15 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

You mean Wimbledon?

No the club local to me where I live these days is Rushden & Diamonds.

They had their own Jack Walker in the shape of Max Griggs who founded Dr Martens boots.

He had a vision to reach the football league and was everything you want in a chairman, like Jack Walker.

They reach the old division 2 and were pushing for the play offs but Max couldn't afford to bank roll it anymore. So he gave it debt free to the fans.

The fans were not able to run it, released the top earners to bigger clubs to reduce the wage bill and then several relegation followed. 

Then the club stabilised for a few years and started to show shoots of recovery until it was taken over by a poorer version of Venkys. The club was soon dissolved and launched an AFC club a year later. Its been successful but hard honest work by the locals. They don't entertain the thought of a buyer, everything is voted on by the members. A similar model to Wimbledon yes. 

As I say, will they be league 1, I doubt it but do they have a club they have a connection to that they are part of, can be passionate about and feel they matter, absolutely. I read the threads on here and just think rather than watching rugby or another local team or even walking dogs instead, an AFC club would give a lot of fans what they want and miss but also impact the current regime that's driving fans away in their droves.

Also maintains that connection and affinity to the club we've followed for years.

Are Venkys going anywhere? Not likely. Is that patronising, dishonest dinosaur going anywhere? Feeling less and less likely so how far does it have to go. Just not healthy

5 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

What would give him that impression?

 

Least it gives us something to burn!

Never believed in UFO's but wtf is that 😯

I could really go on a rant after reading that interview, really made my blood boil.

More lies and u turns on previous comments. Talking about who will go up. Who is in the race but doesn't look at the table apparently?

Coming out with all that about money but he knew the budget at the start of the season and was talking up a play off spot? 

Venkys probably backed the budget for these loans based on that claim we would be pushing top 6.

The more I read, the more he irritates me. I can't even find the words to put it all into context and like many have said, just how is he getting away with it.

I'm a newish member still on here but has an AFC type club been spoken about before or worth a thread. A local team to me did it years ago having been scammed by the owners, they aren't at that level and perhaps never will be but at least the fans have a vote in the club as members, run by people that love and have passion for the club and at whatever level it's good honest football that we all grew to love. 

A decent backing would bring some pennies to at least get to a decent standard if the right people were involved.

Usually I think it comes when a club is dissolved and turning your back on what Jack Walker built is unthinkable but following this is almost just as unthinkable. Especially with all these years that pass us by and there just isn't progress. Not to mention as the fans that bring income to the club in many forms and follow up and down the country pre covid, we have no say, no power and our opinions are restricted to a message board.

Fans forums great but how much if that actually gets back to the people in power, and even if it does, how much do they care.

I just don't see any other choice 🤷

6 hours ago, LeftWinger said:

I can picture it now. His end of season meeting will be like a gender reveal party. There will be a big explosion as some giant balloons with our final league position float into the sky. Mowbray puts a positive spin on the fact we've stayed up.

With the shit he comes out with I'd expect he'll turn the league upside down and blag it that way. He might actually do better than 6th in that case 

15 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

No he’s probably telling the truth there, file it with;

‘I don’t work on set pieces’ and ‘I don’t do tactics’

Question is, what does he do...other than the expletives 

I don't see why we wouldn't take the option. 

Albeit a division below he is one of only a few you could say are in form. 

I doubt very much that he's costing a lot of money in comparison to the general standard of a championship winger.

Dolan and Chapman on either side when in form would give most full backs something to think about.

Not saying both should be starting week in week out but good options who can beat their man rather than playing the sideways pass and Chapman knows where the net is.

Here we go again...

I don't think the announcement means they are going but I do think it shows a loss of trust and a natural withdrawal. 

Interesting that it was a clubs spokesman and not Waggott. Sulking?

I think if it was linked to them going that would be announced first.

I also think its about withdrawing trust as it seems clearer certain players won't be here next season e.g. Nyambe almost as though they wanted more funds to convince him to stay and now the owners are pulling back its clearer its the 12 month option, sell or tribunal.

No chance the Slavia coach would swap that glory for a bottom half championship team

7 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

He sounds like that character with the flute out of Little Britain "Maybe I will maybe I won't etc". 

Unfortunately Also for his warped logic if managers were only sacked after a run like his, the season would have to be eighty four games long to get through six managers.

He's plainly taking the piss now with his pressers. Either he's absolutely begging to be sacked or he knows he's bulletproof and going nowhere and is deliberately winding people up to show them how secure he is.

