Colchester United 0:0 Morecambe

[thedoc]

Who Needs Eastenders?:

https://morecambe.vitalfootball.co.uk/c ... morecambe/

[redrobo]

Good report as usual but please give it a rest about wages, boardroom issues and other negativity towards our club. It's all been discussed in length many times and I for one get really pissed off with the way some fans keeping going on about issues that as fans we can't resolve.

[thedoc]

Good report as usual but please give it a rest about wages, boardroom issues and other negativity towards our club. It's all been discussed in length many times and I for one get really pissed off with the way some fans keeping going on about issues that as fans we can't resolve.

Well if that's not a reason to despair, I don't know what is. The world is there to be changed, not just to be observed as if we have no influence on anything. Only cynics, morons, pessimists or people of a political outlook which I don't share think things should stay as they are, come Hell or High Water. Shall we just stand idly by and let the club go down the plughole? Our club is being let down at Board level and has been for ages. Maybe you have a vested interest in not wanting ordinary fans to rock the boat as the Captain rearranges the deckchairs on the Titanic but I'm not going to stay silent and just dumbly watch this happen. Five years from now, we won't have a club at all if the sort of people who have steered its course in recent years are still in charge. We may not be able to resolve it - but if we don't at least try, it's time to give up altogether, isn't it?

[redrobo]

Good report as usual but please give it a rest about wages, boardroom issues and other negativity towards our club. It's all been discussed in length many times and I for one get really pissed off with the way some fans keeping going on about issues that as fans we can't resolve.

Well if that's not a reason to despair, I don't know what is. The world is there to be changed, not just to be observed as if we have no influence on anything. Only cynics, morons, pessimists or people of a political outlook which I don't share think things should stay as they are, come Hell or High Water. Shall we just stand idly by and let the club go down the plughole? Our club is being let down at Board level and has been for ages. Maybe you have a vested interest in not wanting ordinary fans to rock the boat as the Captain rearranges the deckchairs on the Titanic but I'm not going to stay silent and just dumbly watch this happen. Five years from now, we won't have a club at all if the sort of people who have steered its course in recent years are still in charge. We may not be able to resolve it - but if we don't at least try, it's time to give up altogether, isn't it?

Just hope that you are not including our current Chairmen in that assessment.

The previous Captain has left the ship and new ones are now on board and deserve out TOTAL support.

Fans wanted one of the Chairmen to take over and got their wish which was excellent. The new owners have cleared the decks and it's a new start.

Support them.....

[al1]

Well said the doc,CC has to be careful what he says these days,he has had his ear bent from above

[thedoc]

The new owners have cleared the decks and it's a new start... new ones are now on board and deserve out TOTAL support.

Why?

[mrpotatohead]

They seem nice, and they have made a positive move appointing the right co chairmen, but the training ground saga rumbles on and the wages thing is at best a major blunder twice over, especially with the transfer window opening soon, it would be naive to imagine it won't put players off coming here.

[redrobo]

The new owners have cleared the decks and it's a new start... new ones are now on board and deserve out TOTAL support.

Why?

At this moment there is no other alternative than what our new owners have provided to date.

You seem so anti the current Board and owners but you offer no alternative solution.

What do you want or more to the point who do you want to take control of the club....

[mrpotatohead]

Neil, I advise caution, Don't nail you're colours to the mast until the hull has been thoroughly tested

[thedoc]

At this moment there is no other alternative than what our new owners have provided to date.

You should have worked for the Soviet Politburo, Comrade. There is always an alternative except for those loyal apparatchiki who always towed the Party Line. And we all know what happened to them under Uncle Joe Stalin. don't we? Also:

You seem so anti the current Board and owners but you offer no alternative solution.

Oh really? And how do you know that? I've never presumed to know what other people think. So please enlighten me and the rest of us simple mortals - what's your special power?

[Slanester]

At this moment there is no other alternative than what our new owners have provided to date.

You should have worked for the Soviet Politburo, Comrade. There is always an alternative except for those loyal apparatchiki who always towed the Party Line. And we all know what happened to them under Uncle Joe Stalin. don't we? Also:

Yes there is always an alternative. Could you please clarify, just why you feel your “rant” on an open match report, goes any way toward offering or achieving it.

