Just back

Excellent three points, lots of 7/10 performances. Delighted to see Scannell back in, Cropper looks like a useful addition.

Given what happened on Tuesday, got to give MoM to Andy Smith who impresses every game at centre back.

We played alright. Dagenham were pretty dire. Did we win a corner in the second half? MccAtee should have put the game to bed. We managed to make the last few minutes slightly nervous. We won. Not much more to say really.  

Yeah not convinced it was handball on the line, a bad finish!

Comfortable without being spectacular. I said it was must win, and we won.

Seems all the pundits thought it was blatant handball, as did PH. Haven’t seen it so can’t comment. I wouldn’t be surprised that it was missed if it actually was handball. The standard of officiating at this level is, and always has been (for the most part)….utterly sh1t.

Decent performance sums it up. Not really threatened all game were we?

Dunno what was up with McAtee in the first half? He seemed in a right strop. Moaned at Cropper for not throwing the ball to him when he was about 1 yard away from him and the first goal came as a result from the throw in. Also went at JMD after he put a dangerous ball in the box. Came out different second half much better attitude and should have got himself a goal.

Could have done with some fresher legs abit earlier IMO.

Solid at the back, shame they couldn’t get that clean sheet. Apart from the goal can’t recall a shot on target for them really.

Big game and big win. Let’s get something from Chesterfield to follow it up now.

Both sides generally win or lose, with not a lot of draws between them, so fairly similar in their inconsistency, which is why both are on the fringes of the top spots.

Today we prevailed and deservedly so, without being utterly dominant.

Got ourselves in a decent position now with a not too onerous run in.

Think we can make the play offs, but not convinced we can come through them unless we get a bit more ruthless, although the squad is looking stronger now and the return of JMD gives us another goal threat. If Holahan starts chipping in when settled, we could peak just at the right time.

Here's hoping.

Quoted from ginnywings

Both sides generally win or lose, with not a lot of draws between them, so fairly similar in their inconsistency, which is why both are on the fringes of the top spots.

Today we prevailed and deservedly so, without being utterly dominant.

Got ourselves in a decent position now with a not too onerous run in.

Think we can make the play offs, but not convinced we can come through them unless we get a bit more ruthless, although the squad is looking stronger now and the return of JMD gives us another goal threat. If Holahan starts chipping in when settled, we could peak just at the right time.

Here's hoping.

Still think Raihky and Fox could play a part.

Still feel Taylor is too isolated..needs a partner. Abrahams up top with him.

Quoted from marinerjase

Still feel Taylor is too isolated..needs a partner. Abrahams up top with him.

Nothing wrong with Taylor’s performance today. He occupied two of their centre backs for most of the game. If opposition managers decide to do that, it’s up to us to use the space that creates. It’s something we did better today than on Tuesday.

Maybe time to just rotate mcatee for a game give him a rest? Based on what people are saying

Quoted from WHYWONTYOULETMESIGNUP

Maybe time to just rotate mcatee for a game give him a rest? Based on what people are saying

McAtee much better today compared to Tuesday. Can’t see him being rested with Chesterfield and Stockport up next.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Nothing wrong with Taylor’s performance today. He occupied two of their centre backs for most of the game. If opposition managers decide to do that, it’s up to us to use the space that creates. It’s something we did better today than on Tuesday.

Didn’t say there was?

Quoted from marinerjase

Didn’t say there was?

Did I say you did?

Played really well again and looked comfortable throughout.

My only criticism is we should have scored more goals but all in all a good day with some of the other results going for us - suddenly it has tightened up a bit.

It's a shame Dover could not have held on at Wrexham at 5-2 up but you can't have everything.

Glad we put that bogey to bed 👏🏻

Massive win that, buzzing with the result.

Borehamwood might have 3 games in hand on us, but looking at their remaining games, I think I’d much prefer to have our run-in and the points on the board.

Plenty of plus points today, with young Smith being a calm kingpin at the back.

Cropper looks good, and with THAT throw can be a different threat not seen previously.

McAtee ran everywhere, but sadly not today with his normal finishing skills as well. Quality sub walk round though !!

