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Messages - TonyM
1
« on: February 25, 2020, 05:51:50 PM »
A Black tie evening is not aimed at the average fan but business people and to put the club in the window and to attract investors
Whilst I agree with the first part, really not sure that it is an event to 'attract investors', unless you count £130 / ticket as an investment. Might be an opportunity to bring in potential sponsors but again the club seem to want to squeeze the maximum amount of money out of every source before they have really established themselves, similar to the situation with the business club when Mark first came on board full time. To me, it looked pretty pricey for an 'unknown quantity', given where the club is in respect of the business community as a whole in West Norfolk, far better imo to offer something at a 'competitive' rate to get some volume which in turn will create further opportunities rather than trying to bleed people dry on the first hit. Perhaps this is just the 'growing pains' of a club moving quickly upwards, unfortunately I think the view seems to be that Mark needs to bring in his wage plus a bit when in truth he has to be seen as part admin to free up SC for 'other things' and part longer term investment in establishing alternative income streams.
2
« on: February 22, 2020, 11:46:41 AM »
Starting to think the omens are against us. Another long midweek haul to come, added to what is becoming an overcrowded fixture list. Was it IC or SC who ran over that black cat ?
Have a funny feeling this time next week York will be two points ahead of us with Boston just a single point behind.
Have you thought of becoming a motivational speaker, Mallard?
Stan, glad to see you back, hopefully you can be tempted back to the Walks, even if it means standing in a different location within the ground. Mallard, as IC has said there will be plenty of bumps along the road towards the end of the season, the positive for me is that if we can get back onto a run with games coming thick and fast we can quickly secure that top three position and then push on for the title - just need IC to back his squad (all of them), we are still in a great position so lets just enjoy March for what it is.
3
« on: February 20, 2020, 01:52:41 PM »
Yet more rain in the forecast for the north west over the next couple of days which isn't likely to help us. Big question for IC is how much he rings the changes from the side that lost at Chester, even though the winner came in injury time and he thought we gave them their goals they also had plenty of other chances on the highlights but hardly unexpected as they are a good side.
I am not a fan of Burrows at left back but IC seems to want to shoehorn him in there, for me I would go with a back three and play wing backs, leave Richards and Alfie to sit in the middle of the park and then we have plenty of options for the front three. I think Sonny has been unlucky to be the one sacrificed for Power and maybe Saturday might be the time to give Southwell his first start but I think you could make a case for any of the attacking options to slot in with Marriott, just need to find the right combination as maybe teams have started to work us out a bit more.
4
« on: February 18, 2020, 01:37:49 PM »
For those not going, Radio Norfolk are planning commentary - another away game on the radio, the club must be doing something right!
5
« on: February 18, 2020, 01:32:51 PM »
Personally I would be happy with 2 draws from the next two games - would still leave us potentially 6 points ahead of Boston and York (allowing for games in hand) and would put a serious dent in Chester and Altrincham's chances of catching us making a top 3 finish all the more likely, anything else would be a bonus. On paper these are our two hardest games along with a couple of tricky trips to the north east to navigate plus away fixtures against teams towards the bottom of the league, not easy but certainly more than winnable even allowing for some of them being midweek.
Then down to IC to utilise the squad and matching Boston and York would be enough to see us to step 1, appreciate that is harder than it sounds but if we can come out of the next two games unbeaten I still think the pressure is more on those doing the chasing as the matches count down.
6
« on: February 01, 2020, 07:12:18 PM »
I dont think IC would risk of losing the momentum and winning feeling. They might get extra minutes as subs , but I think IC would always start with a winning 11 IMO
Well, no such worries now for the Gloucester game. Still think some of the 'automatics' have been struggling lately and its down to IC to get the team back to playing the brand of football that has got us to this position. Today hasn't made us a bad team but is maybe a wake up call that we still have to be on it against any opposition in this league.
7
« on: February 01, 2020, 07:08:06 PM »
Thought the subs smacked of panic and we basically lost any sort of shape or ability to really move the ball second half, yes we had a few more chances but Kidderminster were happy to soak up the long balls which they dealt with pretty well all day. So the run at the Walks is over and whilst they may not have been the best side we have had visit us, I think they fully deserved the three points today
Thought Gash was very unlucky not to get man of the match vs York but not sure he got it today (maybe the selection panel were as confused as me at getting a York programme but being unable to get a Kidderminster one today!), for me it was either Jones or Smith but picking from a pretty small pool of players who played anything like their level.
8
« on: February 01, 2020, 11:35:40 AM »
With the two new arrivals increasing competition within the squad are the next three games (against currently bottom 4 opposition) an opportunity for IC to rotate / tinker a little bit to make sure that a) those lads that were looking a bit leggy over Christmas get a break and also b) everyone within the squad gets a bit of game time and stays sharp for the run in? I appreciate all games are important and no-one we play is going to just roll over to help our promotion bid but we now have so much quality I think there may be some scope to rotate before the two big away trips to Chester and Altrincham later in the month.