The character also spoke utter dross that meant nothing and had an affinity to lemon drizzle cake. Mowbray in disguise...

Maybe Ayala could use his experience and contribute something???

🤣

Well after a long day at work I've just worked my way through about 10 pages since last night...

Seeing the momentum build I read on and on, even past 3pm, maybe the toner was out....and here we are. Genuinely gutted but whilst I have no contacts I do think things feel different if that counts for anything.

Sacking a Maanger costs money, bringing a new manager in costs money. Then there are the negotiations to investment in the summer. TM already stated it will be loans and freebies so what Manager would take the role knowing the team will look very different and potentially be worse than it is now, with the budget of loans and frees? They are setting themselves up for failure and that don't look good on the CV either. Add to that for all we know the owners may be insisting a top 6 finish after TMs groundwork (not my thoughts, just playing 3rd person).

I think 2 months ago as the slide started we could have attracted some of the names suggested as it was salvageable but now unless there is the promise of further investment, protect player sales etc. I don't see a top coach coming in.

Ainsworth have been mentioned and I think with his love for the club and based on what he has currently, he's probably the most realistic candidate.

This will sound stupid but nothing surprises me anymore but I wonder if Waggott was charged with binning his mate at 3pm and he simply refused? Whilst it would spell his end, maybe just maybe that's the delay and one worth waiting another 24hrs for.

We talk about player silence but Waggott himself has not really been talking much other than Brockhall vs Finch Farm.

On that subject, a few months ago I really tried to put a positive spin on it but the TM episode alone has bled that dry and I have to admit I'm with you all on it now. Really wanted to believe there was good intentions and we had turned a corner but my God, its groundhog day.

I stand by my comments about Venkys though. They are not Jack Walker and never will be, they are amateurs in the football world who clearly were lured into the glitz and glamour of it all but need help and advice from the right people. They have a very successful business that even in these times continues to be strong so they appear good at what they know. I'm sure their people are dealt with when under performing and yet football just seems too much for them to understand. With the right people they don't need to know everything, unfortunately those people left a long time ago.

We've seen Managers go in a very short space of time and others out stay their welcome, never seems to be that balance but they have backed the club financially and I do think they take the brunt on the back of poor advice. As owners that's part and parcel but they should learn from these experiences.

As has been said, a change from top to bottom is required but it's not cheap and I just wonder if that fits their financial plans and hence the delay...

If there is one positive in all this it is the uniting of the fan base or certainly on here. Seemed pretty toxic when I joined 6 weeks or so ago but don't think I've seen anything like it for a few weeks as just about everyone on here is in agreement.

Makes no difference to the situation unfortunately and I think like others have suggested, money talks and the drying up of season ticket funds might be enough in the Summer to wake the owners up. Maybe TM talking about loans and frees is a sign he doesn't expect any funds because ticket sales will be low whilst he remains in place.

In everyday business when things run poorly a 3rd party expert comes in to run the rule over what's been going on and advises of changes and where its gone wrong. How I'd love for that right now. Someone brutal and honest like Roy Keane giving an opinion on what has developed, so long as the owners would actually take notice and do something with it.

Tugay no brainer, class act throughout.

Samba, Pederson,  Duff and Freidel.

Then Santa Cruz, Henchoz and Nelson.

I think Berg deserves a place but perhaps his short stint as manager tarnished his legacy.

I did also rate Givet for his bravery no nonsense style and the Yak although maybe not his best days with us but was a beast of a forward.

If non England and we consider UK Robbie Savage was an entertainer. Horrible to play against but great to have in your team.

Our only hope is the players frankly turn around and say fuck off Tony to which a hurting father feels he cannot go on and finally does what's right for all involved.

The next chapter will be who is next but I'm prepared to live that trauma just to see this chapter end.

It's like a bad novel you have to read to pass your exams. You can't bear to read or hear another word but not seeing it through is not an option to get the answers you need at the exam. 

I've never experienced Japanese water torture but could there be a modern day alternative not yet realised? TM press conferences....

I can only imagine what the owners must think after a few days of him in India each summer. No wonder they don't come over and I imagine there chickens make more sense!

I don't even get the high intensity argument. Does it really take a professional till April playing a condensed season with 2 to 3 games a week before they realise high intensity would tail off without the luxury of a second string team as good as the first team?

Then I have to agree with the comments that we've just had an international break where even those called up didn't play a lot of football if at all.