Scannell - another runner and chaser - with good ball control and a great eye for a pass, sometimes too quick for others to cotton on to.

The passing around seems improved and everyone looked comfortable receiving and passing.

The ref missed a good amount of shirt pulling and pushes in the back by them.

However - 3 points gained and move on !!

Back in the play-offs!

Spent far too long bemoaning our lack of decent throw-in taking so absolutely delighted with the signing of Cropper who caused havoc and relieved pressure with his throws today. People in the Pontoon seem adamant that it was a handball when McAtee was rewarded with an opportunity for his pressing but from the Main Stand, I'm not sure it was so we will see when the highlights are out.

It's a shame we couldn't cling on to the clean sheet but that's exactly why you need to get a second goal and their keeper should have done much better with that. Great to hear the Main Stand bemoan McAtee for not challenging for the ball just as the defender misjudged it to put him through and had to commit a foul.

Waterfall and Smith were brilliant today I thought. It would be good if we could get Smith back next season.

The thing that gives me hope is that quite a few significant players have recently joined and/or come back from lays offs so are not fully match fit yet, and probably haven’t fully clicked as a team yet.

JMD chips in with goals/assists is still relatively new and just come va from injury.
Holohan new but looks able to score and already has assist
Scannell, like another new player, with plenty of skill and can score
Cropper, another newbie with another attacking dimension, yet yo get to full fitness
Smith - valuable addition at the back

We can get (even) better.

Can we all chill. Lots of games to go we’re in form.. UTM

I think the quality of our play recently has been way below the standard of earlier in the season, but a win is a win I guess.

Why oh why do we seem to consistently give away last minute goals?

Second game I've missed because of Covid
How did Harry get on in (what I think is his best position) center mid??

Funny game. Was expecting a lot more from Dagenham attacking wise. First goal was surreal, like VAR in real time! We got another, thank god. Sets us up a treat for Chesterfield, can't wait.

Quoted from TAGG

Second game I've missed because of Covid
How did Harry get on in (what I think is his best position) center mid??

Covered every inch of the pitch, as per usual.

It looked a clear handball to me, but maybe I got it wrong. Didn't seem to be much protest from the Town players.

Quoted from TAGG

Second game I've missed because of Covid
How did Harry get on in (what I think is his best position) center mid??

He had a good game, worked well with Holohan and could’ve scored early in the game with a little more accuracy.

Firstly a word on John McAtee I thought his interactions with the supporters when he was walking to the dug out after being subbed was real class.

It looked today like the players where playing to win but also to stay in the starting 11 as we now have a few options.

Decent performance and if we can keep that 4 across the middle I think we’ll finish the season well once JMD, Scannell and Hoolihan have a few more minutes in the bank.

Despite a bit of a scare at the end I thought the back 4 did well, both CB’s deserve a mention as I thought they where really strong and looked assured.

Similar to some of the comments above I thought Taylor’s game was decent today as he made a real nuisance of himself within the rules, McAtee should have finished the game off but never mind his all round contribution was very good especially after the break.

So will we make the play offs? If this squad and player availability had been in place by the end of the January window I think we’d have been right up there but looking at where we are now I think it’s an evans chance.

Let’s see, UTM!!

Quoted from Heswall Mariner

Why oh why do we seem to consistently give away last minute goals?

Who gives a crap when you're 2 up?

It could be very important come the end of season.

Whether a goal is conceded (or scored) in the first or last minute is immaterial to the result. A goal is a goal and a point is a point. It may FEEL bad to concede a late goal if you’re watching, but it’s the  number of goals conceded/scored that is important.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Firstly a word on John McAtee I thought his interactions with the supporters when he was walking to the dug out after being subbed was real class.

It looked today like the players where playing to win but also to stay in the starting 11 as we now have a few options.

Decent performance and if we can keep that 4 across the middle I think we’ll finish the season well once JMD, Scannell and Hoolihan have a few more minutes in the bank.

Despite a bit of a scare at the end I thought the back 4 did well, both CB’s deserve a mention as I thought they where really strong and looked assured.

Similar to some of the comments above I thought Taylor’s game was decent today as he made a real nuisance of himself within the rules, McAtee should have finished the game off but never mind his all round contribution was very good especially after the break.

