Work rate

[Billy bodger]

Look at our work rate in the Notts County game, a team that is in 5th position and we looked so much better than them in large parts throughout that game, especially in the first half.
Who ever we play top or bottom we have as whole team to put in a shift. Was it really there yesterday? Was it because we were playing Accrington and we played less of a pressing game? Was those in midfield up for it. It was back to drop back and don’t work back. You could see our defenders shouting at not being protected. Time and again the opposition midfield just glide past ours, especially in the first half hour. When you wear the shirt, am I wrong in expecting every single player (not half the team), to come off that pitch on their last legs after turning up, putting in a shift and playing well. I do hope everybody else thinks that’s only right.
Derek clearly not happy, he would like the fans, expected better.
You cannot play well and lose gallantly or by a bad decision week in and out and maybe end up getting a draw from a better team if you don’t beat the teams in and around you or below you. (yes I keep harping on about it, but if you want to stay in a league that what you have to do. (I still think that scenario played a big part in us falling out of League One).
Ten games in and we now require a big turn around in our fortunes. I’m watching closely how each player plays and I’m coming to a disappointing conclusion if some don’t start to play better when they put on the shirt.
I am not thriving while I write this but we are Ten games in and we now require a big turn around in our fortunes. I’m disappointed in some individual players so far and our injuries list is taking a toll on being able to change things around. I do however, even thou results have not gone our way think there many positive things that I see that I still think we will be OK, I really do.

[redrobo]

What do we really expect from a team made up of ex National released players or those former EFL players who struggled last season to get much game time. Also a couple of strikers who nobody wanted because of a poor return in too many seasons.



It's ok expecting players to put a decent shift in but this is a team where the squad, in the majority of cases, are past their best playing days..... and are very lucky still to be playing in the EFL.

[twosheds]

It wasn't long ago you were saying how well Derek was doing to bring a team together in such notice with very little money...there's only one individual that's put us in this predicament...without investment we are going to struggle to survive...

[KenH]

It wasn't long ago you were saying how well Derek was doing to bring a team together in such notice with very little money...there's only one individual that's put us in this predicament...without investment we are going to struggle to survive...

It's not mutually exclusive. Derek has done a brilliant job to get a team together under the circumstances (again!). I don't believe any other manager at our level could have done a better job. But, sadly, they're not showing to be good enough to compete at our league. That doesn't mean Derek could have done better. He's done what he can, mostly the players seem to try their best, but it doesn't look to be enough to avoid relegation.

[marky No.1]

.without investment we are going to struggle to survive...

Investment to me is building Coleys bar at Accrington, such a great venue where there is room for lots of people and you can see a screen from anywhere in the room with choices of food and drink.
They might not have a massive crowd but half of the main stand seem to queue out of the door to spend their cash with Shrimps fans welcome

[deadorred70]

I'd rather see investment on the field,get that right and they will come.

[marky No.1]

I'm pretty sure we would all like to see a championship team on the pitch but facilities as they are couldn't cope with the crowd

[deadorred70]

I was'nt thinking 10,000 just more ticket sales people want see a winning team.get the attendance's up more cash in the coffers .

[KenH]

I'd rather see investment on the field,get that right and they will come.

That's back to the assumption that we'll attract some sugar daddy who's going to throw money at the club.

Realistically, it's not going to happen. It's been the Board's "strategy" for over 10 years since PMG put the club up for sale.

Would be far better for the club to generate more income from a diverse range of income streams. We have some brilliant facilities in the main stand, i.e. the bar, function suite, boxes, etc., but they're just not used enough. Neither for non match days, nor match days really. I've often said (over several years), the club should look to bring in a professional firm to manage those areas, the kind of firm who have plenty of contacts to bring in far more functions, meetings, seminars, etc, and get all the rooms used every day.

That doesn't need to cost a lot of money, nor does massively improving JB bar to get it "the place to go" before and after matches, to go to watch televised matches, etc - make it a proper popular "sports bar", not just for MFC supporters on match days, but for locals too!

No, it won't generate millions to bring in brilliant players but it would reduce the losses and make the club more attractive to potential buyers.

[redrobo]

I'd rather see investment on the field,get that right and they will come.

That's back to the assumption that we'll attract some sugar daddy who's going to throw money at the club.

Realistically, it's not going to happen. It's been the Board's "strategy" for over 10 years since PMG put the club up for sale.

Would be far better for the club to generate more income from a diverse range of income streams. We have some brilliant facilities in the main stand, i.e. the bar, function suite, boxes, etc., but they're just not used enough. Neither for non match days, nor match days really. I've often said (over several years), the club should look to bring in a professional firm to manage those areas, the kind of firm who have plenty of contacts to bring in far more functions, meetings, seminars, etc, and get all the rooms used every day.

That doesn't need to cost a lot of money, nor does massively improving JB bar to get it "the place to go" before and after matches, to go to watch televised matches, etc - make it a proper popular "sports bar", not just for MFC supporters on match days, but for locals too!

No, it won't generate millions to bring in brilliant players but it would reduce the losses and make the club more attractive to potential buyers.

Can't disagree with your assessment that the club needs to generate more finances BUT to bring in a professional firm to assist is for me a definite NO NO....as they wold want a high percentage of whatever income they generated with no doubt a contracted clause saying that irrespective of results they would receive a substantial fixed sum per month.

A professional marketing outfit would cost the club more than if our club developed its own in house marketing team.

I think we've got to use the current marketing people within the club to be instructed by the Board to develop the off field activity by giving them a target to work to in return for a good rate of commission based on their results. If they don't deliver in a set period of time then I'm afraid they should be shown the door. Very much what happens in the private sector. In other words they are rewarded for their efforts.

[KenH]

It's a bit of a fallacy about "professional" firms costing more. Yes, of course they charge, but they usually bring in a vast increase in bookings/revenue, so everyone wins.

Very similar to holiday lettings management. Owners baulk at the idea of a "professional" firm charging them 25% of bookings, but 75% of a much bigger income generated means the owner gets more than when they were managing/marketing themselves (and a lot less admin/management time) and they don't bear the costs of their own websites, advertising, bank charges, etc.

I was once the accountant/auditor for a pretty large hospitality/catering management firm who managed all kinds of premises all over the North West, from hotels and similar venues to factory canteens. Seeing statistics of occupation/utilisation of 75-90% for hotels and similar venues which had previously been working at 25-50% occupation/utilisation, highlights the benefits such firms bring due to their contacts, much larger marketing budgets. It also greatly reduces the firms' overheads as they usually deal with the ordering/suppliers, staffing, etc as well as the marketing and admin.

A few years ago, I regularly attended courses at Preston North End ground, and they were using such a firm - the place was buzzing with several seminars/courses in the function rooms and boxes, and staff wearing the management/catering firm's uniform. I googled them once and saw they were doing the catering and management for several hotels in the area too, including wedding venues.

I'd at least hope it's been something that the Board have properly explored rather than just "assuming" it wouldn't work for MFC!

[Billy bodger]

Well done to Derek in his after match interview, honesty about that performances and it being unacceptable. You have to turn up when you cross that line with a Morecambe FC shirt on your back, many are saying they are not going to Barrow now and unfortunately that may happen at the home games as well. It is worrying we have 8 players out I hope we get some back soon.