[Popcorn]

A rational report from thedoc, as always. Players don't wake up on match day brainwashed, clear of any problems they went to bed with the night before. The pay issue is fresh in their minds, it could change their attitude to a match thereby performance as well. It can't be ignored, nor can anything else going on in the boardroom where the mood of the players is ultimately controlled.

[mrpotatohead]

Are you saying that the delayed payment was a brilliant tactic by the board, "popcorn"? , because an away point against Colchester was a very good result

[Popcorn]

It's a valid point that something like a pay cockup affects players. Maybe it was done to wind them up, seems to have worked.

[thedoc]

I knew that what I wrote yesterday would provoke the reaction it did. I made the point in my piece that there are those among us who want Jim Bentley out and I have suggested that theirs is an emotional rather than a rational reaction and said why. It's no surprise that these people call what I have written a `rant' - again, that is an emotional rather than a rational response. They don't like what I've written but rather than addressing what I've said, they simply dismiss it. What I have written is the truth as I see it, full stop. Pretending that the iceberg was not there would never have stopped the Titanic crashing into it. So let's get real. I'd like to see my club tell one and all of us what exactly is going on in the Boardroom. As I said yesterday, there has been a deafening silence about the reasons for a second failure to play staff and players on time. The sudden connection with Worcester Warriors seems to be the Elephant in the Room - if we all ignore it, it doesn't stop being an elephant. does it? - any more than an iceberg disappears if we all choose to look the other way. Some of my fellow fans say that what I have written is disloyal to the club. But to me, pretending that there is nothing wrong at the heart of Morecambe Football Club is the ultimate disloyalty. As I wrote yesterday, unless significant changes are made - such as other things I mentioned such as training facilities - this club is heading for ultimate failure. And what will we all say then, when it's far too late?

[Keith]

Splinters in the bum time for me, as I agree with both redrobbo & thedoc.

I think it is fair & reasonable to highlight such deficits as not paying players on time. They expect better and it is at best, unprofessional, or more worryingly, an indication of severe cash flow problems. On the basis that the players appear to have been paid later that day or early the next, cash flow didn't appear to be the issue on this occasion. But it has been the problem in the past. Pretending it isn't something to be concerned about is naive to say the least.

On the flip side, new people at the top, who are exactly the people the fans wanted in place and anyone who knows them, knows they can trust them as they genuinely have Morecambe FC's interests at heart. And newish owners still. I'm prepared to give them a honeymoon period and cut some slack. We can't expect everything to change instantly.

Therefore, to me, this one looks like it can be filed under 'unfortunate cock-up'. Embarrassing but not the end of the world. But it needs to be the last time.

Where it is relevant to the match report is how amazing it is that Jim & the lads remain focussed and motivated through all the turmoil? Kev is a big part of that I'm sure. His jokey manner of the Tweet may actually have been a motivator for the rest of the lads, or more specifically, a senior player, making the point, but without it being done in a particularly negative manner... 'it's frustrating, we get on with it' which may stop others from dwelling too much?

[Slanester]

I knew that what I wrote yesterday would provoke the reaction it did. I made the point in my piece that there are those among us who want Jim Bentley out and I have suggested that theirs is an emotional rather than a rational reaction and said why. It's no surprise that these people call what I have written a `rant' - again, that is an emotional rather than a rational response. They don't like what I've written but rather than addressing what I've said, they simply dismiss it. What I have written is the truth as I see it, full stop. Pretending that the iceberg was not there would never have stopped the Titanic crashing into it. So let's get real. I'd like to see my club tell one and all of us what exactly is going on in the Boardroom. As I said yesterday, there has been a deafening silence about the reasons for a second failure to play staff and players on time. The sudden connection with Worcester Warriors seems to be the Elephant in the Room - if we all ignore it, it doesn't stop being an elephant. does it? - any more than an iceberg disappears if we all choose to look the other way. Some of my fellow fans say that what I have written is disloyal to the club. But to me, pretending that there is nothing wrong at the heart of Morecambe Football Club is the ultimate disloyalty. As I wrote yesterday, unless significant changes are made - such as other things I mentioned such as training facilities - this club is heading for ultimate failure. And what will we all say then, when it's far too late?

