So pitch inspection at 8am in the morning per Twitter (X) although nothing on the club website.  Can't see it going ahead based on what it is likely to look like having just watched the forecast.

Potentially another week for the injuries to clear up and AL having a stronger squad on paper to select from.  Still not convinced we have the squad to play how he wants or that AL's formations have necessarily got the best out of the players we have had available (two sides of the same coin?) but we now have the opportunity with only three games before Christmas to really do some work on the training pitch to help us get out of the relegation zone and hopefully to a position of safety in the new year.

What is an Operations Director?

We have needed an Operations Manager (pretty sure the new bloke won't be listed as a director at Companies House) since we gained promotion at Warrington.  In answer to your question Dilly, it should be someone to look after the off-pitch activities which really shouldn't be managed by the Chairman of the club and as SC has shown this plainly doesn't work.  I am a little concerned that the news item on the club website focuses on the external relationships as, although these are important and bridges need to be built, there are lots of internal bits of the club that also require attention and in the short term are probably more important. 

I wish James all the best but I guess the real question is whether he will be allowed to do the job that needs to be done and if he will be given the tools and authority to get on with things or will SC micro manage him out of the door as has been the case with previous appointments to various roles at the club.

Quote from: Blue_and_Gold on November 22, 2023, 08:24:08 PM

Quote from: Mallard on November 22, 2023, 08:17:10 PM

It sounded positive that SC has a masterplan which will hopefully see the Club working to a break even model next year.  Not sure if this something new he has come up with or the idea of summer concerts will be going ahead.  If it is something new has he lost interest in the concert idea ?

Just a guess, but could it be his version of this fan equity idea?

If so, and it's linked to the big loan the club now has being written off, I don't think I'll be holding my breath on that one.

Can’t see how writing off that loan will equate to the Club reaching a break even point next year.  I though SC was having to pump in circa £200k to balance the books.  The loan plus interest is to be paid back over what, 20 years ?

According to the new Podcast the reasons we are struggling more this season is Three fold....

1.   No Cup run this year.. ( is this really factored into finance for a year ?)

2.  Lack of players being sold on  ( again how can this be factored into any budget?)

3.  Lack of Crowds turning up to watch, ( SC struggles to understand why fans won’t pay overpriced admission to watch crap football).

Think I would disagree with Pink's analysis of the above:
  1. Think SC needs to accept that last couple of years we have overachieved in the cup competitions.  Unfortunate that we went out of both cups at the first opportunity but really this shouldn't be a major line in the budget as the early rounds are hardly money spinners and the later rounds don't come round that often so should really be seen a bonuses
  2. SC has mentioned player sales on the past few podcasts and it is starting to become a concern (for me) in that he somehow sees this as a semi-reliable revenue stream.  I would argue putting players on mulit year contracts (so they potentially attract a fee at the end of a season) has cost us more than it has brought in and I also think there are a few of the current squad who have been brought in speculatively with the view that they will make the club money if they turn into good players that attract interest from higher up the pyramid.  I think there are a lot more building blocks to be put in place before the club can be seen as a good nursery club and also the fans need to buy into that model if it is to be adopted as it will undoubtably have an impact on the pitch.  Also can't blame MH for the lack of player sales funds as he only recruited during the summer unless he argued to keep JB if there was a bid on the table
  3.  Again, can't lay the lack of crowds solely at MH's door.  Yes, performances haven't been comparable to last season but SC has accepted the budget has been reduced and without a huge slice of financial doping we can't expect to see the same level of football which is why it I can't see how we justify the expense of a full-time squad.  SC says he is off to talk to investors (mugs) in the next few weeks but the truth is there isn't much to invest in at the Walks and the sooner SC and the fans realise what we can expect from a more sustainably run club the better.

As for this times podcast, I thought it was one of the weaker ones with SC going off on tangents about crypto etc and he didn't really seem to understand how low a level of football Real Bedford actually play at - even Buster made step 5 work!

