Linnets' Fans' Forum

Quote from: Mallard on October 09, 2025, 08:51:36 PMAlways seems Bal is more reactive than proactive.

I can help thinking of Rowe hadn't taken the job in the summer would Simpson have been 2nd choice ? No of course he wouldn't.

Normally when a manager 'leaves' the press release reads along the lines of ..... we are actively seeking a replacement and have had a high calibre of applicant approach the Club.

Spot on! The silence from the club has been deafening!

My thoughts are that they are dragging things out until after today's match. IF (big if!) we can pull of a shock today then they will appoint Joe as manager on Monday but if (much more likely!) we get turned over, then expect to still hear some news on Monday, but something along the lines of "we hope to have a new manager in place by next weekend"
Just my opinion as to possibly why we have had the complete lack of communication so far.

Quote from: Tennylad on October 04, 2025, 08:06:50 PMWe huffed and puffed tbh . The truth is we have a few who aren't as at this level. Hopefully the new manager will bring in a colossus in midfield. Yes Dilly a ball winning, physical monster who wins the ball and plays a pass to a proper centre forward who has fantastic physicality and movement and can hit the net on a regular basis. Off load Gold and Marriott, free up the money for new blood.

Spot on with that. We need at two or three new first team starters and an experienced, at this level, manager, to have any sort of a realistic play off challenging season.
We need to have the new manager in place for next weekend as we won't have a tougher match all season and it will give him the perfect chance to see where we are short and what we need to bring in to make progress.
All three of Lambert, Marriott and Omotayo are dispensable to free up some money but obviously we can't afford to lose all three due to the already small size of our first team squad.
Crowds are holding up well so far, but unless things start improving soon (13 points from 10 matches is a poor start to the season) then I fear they will soon be well below the 1000 mark again.

Quote from: Mallard on August 31, 2025, 12:12:58 PM
Faye I think Majesty has his opinions, as we all do.  We might disagree with some of it but he certainly has the right to express.  I have my view which many disagree with, that's fine by me. Just put up a constructive argument then no one can complain.

What have I said now that has upset Faye?!!.....I can only see a comment praising the team and a certain player!!.....

Excellent result, good performance, Merthyr looked a very poor team but that may have been because of how good Lynn were and/or, their travel problems. Gyasi was on fire again, lets keep it up.

Looks like I was wrong when I said that I don't think Maja is going to contribute much to the team this season.....He's already "contributed" probably the quickest sending off in the clubs history!!
Down to 9 now as Chadwick has been sent off too!! JR is going to blow a fuse!!

Quote from: Mallard on August 24, 2025, 11:11:24 AM
Maj... you make some valid points.  However with regard to the strength of the squad.  Yesterday Hall-Johnson and Marriot both out injured.  Ford Brown didn't make the match day squad.   Collins is a real find and did ok when he came on and he scored within 5 mins. Lambert is decent as well.  So I really fail to see why you think there isn't the strength behind the starting 11.   Jonah is also great keeper for this level to step in.

Just had a listen to JR's post match interview.  Have to take issue with him blaming the ref for the dropping of two
Points. .  It wasn't the ref  loading  in poor final balls into the box and missing the chances created.  Thought the ref was ok, not great not not bad. Probably take charge of a game at his level.

The officials were fine, sour grapes from JR complaining about them, I agree.

The squad is definitely stronger yes, and indeed you are correct about Collins, apologies for not making that point, but Williams for example, I don't think is ever going to add anything to the team, and also for fitness reasons, neither will Maja.

We'll see!!!

Quote from: Mallard on August 24, 2025, 07:58:34 AM
Maj..no problem.   The two players you mention.  Great talented individuals but Saturday MG seemed to lack vision in and around him.  Typified by the lack awareness of Crane clear through on goal to his right, yet choice to shoot.  Crane was quite right furious with him.

JN, now what a talented boy but it needs harnessing into the team to make him and all round better player.  He had his full back on toast and done him down the outside in numerous occasions.  Problem was there was little to no end result.

On players from the bench I think we have a much deeper, talented squad.  Half time we took off a defender to throw another attacking midfield player on.  Within 5 minutes of the re-start we were level. Maja did ok when he came on just needs to get fitter.

As for Gold.  He really is a marmite character.  He was a real handful for Darlo.  Ok he's not now great with his feet but as a presence, he takes some stopping. The thing is if he had everything he would not be playing at step 2 Non League Football.  We can moan about what he can't do, but look at the positives on what he brings to the team.

The start has been ok. 2 wins 2 draws. Think many would have taken that before a ball was kicked.  It's also very much a work in progress project.  No one can say it's not entertaining, if at sometimes frustrating.

You also mention the crowd.  I really thought there would be more for our 2nd home game.  Very much on par from home support to the first game.  On the back of two great away performances and on the promise of front foot attacking Football, I felt it would be 1600 plus.  Maybe around 1400 is the full potential ?

Thank you for your detailed and reasoned reply.

You make some very valid points.
Re: Gyasi and "Dave", both correct BUT without them , even with the points you raise, we would have had virtually zero attacking threat yesterday.
Gold will always be "marmite" like you say and with his physical stature,he should be more than a handful EVERY match he plays but quite simply he isn't. When he's good he's very very good, but when he's bad he's...... Having said that, he's still definitely the best target man we have at the club and when JR decides we need to use one, then he will be the pick, just wish he was more clinical.
You would have hoped that the crowd would have been bigger yes, but it was about what I expected based on previous season and yes, I think you are pretty close to the mark with your "full potential" comment.
The only point I will really stand my ground on is re: the subs. I don't think any of them are good enough to become a regular starter this season or to have any real effect in a match when they come on. Maja looks to have good feet yes, but will he ever get really fit? as for the others, nah, none of them look good enough. Probably very unfair to make that comment after seeing them only once, but normally it's pretty obvious, even after just one "sighting", as to the usefulness of a player.