So will we make the play offs? If this squad and player availability had been in place by the end of the January window I think we’d have been right up there but looking at where we are now I think it’s an evans chance.

Let’s see, UTM!!

I don’t see us having a much better starting line up than today other than Holohan and Cropper being fitter. I like Efete but Cropper’s long throw gives us an extra attacking dimension. Much to play for and much to look forward to.

I think there is a clear divide in quality in this league between the top eight or so and the rest and how we perform game to game is dictated largely by the quality of the opposition . Dagenham fell below that line today and  after 10 mins I felt we would win whereas after 10 mins against Solihull on Tuesday it was clear they were better. In many ways the results and league positions this season are providing an unusually predictable pattern .To squeeze into seventh we need Bromley and Borehamwood to continue their recent poor form.

Weren't great today but solid at the back and Dagenham didn't really cause us many problems. Getting on the end of Cropper's long throw is definitely something we need to work on as it could be a proper weapon.

From the minute the line up was announced you felt we’d win, we played two actual wingers for a start. Far more positive and amazingly we win, who knew?

Two tough old games now, be happy with 3 points realistically.

Quoted from Heswall Mariner

Why oh why do we seem to consistently give away last minute goals?

Because we are nice people and like to cheer the other team up. My grandma always told me not to take without giving something back.

Quoted from HerveJosse

I think there is a clear divide in quality in this league between the top eight or so and the rest and how we perform game to game is dictated largely by the quality of the opposition . Dagenham fell below that line today and  after 10 mins I felt we would win whereas after 10 mins against Solihull on Tuesday it was clear they were better. In many ways the results and league positions this season are providing an unusually predictable pattern .To squeeze into seventh we need Bromley and Borehamwood to continue their recent poor form.

Matches dont last 10 mins. Overall we were better than Solihull  - even their manager didn't think they would get back into it. Fair play to him he took a gamble and it worked but we should have been out of sight.

Wasn’t exactly a vintage performance but you never felt like we were really troubled either.

On the one hand I want us to win and play well and look the part, but on the other I think “we need to be in it to win it” and the points each game are the most important thing. We’ve looked solid against the likes of Chesterfield and Notts at home and taken nothing which kind of proves that.

Cropper looks alright to me. The throw is a weapon, we just need to work out how best to utilise it now. Hurst could do with looking at a few old Stoke early Premier League highlights!

Nice to see us go for it with Scannell starting. Tough game for him on the wrong side but he still looks class and keeps the ball.

UTM

Better midfield today - and we have Fox on the mend.

A slightly strange game with some slightly strange goals, but this was always about the result and we were good value for the three points in the end.

I enjoy watching Erico Sousa but for me his season has been punctuated by the things he hasn’t done. In Jordan Maguire-Drew’s nine appearances he’s scored 4 goals, with a couple of assists thrown in to boot. He has to be one of the first names on the team sheet now; the ball he played through to meet Holohan’s great run in the first half was exquisite - shame he couldn’t finish.

Defensively we looked sound, and Andy Smith looks better by the game at centre half. I’d like to see him back here next season if that’s an option. Disappointing to concede a silly late goal again, but at least it didn’t cost us.

With Stockport having all but won the league, I think it’s 5 from positions 2 - 8 that will make the play-offs - Dagenham and Bromley have too much to do now. We’re in decent shape, and we should be pleased with where we are on balance, but there is little room for error in the final 9 games.

Onto Chesterfield.

Stockport won't be caught now, so out af all the teams in the mix I think Solihull will cause us the most problems, they outplayed us for most of that game on Tuesday.
Chesterfield have been found out as a one man team, notts county a bit unpredictable, no one will want to play us.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Whether a goal is conceded (or scored) in the first or last minute is immaterial to the result. A goal is a goal and a point is a point. It may FEEL bad to concede a late goal if you’re watching, but it’s the  number of goals conceded/scored that is important.

But the thing is that a better GD is as good as a point when it comes to finishing 7th or 8th. Even conceding 1 goal can make a difference to finishing in a play off position.