I referred to the first part of your report as a “rant,” but you can cleverly word it as whatever your definition is, will amount to the same thing. For me, rational and emotional can go hand in hand.
With regard to JB, I am absolutely all for him being Morecambe’s manager, and will take a lot to change my mind. No pretence either with regard the points you made, totally agree with them too. We all know what the ideal scenario for MFC would be, and is something, I am sure we all want.
Where our opinions obviously differ, is in how,and where you choose to fight the fight. For me, that is not on a match report, that is open to all who decide to read it, MFC fans or not.You must feel, that somehow it will help the cause, or you would not have chosen to do it. I just can’t see it.

[Posh]

On the flip side, new people at the top, who are exactly the people the fans wanted in place and anyone who knows them, knows they can trust them as they genuinely have Morecambe FC's interests at heart. And newish owners still. I'm prepared to give them a honeymoon period and cut some slack.

I’m hoping there is some irony in there. If exactly meant two blokes from Essex buying the club with a company listed as a “real estate investment company” and lending the money through a separate company allegedly in Mayfair but actually on a not so glamorous Essex road, then it’s not what I would have had at the top of my list nor would it have implied they had ‘the best of interests of the club at heart’.

My take on yet another of Roger’s excellent match reports is that you view the club as one thing or another.

Either a football club is like any other company in that it is ultimately responsible to its shareholders, in this case it’s Bond Group Investments and it’s their company and they can do whatever they like. If they want to buy Morecambe to turn it into a Premier League club, buy it for a laugh or to sell off its ground or screw it for money for huge personal profits (see Kingstonian, Blackpool, etc.), then that’s their choice. Having said that, the best companies put their customers first and build good relationships to boost revenues and thus bring financial rewards to their shareholders.

Or a football club is a vital part of the community and a source of local pride, where fans are at its heart and are nothing without them. In this case the company that owns the club (and any company that owns that company) is merely a custodian, there to run it in the best interests of the fans and the community.

Personally, I believe the latter. In which case Roger is entirely right in his comments.

I’m pleased the Shrimps Trust, who do an excellent job, are now having far greater dialogue with the club but so much more needs to be done. It really is time that the fans (and the players and community) are fully respected.

Anyone seen the plans for the roof behind the Home Stand? If not, why not, we’re the ones who will use it. We could save money on it by sharing our experience.

[Andy D]

I’m pleased the Shrimps Trust, who do an excellent job, are now having far greater dialogue with the club but so much more needs to be done. It really is time that the fans (and the players and community) are fully respected.

Anyone seen the plans for the roof behind the Home Stand? If not, why not, we’re the ones who will use it. We could save money on it by sharing our experience.

Cant see what the problem is, it's been going on for years now, think its fair to say Fans and the Trust could fund a basic no frills under cover area, i dont even go in that stand but would happily like others set up DD payments to make this possible.

A lot of Morecambe's problem with lack if support and people complaining about match day experience can slowly be fixed one project at a time by its own fans.

Just want Morecambe to increase its support and be self sufficant.

[Slanester]

A bit of an unusual thread this??? For me anyway.
Everybody is in agreement, with regard the points made. Something that doesn’t happen very often. Yet it is still turned into an “us” and “them” issue. So putting aside, and forgetting, the fact that some don’t agree with just how they were raised......why???? The “them,” are actually part of the big “us.”

[Phil Anderer]

On the flip side, new people at the top, who are exactly the people the fans wanted in place and anyone who knows them, knows they can trust them as they genuinely have Morecambe FC's interests at heart. And newish owners still. I'm prepared to give them a honeymoon period and cut some slack.

I’m hoping there is some irony in there. If exactly meant two blokes from Essex buying the club with a company listed as a “real estate investment company” and lending the money through a separate company allegedly in Mayfair but actually on a not so glamorous Essex road, then it’s not what I would have had at the top of my list nor would it have implied they had ‘the best of interests of the club at heart’.

My take on yet another of Roger’s excellent match reports is that you view the club as one thing or another.

