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Post by jdl on Mar 14, 2019 13:04:52 GMT
Expectations are our problem. After 3 in 4, we thought we were the Bee's Goolies and could do anything, but the NL was a harsh wake up call. The reality is that we are a top NS/bottome NL club (which most of us would have sold their grannies for a few years back). We need a season or two back in non-league to enjoy our football and rebuild. Then back to the NL, with realistic expectations this time - survive, consolidate, improve gates, improve ground, and no daft EFL thoughts until we're really ready. (After our NL experience, does anyone really want to be in the EFL?!) We've got massive potential, but it needs time to develop. Let's relax and enjoy the journey. I would also assume that if the owners do have their sights on FL status as a target in the long term, some sensible, and sustainable adaptation to the current business model would be required involving serious 3rd party investment in some form. However, from a personal point of view I am conflicted, on the one hand I want the Stones to be successful, and climb the ladder as far as they can, and on the other, I prefer watching non-league football, and the sense of freedom that goes with it. For me, the season the Stones last won the Conference, was far more enjoyable then the next, the first season in the 4th division. Being trapped in an extremely small caged pen at one end of Cambridge United's ground, watching a leg of a League Cup 1st round match pretty much summed up League football for me. To be fair, Cambridge was the extreme, though. Other grounds were OK, and I enjoyed that first 'home' season - apart from just missing out on promotion! As for progress/development at JWW, we're in a bit of a catch-22, because, although I think 3,000+ gates are achievable in the NL, we're not going to get the really big crowds until we're in the EFL, and probably not until we're established there and a true rival to the Gills. So, trying to develop the club just on gate receipts, sponsorship, etc is going to be slow at the very best - more likely, any extra gate income will be absorbed by the playing budget. And the fabled 'third investor' seems as unlikely now as it ever did (which really highlights how lucky we were to 'find' T&O). And I'm sure I'm not alone in being wary of some Billy Big Bollocks buying T&O out and trying to fulfil his fan fantasy by spunking millions on us (until the inevitable happens). Which leaves us with slow and careful. I can see the river side stand being built, as that won't cost too much and will be revenue earning (not now, perhaps, but when we're back in the NL), but not much else. The crunch will come when we do finally make it to the EFL - that will need some serious spending. Which means either the 'third investor' is found, or T&O have to sink even more of their money into the club. The reality is that we have what it takes to be a successful NL club, but that step up to the EFL is a lot bigger than, I think, most of us realised. So that might have to wait a while - perhaps quite a long while.
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Post by sword65 on Mar 14, 2019 13:23:05 GMT
I would also assume that if the owners do have their sights on FL status as a target in the long term, some sensible, and sustainable adaptation to the current business model would be required involving serious 3rd party investment in some form. However, from a personal point of view I am conflicted, on the one hand I want the Stones to be successful, and climb the ladder as far as they can, and on the other, I prefer watching non-league football, and the sense of freedom that goes with it. For me, the season the Stones last won the Conference, was far more enjoyable then the next, the first season in the 4th division. Being trapped in an extremely small caged pen at one end of Cambridge United's ground, watching a leg of a League Cup 1st round match pretty much summed up League football for me. To be fair, Cambridge was the extreme, though. Other grounds were OK, and I enjoyed that first 'home' season - apart from just missing out on promotion! As for progress/development at JWW, we're in a bit of a catch-22, because, although I think 3,000+ gates are achievable in the NL, we're not going to get the really big crowds until we're in the EFL, and probably not until we're established there and a true rival to the Gills. So, trying to develop the club just on gate receipts, sponsorship, etc is going to be slow at the very best - more likely, any extra gate income will be absorbed by the playing budget. And the fabled 'third investor' seems as unlikely now as it ever did (which really highlights how lucky we were to 'find' T&O). And I'm sure I'm not alone in being wary of some Billy Big Bollocks buying T&O out and trying to fulfil his fan fantasy by spunking millions on us (until the inevitable happens). Which leaves us with slow and careful. I can see the river side stand being built, as that won't cost too much and will be revenue earning (not now, perhaps, but when we're back in the NL), but not much else. The crunch will come when we do finally make it to the EFL - that will need some serious spending. Which means either the 'third investor' is found, or T&O have to sink even more of their money into the club. The reality is that we have what it takes to be a successful NL club, but that step up to the EFL is a lot bigger than, I think, most of us realised. So that might have to wait a while - perhaps quite a long while. Isn't it time you realised that we are not going to get in the EFL with a 3G pitch and until T&O accept that and remove it then the EFL dreams that 99% of this clubs supporters have are just that ,dreams,and like most dreams unlikely to happen