Quoted from rancido

But the thing is that a better GD is as good as a point when it comes to finishing 7th or 8th. Even conceding 1 goal can make a difference to finishing in a play off position.

It's very rare that goal difference is the settler.

Quoted from rancido

But the thing is that a better GD is as good as a point when it comes to finishing 7th or 8th. Even conceding 1 goal can make a difference to finishing in a play off position.

What I said is if you conceded a goal it doesn’t matter what time it occurs. Not that it was OK to concede a goal.  So a 2:1 win, conceding a goal in the 90th minute puts you in no worse a position than winning 2:1, conceding a goal in the 1st minute. Same points, same goal difference.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

It's very rare that goal difference is the settler.

Maybe but that occasion could arise. In the 1960's? Town finished in a League 2 relegation position by a fraction of a goal in GD's precursor, Goal Average. Fortunately there was no automatic relegation out of the league then and we were voted in to stay a league club. Never say never.

Winning is everything and it totally changes mindset of fans
That match had all the hallmarks of 0-0 - it was pretty stale, dull, workmanlike, unexciting
We were gifted two goals - good job cos we created very little once again - and everyone happy
90% of our 'chances' are from around penalty box - very rarely do we create six-yard box chances

We all know that is the issue - final third and inability to create more chances and be ruthless

This is ultimately why I think we might fall short this season

And unless owners are prepared to splash a bit of cash next season we will struggle to get out if this league

Hurst's story about Solihull Moors player who he tried to sign in summer - suspect it was a striker/attacking player - but they chose SM over us purely cos of wages
Also revealed that player is on more per week than anyone at GTFC
That is what we are up against

It could be very important come the end of season.

Chill out guys, we won and that's what counts. We are in the play offs now (again) and that's where we need to be. Two tough games in April and 4 games where we should harvest some good points.

Plays off and promotion for us I'm positive and optimistic for L2 football next year.

Quoted from Phil the cod

Stockport won't be caught now, so out af all the teams in the mix I think Solihull will cause us the most problems, they outplayed us for most of that game on Tuesday.
Chesterfield have been found out as a one man team, notts county a bit unpredictable, no one will want to play us.

Not sure i was watching the same game as you on Tuesday then. The way I saw it was an even contest first half with us sneaking the goal to go into the lead, then second half up until Efete went off we were the better team but and looking like we were going to get a second but with them also looking dangerous when they did get up our end of the pitch.

Quoted from Oly1987

Not sure i was watching the same game as you on Tuesday then. The way I saw it was an even contest first half with us sneaking the goal to go into the lead, then second half up until Efete went off we were the better team but and looking like we were going to get a second but with them also looking dangerous when they did get up our end of the pitch.

They were all over us second half.we had a spell for around 20 mins, but they looked dangerous every time they went forward.

Quoted from devs

Winning is everything and it totally changes mindset of fans
That match had all the hallmarks of 0-0 - it was pretty stale, dull, workmanlike, unexciting
We were gifted two goals - good job cos we created very little once again - and everyone happy
90% of our 'chances' are from around penalty box - very rarely do we create six-yard box chances

We all know that is the issue - final third and inability to create more chances and be ruthless

This is ultimately why I think we might fall short this season

And unless owners are prepared to splash a bit of cash next season we will struggle to get out if this league

Hurst's story about Solihull Moors player who he tried to sign in summer - suspect it was a striker/attacking player - but they chose SM over us purely cos of wages
Also revealed that player is on more per week than anyone at GTFC
That is what we are up against

is it really that long ago we were bemoaning the fact that we couldn't compete financially with the likes of Newcastle,wolves,notts forest, sheff United,Stoke,.......now it's the mighty footballing colossus that is Solihull moors.........did I dream those years in the championship? Solihull are another outfit that can only muster 40 fans for an away game btw, and we take 100 times that to notts county.....remind me how we can't compete to sign players? They'd rather go to Solihull! We are screwed if true.

I’m interested to hear how Holohan has got on for those that have seen him in the last two games.

What is his style of play? Strengths? Does he look to have a goal threat? How’s his fitness looking?

Any info appreciated.

