half and lost half.

We have several players who could easily develop and gel over the summer, Jones, Osborne, Mills, Andrew but Bolarinwa is too raw and even though he works very hard on the ball his concentration yesterday and when he collapsed in a heap when someone went near him at Wycombe when he could easily have rolled it Jackson, that changed the momentum and cost us. I really hope that Browne and McAllister can be assets next season. I'd really like to see a side next season of something like:

McKeown

Mills
Pearson
Collins
Andrew

McAllister
Osborne
Clements

Browne
???
Jones

That's how close I think we are to having a potentially successful team. We don't concede many goals. Crewe was an anomaly rather than the rule as we've conceded one in three since and have 13 clean sheets so the defence doesn't need changing. Osborne and Jones will hopefully have reached league fitness levels but we will need a striker who can score regularly.

Quoted from HackneyHaddock

Some people can't accept that people with differing political opinions might just be wrong or have an alternative perspective, but instead need to constantly tell everyone (and themselves) that their opponents aren't even human.  I'm also puzzled as to why it's necessary on a football forum, but there you go. No fathoming some people.

Any political statement seemed out of place on a footy forum to me (apart from in the non footy section) but to put a quote as a strapline that equates conservative voters to vermin is not right at all. Town supporters can be Conservative voters right?!  

Quoted from HertsGTFC

I am not happy with the "naming and shaming" additionally I was not happy that MB came out publically and criticized the technical ability in the squad he inherited, he was right they where an average squad but I'm not convinced it was good for unity to put that out there.    

I agree in principle, though I'm not sure that's exactly what Biggie did as such - think he said he needed to bring in more technical ability or we were a bit lacking. But it's thin line. That was one of the things that drunk me off about Shorty and Shouty when they arrived, but before they'd hardly seen them kick a ball.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

I completely agree with this and mentioned it on another thread. The last thing you want when you've made a mistake at work is for your manager to throw you under the bus, I imagine it's the same for footballers.

You want a boss that shoulders responsibility.

Don't say that. You'll spark off rumours about why players left!

Quoted from KingstonMariner

I agree in principle, though I'm not sure that's exactly what Biggie did as such - think he said he needed to bring in more technical ability or we were a bit lacking. But it's thin line. That was one of the things that drunk me off about Shorty and Shouty when they arrived, but before they'd hardly seen them kick a ball.

Yeah I see what your saying I guess my point was more about how the players saw some of his comments.

Yes. It's always tricky to make statements like that because there's always a risk someone takes umbrage. On the other hand there's always a need to be honest with the paying public. Not surprising sports people often come out with bland statements is it!

I think you are miles off the mark here GrimRob.  There is no question in my mind that the way we have started (or not started in many ways) of playing under MB has affected the crowd, not the league table position.  Town fans are very loyal and even if the results are not going our way we will still turn out in droves to watch Town, albeit we have to see the team grafting and giving their all, even if the results are not going our way.  As long as the effort is their, so will the fans be.  No team has a divine right to win football matches.

The lack of togetherness and style of play under MB will see the crowds dwindle far quicker than the league table position.

UTM

Quoted Text

Town fans are very loyal and even if the results are not going our way we will still turn out in droves to watch Town, albeit we have to see the team grafting and giving their all, even if the results are not going our way.  As long as the effort is their, so will the fans be.

That to me is the biggest thing. I can accept losing provided the effort is put in. No disgrace in losing to a better side.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Any political statement seemed out of place on a footy forum to me (apart from in the non footy section) but to put a quote as a strapline that equates conservative voters to vermin is not right at all. Town supporters can be Conservative voters right?!  

When I joined this Forum many moons ago I just applied the details to my nom de plume as they appear on other forums.

If you take umbrage at it I wonder have you considered that you may cause offence yourself to Lew Chatterley's family by implying that you had an affair with the man that his good lady probably knew nothing about? No? Of course not, it would be ludicrous to think so after all it's just a bit of fun, isn't it?

I also suspect you don't see the irony in advising me to go on the non footy site with it having raised the issue twice on the main Forum yourself when it's nothing at all to do with football?

Can we now move on please?

Quoted from jock dock tower

When I joined this Forum many moons ago I just applied the details to my nom de plume as they appear on other forums.

If you take umbrage at it I wonder have you considered that you may cause offence yourself to Lew Chatterley's family by implying that you had an affair with the man that his good lady probably knew nothing about? No? Of course not, it would be ludicrous to think so after all it's just a bit of fun, isn't it?

I also suspect you don't see the irony in advising me to go on the non footy site with it having raised the issue twice on the main Forum yourself when it's nothing at all to do with football?

Can we now move on please?

Maybe Lew Chatterleys Lover is a nom-de plume for his wife! I call my wife lover as a pet name.