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Messages - TonyM
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61
« on: January 07, 2024, 02:22:11 PM »
Mall - I agree! I and others would have an equal chance of winning a match against a name manager!!! But then I don’t think I have the only answers, as everyone on here has their own equally valid opinions! It’s the eyes that inform my opinions, not listening to Redknapp and Carragher trying to sound like they know more than those who watch the game! I’m also entertained by the likes of Pep and Klopp answering pretentious drawn-out questions with virtually one-word answers with an understandable smirk on their faces! Take a look!
Dilly, what did your eyes tell you yesterday at the Walks? My eyes have told me that virtually every game this season we have lost the midfield which has then exposed a pretty fragile back line whilst failing to hold onto the ball long enough to create openings for the forward players, although I would accept that they haven't helped with a real lack of movement which has to come back to how the manger(s) have set their side up to play.
62
« on: January 07, 2024, 01:01:23 PM »
Not a dig at any individual but don't see how those who haven't been to many games this season can really comment, although I appreciate some games have been available on the stream (although probably the best performances - Brackley & Scunthorpe), as unless you were there watching the full 90 minutes yesterday it is difficult to understand quite how far we were off looking like a step 2 side - full or part time.
The worst part of yesterday were that this has been coming - the question was asked a while back about progress under AL and I said the emphasis on fitness, whilst perhaps necessary, seems to have been at the total exclusion of doing any ball or formation work and that can be the only explanation of yesterdays, being polite, 'hit and hope' tactics. Appreciate Darlington were up for it to impress Watson but first half was just two very poor teams, the difference was that as the game wore on you could see Darlington trying to play to a plan and players working together whilst we, not for the first time this season, got more and more disjointed and the goal was a well worked passing move, again something that we look less and less like being capable of as the weeks pass.
That said, however frustrating things are on the pitch, off the pitch seems even more so with SC's EDP article and programme notes being a mix of fantasy and self justification, neither of which went down well with the fans I spoke to on the terraces. I just hope we can get to the end of the season and somehow there can be an orderly transfer of the ownership of the club to start afresh next year, probably at step 3, but yesterday didn't make me any more hopeful of that being able to be achieved.
63
« on: January 05, 2024, 02:23:00 PM »
Different reaction from our vistors tomorrow to being down the bottom - https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/boost-the-budget-january-2024 - and currently almost half way towards their £30k target. Just shows what long term emphasis on fan engagement can deliver, I am not saying it would be easy at Lynn given all that our current and previous owners have done to fracture the fanbase for their own ends, just highlighting that there are examples of different ways of doing things other than relying on the financial doping of a single person.
64
« on: January 03, 2024, 05:44:24 PM »
Why would we want to lose Barrett? The likes of Crowther can be made out of village players, whereas talented players are hard to find and keep. JB has been the best player here throughout, and would have been even better had he had others of his level around him. On the finance front, fingers crossed things aren’t as bad as have been painted. Perhaps “Academies” can produce players, but I’m not a believer that footballers can be taught, and if the odd one is found he will be likely to go to a higher level. There is a chance of avoiding relegation, but it is now looking difficult. Suggest putting JB first name on the team sheet, and going for wins rather than holding out for 70 minutes a game…
Dilly, I assume you haven't watched too many games live this season with that statement about JB, it seems it isn't just me that would question it either and AL would also disagree, I think it was after the Boston home game he was asked if the reason JB didn't make the bench was an injury and he said he wasn't injured, just not selected or words to that effect. I don't think anyone doubts JB's 'talent' but when there is so little end product (as has been the case for most of this season and I would argue longer) then questions will be asked and it may be that he needs better players alongside him but given we have what we have then either JB needs to adapt (which he hasn't) or we go another route (which appears to be what AL is doing).
65
« on: January 03, 2024, 01:24:38 PM »
I would have thought that Crowther is a more valuable asset than Barrett by some distance. One has obvious development potential and is reasonably consistent. The other on his day must be amongst the best at National League level but those special days are few and far between.
Would totally agree with all of that Rod although maybe best at NLN rather than NL for Barrett. Interesting that SC has gone down the 'future sell on' route, if it was a fire sale then you would expect cash to be more valuable than a promise of 'jam tomorrow'. Would be interesting to know if Bromley were seriously interested as that would point to the fee being a proper bid rather than Southend being able to take advantage of our current reported troubles. Still expect more to go before we see anyone coming in and think we (including AL) need to be realistic, personally I would be happier with loans / short term signings rather than anyone on a contract going beyond the end of the season.
66
« on: January 03, 2024, 08:34:27 AM »
Hughes was being lauded until the Kidderminster play off debacle, where he was found out big time but has there been any discernible and consistent improvement under the new management team?
