Our Ambition as a club

[fulwoodshrimp]

Just wondering if the height of our ambition is survival in League 2? Yes, we are punching above our weight by being in the Football League and relegation would be a huge financial disaster and must be avoided at all costs but in the last couple of seasons when we have had a good run and are placed near the top of the league, changes are made to the team and results go pear shaped. It happened last season when we were top of the league and changes were made for the Mansfield game. History repeated itself this season with the line up against Northampton and since then we have dropped sharply down the league table and now occupy the mid-table position that we seem to aspire to. Does the board feel we couldn't sustain a League 1 position with its higher wages and our low crowds? In my opinion we need ambition as settling for mid-table security is dangerous and one season could backfire with results and decisions going against us and as a result we find ourselves in a relegation scrap.

[George Dawes]

yes, a lot of fans have been thinking the same.

its as if PMG tells Jim, we don't want to go up.

after a good start for a 2nd season, with our players playing like they were unleashed, it now appears Jim is restraining them, by putting them back on a leash.

[Jettyson]

Absolutely.
We are a small debt ridden club who survive on low transfer fees/freebies and sell them on at a profit.
Get them in the window, sell when an offer comes in.
Many of our current crop will be sold.

[Westgate Wanderer]

I would say the way the players play is entirely down to the manager. Time and again he bangs on about keeping a clean sheet, never goes on about how many goals we score. In my opinion if we managed to get promoted we would get bigger crowds as the away following is bigger in League 1. Also more money from the League pot would balance out the added expense of players. Although at the moment we have quite a few players who have played in League 1. It's a pity we don't have the John Coleman mentality of "let them worry about us" on the pitch. Off the pitch things could improve as i feel we still have a non-league mentality. The only downside of getting promoted would be would it put our never been relegated record in danger!!

[black morse]

yes, a lot of fans have been thinking the same.

its as if PMG tells Jim, we don't want to go up.

after a good start for a 2nd season, with our players playing like they were unleashed, it now appears Jim is restraining them, by putting them back on a leash.

That's a very speculative comment but I can see why you say it. If it happened to be true however it would be dangerous in more ways than one. If we stay in this division without trying to go up we will eventually have a really bad year and get relegated. Also if that were the message being given to Jim he'd probably leave at the first opportunity and so you the best players. Everyone wants success!

[Kendalshrimp]

Not a chance the club wouldn't want to be promoted ! Would make financial sense by getting bigger gates and a couple of games on sky no doubt. Okay we'd probably get battered most weeks like Blackpool unless money got invested from somewhere else. Agree Jim would walk if he was told anything of the sort from the board !

We are what we are...we'll do very well to finish higher than we did last season. We have one of the lowest budgets in the league so to make the top 7 would be an outstanding achievement and if we did clubs would offer our players and manager better wages to join them in the league above. Everyone of us would love to get promoted or even the play offs but it could be a bad thing for what happens afterwards as I've just mentioned the club would get raided ! The best thing I think realistically for us is to have a good run in the FA cup get a big away tie against the likes of Liverpool or someone who'll sell the ground out with 30'000 plus then invest the money in the squad to compete with the top teams in the divison for the next season and have a proper challenge !

[broadwayshrimp]

Of course the club has ambition. Otherwise what's the point. However Morecambe as a town does not deserve to have a football league team never mind a team in league one. Until the locals wake up and smell the coffee forget it.

[Seasider9601]

Of course the club has ambition. Otherwise what's the point. However Morecambe as a town does not deserve to have a football league team never mind a team in league one. Until the locals wake up and smell the coffee forget it.

This.

Very well said.

[seantheshrimp]

I dont see the problem with staying in the same league. Im of the opinion that promotion would be worse for the club as we would more than likely be relegated and lose players and any extra revenue would not be pumped into the club there is no sign of investment as it is. Year in year out mfc do just enough to stay up and there is nothing wrong with that

[George Dawes]

I dont see the problem with staying in the same league. Im of the opinion that promotion would be worse for the club as we would more than likely be relegated and lose players and any extra revenue would not be pumped into the club there is no sign of investment as it is. Year in year out mfc do just enough to stay up and there is nothing wrong with that

but that reflects the sort of football being played on the pitch.

we've been teased, with thrilling football, for a sudden change people find frustrating.

this team is good enough to finish in the play offs(its a better team than the one what finished 4th), but we all know what sort of football will be played for the remainder of the season..

[Heysham Shrimp 51]

Excellent post,and one similar to one I made last year re Jim changing a winning team.Injuries aside keep it the same and stuff who you upset,a dropped player needs to earn his place back,is that not
healthy competition?One player on the bench tues night unbelievably for me was our most consistent so far this season Alan Goodall,absolute madness and bloody frustrating for the fans, a few of who ive spoken to and who couldn't believe the changes once again.