Either a football club is like any other company in that it is ultimately responsible to its shareholders, in this case it’s Bond Group Investments and it’s their company and they can do whatever they like. If they want to buy Morecambe to turn it into a Premier League club, buy it for a laugh or to sell off its ground or screw it for money for huge personal profits (see Kingstonian, Blackpool, etc.), then that’s their choice. Having said that, the best companies put their customers first and build good relationships to boost revenues and thus bring financial rewards to their shareholders.

Or a football club is a vital part of the community and a source of local pride, where fans are at its heart and are nothing without them. In this case the company that owns the club (and any company that owns that company) is merely a custodian, there to run it in the best interests of the fans and the community.

Personally, I believe the latter. In which case Roger is entirely right in his comments.

I’m pleased the Shrimps Trust, who do an excellent job, are now having far greater dialogue with the club but so much more needs to be done. It really is time that the fans (and the players and community) are fully respected.

Anyone seen the plans for the roof behind the Home Stand? If not, why not, we’re the ones who will use it. We could save money on it by sharing our experience.

Posh, I think you've misunderstood Keith over that. The two at the top who are 'exactly' who the fans want are Rod and Graham. The next bit references the actual owners. Not disagreeing with the principles of what you're saying other than that though.

[redrobo]

I'm sure that everybody who is a fan of our club wants the club to be a success, both on and off the field.

I can accept that some find the current position regarding ownership not to their liking and on numerous occasions in topics discussed over the last 2 years or so I mentioned that my preferred option would have been a buy out by a local consortium but as has been seen that was not possible and as a result we experienced a number of false dawns from potential investors who thankfully crawled back under the stones that they emerged from.

For good or bad we are now under the financial stewardship of an 'investment company' not by any means the ideal but as it was the only deal available at the time it was a case of accept it or face the horrible prospect of the death of our club as mentioned at the recent AGM, something that surely nobody wanted.

Numerous posters have mentioned that there are always 'alternatives' to any arrangement without saying what those alternatives are. Unlike other clubs we are not blessed with the numerically high support of a Trust who have the financial resources to potentially take control.

So what other alternatives are there to hopefully secure the future of what is OUR club....

[Gone_Shrimping]

On the flip side, new people at the top, who are exactly the people the fans wanted in place and anyone who knows them, knows they can trust them as they genuinely have Morecambe FC's interests at heart. And newish owners still. I'm prepared to give them a honeymoon period and cut some slack.

I’m hoping there is some irony in there. If exactly meant two blokes from Essex buying the club with a company listed as a “real estate investment company” and lending the money through a separate company allegedly in Mayfair but actually on a not so glamorous Essex road, then it’s not what I would have had at the top of my list nor would it have implied they had ‘the best of interests of the club at heart’.

My take on yet another of Roger’s excellent match reports is that you view the club as one thing or another.

Either a football club is like any other company in that it is ultimately responsible to its shareholders, in this case it’s Bond Group Investments and it’s their company and they can do whatever they like. If they want to buy Morecambe to turn it into a Premier League club, buy it for a laugh or to sell off its ground or screw it for money for huge personal profits (see Kingstonian, Blackpool, etc.), then that’s their choice. Having said that, the best companies put their customers first and build good relationships to boost revenues and thus bring financial rewards to their shareholders.

Or a football club is a vital part of the community and a source of local pride, where fans are at its heart and are nothing without them. In this case the company that owns the club (and any company that owns that company) is merely a custodian, there to run it in the best interests of the fans and the community.

Personally, I believe the latter. In which case Roger is entirely right in his comments.

I’m pleased the Shrimps Trust, who do an excellent job, are now having far greater dialogue with the club but so much more needs to be done. It really is time that the fans (and the players and community) are fully respected.

Anyone seen the plans for the roof behind the Home Stand? If not, why not, we’re the ones who will use it. We could save money on it by sharing our experience.

There were some plans pinned up on the wall at the Fans' Forum in the Summer. I think Rod said at the recent Fans' Forum that the Council had sent the plans back for amending and that the fee payable was about £1,800. He said we should be able to view the plans online fairly soon.

[Sakhalin Shrimp]

Who Needs Eastenders?:

https://morecambe.vitalfootball.co.uk/c ... morecambe/

There's nowt like washing your dirty linen in public

[John L]

Probably a better idea to divide your match reports and opinions about the club into separate articles in future, then those who simply want to read about the game don't have to trawl through potentially alienating waffle first.