Rod, just for balance I disagree with Linnet's assessment above. We have been a little bit better in some games under AL compared to MH, some of which could be down to better player availability (notably Crowther and Hargreaves). The two games Linnet quoted - Scunthorpe was a backs-to-the-wall / attack vs defence for the second half and, as often happens with night games, everyone got behind the team and the players responded with a really good performance, being fair to MH we saw something similar against Brackley earlier in the season with a much less experienced side that again on the night put in a really good display. As for Warrington, that was two poor sides who didn't look like would have scored in a month of Sundays and really didn't see that as a performance of note. To be fair to AL he has inherited the squad and pretty sure it isn't the squad he wants but we have played a few different formations now and none have really looked like they are the right one to get the best out of what we have and we just seem to be searching for something that clicks - maybe that is what happened at Southport but with the same side against Boston (h) all the same frailties we exposed by not playing a left back, trying to cover it with McFadden and Rogers which I don't think works but having brought in a left back from Peterborough it seems strange not to play him. Appreciate it is difficult to overhaul a squad mid-season, particularly with the financial constraints that we can assume are not helping AL but with a full time squad in a predominately part time league I would have hoped to see a bit more cohesion and pattern of play given the time he has now had with the players.
67
« on: January 01, 2024, 06:52:40 PM »
Just a dreadful day all round:
Clueless on the pitch, not for the first time under AL and questions have to be asked about how good a manager he really is, appreciate he isn't working with his players and confidence isn't likely to be great but this whole focus on fitness seems to be at the complete absence of doing any ball or formation work in training as if they are doing any of that it sure as hell doesn't show in games whatsoever. That said, will be interesting to hear his post match comments, he can't keep clinging to praising full time players for 'working hard' at some point he has to accept that today they barely did that and we have to find a way to shift a few more bodies out of the door, either those who will command a fee such as Crowther etc or the likes of Ronan etc who just need moving on.
Not great off the pitch either and whilst I understand fans frustrations, shouting for Cleeve to sell up shows a real detachment from the reality, my guess is that he has been trying to do that for months. The issues at the club are far deeper than just finding some new mug with deeper pockets to dig us out of the current hole. I do wonder how many of them would concur with Jono's comments about playing the under 19s, personally I wouldn't want to put young lads into that environment at present
All in all pretty dire but the madness of football is we will be back again on Saturday at home to Darlington, if we still have a club to support.
68
« on: December 29, 2023, 10:46:13 AM »
Have we really any clarity on what is needed to ‘limp’ through to the end of the season ? SC said we needed £300k. So will that figure include gate receipts, Match day sponsorship etc, plus whatever monies he himself is prepared to feed into the Club ? Surely the £300 can be reduced by a decent bargain by trying to offload whatever players are the big earners and others than may attract a purchase. Some serious good housekeeping could also bring the £300k figure down ( overnight stays, etc)...
At the risk of upsetting Nigel, I think the £300k was a shortfall ie after expected gate receipts, sponsorships, SC contribution etc although again, no one really knows. We only have 9 home games left and unlikely too many of those will bring in big gate receipts (maybe Tamworth if they are still going well?) and my guess is only maybe Scarborough (Easter) and Peterborough Sports have a match day sponsor already lined up. Of the 12 away matches in 2024, three are over 4 hours (per Google) with two or three more over 3.5 hours so maybe these won't be overnight stops but really it is all tinkering round the edges. If the deficit is to be found internally then fans need to accept some big departures (where buyers can be found) and that their replacements will probably be young signings / loanees to get us to the end of the season. Given that there were still calls for SC to strengthen the squad quite recently I am not sure all at the Walks will buy into that, the question is whether that would include AL?
69
« on: December 29, 2023, 08:33:43 AM »
With all the speculation going on about KLFC does anyone REALLY know apart from SC what is happening. Seems a lot of surmising rather than facts. A few people seem have inside knowledge of whats going on, REALLY do you know. All i'm really interested in is, Lynn winning football matches, thats why i'm a supporter not a speculator of doom and gloom. Wallow in KLFC demise if that is to be the case, if not get behind the team. If you want depression watch Eastenders......but get out of my club.
To be fair Nigel, you are right that none of us know the real situation but SC has gone on record saying he is short of £300k to finish the season, which I think you might concede isn't a great position. I don't see most of the posts as 'doom & gloom', many are just dealing with the facts as we have them - a club that has one man running things 'his way' and reliant on him bankrolling / financially doping the operation. If pointing out that this is only ever likely to end one way, whether that be this season or at some later point in the future is deemed negative then so be it, I appreciate some fans only care about the 90 minutes on a Saturday (and I will be there like you getting behind the team as will many others) but I don't think it helps criticising those who look at the wider picture, perhaps if a few more had raised concerns earlier we wouldn't be on the brink of losing the club My thoughts exactly Nigel talk about kicking a man when he’s down,what gets me not one has come up with an idea to help the club in its dire need
Malcolm, essentially the only real solution at this point is a sale. Unfortunately SC has set budget (poorly it would appear) and is responsible for the off-field infrastructure as well as the player contracts so too many things are already 'fixed' for the current season so either there is a White Knight on the horizon who wants to bail us out or maybe we could have a fire sale and off load Crowther, Barrett, Hargreaves etc and then limp through to the end of the season and look to reset at what would, in all likelihood be a lower level although whether the proceeds of those sales along with corresponding reductions in wages would be enough is anyone's guess.
