Just back

Wow! That was flipping awful.

A game so drab that the only thing that could put the slightest gloss on it, is if we had managed to snatch the three points, but we copulated that up as well. To be fair to Jones, he won the penalty and was the only player from either side to look like troubling the defence. But we can't have any of that so Slade in his wisdom takes him off and brings on Hooper, a player so anonymous that i forgot he was on the pitch until he mis-controlled the ball in injury time.

I used to love football but it is getting increasingly harder and harder to enjoy. There is no guile, no craft, no crosses, no shots, no goal mouth scrambles, just two sides of extremely fit and organised players taking it in turns to hoof the ball from one end of the pitch to the other, with the odd attempt to try a bit of football, which usually lasts about three passes before possession is given away. Totally regret buying a season ticket now because the stuff on offer is garbage and the crowd is dead.

Oh, and the ref was shite. Blowing his whistle every 20 seconds it felt like.

Funny how we see games so differently. I thought Jones was utter gash and did nothing but win the penalty and then commit the biggest sin of all by not even hitting the target with it. I want ben davies to take them, jones missed in the mickey mouse cup, he was lucky in the one he took at mansfield and today has cost us the 3 points. On the game itself we were excrement they were excrement its mid table rubbish and jts going to be that way all season. Slade wants us to play the way we did in 05 with balls to the corners, footballs moved on and our players arent good enough to do it. Cheltenham on tuesday, i hate the place the team the fans, and i just know they will beat us. Happy weekend

I didn't say Jones played well but he was the only one who looked like scoring from either side. He had a chance in the first half and a good run ending with a weak shot with his left foot before the pen. He's a goalscorer and Slade took him off, the boring ar$e.

I agree with what you say Ginny but looking at us after 80 mins today and versus Lincoln I'm not convinced we are as fit as we might be.

What frustrates me the most is that we play completely "heads down"which results in the players taking completely the wrong option at the odd time we get in a decent position.

I can't see what we are trying to do at the moment to be honest.

I'll ask you this Ginny, do you think he is the same player that finished last season? For me and the ones i go with he seems to have lost a spark, very laboured- but as you say he is a goalscorer

Ben Davies is a dead ball specialist & he does not take the penalties, incredible.

Quoted from Hagrid

I'll ask you this Ginny, do you think he is the same player that finished last season? For me and the ones i go with he seems to have lost a spark, very laboured- but as you say he is a goalscorer

He's been Sladed. He's our best player for me and his goal record is pretty impressive considering we don't create a lot.

Watching football this season at Blundell Park is soul destroying. Not one ounce of entertainment on offer.
I have never been so disinterested, dispassionate and outright bored at a football match.
Having a season ticket feels like a ball and chain this season.
The problem is it’s hard to see where any improvement will come from.
Sladeball = Shiteball.
Slade Out!

For all the doom-and-gloomers we are now becoming an established league 2 club and disappointing as it was.....we drew with a team that away record reads before today W3 D2 L1.
Let's get real.

Quoted from heppy88

Watching football this season at Blundell Park is soul destroying. Not one ounce of entertainment on offer.
I have never been so disinterested, dispassionate and outright bored at a football match.
Having a season ticket feels like a ball and chain this season.
The problem is it’s hard to see where any improvement will come from.
Sladeball = Shiteball.
Slade Out!

Sums it up perfectly.

I listened to the game whilst at work hoping it would pass the time. It really didnt.

Has it finished, can I go home, wheres everybody gone..You could of woken me up when you left.  

Quoted from promotion plaice

For all the doom-and-gloomers we are now becoming an established league 2 club and disappointing as it was.....we drew with a team that away record reads before today W3 D2 L1.
Let's get real.

You must have pretty low standards and a high pain threshold to sit through that tripe and then have the audacity to come on here and call people doom and gloomers and to get real!! Win, lose or draw some of us like to be entertained, it’s not too much to ask is it?

Well........personally.....

Positives - first 45 mins we played the ball on the deck, we pressed high, had the lions share of territory and possession and there was some tidy interplay...keeper i think made a good block when Jones went through and Dembele's shot was blocked by a last ditch tackle although he maybe delayed in getting the shot off, we didnt lose.

Negatives -  zero pace about the game, pedestrian and obvious passes rather than cute ones , no left side going forward , lack of off the ball movement as the game went on, strikers + centre mid + left side had no pace to threaten , only one player able to regularly beat an opponent , substitutions had zero impact , Woolford !! how the fck does he start and finish a game, crowd flat as a pancake, dont think i got out of my seat more than once as a result of anything exciting , not one player today was a serious goal threat ,  set piece delivery fking awful , long throw option fking awful , cheap free kicks given away unnecessarily at either end.

Felt sorry for Jones who was clearly disrupted by the age the ref took to set the spot kick and then made him re-spot it before finally dragging it wide.

Flat, Flat and Flat against a below average Crawley side.  

Give us some pace Russ !!!

Quoted from promotion plaice

For all the doom-and-gloomers we are now becoming an established league 2 club and disappointing as it was.....we drew with a team that away record reads before today W3 D2 L1.
Let's get real.

Lets get real, its boring, people wont pay to be bored, we have just managed 3 draws at home against nothing teams, whats going to happen when a team with any ability comes to BP?  

We played more exciting matches in the conference league. Dembele broke free once in the first half but was blocked before he could finish think he plays to deep to be a real threat. The slow hand clap was an indication of how bad we were they were extremely poor but still put in some lovely crosses and corners. The amount of time it took to take the peno certainly affected Jones the ref got more annoying as the game wore on with niggly free kicks. Having said that neither keeper had anything to do. Maybe D.J, may have been more effective than Hooper who knows.