Quoted from Mighty_Mariner

I’m interested to hear how Holohan has got on for those that have seen him in the last two games.

What is his style of play? Strengths? Does he look to have a goal threat? How’s his fitness looking?

Any info appreciated.

From what I’ve seen a half decent signing who likes to get forward and can play, good talker on the pitch too.

I think once he gets more minutes under his belt he’ll make a real difference.

Good signing and first impressions look like he’s worth the deal he got

Quoted from Phil the cod

is it really that long ago we were bemoaning the fact that we couldn't compete financially with the likes of Newcastle,wolves,notts forest, sheff United,Stoke,.......now it's the mighty footballing colossus that is Solihull moors.........did I dream those years in the championship? Solihull are another outfit that can only muster 40 fans for an away game btw, and we take 100 times that to notts county.....remind me how we can't compete to sign players? They'd rather go to Solihull! We are screwed if true.

FFS!!

In answer to your first question yes it was well over 20+ years ago now, you didn’t dream our days in the 2nd tier but clearly you’ve been asleep for most of the time since we dropped out of it.

A few things have happened in football since that make this a very different world. A lot of things have happened at GTFC that make this a very different club.

A lot of people involved with GTFC are working hard for its betterment long term, so you can either get with the program or keep living in the past, by the way someone once said the past is for reference and not residence and I’m sure the people I mention above reference past mistakes all the time to ensure that they’re not repeated, they don’t need constant reminders dredging up.

This club was broken from top to bottom and it ain’t getting fixed quickly but I’m confident it will get fixed properly, if it’s not in your time scale then maybe you should examine your expectations.

We have been relegated twice by a fraction of a goal (using the earlier goal average method).  This in the last 60 years.  

From memory, by 0.75 of a goal from the Championship equivalent.  Then from the old third division by 0.007 or 0,008 of a goal.  Both very tough to take.

The point about goal difference being used to determine League placings at the end of the season is that you don’t know if our GD is material until you get there.  Trying to improve GD during the season is always advisable.  Just in case.  Not so easy in practice though.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

FFS!!

In answer to your first question yes it was well over 20+ years ago now, you didn’t dream our days in the 2nd tier but clearly you’ve been asleep for most of the time since we dropped out of it.

A few things have happened in football since that make this a very different world. A lot of things have happened at GTFC that make this a very different club.

A lot of people involved with GTFC are working hard for its betterment long term, so you can either get with the program or keep living in the past, by the way someone once said the past is for reference and not residence and I’m sure the people I mention above reference past mistakes all the time to ensure that they’re not repeated, they don’t need constant reminders dredging up.

This club was broken from top to bottom and it ain’t getting fixed quickly but I’m confident it will get fixed properly, if it’s not in your time scale then maybe you should examine your expectations.

So I should accept a club of our heritage and tradition should be outbid by basically Sunday league outfits like Solihull?
We get 5000 fans at our games, they get 1200, what part of that doesn't give me the right to expect us to be competitive in non league football, too many like you acceptant of mediocrity and failure.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Nothing wrong with Taylor’s performance today. He occupied two of their centre backs for most of the game. If opposition managers decide to do that, it’s up to us to use the space that creates. It’s something we did better today than on Tuesday.

Maybe so but as our main striker, I don't think he ever looked like he might score.

As for the game, not our best performance so far but did enough to see off a side that looked ineffective for most of the game.

Quoted from Phil the cod

So I should accept a club of our heritage and tradition should be outbid by basically Sunday league outfits like Solihull?
We get 5000 fans at our games, they get 1200, what part of that doesn't give me the right to expect us to be competitive in non league football, too many like you acceptant of mediocrity and failure.

Solihull Moors are not alone in this, but they are spending in a non-sustainable way that jeopardises the long tem future of their club.
We are run sustainably and yet contary to what you say, we are competitive.

Quoted from wigworld

Solihull Moors are not alone in this, but they are spending in a non-sustainable way that jeopardises the long tem future of their club.
We are run sustainably and yet contary to what you say, we are competitive.

Exactly!

Quoted from Phil the cod

So I should accept a club of our heritage and tradition should be outbid by basically Sunday league outfits like Solihull?
We get 5000 fans at our games, they get 1200, what part of that doesn't give me the right to expect us to be competitive in non league football, too many like you acceptant of mediocrity and failure.