70
« on: December 24, 2023, 09:41:55 AM »
Great result, have to hold my hand up and say I wouldn't have gone with the same lineup as last weekend (allowing for Hargreaves suspension) but paid off for AL. Boston got a win in yesterday too so lets hope for a big crowd and great atmosphere for Boxing Day.
71
« on: December 22, 2023, 05:42:57 PM »
Interesting to see AL's selection tomorrow having mainly gone with a back four in recent games. The 4-1 defeat was one of the times MH played a back 4 with Oke at right back and basically Southport had the game won by half time then just went through the motions second half. Hopefully we are a bit stronger tomorrow with Crowther and the new lad from Peterborough but still think the main cause of last weekend's clean sheet was Warrington's attack being poor rather than our defence playing well but maybe something to build on. Would like to see Hughes being given a start, AL was bemoaning the lack of quality in the team last weekend and Hughes could be the spark that was so evidently missing.
72
« on: December 22, 2023, 05:30:56 PM »
Looks a good deal all round, given how poor Clifford has been and AL sending Isaacson out on loan we haven't had a viable option at left back in the squad. Hopefully the lad does well and Peterborough are happy enough to maybe extend for the rest of the season.
73
« on: December 18, 2023, 08:44:00 AM »
I didn’t intend to set this thread up as let’s all throw the solids at SC and his tenure but more looking to the future.
Tony, IF ( a big IF) there was a massive rallying call and the fans managed to help SC limp through to the end of the season what tells us that we wouldn’t be sitting in exactly the same situation this time next year ? You didn’t need a crystal ball to see this coming.
I would imagine any 'rallying call' as you put it would probably be raising funds to tide over the club if a potential new owner was on the horizon, I agree with you any money raised plugging a gap this year which kept everything the status quo would be throwing good money after bad.
74
« on: December 18, 2023, 08:40:11 AM »
Totally mismanaged from start to finish...I don't think there ever was any "money".The debt has just been growing and growing undetected..Now the club is absolutely riddled with debt with no more escape tunnels
Not sure that is really the situation. It's true there never was the money coming into the club from matchdays/sponsorship etc to cover what was going out but that was covered by SC lending the money to the club. Without up to date accounts it's difficult to be sure but essentially the club only has two main debts on the balance sheet - SC (or his group companies) and the Sport England loan (£430k?) plus the normal trading debts to HMRC, suppliers etc which are hopefully being paid off monthly.
75
« on: December 17, 2023, 03:07:10 PM »
Surely Clubs are Community based or they are not? 
Nothing in between is there?
If that's the case, the next Phoenix Club has the choice of something along the lines of what we have now (if anyone is even interested), or something they can really get behind and have a real involvement in. A Club that's truly at the heart of the community.
Funding a competitive side?
Play at the highest level the club can afford to play at by the income it generates from gates and commercial activity. That way the supporters are getting exactly what they are prepared to contribute to the Club (financially and otherwise). Nothing more, nothing less.
The Club should then find its own level.
I am not sure it's quite as simple as that in reality.
Historically fans in Lynn turn up to watch a winning, successful side.
Let's say that Lynn's natural level for the first few years is Thurlow Nunn Premier or one tier above. Lynn's side wins promotion, but it is declined as it's a step too far and the club can't afford it. Same happens next season. Is everyone happy to still come along and support, even though there is no likelihood of progression ? It requires a big change in psyche for some folk.
If SC 's tenure does come to an end in 2024 and no one else takes the club on, then I would prefer to see a Community based club emerge........just seems to me that it will have lots of things that need to be ironed out, so that members of the public know what they are signing up to in terms of expectations, club progression, limitations etc. Otherwise I can see lots of disharmony, creation of different factions etc.
I can't ever remember a time when there hasn't been huge dissatisfaction from some people, with whoever is running the club. Even with a Community based club, there will have to be a focal point/leader/spokesperson to deliver the votes on issues and offer explanations to the public and he or she will need broad shoulders.
Fair points and I don't think anyone who is involved at clubs that have some sort of supporter ownership would suggest it is easy. I appreciate some people like the buck stopping with a sole individual and everything is black and white but the truth is that well run organisations (be they business, governments or football clubs) tend to be those that have 'good people' in a number of areas each doing their bit for a greater common goal. All I would really say to counter your disharmony, factions point is that an club with supporter representation is likely to have better lines of communication with fans than one that doesn't. Obviously there are examples of good and bad across all ownership models but I think that would be a widely supported view, so whilst it wouldn't stop factions forming the hope would be that clear information would minimise any expectation gaps.
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