Congratulations Slade, you've managed to do what no Manager has been able to do in over the last fifty odd years,of watching the Mariners, although you did come close during you're last tenure. You have just about destroyed any enjoyment I had of watching football at BP, in fact you have almost destroyed any interest in football in general. I used to look forward to home games, the enjoyment of watching MY team, but not anymore, you have destroyed that. Ninety minutes of pure boredom when the most excitement is when we win a corner which usually ends in sweet fa.
This will be the last season I buy a season ticket if you are still here, I'm not going to waste good money to watch that turgid incompetent crap you and your players continually churn out week after week.
Go, and go now, and take that awful, boring excuse for football with you. Or I for one won't be at BP next season.

Quoted from promotion plaice

For all the doom-and-gloomers we are now becoming an established league 2 club and disappointing as it was.....we drew with a team that away record reads before today W3 D2 L1.
Let's get real.

It's not doom and gloom, it's apathy, which is worse. If it had been a half decent game and ended 2-2, i would have been happy with that. I want to see some football please. It's not too much to ask is it?

Another poor game and poor performance from Town. I should just copy and paste my comments from the Lincoln game, as it was that dire. Slade just wants to play long balls down the channels, frustrating and boring to watch. Whatever footballing intelligence they had at the start is soon knocked out of them. Once again Demebele was the only bright spark, but teams are cottoning on to him now, so it's easy to nullify a one man team. Jones rightly earned his chance with the debatable penalty decision, but it was a dreadful penalty, and on this and previous evidence I wouldn't let him take another. If you were a neutral you would think you were watching two teams in a relegation battle. Whilst we may be 12th the fact is we've yet to play what I would consider a decent side at home, and we are lucky that the likes of Port Vale, Forest Green and Chesterfield are even worse. Anyway in the next 3 games we've got the chance to redeem ourselves, with a better display and results, against more mediocre opposition. UTM

It felt like an end of season nothing dead rubber.

Oh dear, that was truly awful.
I'm struggling to think of anyone who had a half decent game. The first half was slightly better than the second but the only real chances were from Dembele and a couple of half chances from Jones but that was it, and the second half was probably the worst I've seen this season. But we still should've taken three points if not for Jones' awful penalty.
How they can award a man of the match award today baffles me.
The only positive I can find is that we've not lost and only lost once in the league in seven games.
And the referee today was truly awful.
UTM

Quoted from heppy88

Having a season ticket feels like a ball and chain this season.
!

You will be looking forward to the already promised price hike for renewing it next season then  

One notable difference between us and them today was the set pieces. We still tend to chip ours into the box or hit the first man as often as not. They, on the other hand put some really dangerous deliveries into our box (which we defended pretty well, truth be told).

On reflection, it was such a poor game that both sides should be deducted the 1 point, so they both lost.  

That was anti-football.

I've missed the last two home games and, right now, I'm struggling to see why I should return (considering I've saved £36 on tickets and another £50 on petrol).

I mean, I will return, because Town is my team and I'll need a football fix before too long, but I don't really want to return if the last two games are anything to go by. I'm not prepared to spunk my money on us lumping 60 yard balls into the channels for 90 minutes.

Even when there were four goals in the match against Colchester, I remember fans saying it was still awful.

I felt nothing when Bignot was sacked. I felt nothing when Slade was appointed and now, 13 games into the season, I feel even less than nothing.

Don't want us to get relegated, obviously, but if we're just going to play long ball, squeeze the life out of games and finish 14th then, really, I'm wondering why I should give the club my money for that.

If Clifton was in the middle, or I saw a plan, or a team gelling, fighting for each other, proper team spirit - and not just a bunch of journeymen jogging around doing as little as they can to pick up enough points to be mid-table - then that might tempt me back.

Quoted from RichMariner

I've missed the last two home games and, right now, I'm struggling to see why I should return (considering I've saved £36 on tickets and another £50 on petrol).

I mean, I will return, because Town is my team and I'll need a football fix before too long, but I don't really want to return if the last two games are anything to go by. I'm not prepared to spunk my money on us lumping 60 yard balls into the channels for 90 minutes.

Even when there were four goals in the match against Colchester, I remember fans saying it was still awful.

I felt nothing when Bignot was sacked. I felt nothing when Slade was appointed and now, 13 games into the season, I feel even less than nothing.

Don't want us to get relegated, obviously, but if we're just going to play long ball, squeeze the life out of games and finish 14th then, really, I'm wondering why I should give the club my money for that.

If Clifton was in the middle, or I saw a plan or a team gelling, fighting for each other, proper team spirit - and not just a bunch of journeymen jogging around doing as little as they can to pick up enough points to be mid-table - then that might tempt me back.

We didnt play long ball for the first 45 mins today....only as the game progressed did we start to go a bit longer...the occasional channel or longer ball but in the main it was on the deck to feet....although it was neat it wasnt particularly exciting as it was slow paced.

Still can't work out the following:

Why Berrett isn't taking corners because, when he did, they were OK?
Why Ben Davies isn't taking penalties?
Why Clarke has to take the long throws, because he should be heading them on?
Why we signed Matt?
Why we signed Hooper (and a few others)?
Why we sacked Bignot and why we appointed Slade?

and finally, why did I buy a season ticket?

Couldn't make today, sounds like I missed an awful display, oh wait, saw one of those in the last three home games.

