Henfield One
Well-known member
- Aug 5, 2003
- 459
1. A Manager that motivates me as a supporter - including the occasional outburst, with measured passion exuding in the technical area etc.
- Sorry but it's a big NO. (Oh for an Alan Mullery or a Chris Cattlin....)
2. A Team that includes a 'wonder' player - a Peter Ward, a Bobby Zamora, a Vicente - someone that excites the crowd every time they are on the ball.
- Sorry but it's a big NO. (LuaLua comes close though to be fair).
3. A striker that scores goals regularly - goals win games, goals bring in supporters, sound defences don't (refer to Mike Bailey).
- Sorry but it's a big NO.
4. Stewards that are friendly and welcoming.
- Definitely it's a big YES.
5. Catering that is decent and plentiful.
- Sorry but it's a big NO (ESU - no hot dogs, few pies, few burgers at 3.45pm).
6. A catering that is fast and efficient.
- Sorry but it's a big NO (ESU - poor English speaker, slow, didn't know how to operate till etc).
7. A transport system that is fast and efficient.
- Definitely it's a big YES.
8. A comfortable (award winning) stadium with decent banter/supporters.
- Definitely it's a big YES.
9. A generous Chairman that is Albion through & through.
- Definitely it's a big YES.
10. A Club that looks to the future and is innovative in its thinking/strategy.
- Definitely it's a big YES (New Training Ground, possible hotel, Young Seagulls etc).
The Club scores 5 out of 10. Could do better I guess.......
Some other thoughts/concerns:
- Of course, we have no divine right to win every game or be in the top 6. Other Clubs are in a far worse state than us. Maybe our expectations are set too high? Yes - but ask yourself who set them so high? The Board. Premiership Ready. It's all that is talked about. We are setting ourselves up for one hell of a fall if we fail.
- Loan strikers : Obika, Lita, Lingard, Vokes, Paynter (there may have been more) - how many Albion goals have they scored between them?
- Injuries : Every Club has injuries to varying degrees - it's how you manage your squad and resources. See above for poor decision making.
- We now have our very own Fantasy Football at The Amex : Phoney attendance, phoney MoM and phoney football (giving the illusion we're going to score and of course we don't).
- False economy - IF (and it's a big IF, because we can't be absolutely 100% sure) Murray left because he wasn't offered enough ££, to allow another top scorer leave, assuming it was solely down to ££, shows poor management.
- Our group of 31 : 3 aren't renewing. Our minibus group of 15 : 2 aren't renewing. So around 10%, is that a barometer for the other 24,000? I hope not.
I'm afraid things need to change on the pitch, otherwise all the good work off it will be wasted. The Club have my support, but in common with many others, our frustration is increasing. I assume that this must be the case amongst the Board too.
- Sorry but it's a big NO. (Oh for an Alan Mullery or a Chris Cattlin....)
2. A Team that includes a 'wonder' player - a Peter Ward, a Bobby Zamora, a Vicente - someone that excites the crowd every time they are on the ball.
- Sorry but it's a big NO. (LuaLua comes close though to be fair).
3. A striker that scores goals regularly - goals win games, goals bring in supporters, sound defences don't (refer to Mike Bailey).
- Sorry but it's a big NO.
4. Stewards that are friendly and welcoming.
- Definitely it's a big YES.
5. Catering that is decent and plentiful.
- Sorry but it's a big NO (ESU - no hot dogs, few pies, few burgers at 3.45pm).
6. A catering that is fast and efficient.
- Sorry but it's a big NO (ESU - poor English speaker, slow, didn't know how to operate till etc).
7. A transport system that is fast and efficient.
- Definitely it's a big YES.
8. A comfortable (award winning) stadium with decent banter/supporters.
- Definitely it's a big YES.
9. A generous Chairman that is Albion through & through.
- Definitely it's a big YES.
10. A Club that looks to the future and is innovative in its thinking/strategy.
- Definitely it's a big YES (New Training Ground, possible hotel, Young Seagulls etc).
The Club scores 5 out of 10. Could do better I guess.......
Some other thoughts/concerns:
- Of course, we have no divine right to win every game or be in the top 6. Other Clubs are in a far worse state than us. Maybe our expectations are set too high? Yes - but ask yourself who set them so high? The Board. Premiership Ready. It's all that is talked about. We are setting ourselves up for one hell of a fall if we fail.
- Loan strikers : Obika, Lita, Lingard, Vokes, Paynter (there may have been more) - how many Albion goals have they scored between them?
- Injuries : Every Club has injuries to varying degrees - it's how you manage your squad and resources. See above for poor decision making.
- We now have our very own Fantasy Football at The Amex : Phoney attendance, phoney MoM and phoney football (giving the illusion we're going to score and of course we don't).
- False economy - IF (and it's a big IF, because we can't be absolutely 100% sure) Murray left because he wasn't offered enough ££, to allow another top scorer leave, assuming it was solely down to ££, shows poor management.
- Our group of 31 : 3 aren't renewing. Our minibus group of 15 : 2 aren't renewing. So around 10%, is that a barometer for the other 24,000? I hope not.
I'm afraid things need to change on the pitch, otherwise all the good work off it will be wasted. The Club have my support, but in common with many others, our frustration is increasing. I assume that this must be the case amongst the Board too.