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Post by daveu on Oct 19, 2022 9:41:28 GMT
The over-reaction to our current situation by some fans is mind-boggling. We all knew this season would be tough, most fans knew in our hearts that too many of the NLS squad would struggle. Just try and enjoy the ride in the National League. A few years ago the thought of playing Notts County away was a dream. I think many fans (esp some on Facebook) need some perspective. Just my view. I am on the same page. It's like some thank a team isn't allowed to struggle. That's sport. Wrong decisions are made all the time. What does a fan of a perennial mid-table team think - do they enjoy the game week after week, winning some but losing more? I said right back when we were discussing "next season" in the summer that the biggest thing would be managing expectations and sticking with the team through the bad patches. I expected the usual gobshites on the Facebook forum to kick off - but they are the Premier League generation. some of the older hands have surprised me though. Facebook wasn't the worst. One Twitter moron got himself blocked by Oliver after calling him a frog eating c*** and telling him to f*** off out of the club.
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Post by sword65 on Oct 19, 2022 9:56:12 GMT
I am on the same page. It's like some thank a team isn't allowed to struggle. That's sport. Wrong decisions are made all the time.Ā What does a fan of a perennial mid-table team think - do they enjoy the game week after week, winning some but losing more? I said right back when we were discussing "next season" in the summer that the biggest thing would be managing expectations and sticking with the team through the bad patches. I expected the usual gobshites on the Facebook forum to kick off - but they are the Premier League generation. some of the older hands have surprised me though. Facebook wasn't the worst. One Twitter moron got himself blocked by Oliver after calling him a frog eating c*** and telling him to f*** off out of the club. Unbelievable Jeff!š¤¬ I was once asked by Terry and Oliver, whilst sitting in an almost deserted club bar at Ashford,what future I wanted for the club. I replied that I wanted my club back in Maidstone and aguarantee that every other Saturday there would be a game to watch. I told them I didn't care what league we were in just want to us home. This was one week before they bought out PBB and began building the dream. Whatever my views of them personally I cannot and will not fault them for doing exactly as I asked at a personal cost to themselves of Ā£millions. Way back then I was one of just about 300 regular supporters living the dream whereas some of our more vocal newbies have never wanted for anything,it's been there all the time for them ,they've been spoilt. Should they ultimately be responsible for Terry and Olivers departure and a possible downfall of this great club it will hurt me and hurt you whereas they will just move on to a different club and try to bring them down as well.
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Post by fleetphil on Oct 19, 2022 10:03:31 GMT
I think all the old heads new what to expect, survival..... anything else is a bonus. What they don't expect is players not giving 100% effort, I've not seen any of your games but, going by some of the posts the effort for whatever reason doesn't seem to be happening. A couple of wins can soon change things, and I know at the moment you wonder where that will come from as confidence is obviously low. I'm hopeful you will stay up, which I think you will, I also hope we get promoted so it's another easier game to get to for me. As you get older the longer journeys seem further than ever, and I now limit myself to about 2 hours max travelling time, and that's as a passenger in a car. So the NL has far more longer journeys, many of which I won't do now, and I'm not really interested enough to go and watch other local games. While it's nice to see, and be in a higher league losing each week is not much fun, and spending money doesn't mean automatic success, ( and I should know ) but backing when moving up a league, normally means spending but, if you don't have the resources you have to go with what you have, and hope for the best, and injuries to key players make a massive difference if you can't go out and buy a replacement within your means. Most of us stalwarts have seen it all before, but win, lose, or draw, we will be back the next game.
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Post by daveu on Oct 19, 2022 12:52:44 GMT
For what it's worth Phil, I don't believe the effort or desire is lacking although it may look that way to fans. What we clearly have, regardless of what some people think, is a squad totally devoid of confidence. You only have to look back at our game at yours last season to see how quickly that can turn around. I think we'll be playing you again next season, and not because we've been relegated. Looking forward to derbies against you and Gillingham.