Quoted from moosey_club

We didnt play long ball for the first 45 mins today....only as the game progressed did we start to go a bit longer...the occasional channel or longer ball but in the main it was on the deck to feet....although it was neat it wasnt particularly exciting as it was slow paced.

We looked OK in the first half - Berrett & Summerfield looked OK but Summerfield 2016/7 came out for the second half.

We will have to admit that our players aren't very good. You can't really blame them-they try their hardest so we have to look elsewhere for the reasons for our abysmal performances. Do they seem fit-to me they look knackered second halves yet we have a fitness coach. Who decides the tactics-who signed the players this summer-who picks the team-who decides which substitutes to use------No need to answer.   That was one of the most boring matches other than England that I have ever seen----I went for a wee at half time and I was the only one in there---everybody else had gone while the match was on

This was my first game with slade back in charge after his first stint as i had no confidence in his return and said i would not go while he is back. well i did go and will not be going again. sorry but the football was better under Woods than under this lumper.

mkeown - 5.  nearly threw the match away by touching the ball into the net, thankfully it hit the post.
dixon -      4  not sure if he was bad because of who he had in front of him, conor townsend he aint.
davies  -   6  put a couple of good balls in and looked mor mobile than most of the team.
clarke -     6 did a job but a few good balls in by them had the 2 centres in flappy land a few times.
collins -     6 same as clarke tbh
berret -      4 . seemed to have the ball a bit but did nothing with it, didnt seem to do a great deal off the ball either and was deep most of the game, surely should be a tackler to play there?
Summerfield - 6 good in patches but wasteful generally.
dembele -6    couple of bursts here and there, probably just needs experience as seems lost at times.
wollford. 4    . looked unfit and slow from the start, can see the guy had talent once but just looked way past it today.
jones - 7    bit unluckey today i thought, looked most likely to make something happen, totally blame the ref for his miss today as he took far to long messing about talking to every man and his dog before it could be taken.
vernon. 5   -  not the type of player that wants the ball landing on his head every pass rather than feet. chased around for very little.


subs - 4 . no impact at all.

Slade and tactics - 3. took jones off for some reason i cant fathom. left woolford on when he clearly wasnt in the game.


Ref - 3 absolute tool that probably cost us 3 points with his little man im in charge attitude today.

The thing that stuck out for me the most today was sam jones was the only player after the match that made a real effort with the fans even though he knew we were shite. not sure he is a happy bunny looking at his body language after the game.

All I'll say is Slade out, I get lambasted by happy clappers if I try to say anything else.

I've only been twice this season and we have won them both, with decent performances, Chesterfield and Accy.  It appears I have been spoilt, sorry, that is so 2015/16.  I had the opportunity to go today, but declined to because of all the negative reports I read on here.  Its negative because although individuals opinions differ the consensus seems the same, we are absolutely dire at the moment. I don't have the motivation anymore.  I work hard for my footie money and I am not going to spend it on being depressed.

Blaming the ref for jones putting a penalty WIDE of the goal. My god ive heard it all now

Quoted from The_Laughing_Mariner

I've only been twice this season and we have won them both, with decent performances, Chesterfield and Accy.  It appears I have been spoilt, sorry, that is so 2015/16.  I had the opportunity to go today, but declined to because of all the negative reports I read on here.  Its negative because although individuals opinions differ the consensus seems the same, we are absolutely dire at the moment. I don't have the motivation anymore.  I work hard for my footie money and I am not going to spend it on being depressed.

Well if thats the case The_Laughing_Mariner, we need to be getting you to more matches  

Quoted from Hagrid

Blaming the ref for jones putting a penalty WIDE of the goal. My god ive heard it all now

Not just the ref to be fair, the crawley players created what happend with the ref taking so long knowing he is a stickler. sorry but its a pressure situation taking a penalty and having to long to think about it does not help.

Anyone who red crosses a post that is critical of Slade or his so called style of play has obviously not been to Blundell Park for quite some time.

Now that was conference level football.. only a bit more boring.. wasnt going to go but did. there wasnt even any decent ships in the river to watch.  summerfield did the simple things ok and was alwase looking up before he passed ,dembele  too deep. front two could have been picked from the crowd . and how we survived some of the goal mouth antics i will never know .. the choir in there end corner was good tho

Blaming the ref for jones putting a penalty WIDE of the goal. My god ive heard it all now

I just knew listening to the radio he was going to miss.

SOMM,  it was despite my presence not because of it

Hey Mr.GYFR are you enjoying this season? Are you enjoying seeing Sladeball again? Are you happy to see support dwindling away by the week? Do you think you made a good decision bringing Slade back? Do you think you do a good job as (non) chairman? Do you think you ever will do in the future?
I'm not, I'm not, I'm not, I don't.I don't, I don't.

Look I have seen worse:-All season under Bobby Roberts, Bobby Kennedy's first season including a 1-1 draw at home against Bradford Park Avenue the worst game I have ever seen and it snowed, Nick Law's games in charge, Alan Buckley's first three months and of course Neil Woods games in charge.
Matt does not look very good and is not able to jump.
Woolford look promising in his first game, but has gone AWOL.
Dixon is an average defender, for the conference, but can't pass, can't tackle and lacks pace.
Clarke has no pace, and sometimes no clue.
Summerfield and Berrett have been named MOM in last 3 games. Yes plenty of energy, Summerfield can produce a blinding pass but that's 1 in 10 attempts his other passes often lead to dangerous positions for the opposition. In saying that Summerfield has earned his place. Worry is the last team they played for in the middle of the park went South.
Oh James McKeown, I think mostly a good keeper in league 2 but why does he delay the pass. He usually slows the game down too much and I'm not sure of his kicking.
I used come away from a home win under Slade and wonder how?
The stand out performer Gavin Ward. The match was about him, consistent in stopping the game but made inconsistent decisions. I thought Conference refs were bad but we've had some stinkers here.
WELL THERE'S MY MOAN. UTM, I'll be there next game, looking at the River waiting excitedly for the Town to come, knowing we will win, then we kick off, Groundhog day again. My season ticket is worth the view and I get to see Trains and boats (ships) and planes. PS I always think England will win the World Cup.

