Match Day April 11th games

[Imp in Branston]

Well done Imps, now come join us*. While last nights results were obviously very disappointing for the Tranmere fans, this also means that it won't go down to the last day, so plenty of time left to prepare for the play offs. Which is a much more ideal scenario than losing the title on the final day.

*surely it's over now?

It's Lincoln, when do we do things easy?

 

[Mark kavanagh]

I would recommend to all Tranmere fans that they check out last entry (by Jokerman) on page 4 of the Tranmere game thread on the FGR forum.
http://forum.fgrfc.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=80772&start=60
Brilliantly funny game review and not offensive to our opponents.

Also there is also another post that I fully agree with:
"What a classy club. Outgoing, knowledgable supporters who really welcome their visitors.
All except one idiot who threw a stone or something equally hard at the coach just after leaving the ground."

If it was peas sized it was his brain mate

 

[RLC]

I should add, despite me regularly taking exception to the FGR model, I find their fans to be a great bunch. Met a few in the tent last year and this year too. They were noisy too, considering their numbers. As a result, I'm a bit confused as to how I feel about that club!

Yes, they are a friendly lot. It was good to see so many youngsters in the away end yesterday as well, which is unusual these days.

While we did not deserve to lose, you would have to say that FGR defended very well even if a lot of it was last-ditch stuff. The majority of teams at this level would have crumbled with the amount of pressure we put them under. I was impressed with Tilt in particular.

I am not as disappointed as a lot of our supporters, as I half expected the result. It was always highly unlikely we were going to win ten or eleven in a row, just due to the footballing law of averages. It is important the manager and players keep their heads now and we carry our current form into the play-offs.

 

[FGR Stroud]

If it was peas sized it was his brain mate

Please elaborate.
I don't have a clue what you are on about.

 

[Mark kavanagh]

I should add, despite me regularly taking exception to the FGR model, I find their fans to be a great bunch. Met a few in the tent last year and this year too. They were noisy too, considering their numbers. As a result, I'm a bit confused as to how I feel about that club!

Ive not really met one set of bad supporters this year mate, all have elements, wrexham more then most but supporters in this division seem cool enough

 

[Mark kavanagh]

Please elaborate.
I don't have a clue what you are on about.

The object that was chucked at the fgr coach

 

[FGR Stroud]

The object that was chucked at the fgr coach

Thanks

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Yes, they are a friendly lot. It was good to see so many youngsters in the away end yesterday as well, which is unusual these days...

We're lucky that a bunch of lads have taken to the club and make a real effort to get to a lot of the aways, seen some of them on every trip I've been this season and I've only missed a couple myself. We had a discussion with the supporters' club to keep the prices low to travel for lads over 16 (old concession cut off point I think) but still in education etc who would otherwise have struggled to afford it. It's one of those things that makes you think Dv's idea of expandiing the fan base might not be complete pie-in-the-sky - the ambassador's thing in local schools is hooking victims even younger too.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

It's not over.. just a lot less likely.

A lot depends on whether Gateshead, Macclesfield and Maidstone have anything riding on their games. At the same time.. losing Harris means I'm not as confident about us beating Aldershot. If we win then we are guaranteed third as a minimum. Don't think it particularly matters who we are playing. Play our best and we win, fail to take chances and we probably lose.

 

[Boz]

Really? I haven't been this confident about our future in a long time, regardless of which division we're playing in. There's not a chance that Mark Palios will have gambled on promotion and they'll be plans in place should we not get promoted this season or the next. With the strong end to the season, ticket sales should increase, off field revenue is constantly on the up and we have owners who actually listen to what the fans want. Playing at this level may be shit, the officiating is dreadful and almost everything about it is tinpot, but I've enjoyed this season a hell of a lot more than the consecutive relegations!

When the Palioi came in Mark was talking of being in the Championship in 5 years, instead of which we dropped out of the FL in their first season. I don't think they've the financial muscle of a Peter Johnson, who may still be backing behind the scenes. The off-field activity has improved our finances, while the quality of the football under Mellon is a significant improvement and if we stay in the NL I'd expect season ticket numbers to hold steady in the expectation of a strong title challenge next season. However if we don't go up next season, how much longer will the Palioi give it?

One defeat and Tranmere fans are already talking about plans for next season? Steady on lads, it's still all to play for. Torquay won't be easy on Friday and Gateshead away on Monday is our toughest game left.

Neither will Aldershot or Guiseley. I think, particularly after the Macclesfield Trophy semi defeat and the succession of missed penalties in league games that there isn't much confidence in our play-off prospects and by not getting anything out of the Forest Green game, we're no longer so well-placed to take advantage in the unlikely event of an unlikely Lincoln implosion.

The big picture for us is that we still have the best infrastructure at this level or the level above and there are significant plans behind the scenes that could turn us into a Championship club again, it just requires the small matter of regaining our league status to put into action.

I can't lay any blame at the feet of Mickey Mellon, we'd be at least 4 points better off had he been in charge all season. The switch of formation was entirely enforced by losing our best player and two other promising wingers to injury, he has done a fantastic job in building that formation to be a dominant force, getting the best out of our two full backs.

Having heard a more in depth reason behind Cook being dropped, I'm fully behind it and expect that Andy Cook will be a better player for it long term.

Are you able to say any more on the Cook situation?

 

[GTFCfish]

We're lucky that a bunch of top lads have taken to the club and make a real effort to get to a lot of the aways.

You missed a word from your post, corrected it for you.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Are you able to say any more on the Cook situation?