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Post by Andy on Oct 19, 2022 13:46:24 GMT
The human mind is a complex entity.
Take daveu's carefully considered utterance that Stones will be playing both Ebbsfleet and Gillingham next season.
Not in any league match we won't.
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Post by Nick on Oct 19, 2022 13:50:40 GMT
It sounds bonkers Ian, but it shows something about the human spirit.
Despite all the evidence to the contrary and forgetting any leftover logic, daveu 'believes' we will avoid relegation.
The triumph of hopeless optimism over inevitability.
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Post by jackster on Oct 19, 2022 13:54:19 GMT
Who-ever would have though it last Summer?
Only mid October and we are 'staring down the barrel'.
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Post by Dickie on Oct 19, 2022 14:02:05 GMT
In some ways it is hard to believe (although I do believe it), but Oliver has declared that the club's playing budget this season is near enough 50% greater than last season.
Just goes to show that dosh is not a motivator.
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Post by butlerisalegend on Oct 19, 2022 14:12:19 GMT
In some ways it is hard to believe (although I do believe it), but Oliver has declared that the club's playing budget this season is near enough 50% greater than last season. Just goes to show that dosh is not a motivator. Trouble is I assume every player last season would have a healthy increase this season for a start off!!
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Post by Rob on Oct 19, 2022 15:15:05 GMT
Moat of us have had to settle for a pay increase nearer 5% than 50% !
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Post by 1018 on Oct 19, 2022 15:28:34 GMT
I think that maybe there are more players to pay. Just looked at the 1st Team photos on the Stones website & there are 24 player photos. Strangely there is no mention/photo of Gurung, Mersin & Cawley. Assuming that this is an oversight then we currently have 27 players on the books (including loanees & Walters who is on loan to Herne Bay).
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Post by yorkshirestone on Oct 19, 2022 15:47:22 GMT
For what it's worth Phil, I don't believe the effort or desire is lacking although it may look that way to fans. What we clearly have, regardless of what some people think, is a squad totally devoid of confidence. You only have to look back at our game at yours last season to see how quickly that can turn around. I think we'll be playing you again next season, and not because we've been relegated. Looking forward to derbies against you and Gillingham. Belief and personal resilience are the key in my opinion - skill is a helpful addition, but having a manager who can spot what a player can do, and then blend that from the full 11 on the pitch into a winning formula is the essence of a team that is greater than the sum of its parts. Leeds United under Marcelo Bielsa was a brilliant example of this. Failed play-off contenders in the Championship, to EFL Champions the following season and then a comfortable 9th place in the Premier League with the bulk of the first team over that period coming from a squad assembled by his predecessor. Yes there were a couple of marquee signings, but look at the bulk of that team and you'll see academy products and decent journeymen. The key was the coach and his ability to spot ability, harness enthusiasm and confidence and above all made sure everyone bought into it. Ok, so in the end his downfall was his unwillingness to compromise his values, and move away from his all out attack, but at the moment I think we'd be happy enough with a few George Graham performances, I'd take a dozen 1-0 wins from this point on for the rest of the season.
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Post by daveu on Oct 19, 2022 18:19:08 GMT
It sounds bonkers Ian, but it shows something about the human spirit. Despite all the evidence to the contrary and forgetting any leftover logic, daveu 'believes' we will avoid relegation. The triumph of hopeless optimism over inevitability. It's only October. Nothing is inevitable this early in the season.
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Post by Nick on Oct 19, 2022 20:10:10 GMT
Only kidding ! But for me its up in the air, I can't share your confidence. Anyhow, on a positive note, Stones Facebook Group, notoriously critical, is showing very strong support for Hak with a In or Out poll.
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Post by daveu on Oct 19, 2022 21:21:42 GMT
Only kidding ! But for me its up in the air, I can't share your confidence. Anyhow, on a positive note, Stones Facebook Group, notoriously critical, is showing very strong support for Hak with a In or Out poll. I'd hazard a guess the person who posted the poll isn't getting the result they were looking for.
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