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Post by jdl on Mar 14, 2019 14:01:06 GMT
To be fair, Cambridge was the extreme, though. Other grounds were OK, and I enjoyed that first 'home' season - apart from just missing out on promotion! As for progress/development at JWW, we're in a bit of a catch-22, because, although I think 3,000+ gates are achievable in the NL, we're not going to get the really big crowds until we're in the EFL, and probably not until we're established there and a true rival to the Gills. So, trying to develop the club just on gate receipts, sponsorship, etc is going to be slow at the very best - more likely, any extra gate income will be absorbed by the playing budget. And the fabled 'third investor' seems as unlikely now as it ever did (which really highlights how lucky we were to 'find' T&O). And I'm sure I'm not alone in being wary of some Billy Big Bollocks buying T&O out and trying to fulfil his fan fantasy by spunking millions on us (until the inevitable happens). Which leaves us with slow and careful. I can see the river side stand being built, as that won't cost too much and will be revenue earning (not now, perhaps, but when we're back in the NL), but not much else. The crunch will come when we do finally make it to the EFL - that will need some serious spending. Which means either the 'third investor' is found, or T&O have to sink even more of their money into the club. The reality is that we have what it takes to be a successful NL club, but that step up to the EFL is a lot bigger than, I think, most of us realised. So that might have to wait a while - perhaps quite a long while. Isn't it time you realised that we are not going to get in the EFL with a 3G pitch and until T&O accept that and remove it then the EFL dreams that 99% of this clubs supporters have are just that ,dreams,and like most dreams unlikely to happen By the time we are ready to join the EFL, they may well have allowed 3G pitches! But ours will have needed to be replaced before then, anyway, so, you never know...
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Post by sword65 on Mar 14, 2019 16:14:55 GMT
Isn't it time you realised that we are not going to get in the EFL with a 3G pitch and until T&O accept that and remove it then the EFL dreams that 99% of this clubs supporters have are just that ,dreams,and like most dreams unlikely to happen By the time we are ready to join the EFL, they may well have allowed 3G pitches! But ours will have needed to be replaced before then, anyway, so, you never know... Do you not think it suspicious that Sutton and Harrogate are slowly sliding out of the play off zone because they would rather have the income that 3G brings in than the huge expenditure of replacing it with grass. Many football association's across Europe are considering banning 3G on H&S grounds and a friend of mine told me that 2 Finnish teams cannot get liability insurance with 3G surfaces so how long before that spreads to every country or insurance premiums amount to more than the income. I am sorry to be an old bore,pessimist or anything else you want to call me but I just cannot see it happening the EFL will tow the premier league line and will never accept it.
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Post by pedant on Mar 14, 2019 16:30:55 GMT
To be fair, Cambridge was the extreme, though. Other grounds were OK, and I enjoyed that first 'home' season - apart from just missing out on promotion! As for progress/development at JWW, we're in a bit of a catch-22, because, although I think 3,000+ gates are achievable in the NL, we're not going to get the really big crowds until we're in the EFL, and probably not until we're established there and a true rival to the Gills. So, trying to develop the club just on gate receipts, sponsorship, etc is going to be slow at the very best - more likely, any extra gate income will be absorbed by the playing budget. And the fabled 'third investor' seems as unlikely now as it ever did (which really highlights how lucky we were to 'find' T&O). And I'm sure I'm not alone in being wary of some Billy Big Bollocks buying T&O out and trying to fulfil his fan fantasy by spunking millions on us (until the inevitable happens). Which leaves us with slow and careful. I can see the river side stand being built, as that won't cost too much and will be revenue earning (not now, perhaps, but when we're back in the NL), but not much else. The crunch will come when we do finally make it to the EFL - that will need some serious spending. Which means either the 'third investor' is found, or T&O have to sink even more of their money into the club. The reality is that we have what it takes to be a successful NL club, but that step up to the EFL is a lot bigger than, I think, most of us realised. So that might have to wait a while - perhaps quite a long while. Isn't it time you realised that we are not going to get in the EFL with a 3G pitch and until T&O accept that and remove it then the EFL dreams that 99% of this clubs supporters have are just that ,dreams,and like most dreams unlikely to happen I don't have that 'dream' and - keeping the sums simple - I think there are far more than 29 other Stones' supporters with a similar view that would indicate your 99% is yet another 'dream'.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2019 16:36:59 GMT
With regard to Maidstone's possible climb to FL promotion in what will probably be many years to come, if at all, I think the 3G aspect of this discussion could be somewhat irrelevant. a) As jdl states, "By the time we are ready to join the EFL, they may well have allowed 3G pitches!", and b) a serious adaptation of the business model, as it currently stands, will almost certainly be required anyway, and might result in it being scrapped altogether.
