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Cannot help but feel that Slade screwed us over good and proper , He knew he was not liked by the fans and never would be. He distroyed a half decent team, getting rid of our better players by freezing them out and getting worse players in. Some say it was to cut the wage bill, but winning games creates bigger crowds and more money to pay the wages. Fenty must take the blame for hiring someone that did the dirty on us before , and i hope he has paid him off with his money not the clubs.. I dont think any manager can do any thing with this lot of players he has left us with and, Wilco is responsible for at least three of the squad,, that are only fit to clean the boots of others. We must blood some of the youngsters now as we can do no worse than we are at the moment.

How does this warrant a red cross?

One of Fenty's men?

My guess, and it is only a guess, is that the instructions to get rid of any of Bignot's signings came from above or at the very least were given the blessing of our non-chairman. The rumours that they were on big contracts, which I had heard before they started getting shipped out, and the possible desire to remove any trace of Bignot would have undoubtedly had an impact on Fenty's decision making as he is too short-sighted to think that maybe keeping some of our better players would pay for itself. There must have been more to it than Slade not fancying them as players because I refuse to believe that a man who has managed 800 games in the FL could not see what was so blatantly obvious to the 4000 fans who turned up each week.

At the very least we should still have Jamey Osborne, Jones and Clements. We still wouldn't be a play off contender if we had them playing each week but we certainly wouldn't be so shite.

I'm convinced that the squad that got promotion from the conference would have performed a lot better than those brought in since. Since then, we've had 3 Managers, and 4 "rebuilds" of the squad, each time making it weaker and weaker.

One thing we don't have is stability, and that's down to the board. I'm not suggesting they need to go, because who would take over? However, they probably do need to look at clubs of a similar size who have become reasonably successful, such as Barnsley and Shrewsbury - even Burton, and see how that has happened?

Then, they need to change the business plan, because the current one isn't working.

Quoted from malkamalka

I'm convinced that the squad that got promotion from the conference would have performed a lot better than those brought in since. Since then, we've had 3 Managers, and 4 "rebuilds" of the squad, each time making it weaker and weaker.

One thing we don't have is stability, and that's down to the board. I'm not suggesting they need to go, because who would take over? However, they probably do need to look at clubs of a similar size who have become reasonably successful, such as Barnsley and Shrewsbury - even Burton, and see how that has happened?

Then, they need to change the business plan, because the current one isn't working.

Stability is great when you have the right footballing people in charge but our board continually employ the wrong people and as for a business plan it appears to me it’s just day to day blagging. We are dithering again I believe fenty is like should I keep Wilko or twist ? On the showing at Cambridge he should gamble yet again

This squad would struggle in the national league.
There is only one person to blame and that is JF
That Manager and his squad are a culmination of bad decision after bad decision over years of neglected by Fenty and his minions.
I have said for the past decade (documented on here) that JF and his supporters would kill this club, we are very close to that now.

You can`t believe any side in our position would let Jones go.Whilst he was out of form to a degree he was by a distance our best player and our only constant goal threat.

Quoted from malkamalka

I'm convinced that the squad that got promotion from the conference would have performed a lot better than those brought in since. Since then, we've had 3 Managers, and 4 "rebuilds" of the squad, each time making it weaker and weaker.

One thing we don't have is stability, and that's down to the board. I'm not suggesting they need to go, because who would take over? However, they probably do need to look at clubs of a similar size who have become reasonably successful, such as Barnsley and Shrewsbury - even Burton, and see how that has happened?

Then, they need to change the business plan, because the current one isn't working.

When there's so much instability you've got to wonder what the source is. You can't blame Hurst, Bignot, Slade, Wilko for that.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

When there's so much instability you've got to wonder what the source is. You can't blame Hurst, Bignot, Slade, Wilko for that.

The problem is and has been for years no short term plan and no long term plan or at least none spelled out to us the fans?

Short term = retain league status.Recruit Manager and players capable of winning games and scoring goals
Long term = build a team squad capable of challenging for play offs on a shoestring whilst we await news on the ground with a massive emphasis on homegrown youngsters.Throw in a bit of football fortune now and again most fans could support this.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

The problem is and has been for years no short term plan and no long term plan or at least none spelled out to us the fans?

Short term = retain league status.Recruit Manager and players capable of winning games and scoring goals
Long term = build a team squad capable of challenging for play offs on a shoestring whilst we await news on the ground with a massive emphasis on homegrown youngsters.Throw in a bit of football fortune now and again most fans could support this.

Yes, I agree to an extent. But surely, any Long Term Plan references the Sort Term goals as the means to the end?

It seems as if we've had a constant run of STP's, most of which have failed, and which therefore, have had an detrimental effect on the LTP?

Quoted from 1mickylyons

You can`t believe any side in our position would let Jones go.Whilst he was out of form to a degree he was by a distance our best player and our only constant goal threat.

Jones and the words ‘constant goal threat’ have not gone together for some time

Quoted from malkamalka

Yes, I agree to an extent. But surely, any Long Term Plan references the Sort Term goals as the means to the end?