Obviously the new lad up front needs some minutes and whilst Gash has been huge for us this season, I don't think it would hurt to give the big man a rest, likewise perming any two from Henderson, Power, Carey, Kelly and Hawkins will still create plenty of chances in most games and now might be an opportunity to let Richards rest his hamstring or give Jarvis a bit of a break before the final 'big push'.
9
« on: January 30, 2020, 05:57:29 PM »
Going private for an Op isn’t cheap. I guess the waiting list on NHS would have been months.
Hope the bucket collection raises a good few quid for the lad. Mark, couldnt the Club put on some kind of fund raiser to help Ryan as well ? After all he was injured giving his all for the Club? Now you are full time I’m sure you would have the time to put a little something together.
Nothing against Ryan at all but I would hope Mark has better things to do with his time and any 'money raising ideas' have to go to the club first and foremost. Maybe if an individual fan wanted to do something along the lines suggested by B&G then fair enough that would be between them and Ryan but the club is clearly short of volunteers to run it's 'own' fundraising at present. I personally don't think the club should be drawn into raising money for individual players as where do you set the bar on 'deserving cases'? For example, Michael Clunan has been out for a good while now too.
10
« on: January 29, 2020, 06:23:51 PM »
I think the model adopted by many National (inc North & South division) clubs is to focus on an academy and the 1st team which combined with a sensible loan policy works better than running a fully blown reserve side, which will always be a long way away from 1st team standard. An academy fulfils a couple of areas - bringing youth into the club and a potential income stream (although perhaps less than SC would like) along with the possibility of a big pay day if you unearth a 'diamond' as well as to a much lesser extent potential cover for a run of injuries / suspensions and IC seems unwilling to take players just to sit on the bench.
We seem to have made steps towards this model over the past couple of seasons with Limb, Stewart and Hawkins all going out to get games as their first team opportunities were limited. I assume Luke Johnson is now back from his month with Leiston but in truth you could see how it would be better for him and the likes of Joe Taylor to have the opportunity of playing step 3 or 4 next year rather than continuing with the reserves.
11
« on: January 29, 2020, 01:26:54 PM »
I see Cambridge Utd and Calderwood have parted company, hope they don't come sniffing our way for a replacement
Think Cambridge Utd would be mad if they didn't at least consider IC but whether he would want to go there at this point in the season is another matter, given their current form they could easily be dragged further into a relegation scrap which if it all went wrong (and we did our bit) could see them replacing Boston as our Boxing Day fixture in 2020! I think IC is enjoying this season more than the previous two (less expectation / pressure?) but come the end of the season things might change if we did gain promotion to the National League depending how the club adapted to that challenge.
12
« on: January 28, 2020, 06:14:20 PM »
Just looking at previous totals required to go up, and I think 90 points should be the aim and be enough in the end. Only 12-13 season has 90 not been enough (2nd finished on 91) since league went to 22 teams in 11-12.
Keep Walks the fortress it is, the club would be within touching distance of that target.
One game at a time and every weekend we keep that cushion puts more pressure on the chasing pack and less on us, for now I think IC can keep sending the lads out with a 'go play football and enjoy yourselves' attitude. The Walks doesn't have to be an intimidating place, just one that enjoys watching and accepts the freedom that the team are playing with, that to me is far harder for teams to live.
13
« on: January 27, 2020, 01:27:09 PM »
Mr Ackers certainly has an 'interesting' CV, some would say (I would be one of them) the sort of bloke who personifies all that is wrong with football in England, others may say he and his ilk have been the saviour of the game with more money than ever sloshing around the game which, particularly at the top, the game has benefitted greatly from
He seems to be a Mr Fixer in matching 'investors' with the right club and I would imagine from the outside we look like quite an attractive package at present, so that would equate to 'money to be made'. Think we need to be very careful over the next few months and what we wish for - it may come true!
14
« on: January 26, 2020, 10:24:34 PM »
The situation at Barrow.
https://www.bluebirdstrust.co.uk/play-your-part/
Makes you think.
With the pitch cover donations, I believe we need a totaliser similar to what they’ve got here, but the club have revealed this is not going to happen 😬
I personally think all supporter donations for the frost sheet and other 'capital' type equipment should go through the Blue & Gold Trust GDF account - the Trust HAVE to account for any monies received in a proper manner and they have deemed to keep this account separate from 'normal' Trust funds and transfer money to the club as and when specific projects are identified with detailed costings. It is a real shame that the Trust have not continued fund raising for this fund for now as it was very much a win-win for both Trust and Club, fingers crossed it can be reinstated at some point in the future.
15
« on: January 26, 2020, 05:20:57 PM »
It’s Mark Mortimer and Matt Haney who organised the away travel and they are doing a grand job
I have no idea who Mark or Matt are, is this thought the FotL? I really don't understand why travel isn't organised through the FotL, it shouldn't be down to SC to sort out supporters and equally shouldn't be individuals running a semi-official service either
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