The big issue

I understand that there are bigger issues going on , but as a regular attendee of games , I still think it is possible to achieve promotion, in spite of off field troubles.
The reason I say this is because a lot of league 2 teams are much of a muchness , quality wise and it doesnt take that much to slightly over- perform against budget.
That is very different , to me, to eg predicting Newcsstle are in with a shout of winning the Premier League.
So I think there is always going to be a clash between folk who remain optimistic that promotion is possible and those who attribute a scrappy injury time defeat to being evidence of some deep rooted failure.

Quoted from Mullen103 on Wednesday, 15 September 2025

No not the magazine!

I do agree with Laffy in that the big picture is being lost to all the other smaller issues. That’s probably because we know there’s nothing we can do but wait.

We have had BA, from the trust say these succession talks will have a conclusion in a few weeks, a few weeks back.

We’ve sold our better players and replaced with cheap rejects and unknowns.

The main issue is obviously purepay, the longer this goes on the more shite we become.

We might have some really optimistic people that think we will gain promotion, we won’t, but barring a catastrophe it’ll be yet another season in tier 4 next season.

To be fair Tanner and Hayden were 'cheap rejects and unknowns' when they arrived.

Quoted from Mullen103 on Wednesday, 15 September 2025

No not the magazine!

I do agree with Laffy in that the big picture is being lost to all the other smaller issues. That’s probably because we know there’s nothing we can do but wait.

We have had BA, from the trust say these succession talks will have a conclusion in a few weeks, a few weeks back.

We’ve sold our better players and replaced with cheap rejects and unknowns.

The main issue is obviously purepay, the longer this goes on the more shite we become.

We might have some really optimistic people that think we will gain promotion, we won’t, but barring a catastrophe it’ll be yet another season in tier 4 next season.

Mullen, by nature your a negative beast, your choice.

However, you have to face facts, and it is what it is, and no matter how big the crock of sxxte is, or whatever hand you have, you must look for the positives.

All in all we're not in bad shape, could we be better? Of course we could, but the same could be said of everyone and everything.

Try and look for the positives, instead of always having a negative viewpoint, it's better for your health.

Nothing will ever change at this club.

Do some of you need another 15 years to realise that?

I admire positive even strive for it. But it’s false hope to believe their will be bright times at this football club under the current regime.

It is much harder to achieve when all are not pulling in the same direction though.
Clibbens is there to try an enhance his reputation solely on financial performance (hoarding dosh).
The board, who knows, but probably looking to get as much money in to negate the risks associated with the Director's guarantees.
Beech sticking to trying to make a name as someone who can spot rejects and polish them up, while never really showing any tactical acumen or having a consistent well set up team.
Holdsworth trying to enhance his wheeler dealer Del Boy reputation, mainly through talking shit to bull himself up.
The common them above is not one seems to have the aim of promotion through a well balanced team on the pitch.

Is it being negative silent or is it just stating where things are.

In life I consider myself as a realist, towards the negative side yes! Is Laffy negative also from his summing up?

Should we just be happy that we have a football league club in tier 4. The owners would be delighted by that.

Or do we strive for something better?

We always have and probably always will be a selling club, and for every gem we have unearthed there have always been more duds.
The difference these past few years is that the sales generally seem timed to suit the purchasers rather than ourselves, with the monies being undisclosed and squirrelled away'.
You can't blame anyone for coming to the conclusion that those in charge would happily settle for mid-table in tier 4 for ever, as every time we get anywhere near to scrambling out of this ****hole of a division we manage to shoot ourselves in the foot and miraculously fall away and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Coincidence?
It's all very well ensuring we have a club to support in the future, however without any ambition to improve and prosper, what exactly is the point?

It has been said our support is on three levels , the negative whinging at everything lot , the go regardless and hope for improvement lot and those who are always optimistic and get slagged and called happy clappers by the first lot .

Quoted from bob hatton 10 on Thursday, 16 September 2025

It has been said our support is on three levels , the negative whinging at everything lot , the go regardless and hope for improvement lot and those who are always optimistic and get slagged and called happy clappers by the first lot .

I think you’d find the “negative whingers” and “hope for improvements” are closely linked. Both want the same goals despite disagreeing on methods to reach it.

The issues are with the “go regardless” lot. Funding 15 years of shite

It’s simple for me.Are we the best we can be?

In my view, we are miles off though I rate NC who has got [censored] all to work with

1996 go regardless and hope for improvement are one group. The negativety folk and the eternally optimistic are two other groups .
I personally go or don't go for my own enjoyment or lack of and wether it suits anyone else it doesn't matter . The negative bunch are the ones I don't understand, some have been moaning and giving reasons not to go since Jim Bendall was chairman and probably before while saying they are the biggest fan. Now I may be wrong but we have had a year or two of good stuff during those 40 odd years and tbh if I was that miserable about it I would find another hobby . It's not supporting if you won't go until Bendall / Stokoe/ Gregg/ Moncur/ Atkins / Abbott etc etc leave . That's a I will only go if outlook . The eternally optimistic I admire because regardless of the knocks we have had they still hope and believe this is the year and nothing knocks them off that belief. I am not sure I understand it but you have to admire their unshakeable belief .
I have had periods where I didn't go and not necessarily when we have been dire but I have always hoped they do well . Oh and I agree with Laffy on NC he is spot on .