[BoroRedShrimp]

PMG said when we got promoted to the football league that his ambition was to move us on as a club and possibly into league one. If we are to get bums on seats then trying for promotion won't do any harm to the poor attendances we are getting now. We may have to pay out on wages but we would have more local games to look forward to. We would be able to look forward to Bradford coming to the Globe again with a healthy away following. If we are to move forward as a club we have to take the risks with it and make the changes to get new and old supporters back inside the Globe. Staying in league two could gradually lose more support, which then could run the risk of lack of finance to buy league two or top half conference players resulting in relegation. Which ever way you look at it, it is a big risk to keep all our eggs in one basket & expect to stay in league 2 forever. I hope we aim high and be more positive.

[shrimpnsave]

I dont see the problem with staying in the same league. Im of the opinion that promotion would be worse for the club as we would more than likely be relegated and lose players and any extra revenue would not be pumped into the club there is no sign of investment as it is. Year in year out mfc do just enough to stay up and there is nothing wrong with that

but that reflects the sort of football being played on the pitch.

we've been teased, with thrilling football, for a sudden change people find frustrating.

this team is good enough to finish in the play offs(its a better team than the one what finished 4th), but we all know what sort of football will be played for the remainder of the season..

Oh dear politics again/ have said this many a time but blasted for it.Mfc is happy where they are/pursey

[seantheshrimp]

Although this is a better squad than the one that got to the playoffs doesnt mean this squad is a top 7 team there are 23 other teams in the league unfortunately for us most have bigger budgets and more fans im sure pmg and the board could plough money in but where will it get us there is another thread somewhere claiming fleetwood have gone as far as they can and are heading down. Although the footballs crap get behind the manager and his team choices he will pick the 11 players he feels can win any given match

[morecambegeek]

This is an almost completely irrelevant question.

The board I'm sure would love to be competing in League 1 or above.

However, it's clearly obvious our current budget is one of the lowest in League 2, and it doesn't look like that is about to improve anytime soon, short of significant outside investment.

So staying in League 2 is a realistic ambition (and some would say quite an ambitious one).

Dagenham got promoted to League 1, came down quickly and nearly went straight back down to the conference. For a club our size, who would not see a significant extra income from being promoted, it has real dangers that we could overspend to try and compete, or we'd just get walloped every week and the fans would turn up in even smaller numbers than they already do.

[Gone_Shrimping]

Although this is a better squad than the one that got to the playoffs doesnt mean this squad is a top 7 team there are 23 other teams in the league unfortunately for us most have bigger budgets and more fans im sure pmg and the board could plough money in but where will it get us there is another thread somewhere claiming fleetwood have gone as far as they can and are heading down. Although the footballs crap get behind the manager and his team choices he will pick the 11 players he feels can win any given match

I'm not convinced this is a better squad than the one that finished 4th in 2009/10.

The present team up to date hasn't shown the heart to come back from being 2 goals down with 3 minutes left and win like that one did at home to Crewe.

[Seasider9601]

Dagenham got promoted to League 1, came down quickly and nearly went straight back down to the conference.

Macclesfield Town did exactly the same and are now struggling in the Conference Premier.

[BoroRedShrimp]

Dagenham got promoted to League 1, came down quickly and nearly went straight back down to the conference.

Macclesfield Town did exactly the same and are now struggling in the Conference Premier.

Then if this is what we have to look to the future to by staying in league 2, then we might as well call it a day. Macclesfield, Stevenage & Dagenham were the unlucky ones,It could happen to any club big or small, Stockport & Tranmere as an example. How about Yeovil who manage to stay up for several years in league 1. Burton who came from the lower pyramids who are now going places. We can't keep having excuses that we are a small town, we are punching above our weight as many clubs with hardly money to spend have managed to avoid the drop. If we keep having this negative attitude fans or new supporters are going to keep away from the Globe. Look to the positive future that is what I say that we are a club on the up.

[Seasider9601]

Who's got a negative attitude?? I certainly haven't.

We all want the club to go out and win every game and push for promotion. Who in their right mind thinks that the team don't go out every game and give their all and try and win? Of course they do. Jim and Ken are winners.

If opportunity knocks for a real decent crack at the Play Offs (or better. Sorry Mr Dowie) then it goes without saying we'd go for it!!

With our current dwindling fan base for varying reasons (as has been well documented) we would struggle to attract the type (and cost) of player we would need to compete in League 1 without dropping through the trapdoor immediately.

[BoroRedShrimp]

Who's got a negative attitude?? I certainly haven't.

We all want the club to go out and win every game and push for promotion. Who in their right mind thinks that the team don't go out every game and give their all and try and win? Of course they do. Jim and Ken are winners.

If opportunity knocks for a real decent crack at the Play Offs (or better. Sorry Mr Dowie) then it goes without saying we'd go for it!!