It seems as if we've had a constant run of STP's, most of which have failed, and which therefore, have had an detrimental effect on the LTP?

Well it should and regardless of Manager it`s the Club initially who should set out what they want. We all know and most of us agree Town need a new ground ASAP for umpteen reasons.I honestly believe they will get one in the not too distant future BUT it`s essential they keep their league status in the meantime and have a team worth supporting when it comes around.Realistically from where we sit today and regardless of where we finish Town probably need to bring in at least 15 players in the Summer.Pre Bignot and Post Bignot we were not in this sort of mess so on that Slade is guilty and Wilko by association this squad whilst being massive is awful in terms of balance and quality. The balance between getting a new ground and building and maintaining a squad is a difficult one and it`s been made much harder by the mismanagement from the dugout and worse still the boardroom.

Quoted from Alkalineroger

Jones and the words ‘constant goal threat’ have not gone together for some time

Slip of tongue ONLY goal threat

Hurst built a small fire from kindling, Bignot took a match and lit it, Slade threw on a barrowload of well seasoned logs, then chucked on some petrol for good measure. The board supplied the wood, matches and petrol.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

You can`t believe any side in our position would let Jones go.Whilst he was out of form to a degree he was by a distance our best player and our only constant goal threat.

not sure you could actually justify that comment this season...with his "6" goal tally. We don't have a goal threat at all, therein lies the cause of our predicament.

Quoted from moosey_club

not sure you could actually justify that comment this season...with his "6" goal tally. We don't have a goal threat at all, therein lies the cause of our predicament.

have you totalled up the return from the rest?

Quoted from moosey_club

not sure you could actually justify that comment this season...with his "6" goal tally. We don't have a goal threat at all, therein lies the cause of our predicament.

For an attacking midfielder who was consistently played out of position, his tally isn't too shabby

Quoted from 1mickylyons

have you totalled up the return from the rest?

Oh not saying he wasnt our best goal threat...just disputing "constant". I think Mitch Rose comes up second with 5, Dembele 4 , Collins on 3 equals or beats all the other forward players !!

Quoted from moosey_club

Oh not saying he wasnt our best goal threat...just disputing "constant". I think Mitch Rose comes up second with 5, Dembele 4 , Collins on 3 equals or beats all the other forward players !!

Sadly for fans like you and I and I suppose it`s worse the older you get we have entered Blundell Park to witness the following up top all capable of hitting 20 goals and numerous others who could have got 10.

Drinkell
Wilkinson
Lund
Hobson
Mendonca
Reddy
Hearn
Amond
Bogle

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Sadly for fans like you and I and I suppose it`s worse the older you get we have entered Blundell Park to witness the following up top all capable of hitting 20 goals and numerous others who could have got 10.

Drinkell
Wilkinson
Lund
Hobson
Mendonca
Reddy
Hearn
Amond
Bogle

Tees
Green
Hill
Brace
Lewis

Another Slade story:

A Sunday paper had an article about Harry Kane yesterday. When he was on loan at Leyton Orient as a youngster, Slade played him as a number 10 and in midfield. Surprised he did not put him in goal.

Slade was bloody awful.

If you had to sum his second tenure in one sentence it'd be something like:

Sold our most promising creative assets and replaced them with absolute dross on two-year contracts that he then replaced with too many loan players inside six months while playing some of the most turgid football seen at Blundell Park since the last time he was here.

It was an utter disaster from the start. He should never have been appointed, but what can you do when the man in charge makes a beeline for him because he's a good mate?

Fenty let his personal emotions get in the way of running a football club, and if that appointment ultimately contributes to our downfall then it's unforgivable.

Quoted from RichMariner

Slade was bloody awful.

If you had to sum his second tenure in one sentence it'd be something like:

Sold our most promising creative assets and replaced them with absolute dross on two-year contracts that he then replaced with too many loan players inside six months while playing some of the most turgid football seen at Blundell Park since the last time he was here.

It was an utter disaster from the start. He should never have been appointed, but what can you do when the man in charge makes a beeline for him because he's a good mate?

Fenty let his personal emotions get in the way of running a football club, and if that appointment ultimately contributes to our downfall then it's unforgivable.

This is how JF comes unstuck he picked Slade when he must have known around half the fanbase would be up in arms and the slightest hint of a bad run would see a full blown revolt.A gamble at best very odd and very destructive.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Sadly for fans like you and I and I suppose it`s worse the older you get we have entered Blundell Park to witness the following up top all capable of hitting 20 goals and numerous others who could have got 10.

Drinkell
Wilkinson
Lund
Hobson
Mendonca
Reddy
Hearn
Amond
Bogle

Gary Jones 14 or 15 himself with plenty of assists for his fellow strikers.. :'(

even Paul Groves who consistently scored at least 10 from centre mid ....

Personally, I backed Slade when he returned. I believe he was probably shafted somewhat at the end of his contract, anyway why let his contract expire? Can’t blame him for seeking employment elsewhere if your employer doesn’t commit to you. We let players contracts expire, good ones.