To top it off, I'm not sure I would compare our game to high intensity. Is passing back and sideways with no penetration just to keep possession regarded high intensity? 

I like many call it dross. Call me nostalgic but given what we've done this year I'd rather get Graham out of retirement for the last few games and see if Tyrhys could get on his knockdowns, recall Charlie from his old firm party and see if he can chip in with some much needed goals from set pieces.

A long shot but hopefully Mr Harvey will put in a good word at Sunderland and Croney Mowbray will fancy a shorter commute. After all, he has league 1 promotion on his CV!

Id literally take anything just to hear something different and a chance of seeing something different. You cant even make out Tony's face on my dartboard anymore.....

This man is ruining my life. might sound extreme but literally every word just itches my shit. 

I can't put into words how angry I am with how this croney has been allowed to get away with this for so long. Friends in high places I get but this has gone on for far too long, there are no shoots of recovery, it's a new excuse every week and yet nothing is done about it.

I want to hear the squad is in on their day off to go back over what they worked on all week in the build up to this game. The fact its this usual run of excuses just tells me we head in blind and hence we come out the way we do. I read before he doesn't work on set pieces and yet again it's the difference. We create nothing from ours and concede the match winner from one.

Calling for the honourable man to do his thing is wasted, calling for the club to do it seems wasted, it really is as depressing as it gets being passionate about something you cannot control or effect. Sounds crazy but I genuinely believe the right Manager would get a tune out of this group and yet at this rate we will never know as it will be broken and disbanded maybe even a division lower by time we ever get the change that is so clear to everyone.

Nicky Butt left United today. Always had a solid reputation with developing younger players, a winner as a player, local to the area albeit lacking experience. 

Certainly the statement reads like there is something lined up on the horizon...

3 hours ago, OldEwoodBlue said:

Did you endorse him for any of the listed skills 🤣

I don't know the stats but over the last 12 months or so I think we often win or draw with JRC in the team. It's not something I particularly look for but just something I've noticed.

I'm not against Nyambe, I like him as a player too but just seeing some of the comments about JRC I thought I'd mention.  Not disagreeing about the injuries but there's not many of the squad you wouldn't say have missed a chunk of game time would you? With the exception of Kaminski, Lenihan, Dolan, Rothwell and Armstrong I think most have had decent stints out at least one, most more.  I've left off Bell as he's the one player I think is completely out of place in the league we are in

7 hours ago, Ulrich said:

Travel to the UK from India, is actually possible at present, according to the government website. 14 days quarantine is required, so he could actually be here. Please Pasha sack them all ASAP 👍

Even if he couldn't enter the UK, so long as the phones are working that's all we need. Sack him by carrier pigeon for all I care, just get the goon out before he does any more damage e.g leaving the rest of the squad sidelined for next season

Brereton has ability, he shows it in glimpses and was a really good player for England at youth level before we signed him. Some time has passed and we've not seen it consistently but in the same way we talk about Nyambe and Travis there is a common denominator in all of this hence the title of the thread.

As mentioned a few posts above, Coyle got a tune from Gallagher, through the middle. Everyone knows strikers live off confidence, how as a striker do you feel when the Manager picks you to play on the wing. Gallagher is not a winger and never will be and his confidence as a striker must be shot. He proved he can score goals during the loan season and he was younger and less experienced. 

Both have a long way to go to be top championship players but with time and the right approach...

In my opinion both can do a job if given a consistent run in the right position and the right system but to get that confidence they need a fresh face at the top that gives that clean slate.

Of course we will never know unless something changes at the top.

6 hours ago, LeftWinger said:

These figures are slightly skewed due to Mowbray getting a season in League One, but these are the win percentages of all Venky's permanent appointments:

Mowbray - 41.3%

Lambert - 36.4%

Bowyer - 35.9%

Coyle - 29.7%

Kean - 28.4%

Appleton - 26.7%

Berg - 10%

Some absolute shockers there. Mowbray's win percentage actually drops to 36% when you take out the League One campaign, so he's in the Lambert/Bowyer territory.

Not backing TM in any way but worth noting he's got a squad that's come back up, the others were in the opposite direction. You could argue better quality coming from Prem compared to League 1 but you could also argue momentum was with the team after promotion when the others were dealing with a slide.

Either way another poor start although Brentford were very well organised and getting back in numbers, credit for the subs at half time but its too late.

I saw someone saying they were a curse that whenever they watch Rovers on tele they lose, truth is its just that we regularly do lose and on Sky its almost guaranteed 

Another attempt to find his best eleven.....