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Post by sword65 on Mar 14, 2019 18:59:52 GMT
Isn't it time you realised that we are not going to get in the EFL with a 3G pitch and until T&O accept that and remove it then the EFL dreams that 99% of this clubs supporters have are just that ,dreams,and like most dreams unlikely to happen I don't have that 'dream' and - keeping the sums simple - I think there are far more than 29 other Stones' supporters with a similar view that would indicate your 99% is yet another 'dream'.
Well as Shamstone has pointed out elsewhere my maths Is a bit iffy these days .
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Post by jdl on Mar 14, 2019 22:59:54 GMT
Isn't it time you realised that we are not going to get in the EFL with a 3G pitch and until T&O accept that and remove it then the EFL dreams that 99% of this clubs supporters have are just that ,dreams,and like most dreams unlikely to happen I don't have that 'dream' and - keeping the sums simple - I think there are far more than 29 other Stones' supporters with a similar view that would indicate your 99% is yet another 'dream'.
LLCoolJ, please!
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Post by sword65 on Mar 15, 2019 2:15:36 GMT
Just been listening to HH and his post match interview. HIs commentary and analysis is just so depressing, it feels like the message to supporters is to give up and write off the rest of the season. HH said that we were denied 2 penalties for fouls on Amalozur,sorry Hakan I've just seen the highlights and both were ridiculous dives and he thoroughly deserved his booking. First half highlights showed we did absolutely nothing apart from concede but second half it looked like we at least tried. A cracking second goal from Eastleigh you just don't stop them .
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Post by hammerstone on Mar 15, 2019 6:58:19 GMT
HH out. Heard it here first.
After we get absolutely stuffed today, i presume he will blame:
1. Injuries 2. The group still gelling yet and still need time 3. Marshy not drumming to a rhytym comfortable with the players 4. The seats are too cold 5. Thinking about 6 nations results
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Post by Better things to do in life on Mar 15, 2019 9:09:22 GMT
HH out. Heard it here first. After we get absolutely stuffed today, i presume he will blame: 1. Injuries 2. The group still gelling yet and still need time 3. Marshy not drumming to a rhytym comfortable with the players 4. The seats are too cold 5. Thinking about 6 nations results Indeed! HH out and JS1 back under the mentorship of JS2. Dream Team!
And that's where it will stay - a dream - as JS1 will stay at Margate and unlikely to return to JWW unless owners change. So, on that basis who would replace HH?
Like him or not, Hakan is John Stills man and they came as a package - so if its in JS(2) we trust, we must also trust in Hakan.
Maybe he should just stop doing the interviews!
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Post by 61666 on Mar 15, 2019 9:13:53 GMT
Didn't deserve to win, but have lost count of the number of significant refereeing errors against us this season. The first penalty shout - you see them given all the time. He feels a push in the back and goes down. They all do it, so win some lose some, except we don't get any, except the one at Braintree. Second one, again you see them given, but not surprised it wasn't. As for the tackle on Phillips, how could it not at least be a foul? Probable yellow, possible red. These things change matches, but little, if anything has gone in our favour this year. Rescinded red cards after the damage had been done the only sop to our case. We have the worst disciplinary record in the league, yet compared to the strangling, shirt pulling and wrestling we suffer on a weekly basis, there is no way we are a dirty side, or even a robust one. Naive more like, or, as we have heard before, simply not good or savvy enough for this league.
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Post by porkystone on Mar 15, 2019 9:22:09 GMT
HH out. Heard it here first. [/p] Maybe he should just stop doing the interviews!
[/quote] That's probably the answer. It would be refreshing if someone gave an interview and just dodged the clichés, said something like - ' We're left with a shite bunch of players nowhere near the level required for this league, there is no structure to the squad, panic & ego based recruitment ruled, see you all @ Concord next year ' .
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Post by pedant on Mar 15, 2019 10:58:56 GMT
HH out. Heard it here first. After we get absolutely stuffed today, i presume he will blame: 1. Injuries 2. The group still gelling yet and still need time 3. Marshy not drumming to a rhytym comfortable with the players 4. The seats are too cold 5. Thinking about 6 nations results I know a number of posters can't wait for the season to be over but having us play two games in 24 hours is a bit extreme
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Post by hammerstone on Mar 15, 2019 11:24:18 GMT
HH out. Heard it here first. After we get absolutely stuffed today, i presume he will blame: 1. Injuries 2. The group still gelling yet and still need time 3. Marshy not drumming to a rhytym comfortable with the players 4. The seats are too cold 5. Thinking about 6 nations results I know a number of posters can't wait for the season to be over but having us play two games in 24 hours is a bit extreme [br In my defence I was two sheets to the wind last night and all the days blur into one much like our season. Imagine watching us twice in 24 hours, it would be the equivalent to being water boarded ]
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