The biggest disappointment for me on Saturday

Has Gordon told you to say that?

If he has tell him to go and get his face fecked.

 

East Stand had lots of spaces

... and Ponty End was evenly spread across with people but there was a lot of red plastic on show in there. I reckoned around 13k and it was just a bit less.

 

I was there on satdi with 2 others

BUT without season tickets ( first time since I dont know when) and I wont buy a season ticket until I am convinced there is evidence of a change for the better. Note I havent said I aint going again, BUT if I dont like my meal in the cafe I will complain and argue for a reduction in the bill, if my goods are faulty I will take them back and request an exchange or refund. There is no such option with football. So if the goods dont come up to standard I know I wont get my money back, but if I dont have a season ticket I wont have lost as much as if I pay per match, cause after a reasonable time I wont be going,

 

£21 in keeps a lot of PAYG fans away

I had to give up my season ticket this season for family reasons, but for my old seat in East Lower it would have been £21 on the day so decided to give it a miss. Good call too according to mates who went.

 

Did you go to the game?

all the bestest fans judge players on one game via radio/Sky Sports bulletin.

 

if we compare that to the cafe then, would you agree the ingerdients look better but lets see if the chef/cook can do something with them?

 

Yes.

And I'm not judging Davey on "one game." I'm judging him on the countless games I've come away from thinking exactly the same thing.

 

Nice analogy.

Why bother improving the ingredients if the chef can't cook?

Like it.

 

RE: Yes.

Davey has brought players in with the intention of improving the squad, impossible and unreasonable to judge how successful he's been at that based on one game. he was appointed to keep us up in the first instance, which he did. from where Im sat, so far, so good.

 

Again, I'm not judging Davey on one game.

I didn't think he got anything like the best out of the previous squad and I've seen nothing that makes me think he's going to improve. I think the "give him a chance" lobby has had it's day.

 

Paid £400k for an international striker

Spending about to top the £1million mark, I'd have hoped that wouldve generated more enthusiasm, accept the point about holidays, but I think the overall trend is that the first home game of a season sees an increased turnout, clearly not in our case.

 

RE: Paid £400k for an international striker

Mossto is an International striker , however he happens to be from Peru.</p>

I admire your blind optimism, I too was optimistic after the Wigan game.</p>

However I dont understand how e have gone from looking like we want to play a bit of footie last week , to look like playing football was the last thing on our minds Saturday.</p>

 

If you lose against teams like Bury and Morcombe

How can you expect people to turn up? Yes, some people know that pre-season games don't matter, but a lot of people take notice of them.

 

RE: Paid £400k for an international striker

I wouldnt say its blind optimism, and Im as worried as the next man about our defensive frailties, Paul Reid, etc, but I also think Davey is going about things in the right manner, he's placing emphasis on the right things (professionalism, working on players weaknesses, hard graft, etc) and knows where we still need to improve. that gives me a degree of optimism that Saturday isnt necessarily the pattern for the rest of the season. if we're still shipping goals in October, then I'll be much more concerned.

 

RE: I didn't say recognised.

But a proper manager would've cost far more than Davey because he would've had to have been a recognised manager otherwise you're left with reserve or academy coaches or lower league managers who are as much as a gamble.

I'm not a big Shepherd fan, I simply don't trust the bloke. He's been rash, tried to bodge a job on the cheap and took a massive risk with Davey and got lucky, nothing more.

However, on the finances side I have some sympathy - no bums on seats, no brass - although I'm not making any judgement on those who choose not to attend games I feel they don't have much right to grumble about the lack of transfer funds and wages.

 

RE: I didn't say recognised.

We'll have to agree to differ about whether Davey could be replaced without breaking the bank. I don't see the point in spending on players and not on the manager. I like the analogy elsewhere on his board - it's pointless improving the ingredients if the chef can't cook. Shepherd has overlooked the most important position and, as predicted, trying to save money there is now proving a costly exersise.

 

RE: I didn't say recognised.

On the last point I completely agree, Shepherd's decision to appoint Davey was motivated solely by cost. Considering Ritchie was sacked because of a perceived lack of ambition Shepherd comes across as a total hypocrite for going down the cheap route.

Saying that, Davey kept us up and, in my mind, has earned the right to manage the team and overhaul the squad as he sees fit. Even if pragmatism dictated his removal the question that dogged us around this time last year still remains unanswered - who would replace him?

Left to Shepherd, the tea-lady, most likely...

I agree with some of the criticism levelled at the club and, after Setdi's dire performance, I can understand why folk might not want to go but I also believe the only real option available to us at the moment is to get behind the team...

 

Someone panicking about having spent some brass?

Start treating the fans with some respect might be a good idea, then they might be more inclined to part with their cash.</p>

 

We have signed 10 players for that amount

Most of the new signings are on Freebies and are no better than what we already had. Although they are taller, still cant defend or head the ball to another Barnsley player.