It's tactical/fitness related and the explanation given did make sense. Mickey has a very specific game plan which they use sports science to help them with. Although Cookie was scoring goals he was viewed as a little bit of a weak link in the game plan. A full pre season will change that and that's why I said he'll be a better player for it. An athletic Andy Cook would be a terrifying prospect for NL or L2 defences.

 

[RLC]

When the Palioi came in Mark was talking of being in the Championship in 5 years, instead of which we dropped out of the FL in their first season. I don't think they've the financial muscle of a Peter Johnson, who may still be backing behind the scenes. The off-field activity has improved our finances, while the quality of the football under Mellon is a significant improvement and if we stay in the NL I'd expect season ticket numbers to hold steady in the expectation of a strong title challenge next season. However if we don't go up next season, how much longer will the Palioi give it?

Palios said prior to the Wrexham game that if we don't go up next season, we will go again in 2018-19 with a similar budget and the same ambition. He actually said he wanted to be in League One in five years, not the Championship, but has been deliberately misquoted by people being mischievous. Even if we don't reach that target, it is good that the club now has tangible goals to aim towards.

Palios is not going anywhere any time soon, and even if he did leave the infrastructure he has put in place has made us far stronger as a club. The upgraded suites and commercial facilities will still be in place whoever has the title 'Chairman' and will continue to generate income. Palios paid £500,000 to acquire the club and has not put a penny in since.

Peter Johnson is not 'bankrolling' us any more either (I don't know where you get some of this stuff from), so his situation is irrelevant.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Palios said prior to the Wrexham game that if we don't go up next season, we will go again in 2018-19 with a similar budget and the same ambition. He actually said he wanted to be in League One in five years, not the Championship, but has been deliberately misquoted by people being mischievous. Even if we don't reach that target, it is good that the club now has tangible goals to aim towards.

Palios is not going anywhere any time soon, and even if he did leave the infrastructure he has put in place has made us far stronger as a club. The upgraded suites and commercial facilities will still be in place whoever has the title 'Chairman' and will continue to generate income. Palios paid £500,000 to acquire the club and has not put a penny in since.

Peter Johnson is not 'bankrolling' us any more either (I don't know where you get some of this stuff from), so his situation is irrelevant.

[/QUOTE]
PJ has been giving short term cash flow loans I have been told, in particular in January/February when we had a severe lack of home games.

 

[RLC]

Fair enough, but the thrust of what I am saying is still correct.

Also, there is a difference between a short term loan which is quickly repaid and longer term debt.

 

[Boz]

Palios said prior to the Wrexham game that if we don't go up next season, we will go again in 2018-19 with a similar budget and the same ambition. He actually said he wanted to be in League One in five years, not the Championship, but has been deliberately misquoted by people being mischievous.


Peter Johnson is not 'bankrolling' us any more either (I don't know where you get some of this stuff from), so his situation is irrelevant.

Please re-read what I said, no mention of bank-rolling by PJ. While I didn't know as much as Tranmerewhite, had heard that Johnson still had limited involvement as a kind of safety net.

As Mark Palios took over when we were a L2 side, to only aspire to L1 status 5 years from that point would have seemed rather a low threshold of ambition! I didn't hear personally lthe remarks at the time regarding Championship aspirations.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Please re-read what I said, no mention of bank-rolling by PJ. While I didn't know as much as Tranmerewhite, had heard that Johnson still had limited involvement as a kind of safety net.

As Mark Palios took over when we were a L2 side, to only aspire to L1 status 5 years from that point would have seemed rather a low threshold of ambition! I didn't hear personally lthe remarks at the time regarding Championship aspirations.

I thought it was a 5 year plan to get Champions League.. Toni Kroos wouldn't know what hit him with Jay Harris.

 

[GTFCfish]

I thought it was a 5 year plan to get Champions League.. Toni Kroos wouldn't know what hit him with Jay Harris.

No that is FGR's 5 year plan.

#EnglishHoffenheim

 

[Tranmerewhite]

No that is FGR's 5 year plan.

#EnglishHoffenheim

I'm sure the PL would love FGR vs Bournemouth on a wet Tuesday infront of 3,100 people.

 

[RLC]

Please re-read what I said, no mention of bank-rolling by PJ. While I didn't know as much as Tranmerewhite, had heard that Johnson still had limited involvement as a kind of safety net.

As Mark Palios took over when we were a L2 side, to only aspire to L1 status 5 years from that point would have seemed rather a low threshold of ambition! I didn't hear personally lthe remarks at the time regarding Championship aspirations.

'They don't have the financial muscle of Peter Johnson, who is still backing behind the scenes' can be interpreted very differently.

When we were relegated to the Conference, Palios said he wanted to leave the club at least one level higher than when he inherited it, ie. League One. That comment has been deliberately misinterpreted by some people as 'we must be in The Championship within five years'.

 

[Boz]

'They don't have the financial muscle of Peter Johnson, who MAY STILL BE backing behind the scenes' can be interpreted very differently.

When we were relegated to the Conference, Palios said he wanted to leave the club at least one level higher than when he inherited it, ie. League One. That comment has been deliberately misinterpreted by some people as 'we must be in The Championship within five years'.

If you're going to quote me at least do so accurately. I have corrected the quote to what I actually said! I don't think it's in dispute that Johnson is wealthier than the Palioi and I'd heard without knowing the detail that he still had some involvement. If it's in the manner described, that is by no means a bad thing.

When I've got the time, will try and see if can find out what was actually reported as being said when the Palioi bought the club.

 

[RLC]

He never said we would be in the Championship in five years, trust me.

 

[Reginald Fodstain]

All not relevant whilst we're stuck in non-league I'm afraid.