I think we as fans need to accept our current position without a chip on our shoulder because of things that happened 20+ years ago. Non-league has become the plaything of the rich and famous who want to play Football Manager for real, "Can I take this obscure club in some city suburb that nobody knows about to the Premiership?" and they pump a lot of their fortune into making it happen in the hope of a return eventually. We still compete with financial giants in every league who want to buy their way to the top. We are competitive in this league, we've had years of rot and been relegated again due to that imploding, we aren't in Division One as an unfashionable club with unfashionable players that outplay the big teams with strong local support anymore and have not been that in many years.

Remembering the past is nice but you need to accept the now if we are ever going to advance as a club, the fans need to do the same and stop acting arrogantly or judging things based on things that happened decades ago, this is where we are now. We do have fantastic support and we've been given the budget to build a competitive squad, have we spend hundreds of thousands to sign players? No, because that is not sustainable. We have been given the budget to sign plenty of players though. We've had bad luck with some injuries and some loan signings not working out but I think our signings this season were well scouted and players that have done a decent job for the most part. Jordan Cropper could be a bit of a steal in giving a chance to a player who has been out of football a while who gives us something we didn't have along with covering for an injury.

Quoted from arryarryarry

Maybe so but as our main striker, I don't think he ever looked like he might score.

As for the game, not our best performance so far but did enough to see off a side that looked ineffective for most of the game.

In games like that, he’s being sacrificed to make space for others, to occupy the centre backs so that JMD, Scannell and McAtee can get in behind. Different teams play different ways, what’s obvious is that teams aren’t giving Taylor the space that he was getting earlier in the season.

There were a few occasions yesterday where JMD was looking to put a first time cross into the box, realised there was nobody in there and had to cut back. It is quite noticeable how often there is no one in the centre when we are working the wings.

I think gtfc will be alive and well long after certain teams around ( or above us at the moment) will have been returned to obscurity after their current owners have run out of money or can’t be bothered to fund anymore.

Should their overspending lead to promotion then Solihull would struggle in the league, whereas we would be able to compete financially with league teams.

Promotion this season would be a brilliant achievement, but if and when it does, the financial infrastructure has to be in place to properly sustain a return to the League with potential to go forward and hopefully remain higher, not to fail and fall again.

The current Directors have already said that improvements had to be made to attract more fans, create more income, make player facilities better, and make the club run much more professionally.

Success in this League is not easily won, with no God given wins. The better that the club is run at all levels, the sooner that success will arrive.

I hope that with the recent signings in place,  the team itself can contribute, as wins will increase crowds, and crowds both home and away, become the 12th member of the team.

Quoted from wigworld

Solihull Moors are not alone in this, but they are spending in a non-sustainable way that jeopardises the long tem future of their club.
We are run sustainably and yet contary to what you say, we are competitive.

As I mentioned, they may have just chucked all their money at one or two players and the rest get sodomist all.

A decent performance yesterday and a great result.  I thought that if we had brought the forwards on against Solihull that we did against  Dagenham when we were winning the extra energy would have served us well as I thought the subs did well yesterday.
Back to the points needed. 9 games and so to get to 77/78 points 6 wins probably needed. It is going to be tough and we will could need to beat Stockport or Chesterfield as we will slip up in a couple of the others. I think we can hit he playoffs but the major concern is the lack of chances that we create which makes all games hard work.
Do I think we can get through the playoffs, now absolutely not but if the new lads click in the next few weeks maybe.
UTM

I thought Dagenham were quite average, at best, but we put in a very professional performance and did what was required.

Smith looks an absolute find at the back. Echoing the thoughts of most I would really like to see him here for an extended period next season, regardless of what league we're in.

Cropper looked very competent.  Not as attacking as Efete but arguably a better defender (albeit on one showing) but his absolute missile of a throw more than makes up for a lack of attacking output.  That's not to say he didn't push on either, second half though you could tell his lack of games was showing and he adjusted his game as such.