Quoted from 140067

Look I have seen worse:-All season under Bobby Roberts, Bobby Kennedy's first season including a 1-1 draw at home against Bradford Park Avenue the worst game I have ever seen and it snowed, Nick Law's games in charge, Alan Buckley's first three months and of course Neil Woods games in charge.
Matt does not look very good and is not able to jump.
Woolford look promising in his first game, but has gone AWOL.
Dixon is an average defender, for the conference, but can't pass, can't tackle and lacks pace.
Clarke has no pace, and sometimes no clue.
Summerfield and Berrett have been named MOM in last 3 games. Yes plenty of energy, Summerfield can produce a blinding pass but that's 1 in 10 attempts his other passes often lead to dangerous positions for the opposition. In saying that Summerfield has earned his place. Worry is the last team they played for in the middle of the park went South.
Oh James McKeown, I think mostly a good keeper in league 2 but why does he delay the pass. He usually slows the game down too much and I'm not sure of his kicking.
I used come away from a home win under Slade and wonder how?
The stand out performer Gavin Ward. The match was about him, consistent in stopping the game but made inconsistent decisions. I thought Conference refs were bad but we've had some stinkers here.
WELL THERE'S MY MOAN. UTM, I'll be there next game, looking at the River waiting excitedly for the Town to come, knowing we will win, then we kick off, Groundhog day again. My season ticket is worth the view and I get to see Trains and boats (ships) and planes. PS I always think England will win the World Cup.

Our left side (Dixon & Woolford) was woeful today. Without wishing to rake up the past, Danny Andrew did more in most games last season than those two put together today.

Quoted from golfer

We will have to admit that our players aren't very good. You can't really blame them-they try their hardest so we have to look elsewhere for the reasons for our abysmal performances. Do they seem fit-to me they look knackered second halves yet we have a fitness coach. Who decides the tactics-who signed the players this summer-who picks the team-who decides which substitutes to use------No need to answer.   That was one of the most boring matches other than England that I have ever seen----I went for a wee at half time and I was the only one in there---everybody else had gone while the match was on

You missed the best entertainment of the day Golfer, the choir was a joy to listen to.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

We looked OK in the first half - Berrett & Summerfield looked OK but Summerfield 2016/7 came out for the second half.

I didnt see Macc play so i will take your word for it  

Quoted from Grimal

You missed the best entertainment of the day Golfer, the choir was a joy to listen to.

They were, and they had the right idea, did their singing, got the hell out of dodge (we should of wised up and joined them).

Not just the referee being blamed for Jones inability to hit the target from 12 yards, but also McKeown being criticised for making a decent save from their best chance! Yes, it almost went in and hit the post but he'd saved the flipping shot in the first place!

Dixon was poor for the first 20 minutes but was fine after that. He's no Danny Andrew but then he was only with us due to the injury issues which have resurfaced. We've had worse full-backs than Dixon in the not too distant past, but it seems he's the latest one everyone has got it in for. Most of their set pieces came from our right which indicates we had a problem defensively on that side. Though Davies and Dembele did OK in most regards, they didn't half give away a lot of really stupid free-kicks.

Dembele will become a better player if he simply starts passing the ball more often rather than attempting to dribble all the time. His interchange with Vernon in the first half which set him away shows the way we need to be playing. In fact, we need to see a lot more first time passes throughout midfield and in attack. We're lacking pace as it is so any time we slow down when going forward tends to hurt us.

When we re-appointed Slade, i had a bit of a moan on here as i am not a fan of Sladeball. JF must have read my comments because not long after, we played well at home (think it was when we beat Mansfield) and he made a point of coming over to my seat and saying " It's rubbish this Sladeball isn't it ?", or words to that effect. I have been sorely tempted to remind him of that incident but i can't be bothered. The stuff on the pitch and the dwindling, yawning fanbase says all i need to say. The fans are bored John and you are the one who appointed him, not us.

Quoted from Grimal

You missed the best entertainment of the day Golfer, the choir was a joy to listen to.

Samba bands, choirs etc in the Osmond Corner has more than a hint of Phoenix Nights about it.. What the heck have we become?

Quoted from Bigdog

Samba bands, choirs etc in the Osmond Corner has more than a hint of Phoenix Nights about it.. What the heck have we become?

I agree. If the football wasn't enough to put you to sleep, their rendition of Life in a Northern Town was.

The most entertaining part of the match was the little game at half time.

Dixon's first half performance was one of the worst I have ever seen.

Those moaning just free your self up and stop going .... I feel loads better not paying to watch that shite .    

The only positive today was that it was a League Two match, rather than non-league. Dreadful.

Quoted from ginnywings

When we re-appointed Slade, i had a bit of a moan on here as i am not a fan of Sladeball. JF must have read my comments because not long after, we played well at home (think it was when we beat Mansfield) and he made a point of coming over to my seat and saying " It's rubbish this Sladeball isn't it ?", or words to that effect. I have been sorely tempted to remind him of that incident but i can't be bothered. The stuff on the pitch and the dwindling, yawning fanbase says all i need to say. The fans are bored John and you are the one who appointed him, not us.

