I've not read comments from anyone questioning the merits of promoting from within our Academy. That's the point of it after all, and one I'm sure we all agree on. Promoting U23s to the first team has to be a considered approach, though, Promoting just U23s to wholly replace the 6 or so departures would be folly, IMO. There has to be a balance of buy vs promote, experience vs inexperience, which I'm sure JDT and GB will understand.

The best way to 'learn and develop' is by playing games.

Agreed, see my last post.

On the subject of the pitch, it did appear from the early photos released a month or so ago, that there had been work done on the goal areas. The vast majority of the pitch looked like it had been prepared for re-seeding, whereas the goal areas looked different. Perhaps the goal areas only have been 'stitched'?

I don't disagree with most of what you say. I've seen him in the flesh a couple of times; on the first occasion I thought 'Wow'. All I'm (trying) to say, is that while I think he has all the potential in the world, I think it's premature to expect him to become a superstar - or indeed a first team regular this season coming as is being suggested - at this moment in time.

So 2 players out of literally thousands, then. As I said, 'expectations'.

Of course there's something there. The point I was making was not about potential, but around expectations. It's a lot to expect any 17 year old to make the jump from a handful of U23 games to playing regularly at Championship level, especially at centre half.

Sam Barnes is one who I think will be given opportunity. He's now injury free, has played a lot of games as captain of the U23s, and is ready for the next step. He was scheduled to play last pre-season, but got injured early doors. He's with the squad in Portugal.

I fear that peoples' expectations of Phillips are getting a bit much. Hasn't the lad has only played a dozen or so games for the U23s?

For a regular home game, at 7.5k STs sold we'll be looking at gates of what, 11k or so? 'Amazeballs', as my daughter would say....

Edun is not a Championship standard footballer. A least not for a club that wants to progress upwards.

Spot on. We need 5 or 6 with Championship experience. Thinking that we can solely rely on U23s to plug all the gaps is dillusional.

A drawback with buying a ST is that you don't have to miss many games before you're better off just getting match tickets. As a ST, I know that I'll miss 2 or 3 games for whatever reasons. In seasons gone by when ST prices were lower, I'd still be in credit versus buying match tickets if I missed a handful of games; I doubt that's the case now. I'm effectively paying for convenience.

We need to sign experienced players, is what I think. Any u23's who make the step up is a bonus, IMO, and should not be relied upon.

It's not just about having a team though, is it? We need a squad.

...or perhaps, suitors, who knowing how disfunctional our 'exec team' is, were just biding their time until they could get them for free.

There may well be, but unless they are at least the equal of those departing, then the side regresses.

You didn't just share info, though did you? 'Whilst that’s but one local comparison, I thought that I’d share it to highlight the views held by some that what Rovers are doing is poor and our neighbours are doing much better. It simply isn’t true….' You made the above statement in your original post, the implication being that you don't believe that our ST sales figures are poor, and that PNE have overstated theirs. The reality is that PNE have sold c12,000 tickets (with or with out complementaries - we don't know) but that Rovers have only sold c7,000 tickets. Spin that how you like, but, to me at least, there's no hiding from the fact that PNE have done a far better job.

He doesn't get it. PNE have 12k with complementaries. We have 7k without. Therefore, we'd need to dish out 5k complementaries just to match them. But yeah, we're 'much improved'.

The vast majority haven't bought at those prices though, have they? As you say, apples and apples.

Whether some of their STs are freebies, corporates or given to staff....it matters not a jot. They will have 12,000 home fans attending each game as a minimum, before they've sold any match day tickets.

Ideas to get people down the ground earlier, mingling, creating a better pre-match atmosphere. Get some entertainment on, live bands, stuff for the kids to do, beer tents, food market....I'm sure there's a gazzillion things they could try. There's a massive car park at the back of the BBE. I don't know how full it gets on match day, but that could be used.

The idea of the club buying pubs is laughable. Why would the club invest in a failing industry and in venues which can only cater to what, a couple of hundred people? The club should focus on attracting as many fans as possible to the stadium, as early as possible, in order to maximise revenue on food/drinks and improve the overall match day experience.

Regarding prices: The problem, IMO, is not the prices of sections such as the JWU where I sit. I'm more than happy to pay a premium, for what I think is a superb vantage point. The problem is more to do with the cheapest seats (BBE,RS), as has been pointed out by other posters. These seats are priced prohibitively with regard to attracting new customers. In other words, the 'entry point' is too high.

I've no idea, I buy them on line. But to answer your question....if they don't ask for the customer's name, they flippin' well should do! That's basic stuff.