With our current dwindling fan base for varying reasons (as has been well documented) we would struggle to attract the type (and cost) of player we would need to compete in League 1 without dropping through the trapdoor immediately.

You stated in the last post that we could end up like Macclesfield that is what I am getting at. How about we may not, we may prove Mark Lawrenson & the punters wrong by staying up again if we ever get to league 1. We proved them wrong all this time so anything is possible with Jim & Ken in charge. Our attendances could be dropping for a number of reasons due to lack of atmosphere on the terraces, the Globe experience, People Working, people tired of the football or no money. Many clubs have tight finances such as Oldham, Rochdale & Accrington that is why we have Jim who picks up gems from time to time. To change that we need to have a more positive attitude on and off the terraces.

[Seasider9601]

No, I didn't at all say we could/would end up like Macclesfield.

I used them as an example of going up to League 1 and dropping straight back down and ultimately out of the Football League.

I don't think our proud record of never having been relegated in our history will be broken, and I think we will comfortably hold our own in League 2 for the forseeable future.

I'll be there tomorrow cheering on the lads.

COYS !!!!!

[BoroRedShrimp]

No, I didn't at all say we could/would end up like Macclesfield.

I used them as an example of going up to League 1 and dropping straight back down and ultimately out of the Football League.

I don't think our proud record of never having been relegated in our history will be broken, and I think we will comfortably hold our own in League 2 for the forseeable future.

I'll be there tomorrow cheering on the lads.

COYS !!!!!

That is what I am getting at the negativity that as soon as we go up we are going back down again like the rest of the smaller clubs who got to league 1. Depends how you look at it with Jim & Ken in charge. I don't think we can ever say we will never go back down to the conference because that can change when people stop attending the Globe for whatever reason. Without the fans we won't have the finances to attract decent players at league level, so that can change the club in a matter of a season.

[SupermarketShrimp]

Lets look at the 5 years under Bentley.

2011/12 - Notable wins :- Barnsley (A) in Carling Cup, 6-0 Crawley and top of league. Finished 15th Points 56.
2012/13 - Notable wins :- Blackpool (A) in Carling Cup - 4-1 at York, Accrington in JP Trophy, 4-1 v Barnet (wasn't that Edgar Davids in charge?) Finished 16th Points 58
2013/14 - Notable Wins :- Chesterfield from 4-3, Beat Wolves on Sky, Unlucky to be beaten by Newcastle live on Sky. Finished 18th Points 54
2014/15 - Notable Wins :- Top early doors after another flying start - Fleetwood smashed in JP Trophy, flirted with playoffs all season Finished 11th Points 63
2015/16 - BEAT CHUFFING ACCRINGTON IN THE LEAGUE, played some good stuff. high flying near the top. Hit sticky point as ever as players start to get injured.

So 13/14 aside we're moving forwards year on year, we've got a large transfer fee for Redshaw and brought young keen players into the club and have an excellent recruitment policy. The losses are reducing year on year.

It's not perfect but there's a solid base to build on here and the club are on a great path and long may it continue for the next 5 years.

If anyone takes a punt on Bentley higher in the pyramid, I fear we may be donald ducked.

[black morse]

Lets look at the 5 years under Bentley.

2011/12 - Notable wins :- Barnsley (A) in Carling Cup, 6-0 Crawley and top of league. Finished 15th Points 56.
2012/13 - Notable wins :- Blackpool (A) in Carling Cup - 4-1 at York, Accrington in JP Trophy, 4-1 v Barnet (wasn't that Edgar Davids in charge?) Finished 16th Points 58
2013/14 - Notable Wins :- Chesterfield from 4-3, Beat Wolves on Sky, Unlucky to be beaten by Newcastle live on Sky. Finished 18th Points 54
2014/15 - Notable Wins :- Top early doors after another flying start - Fleetwood smashed in JP Trophy, flirted with playoffs all season Finished 11th Points 63
2015/16 - BEAT CHUFFING ACCRINGTON IN THE LEAGUE, played some good stuff. high flying near the top. Hit sticky point as ever as players start to get injured.

So 13/14 aside we're moving forwards year on year, we've got a large transfer fee for Redshaw and brought young keen players into the club and have an excellent recruitment policy. The losses are reducing year on year.

It's not perfect but there's a solid base to build on here and the club are on a great path and long may it continue for the next 5 years.

If anyone takes a punt on Bentley higher in the pyramid, I fear we may be donald ducked.

And that's what will happen if we start to get noticed too much

[Kendalshrimp]

Us as fans, success would be the play offs or a higher finish than last season with a few high scoring wins along the way.

A successful season the board would class as is...go one better than last season finishing a place higher (no big drama if we don't as long as we survive relegation). Sell one of our key players for £150k if they have a good season. Get a big away tie in the FA cup against a perm side or even a game shown on TV.