The sad thing is the pattern. Even when we retain possession for circa 5 passes, it always ends up with Collins or Clarke pumping the ball into the channels. There were times when Summerfield/Berrett/Bembele combined and we looked like a football team but it almost looks like football by numbers - count to 5 passes, pump it long..eat, sleep, repeat.

If Mr Fenty & his cronies think it's OK then fine, but the attendances are reflecting the entertainment value which is ebbing away rapidly.

We were the better side without having the quality or the ideas to make it count. We lack a lot of positive movement when we have the ball. To be fair it's really boring even if the effort is there. It looks like we've a bargain basement squad of triers, bit of investment in a couple quality players through the spine of the team might make us a decent side.

Will they still be inteasing the prices next season if we have a miserably boring, mid-table season?

I agree, I thought the choir sang very nicely. The other high spot of the afternoon for me was watching a flock of migrating starlings settle on the floodlight pylon in the old Imperial Corner. Having presumably braved a North Sea crossing they then b*ggered off again, appalled by English football.

Quoted from fleabag1970

Those moaning just free your self up and stop going .... I feel loads better not paying to watch that shite .    

Have already paid for a seasons entertainment. How can J.F. justify putting the price up by 10% next season to watch this shower of shite I will never know.

For those that went i'm sure there is some positive stuff.  Every just back thread these days (and not just because its slade) doesn't have 1 bit of positivity.  Surely in 90 mins of football it isn't all negative.  I get people are saying its boring but you dont have to just talk about the negatives, surely we need balance views.  

Quoted from Meza

For those that went i'm sure there is some positive stuff.  Every just back thread these days (and not just because its slade) doesn't have 1 bit of positivity.  Surely in 90 mins of football it isn't all negative.  I get people are saying its boring but you dont have to just talk about the negatives, surely we need balance views.  

How the hell can you say that if you did not go ,believe me there was no positives what so ever stop clutching at straw along with the last of the Slade sycophants,he has sucked the enjoyment from watching Town.

Quoted from ginnywings

When we re-appointed Slade, i had a bit of a moan on here as i am not a fan of Sladeball. JF must have read my comments because not long after, we played well at home (think it was when we beat Mansfield) and he made a point of coming over to my seat and saying " It's rubbish this Sladeball isn't it ?", or words to that effect. I have been sorely tempted to remind him of that incident but i can't be bothered. The stuff on the pitch and the dwindling, yawning fanbase says all i need to say. The fans are bored John and you are the one who appointed him, not us.

Your restraint is impressive. If he'd done that to me I'd like to think I might, possibly maintain a sense of decorum and keep schtum. ....but I VERY much doubt it!

Quoted from Meza

For those that went i'm sure there is some positive stuff.  Every just back thread these days (and not just because its slade) doesn't have 1 bit of positivity.  Surely in 90 mins of football it isn't all negative.  I get people are saying its boring but you dont have to just talk about the negatives, surely we need balance views.  

There probably were some positives - many played OK first half but, substitutions are supposed to give you a change or an impetus but our performance got worse not better. That's the frustration. When the likes of Hooper & Matt get on and Tombola and Cardwell can't even get on the bench, then you really worry about what the manager is thinking.

Dull and boring from start to finish.

We could/should have won but we are what we are, a mid table division 4 team. We won't win every week but we are competitive in the division. Yet to see any side who looked good, there will not be more than one or two who perform well on a half consistent basis.

People lambasting Slade but we aren't not going to be challenging for promotion. If we went up we would be hammered next season because the club is hardly ready to cope with league 2 let alone league 1.

It isn't ', imo going to get better any time soon so either accept it or don't bother. You have a choice. Pesh poor budget will result in mid table annominity

Well if you think this is bad, you could always go and watch Arsenal whose fans slate them every time they don't win by a mile.
Think their season ticket is over £1000 too

The problem is that there are only 4 team can win their leagues, but 12 can get relegated. The other 76 clubs are either unhappy that they did not win the league or have avoided relegation but had uninspiring seasons.

Lets hope they find oil or fracking gas and some Arab buys GTFC, then we can all be happy.

At present, accept the crap performances and keep picking up points until the transfer window.

My mate Robin said "it's the choir that can't sing", I asked if they sign thinking it was a choir for the deaf. He said "no they can't sing", so i asked if they mime. "No they go for fun but they are not singers", Once the conversation went to sewing machines he gave up and told me to watch the kids playing football. Finishing with saying "you are odd !"

Quoted from Meza

For those that went i'm sure there is some positive stuff.  Every just back thread these days (and not just because its slade) doesn't have 1 bit of positivity.  Surely in 90 mins of football it isn't all negative.  I get people are saying its boring but you don't have to just talk about the negatives, surely we need balance views.  

I do normally try to give a balanced view, weighing up the negatives with the positives, however, the last two home games, and the majority of this seasons home match's, have been very poor fare indeed. Like most forms of entertainment, you turn up expecting to see a performance, and you expect value for money. Those loyal supporters who turn up week after week come rain or shine, have been duped out of their hard-earned money. I will end on a positive note however by saying that we at least got a point today, and are currently in 12th place...UTM

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

Well if you think this is bad, you could always go and watch Arsenal whose fans slate them every time they don't win by a mile.
Think their season ticket is over £1000 too

The problem is that there are only 4 team can win their leagues, but 12 can get relegated. The other 76 clubs are either unhappy that they did not win the league or have avoided relegation but had uninspiring seasons.