Clifton and Holohan looked a potentially good pairing in the middle, definitely more balanced in there than we have seen for a while.  Ironically wasn't one of Clifton's better games but hope he gets a sustained run in there rather than shunted out wide once Jones is available at the weekend.  Having two proper wingers made a massive difference as it allowed us to stretch the play a bit more.  Scannell didn't really get into it a lot but when he did his touches and movement was a class above.  On the other flank I didn't think JMD did a lot either but once again he's on the scoresheet and more minutes under his belt.

Important we halted that little dip in form.  Disappointing to concede late on but had no impact on the game and never felt like they were going to get another, just those lapses in concentration are always likely to come and bite us when it matters.

Thought Mani did well and should have been on for Taylor earlier. Shame it was his man who scored their goal from an excellent corner. Mani looks way fitter than Abrahams who at least knows how to run the clock down.

Lovely dink over the top from Hollohan and Cropper looks quite pacy and competent in addition to his long throw. Throw ins have been a weakness all season. If Daggers had fluked a late equaliser we may have had another substitution debate. In fairness to PH, without a fit Max Wright, we lack energy on the bench.

McAtee deserved his ovation but something was amiss in the first half and it seemed our coaching staff were having animated chats to him during injury breaks.

Quoted from Kris2

I think we as fans need to accept our current position without a chip on our shoulder because of things that happened 20+ years ago. Non-league has become the plaything of the rich and famous who want to play Football Manager for real, "Can I take this obscure club in some city suburb that nobody knows about to the Premiership?" and they pump a lot of their fortune into making it happen in the hope of a return eventually. We still compete with financial giants in every league who want to buy their way to the top. We are competitive in this league, we've had years of rot and been relegated again due to that imploding, we aren't in Division One as an unfashionable club with unfashionable players that outplay the big teams with strong local support anymore and have not been that in many years.

Remembering the past is nice but you need to accept the now if we are ever going to advance as a club, the fans need to do the same and stop acting arrogantly or judging things based on things that happened decades ago, this is where we are now. We do have fantastic support and we've been given the budget to build a competitive squad, have we spend hundreds of thousands to sign players? No, because that is not sustainable. We have been given the budget to sign plenty of players though. We've had bad luck with some injuries and some loan signings not working out but I think our signings this season were well scouted and players that have done a decent job for the most part. Jordan Cropper could be a bit of a steal in giving a chance to a player who has been out of football a while who gives us something we didn't have along with covering for an injury.

The point I'm trying to put across is that as a supposedly big club in the national League, it's not unreasonable for fans to expect a decent attempt to sign a quality player? Yes,we have some decent players, but if we are getting 3-4 thousand more supporters through the turnstiles, where is that extra revenue going? It's not on players, please enlighten me.

Maybe you should ask the ex owner?

Quoted from mimma

Should their overspending lead to promotion then Solihull would struggle in the league, whereas we would be able to compete financially with league teams.

Maybe but looking at the gates from league clubs games on Saturday indicates that some teams are managing. Accrington League 1, mid-table - home gate 2,764. Crawley League2, mid-table home gate 2,164. Colchester League 2, lower third table - 2,459. Many other teams like Sutton, Harrogate and Burton don't attract gates like us but are not exactly struggling in their respective leagues.I know I am only using home gates as an indicator of possible financial input but other these clubs may have rather astute commercial departments, owners prepared to bank roll player acquisitions or lower ground overheads.

Quoted from Phil the cod

The point I'm trying to put across is that as a supposedly big club in the national League, it's not unreasonable for fans to expect a decent attempt to sign a quality player? Yes,we have some decent players, but if we are getting 3-4 thousand more supporters through the turnstiles, where is that extra revenue going? It's not on players, please enlighten me.

Quite possibly to help pay off The Leech.

Quoted from Phil the cod

The point I'm trying to put across is that as a supposedly big club in the national League, it's not unreasonable for fans to expect a decent attempt to sign a quality player? Yes,we have some decent players, but if we are getting 3-4 thousand more supporters through the turnstiles, where is that extra revenue going? It's not on players, please enlighten me.

Maybe they’ve got other revenue streams that we haven’t got access to, or an owner pouring money in above their means.