DA next season

[jona77]

Didn’t we have one of the lowest budgets in league 2 when we got promoted? Yet Derek moulded a winning team and deservedly got us promoted? It’s interesting that this point seems to have escaped certain individuals who blame our current league position solely on our lack of funds. This obviously has contributed but I genuinely feel this team should be a few places higher in the league than we currently are. I think the ex footballer ( can’t remember exactly who ) who watched and commentated on the game against Milton Keynes for Radio Lancashire thought we were very passive and didn’t look like a team up for a fight against relegation. He was also critical of Derek Adams comments after the game where as usual Adams thought we had played well and controlled large parts of the game yet again I think we only had one shot on target?! Personally I think our current predicament lies with several issues….stuff going on with buying the club behind the scenes….the quality of the squad overall….not having a prolific striker…..our horrendous away form with only 1 win and the manager is responsible for some of the team formations specially persisting with having one player upfront who is often perminently isolated! Why he didn’t persist in playing 2 up front us beyond me!

[Keith]

To me this is why Derek is vital to keep on as manager. He got us promoted on a shoestring budget and if the worst happens and we go down we do not want to be fighting relegation battles like we did under Jim. Derek would ensure we are at the right end of the table.

There were other issues at play too. Primarily, our promotion season was 'behind closed doors'. With no fans I think playing against the 'better supported' clubs became a more level playing field, with officials not being influenced or intimidated.

More importantly, many of the bigger clubs cut their playing budgets, because their income was significantly curtailed. While our income was reduced, it was not as significant a loss (compensation in other areas made up for a lot, if not all of it). We've now returned to a situation of 'big spenders'.

I think we will struggle next season, and mid-table League Two, will be a success, no matter who is managing the club. It is frustrating that our League One adventure is failing without a fight, but it has been fun, and relegation was always going to catch up with us eventually, I was just hoping for another season in League One Still time for a miraculous escape???

[fulwoodshrimp]

I think Kieron Phillips injury and his return to Huddersfield had a greater impact than we realised at the time. The absence of his pacy runs at defenders and his liveliness in the box have been sorely missed.Since he departed we have looked unthreatening up front and this has allowed teams to put more pressure on our midfield and defence with grave consequences. The decline in Stockton is startling and frankly on this season's form he is National League standard at best. I wonder who is going to be interested in signing him?

[Little Shrimp]

I think Kieron Phillips injury and his return to Huddersfield had a greater impact than we realised at the time

Absolutely 100%, losing Phillips has been an incredibly massive blow. We lost our best striker and unlike Burton, didn't get £300k to help bring Charlie Kirk on loan!

[Gone_Shrimping]

To me this is why Derek is vital to keep on as manager. He got us promoted on a shoestring budget and if the worst happens and we go down we do not want to be fighting relegation battles like we did under Jim. Derek would ensure we are at the right end of the table.

There were other issues at play too. Primarily, our promotion season was 'behind closed doors'. With no fans I think playing against the 'better supported' clubs became a more level playing field, with officials not being influenced or intimidated.

More importantly, many of the bigger clubs cut their playing budgets, because their income was significantly curtailed. While our income was reduced, it was not as significant a loss (compensation in other areas made up for a lot, if not all of it). We've now returned to a situation of 'big spenders'.

I think we will struggle next season, and mid-table League Two, will be a success, no matter who is managing the club. It is frustrating that our League One adventure is failing without a fight, but it has been fun, and relegation was always going to catch up with us eventually, I was just hoping for another season in League One Still time for a miraculous escape???

Well let's hope we can magic up say 3 wins and a draw to stay up.

You are probably correct about the 2020/21 season being in our favour with finances etc. and I would take mid-table rather than the constant relegation battles that we seem to have had most years in League 2.

What we don't want is to return to the 1,200 / 1,500 gates of a few years ago. The club may have to try and entice as many season ticket renewals as possible with a cut from £150 to say £125 for standing in the home end.

[black morse]

Just going back to the subject title, I cannot see Derek wanting to stay on next season wherever we end up unless the ownership situation has been sorted out. It's been rumbling on all season meaning very little money has been available. Now, if the rumour is true, the players have not been paid. Would any of us want to put in the utmost effort if we weren't getting paid?