Lets hope they find oil or fracking gas and some Arab buys GTFC, then we can all be happy.

At present, accept the crap performances and keep picking up points until the transfer window.

On that basis, we're supposed to put up with Sladeball because it's all we can afford? Expect a lower level in years to come then, because there will be several season tickets not renewed in the Lower if that's the case.

Does anyone know whether locking a fire exit with a chain and padlock is against the law?

Quoted from MuddyWaters

On that basis, we're supposed to put up with Sladeball because it's all we can afford? Expect a lower level in years to come then, because there will be several season tickets not renewed in the Lower if that's the case.

Think this Sladeball thing is overstated. However, yes, we have to stay up this season, and if it means another 33 games of less than exiting watching, so be it.

Next year is another matter altogether, as unacceptable performances must be punished. Anybody remember Rome?

Quoted from jock dock tower

https://www.google.co.uk/url?s.....aGRZQHMGrVCUJGeWSjTJ

Samaritans? I tried phoning them straight after the game, couldnt get through, automated message said they were experiencing a higher than normal number of calls from the N. E. Lincs area

We are solidly mid table in League 2 are we not? Only lost once in 5 games....
I didn't go today. I went to York races. Had a great day. A rare child free weekend day.

We are in the football league. Our manager has a 'style' and our budget is average at very best. Do something else. Get on with some other stuff rather than go to BP if it's boring. Life is short and opportunities to enjoy yourself are rare indeed (especially if you've  got young kids and a demanding job).

The upshot is - it's ok to be 'middling' in L2 in a sense. It's much better than being in the conference - I never lose sight of that, BUT.... if I was running the club, I shouldn't be surprised if many people don't want to pay a lot of money on a Saturday to sit through 90 minutes of something that makes them frustrated and miserable.

Quoted from 1739

Does anyone know whether locking a fire exit with a chain and padlock is against the law?

A fire or emergency exit is there for a reason, and should not be locked and chained at any time. i think the  HSE would have some strong words about that if it where true

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

Think this Sladeball thing is overstated. However, yes, we have to stay up this season, and if it means another 33 games of less than exiting watching, so be it.

Next year is another matter altogether, as unacceptable performances must be punished. Anybody remember Rome?

BULL crap, we had a manager and non-chairman talking about promotion, I expect us to be challenging or look like we could be challenging.

Quoted from denni266

A fire or emergency exit is there for a reason, and should not be locked and chained at any time. i think the  HSE would have some strong words about that if it where true

I would imagine it depends on risk assessment and whether other fire exits are available.

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

Well if you think this is bad, you could always go and watch Arsenal whose fans slate them every time they don't win by a mile.
Think their season ticket is over £1000 too.

Was at a wake on Weds and was talking to a couple of old friends...one a Bradford ST Holder  £150....one a Man City ST Holder £300....they both nearly choked when i told them how much ours were.......and a promised increase next season.  

Quoted from Meza

For those that went i'm sure there is some positive stuff.  Every just back thread these days (and not just because its slade) doesn't have 1 bit of positivity.  Surely in 90 mins of football it isn't all negative.  I get people are saying its boring but you dont have to just talk about the negatives, surely we need balance views.  

I'm not known for my negativity (I hope) but the only positives from today as a whole were a great al fresco breakfast on the seafront and the fact that it wasn't cold in the Pontoon.  I honestly cannot remember any passage of play other than the run Jones went on to win his penalty. Truly dire fare.

Quoted from chaos33

We are solidly mid table in League 2 are we not? Only lost once in 5 games....
I didn't go today. I went to York races. Had a great day. A rare child free weekend day.

We are in the football league. Our manager has a 'style' and our budget is average at very best. Do something else. Get on with some other stuff rather than go to BP if it's boring. Life is short and opportunities to enjoy yourself are rare indeed (especially if you've  got young kids and a demanding job).

The upshot is - it's ok to be 'middling' in L2 in a sense. It's much better than being in the conference - I never lose sight of that, BUT.... if I was running the club, I shouldn't be surprised if many people don't want to pay a lot of money on a Saturday to sit through 90 minutes of something that makes them frustrated and miserable.

Very well put Chaos, as without a major cash input the best we are likely to be in the current football money based climate is somewhere between mid leagues 2 and 1. Yes, win one well, lose one may be more entertaining, but consolidation at any cost is better than slipping out of the league again as I'm not sure we would get back in six years next time  

Quoted from moosey_club

Was at a wake on Weds and was talking to a couple of old friends...one a Bradford ST Holder  £150....one a Man City ST Holder £300....they both nearly choked when i told them how much ours were.......and a promised increase next season.  

I recall that Bradford have always offered good value for ST's, but that's pretty impressive for Man City

Quoted from chaos33

We are solidly mid table in League 2 are we not? Only lost once in 5 games....
I didn't go today. I went to York races. Had a great day. A rare child free weekend day.

We are in the football league. Our manager has a 'style' and our budget is average at very best. Do something else. Get on with some other stuff rather than go to BP if it's boring. Life is short and opportunities to enjoy yourself are rare indeed (especially if you've  got young kids and a demanding job).

The upshot is - it's ok to be 'middling' in L2 in a sense. It's much better than being in the conference - I never lose sight of that, BUT.... if I was running the club, I shouldn't be surprised if many people don't want to pay a lot of money on a Saturday to sit through 90 minutes of something that makes them frustrated and miserable.