Great result last night and each and every player put in a shift which, along with the promised increase in fitness levels, were things that AL highlighted on his appointment and based on last night is starting to make good on.  I personally don't like the 'concede possession and defend our box' style that we have moved to but happy to see the upturn in results that AL's methods have produced.  Lots of good performances last night but special mention for Cybulski who had another very good game, often finding himself isolated, particularly in the second half but still managed to hold the ball up and wait for support too arrive.

New signing available for tonights game
https://www.kltown.co.uk/2023/11/07/gabriel-rogers-joins-up-with-the-linnets/

Strange that having said we had too many midfielders 2 out of 3 of AL's signings have been midfielders and only a teenage loanee in to address what many, including AL thought the biggest issue was - wing backs.

Wish the new lad well but does seem a strange one in that he is a long way from home, be interesting to know why it didn't work out at Kidderminster, hopefully not home sickness

First away game for me this season and difficult to draw too many conclusions due to Peterborough's tiny pitch and the very wet conditions meaning any ball that was slightly overhit quickly found a touchline to go over.  Also Peterborough are well drilled, making the most of home advantage, closing us down well and creating space out of nothing with some crisp 1-2s and triangles getting in behind us at times.

That said I thought we played pretty well, with the midfield looking better with more movement with Smith providing the option of dropping in, so allowing Hargreaves and Morrison a bit more licence also positive signs again from the Cybulski/Stephens partnership.  Full backs still a huge worry both in and out of possession but with two options on the bench, AL only swapped Clifford due to an injury so have to conclude he is happy with his starters.  Special mention to Jones with a fantastic save in the first half and two or three other good stops.  So still very much 'work in progress' but we are looking a better team than earlier in the season, maybe not a good team yet but enough signs that, in time, we should be able to get ourselves out of the relegation scrap although the Peterborough chairman in his programme notes did call it a 6-pointer!

Away from the pitch it was interesting to see how much development has gone on with over half the away end now terraced and covered being a huge improvement from the flat patch of grass that was there just over a year ago.  Still a bit of work required on the catering side but sensible and welcoming stewarding ensured Lynn fans could use the 'home' facilities.

The enforced change due to JB's injury resulted in a similar lineup to what I had hoped for but with Smith playing further forward not the change in formation I had advocated.  First half we were way, way, way too passive with Blyth in complete control and still finding players in space with Lynn seemingly content to only make a challenge if the ball came into the box, that said they never really opened us up.  Second half started much like the first but then our midfield woke up and a great bit of skill by Morrison created the opening for Stephens to slot home.  Blyth's equaliser came from their one good delivery into the box.  A draw was probably a fair result as neither side really created much else during the game.

Positives for Lynn - Cybulski had another good game, already a better hold up player than Gold but we just need to create more chances for him if he is to match his predecessor's record and Stephens looked better playing slightly more centrally

Saturday’s game looks very interesting.  How many will turn up? Certainly more than the 650 plus from Tuesday.   Another week under the new man in charge should see greatest fitness and AL getting his message across even more.

Anyone know what Squad the Manager is working with now, as in who’s gone from the 25/26 man squad he inherited?

I think the 25/26 probably included some u23s who were taking part in first team team training whilst some of the main squad were returning from injuries, 30 players have squad numbers per last weeks programme but some of those haven't featured in match day squads.  Since AL arrived Sion Spence has gone and Yearn, Bartley and Sutcliffe have gone back from loans with Jones and Morrison coming in on one month loans, only other confirmation I have seen is Charlie Royle going out on loan.

Really hope that AL changes things up for tomorrow, yes we have won two of his four games in charge but they came against the bottom two sides in the league and they are there for a reason.  For me I see no reason why either full back from Tuesday could have any complaint at losing their starting spot and also think the time has come to dispense with the 5-2-3 which doesn't seem to help us control games or make the most of what we have, personally I would like to see 5-3-2 with Stephens stepping down to the bench which would allow Hargreaves to play more of his natural game in terms of making breaks from midfield without having so much defensive responsibility.  Without any news on Ponticelli or Hughes returning from injury I would go with

                         Jones
Jones, Crowther, Coulson, McFadden, Isaacson
           Hargreaves, Smith, Walker
                        Barrett
                       Cybulski