Linnets' Fans' Forum

Interesting to see what IC goes with today with the option of the three new young loanees.  Still lots of areas he doesn't have much wriggle room with the injuries although switching to a back 4 could be an option.  I know Dilly doesn't like to discuss formations, preferring the under 7s approach of everyone attack / everyone defend but for those who have watched Rowe, Simpson and IC swap things around (or not as was the case last weekend) formations can make a difference and bring out the best in players or conversely highlight their shortcomings.

I personally don't think Marriott and Gold help each other so that is the big decision for IC now he has the option of Sealey in from Norwich, personally I would like to see him paired with Marriott who has done lots of good work a bit deeper this season but with very little reward because of who he has had around him imo.  My team for today

Chapman (reluctantly)
Wilson, Wilson, Dickens
Fleming, Clunan, Maja, Clements
Crane, Marriott, Collins/Oudnie-Morgan
Sealey

Good to see some additional resources for IC, I am sure some will be disappointed that they are all young lads but I guess there aren't loads of good, experienced players floating around looking to play step 2 non-league at this time of year.  Probably a different proposition later in January but we needed players in now and Bal/JS/IC have got these lads over the line, lets hope they settle in and all parties get something out of the loan spells

Quote from: Veratis on November 19, 2025, 04:39:38 PMThe difference between Cleeve and new owners is blindingly obvious. No new owners no Club. The new owners have been covering the huge shortfall since January 2024 and without there financial support we would not have a Club and if we did it certainly would not be at this level.

The worry for some fans is that TSI share some of the responsibility for 'the huge shortfall'.  Given where we were in January 2024 surely the prudent thing would have been to make changes for the 2024-25 season?  You can presumably understand why fans would question the levels of subsidy required that Bal was talking about at the May meeting and why things needed to change for 2025-26 although how much was subsequently implemented is perhaps open to debate.

Quote from: Veratis on November 19, 2025, 04:39:38 PMWhilst some might be ok with the Club maybe in administration and then playing in the UCL again others may finally say enough is enough with Kings Lynn Football Club and get another team to support on a Saturday.
At the moment we have an owner who is prepared to try and take the Club forward even with half million owed to the DCMS on top of whatever other problems they have inherited.
Be grateful for what you've got you will certainly miss it if its gone unless of course you've got a spare million to invest in a football Club.

As one of those of who was around in 2009, I can assure you I never want to see a repeat of that experience.  That said, ever since reformation fans have been told to be grateful to anyone who has been prepared to throw money at the club but that shouldn't mean their actions and decisions should be above question

Some positive news from the club this evening with Joe being appointed Head of Football Operations https://www.kltown.co.uk/2025/11/19/kings-lynn-appoint-joe-simpson-as-head-of-football-operations/

Looks a good fit and having worked with IC previously hopefully he can make a success of the new role, wishing him all the best.

To answer the original question, in a word, no.  That isn't a ringing endorsement of Bal's time to date but just based on the fact that SC took the club to the brink two years ago and I can't think he has changed that much whilst out of the Linnet spotlight. 

Whilst the 'new era' has undoubtably seen more commercial activity, I don't think it's unreasonable to question what has happened since May when Bal told the assembled Trust members that TSI's tenure would be founded on a more sustainable basis.  Unfortunately there has been very little put out officially by the club which has allowed rumour and hearsay to fill the void with people jumping to their own conclusions when they see players that were starting earlier in the season being allowed out on loan whilst IC is struggling to get XI on the pitch let along fill the subs bench.  Hopefully some money can be found from somewhere to help IC with the squad and I think a couple of the loans might have only been until the end of November so maybe that could also help but it would be helpful to hear from the club itself what the plans, both in the short and medium term are.

Quote from: Mallard on November 16, 2025, 05:28:11 PMJohn, Cully basically said either the players on the bench weren't fit or young kids.

I don't understand why we don't pull Toll and Williams and Van Lier back from loan spells.  Can't use a player from the bench makes no sense when we have players like those 3 out on loan.

You have to hope that IC has some irons in the fire in terms of getting two or three in the door otherwise I would agree with you but no point just bring players back from loans for a single game although it could be that one or more might be brought back this week.  I took it that Collins was a late injury rather than naming an inured player and if he wasn't 100% then no point risking him and making things worse with how we are at present.

Totally agree with JohnH, loans involve 3 parties - the two clubs and the player and I can't see any of those parties would have been happy for the loan to have been extended - the player wasn't getting much playing time and we had a player making up the numbers but not really adding much more.  The fact that he has dropped another step for the rest of the season is probably an indication that IC has got this one right.

Really good point on the road, we were probably never as bad as some were making out under JS, just the upheaval of Rowe leaving, tough run of fixtures and inexperienced manager you could see the confidence draining out of the squad.  IC has come in, couple of (relatively) easy fixtures and the belief seems to be coming back so hopefully we can now keep that bit of momentum going forward.

Quote from: John H on November 05, 2025, 06:19:29 PMTony M - re Chapman, a work colleague and. Boston United fan says that they all loved Chapman when he was there for a bit. He was signed after their goalkeeper got injured. Said he was excellent and would have him back.

Maybe Chadwick will get the nod for the upcoming FA Trophy game v Harrow.