Pleased you had a good day. I had a lovely morning playing golf in great weather with good friends then went to watch another mind-numbing display from a team that is sent out to frustrate not entertain. New stadium will be utterly pointless at this rate - might as well stay where we are because that football is worthy of a shithole like Blundell Park not a venue with any class. Today's football had the Fenty era written all over it - low-cost, bargain basement fare with little or no prospect of improvement.

Quoted from lee65

I recall that Bradford have always offered good value for ST's, but that's pretty impressive for Man City

i did respond by saying... thats all well and good but where is the fun in going home disappointed if your team doesnt score more than 3 or 4 goals every week  

Quoted from TheRealJohnLewis

BULL crap, we had a manager and non-chairman talking about promotion, I expect us to be challenging or look like we could be challenging.

We have had the media and English press talking about England winning the World Cup for the last 50 years, but what does that prove?

There are two teams in every game. There is no Devine right for GTFC to win. Get real.

Quoted from moosey_club

i did respond by saying... thats all well and good but where is the fun in going home disappointed if your team doesnt score more than 3 or 4 goals every week  

Perhaps ours would be a similar price if we got £200m or whatever from TV

Quoted from Grimbiggs

I do normally try to give a balanced view, weighing up the negatives with the positives, however, the last two home games, and the majority of this seasons home match's, have been very poor fare indeed. Like most forms of entertainment, you turn up expecting to see a performance, and you expect value for money. Those loyal supporters who turn up week after week come rain or shine, have been duped out of their hard-earned money. I will end on a positive note however by saying that we at least got a point today, and are currently in 12th place...UTM

Yeah i guess it can be hard, i'm just one of the people that try to take the positive's more than the negative otherwise, i'd get upset and moan like Victor Meldrew.  Its even harder for me not being able to watch the matches, but i can understand peoples frustrations, after all you pay good money.

Well yeah, you're probably right Old Codger. At the end of the day, if dwindling numbers of people are interested, then the message will write itself.

If we want to go on from here - to push for promotion, we will have to do much better than this. To invest. To think more creatively, ambitiously etc...

If we don't, and we are content to exist (and stand still), then folk, with limited time and money, will find something else to do.

It's great that we are football league again. It was a long, miserable time in the conference, but consolidation goes on for how long? A season? A season and a bit? Two seasons? More? Is the plan to tread water? Keep afloat in the FL, and anything above the bottom two is acceptable?

We are all keen to hear and (more importantly) see the club's plans. Their ambitions. What are we striving for? Do we want compete at the top end? What do our on field performances say about us?

I think too many people put the emphasis on the BUDGET, at the end of the day it is up to the manager to get the best out of the budget available to him. Our board and management team at the beginning of the season, expected us to be challenging for promotion, and yet we're a mile off. I can't imagine the likes of Newport and Accrington having massive budgets, and yet somehow they've managed to get the best out of their players including Kayden Jackson, whereas we haven't, who's fault is that?

Quoted from chaos33

Well yeah, you're probably right. At the end of the day, if dwindling numbers of people are interested, then the message will write itself.

If we want to go on from here - to push for promotion, we will have to do much better than this. To invest. To think more creatively, ambitiously etc...

If we don't, and we are content to exist (and stand still), then folk, with limited time and money, will find something else to do.

It's great that we are football league again. It was a long, miserable time in the conference, but consolidation goes on for how long? A season? A season and a bit? Two season? More? Is the plan to tread water? Keep afloat in the FL, and anything above the bottom two is acceptable?

We are all keen to hear and (more importantly) see the club's plans. Their ambitions. What are we striving for? Do we want compete at the top end? What do our on field performances say about us?

Just an opinion and has been for a long time is that the club is stale/stagnant and it shows on and off the pitch. The same people at the top, the same faces rocking up in the Reserved car park and the same, soulless, knackered stadium. We need fresh ideas, a new impetus and a change. Waiting for the tide of football fortune is not a plan, it's a vain hope that one day your Lottery numbers come up. Much better to try to make things happen, influence things, create an atmosphere of opportunity.

It's superfluous, I know, but just to see the club having to apply for Planning Permission for the siting of two beaten up Portakabins at Cheapside seems to indicate the limits of our ambitions.

I can take being mid table and winning a game, losing a game over the season, but there is no joy in football anymore. The problem is that if the fare served up is unpalatable, the fans stay away, the budget decreases and you get into a downward spiral again. There is nothing to attract the floating fan.

I know it's not that easy and there are 23 other teams all battling for the same thing, but it's hard work watching footy at BP. To be fair, most of the opposition are just as toothless and it makes for a dull afternoon. Maybe this is just the way it is and as good as it gets in League 2?

Trying to put a positive spin on things, we have tightened up a lot and have only lost one in seven i think. We are comfortable mid table and not too far from the top end, but there has to be more to footy than this.

Quoted from Grimbiggs

I think too many people put the emphasis on the BUDGET, at the end of the day it is up to the manager to get the best out of the budget available to him. Our board and management team at the beginning of the season, expected us to be challenging for promotion, and yet we're a mile off. I can't imagine the likes of Newport and Accrington having massive budgets, and yet somehow they've managed to get the best out of their players including Kayden Jackson, whereas we haven't, who's fault is that?

Yeah good points. I can't imagine that Exeter, Accrington, Newport or Stevenage have bigger budgets than us, but they're all getting more for their money right now. Still, if you're Carlisle, or Cambridge or Colchester, Port Vale or Crewe, doing worse than us, there would also be grounds for complaint. Not really the point.
We are probably in a league position roughly in line with our budget (maybe a bit above in fact), but if the match day experience is dismal/poor value for money/unentertaining/frustrating/angering etc, then folk will stop going and do something else. Pure functional, agricultural, Calvinist survivalism is ok in the short term, but it's unsustainable beyond because devotees and customers will lose interest....