Time will tell.

Good luck to the lads for a very tough Monday trip. Think that match will be a very good yardstick for the season ahead.

Quote from: Mallard on August 23, 2025, 07:32:51 PM
Can't say I agree with too much of Majesty's post.  However it's all about opinions.   One thing about today.  Though we totally dominated procession MOTM was given to Tom Wilson at Centre half.  For me I thought Tom Dickens looked a class act.

One thing that really stood out for me is the poor quality delivery throughout the game.  This wasn't just one or two individuals but seemed rife throughout the team.  Got in some great positions on numerous occasion's with little to no end product.   We seemed to be operating as individuals up top.  Just seemed like we didn't really click today.  No real cutting edge.

Have to give Darlo some credit as once we got level they took the game to us and it became more of a padle game.

However 8 points from 4 games and unbeaten is a decent start., but it could and should have been so much better



A lot to digest from today's game. What did others think ?

Absolutely, it's all about opinions and we often all have different ones. May I respectfully ask, what were all the things you didn't agree with me on? Surely not my comment about the subs?!....
I agree with you that Wilson was immense at the back and definitely deserved the MOTM award.
8 points is a decent start I also agree, but we have played 2 of the bottom 4 sides already!

First "live" match of the season for me and I have to say that I was a bit disappointed by what I saw. Playing at home against a team down to 10 men for 2/3rds of the match and if we take away Gyasi and Nyahwema, then I didnt really see much improvement from last year. I think the potential is there for a better season but once teams work out that if they stop both the aforementioned players, then they will nullify most of Lynns threat.

For me though, the biggest worry was the "quality" of the substitutes we brought on. None of them really looked like they could bring anything to the team in regards to changing the course of the match.

May be that "away" is where the best performances will be seen (certainly seems to be the case in the few matches so far) so hopefully Monday will see a better performance and result and that confidence will spread to the home matches too.

Good crowd, fair officials (apart from an appalling offside call in the second half when Gyasi was through on goal) and plenty of effort, just lacking a bit of quality up front (Gold is NOT the answer). Fair play to Darlington too for their efforts with 10 men.

Good luck to the lads on Monday, its going to be very tough.

Quote from: Blue_and_Gold on August 10, 2025, 06:36:34 PM

Quote from: Ytsejam on August 10, 2025, 05:59:06 PM

Quote from: Blue_and_Gold on August 10, 2025, 05:21:31 PM

Quote from: Veratis on August 10, 2025, 09:50:29 AM
Had heard at the game that Marriott got a slight injury and that might explain why he wasnt risked. Long season to come definitely a marathon not a sprint. Think Lynns pace will frighten a lot of teams and Telford having been lucky to go ahead did they best to waste as much time as possible. Overall good start lets make some real judgements after ten games.

This "10 games into a season" theory seems to be trotted out every season.

How many points would be deemed acceptable at the 10 game mark?

17? 20?   

You're quite right it does, but to be fair the 10 game mark is generally a valid yardstick to gauge how the season looks to be going. Trouble is, some, when they dont like the way things are going, will then say, "well we really need to see where we are at Xmas before judging" which is far too late!!
To answer your question though, if we are looking at top 2 then 21/22 points would be what we should be looking for, if its play offs, then 17/18 would be a good start.
Yesterday was very encouraging but did give me a bit of a deja vu feeling re: so many missed chances, as that seems to have been our achilles heel for quite a few seasons now.

Did you just mention Christmas???   

Yes, apologies but there's only 136 shopping days to go, so you'd better get your skates on!! 🤪🤪🌲🧑‍🎄

Quote from: FayeM76 on August 10, 2025, 06:52:40 PM
Chances missed last season ? Christ alive what games were you watching , we barely had a shot.  If it is true what JR says in post match that we had 24 shots on goal. I would love to know the last time we had this many in a home game? Maybe someone far more knowledgeable than my husband and I can let us all know ....

We would rather us play like that every week and not achieve a playoff place. It felt different yesterday , it felt we were constantly attacking

I didn't say JUST last season!!...I said few seasons and I question about what games you were watching then if  you don't think the lack of a clinical finisher has been a big hindrance over the past FEW (please read more carefully in future) seasons!

Quote from: Blue_and_Gold on August 10, 2025, 05:21:31 PM

Quote from: Veratis on August 10, 2025, 09:50:29 AM
Had heard at the game that Marriott got a slight injury and that might explain why he wasnt risked. Long season to come definitely a marathon not a sprint. Think Lynns pace will frighten a lot of teams and Telford having been lucky to go ahead did they best to waste as much time as possible. Overall good start lets make some real judgements after ten games.

This "10 games into a season" theory seems to be trotted out every season.

How many points would be deemed acceptable at the 10 game mark?

17? 20?   

You're quite right it does, but to be fair the 10 game mark is generally a valid yardstick to gauge how the season looks to be going. Trouble is, some, when they dont like the way things are going, will then say, "well we really need to see where we are at Xmas before judging" which is far too late!!
To answer your question though, if we are looking at top 2 then 21/22 points would be what we should be looking for, if its play offs, then 17/18 would be a good start.
Yesterday was very encouraging but did give me a bit of a deja vu feeling re: so many missed chances, as that seems to have been our achilles heel for quite a few seasons now.