All about opinions, as I said IC has gone out of his way to praise him the last two games so he obviously rates him and we have to accept that he sees more of him than we do.  Strange that in a young squad the two most talked about selections (certainly near where I stand) are Chapman and Gold who are two of the more experienced players.

FA Trophy is probably coming at the wrong time, would be good for IC to see a few of the fringe players in a match situation but equally a win is probably more important from a confidence building perspective.  At least no midweek games for a couple of weeks so chance for IC to have some proper time with the squad.

Funny evening, although not much to laugh about with the ref who seemed to be watching a completely different game to everyone else.  I bet JS was looking at Leamington with a rye smile given he had to face Scarborough (now 5th), Fylde (now top) and Radcliffe (now 3rd) in his three home games.  I think if we had played as well as we did first half against Radcliffe, even with the ref, we would have been three or four up but such is way of football management.  That said it was great to see IC back in the dugout and listening to his post match interview the half time tweaks worked (something we missed under JS?)

Positives - confidence boosting 3 points, whole backline looked much keener to try and win that first ball, Marriott's link up play, more movement when Collins introduced, can't just rely on Crane (who had a good game)

Negatives - we won't play Leamington every week so still very much 'work in progress', Clements getting involved in some nonsense and then going down in the final minutes - one of the few things the ref got right by making him go off (as he had with a Leamington player earlier in the half)

Finally, yet again IC praised Chapman as part of the back line, he obviously sees something me and those around me don't as he just looks a liability to us, got away with walking out of his area last night because of who we were playing but think he will cost us more than he saves over the course of a season and why two keepers on the bench but not Wilson or has he gone back to Norwich?

Quote from: Windy Linnet on November 02, 2025, 10:54:35 AM...I cant understand what all the faffing about with the Trust money is and why they just cant give it to the club in a time of need and sort the shares out later on.

Because, quite simply, the Trust is governed by a set of rules and that isn't what was put to the membership in the vote.  I can understand your frustration but the Trust reacted quickly to the proposal by the club arranging the vote, which I think raised expectations that the share transfer was imminent, that appears not to have been the case.  Why would you think the club is in 'a time of need'?

Quote from: Windy Linnet on November 02, 2025, 10:54:35 AMIf its going to be a relationship built on trust whats the problem.If the members asked for a vote for the money to be moved over straight away I' sure it would go in favour of the money going there now and not when its too late.Just get on with it!

If it is a relationship built on trust then presumably the club have told the Trust directors what the hold up is and for whatever reason (and there could be many) the Trust board have not seen fit to come back to the membership with anything along the lines of your proposal so maybe we are not anywhere near the 'too late' stage as you seem to think we are

Just out of interest, are you a Trust member?

Quote from: Windy Linnet on October 25, 2025, 09:53:49 AMI remember the COVID season well.
The right manager. 
Great football.
Local based part time squad.
Passionate Chairman
Fan engagement.
What went wrong?

Can't argue with the first three but think you might find the answer to your question in points four and five

Quote from: Mallard on October 24, 2025, 06:51:15 PMThe Trust board I seem to recall were keen for the membership to vote to go with the Bal and Jo deal.  All seems a long time ago now.  Is that deal any further forward than it was back then ?

It's really not a good look all of this.

The Trust board presented the deal as it was offered to them from TSI without giving any 'direction' as to how they would like the membership to vote, the vote was overwhelmingly carried 77 for, 16 against with the result reported on 23rd July and the board would report back to members once the deal was completed, can only assume this has yet to happen.  https://www.thelinnets.co.uk/trustnews.php

Mall, the 'vote of confidence' last week from the club only seems to have intensified the short term approach to Joe's tenure with lots of social media posts over the weekend calling on the club to 'get an experienced manager in' so in many people's eyes it probably is a 'must win'.  Personally I would rather stick with Joe, whilst he would probably admit himself that he is still growing into the role, there are risks with any new manager.  Not sure that Robinson is a particular help and looks a bit of a 'top down' appointment but maybe him and Joe can make it work?

As for tonight, I don't think too much needs to be tinkered with the team that started the second half on Saturday with the addition of Crane and hopefully T Wilson.  Yes we all have views about individual players including Gold (I am not a fan but lots of managers have now given him more minutes than I would have done so they must all have seen something many fans can't) but all Joe can do is set them up and rely on the players play to their potential.

Quote from: dillydilly on October 20, 2025, 05:29:38 PMWe have a set of aggressive energetic triers, but very little cohesion affording passing movement in midfield between players. That showed Fylde to have those team players while we had individuals having to fight for the ball all the time following too many punts neither to players nor into anticipated spaces.  Crane and Wilson will improve us, but we'll often still be short of the skill needed.  Nyahawema improved us, but our team play doesn't often match that of opponents.  Effort isn't lacking, but team play is.  I excuse Williams from my (friendly) criticism....

Dilly, I agree to a point but it was a new system on Saturday so maybe needs a bit of time to bed in, also it was difficult to play passing attacking football in the first half with a front three of Gold, Kamara and Lambert and yes I agree that too much was in the air but maybe that was where JS thought we could find success?  We looked a lot better second half with roughly the same shape but with better movement and players capable of receiving a pass.  Hopefully Crane returning from suspension will help tomorrow evening