Well l was by the sounds of it fortunate to miss todays game as took my lot to watch Spurs at wembley, another game with little action. Was following town during the match and read I was missing nothing.

On way home stopped at Peterborough services where I stumbled across Crawley's players taking a break on journey home. Asked them about the game and general response was thank god they had not paid to watch it!!!

Not impressed with town although most of our fans were probably not impressed with either side.

Daughter lives in Cheltenham and she was at Spurs game today and tried to persuade watching town live rather than Real Madrid v Spurs was a better way for her to spend her Tuesday evening, she was not convinced!!!!

Quoted from chaos33

Yeah good points. I can't imagine that Exeter, Accrington, Newport or Stevenage have bigger budgets than us, but they're all getting more for their money right now. Still, if you're Carlisle, or Cambridge or Colchester, Port Vale or Crewe, doing worse than us, there would also be grounds for complaint. Not really the point.
We are probably in a league position roughly in line with our budget (maybe a bit above in fact), but if the match day experience is dismal/poor value for money/unentertaining/frustrating/angering etc, then folk will stop going and do something else. Pure functional, agricultural, Calvinist survivalism is ok in the short term, but it's unsustainable beyond because devotees and customers will lose interest....

We may as well be shite and unambitous, but owned by the fans. its not like anyone's throwing cash at it.

Quoted from Cloudy

Perhaps ours would be a similar price if we got £200m or whatever from TV

Absolutely spot on.

Another dull home game with next to no quality.

Very frustrating to watch and it's not in the least bit entertaining. As someone else posted earlier, I could accept draws, even 0-0 draws at home, if we were trying to play football or creating chances.....but we're not.

I could also accept us having a direct style if we were efficient and any good at it. But we're not and don't really have the players for it.

We don't pass the ball through midfield. Summerfield tries to make himself available for defenders to give him the ball but they ignore him and punt it high into the channel. Nathan Clarke I think passed the ball forward to feet once that I remember.

Countless times Davies gets the ball and Dembele down the line wants the ball. Dembele has a man behind him but he's perfectly capable of receiving the ball with pressure behind him. Just pass him the ball.

Throw ins. We are shocking from throw-ins. I don't just mean our long-throws from Clarke that we do nothing other than get counter-attacked on. But just general throw ins. Again, we seem reluctant to throw it to someone if they've got a man within 10 yards of him. Just throw it to his safe side or to his feet and get it back. Simple. All we do is chuck it down the line to Vernon or Matt, both of whom win little in the air.

Thought Crawley were alright and played out from the back well. They just didnt have anything in the final third. They played more football than us but we had a couple of half chances and then obviously the penalty, so should have won really despite a poor performance.

We have little movement off the ball when we're in possession. Centre forwards are static and reactive rather than on the move. Summerfield always tries to get on the ball and move it forward quickly but Berrett often appears to hide and is happy for players to punt it long rather than give it to him in midfield.

We're so one-paced and have no chance to break quickly if we win the ball because only Dembele in the team today has an ounce of pace. He's still very inconsistent with his decision making but is at least trying to make things happen.

Jones was a bit selfish with his decision making today but again he's at least trying to make things happen and probably recognises that he's probably the only one with the quality to really make a difference.

Vernon wasn't very good today. Flagged offside a lot and too slow to move the ball on. Takes 3/4 touches to move it on when 1/2 should be enough. I've seen posts saying Matt doesn't jump for Headers but Vernon doesn't either - tries to hold his man off and let it drop in front of him, but the defender can often just get up over him and head it.

Woolford seems a fairly intelligent footballer but this was another game where he's done nothing. And Jaiyesimi must be wandering what he's got to do to get some time on the pitch.

........

But apart from that we're doing alright  

I thought we were garbage. Vernon & Woolford both a waste of space, how Woolford keeps out young DJ is beyond me.

As for the match sponsors they must have been on drugs or taking the urine with Berrett as motm.

Hooper & Matt were awful when they came on and God only knows what Slade was thinking.

Dixon is probably the worst left back we have had in a long while.

Crap players and crap manager sums it up for me.

Quoted from arryarryarry

I thought we were garbage. Vernon & Woolford both a waste of space, how Woolford keeps out young DJ is beyond me.

As for the match sponsors they must have been on drugs or taking the urine with Berrett as motm.

Hooper & Matt were awful when they came on and God only knows what Slade was thinking.

Dixon is probably the worst left back we have had in a long while.

Crap players and crap manager sums it up for me.

I get why Berrett was MOTM - it was between him, Dembele and DC for me. He isn't going to bomb on and he won more tackles and headers than anyone else today. Perhaps that shows how poor we were.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I get why Berrett was MOTM - it was between him, Dembele and DC for me. He isn't going to bomb on and he won more tackles and headers than anyone else today. Perhaps that shows how poor we were.

I can't remember Berrett having much involment in the second half at all.

It's tough because realistically our position in the league is what I expected but by the sounds of it the way we are playing is dreadful. I'll be going on Tuesday to my second game of the season. I think, like I've said before, it's not out results people are concerned about its the lack of effort or style we play. People are bored and fed up with watching the ball being kicked high and long to no-one or just passed 2 yards side ways.. We've got enough players capable and knocking the ball around and going for the opposition so just give it a go. I'd rather us try and entertain and finish just below mid table than be boring as hell and finish around the middle.