Totally UNOFFICIAL Preview of the Season 2023-24.

[thedoc]

https://shrimplythebestfootball.com/202 ... n-2023-24/

[Bare bum]

Good stuff, Doc.

[vvm]

Nice write up, appreciate the hard work that goes into it.

Official communication from the club could certainly be improved, feels like we're regressing to what it was like a few years ago when we barely got anything. Have the regular updates from Ben, the CEO, slowed down or has the wait for football to come back just been dragging on that it feels like longer?

I would like to see more in terms of player and manager interviews but if this is all being saved for when regular football resumes then fair enough.

Onto the point of ownership, is Sarbjot even still interested? I know he briefly turned his attention towards Wigan but when that never took off, has he turned back to us again? Surely he's given up by now.

It's an interesting theory to suggest Bond Group and Sarbjot have corroborated to jack up the value of the club but I can't see it personally. He has successfully bought a minor share in the club worth six figures and so evidently has access to some funds. I think it is just as simple as... [Edit: I think it potentially libellous to state that, even if many of us think the same!] ...and therefore can't prove the source of his funds to pass the fit and proper test.

I do think there could be some weight to the theory that the pair hatched the plan together that led to Sarbjot investing the six figure sum to pay wages and keep the club afloat. I think they thought if he was shown to be the hero by swooping in to pay wages, whilst simultaneously making it appear that Bond Group were going broke, then perhaps the EFL might be persuaded to rush things through.

Initially I thought you went in a bit hard on the friendlies but I am now questioning why we picked the teams we did early on. It was a bit funny beating Burscough 10-1 but reflecting on that, what was the point in playing them in the first place? We can't have learnt anything from that.

I do see some merits in playing teams a few leagues lower to get started but all of the first 4 being National league north or below just feels like we're not really testing ourselves. Blackpool and Wigan sound much better in terms of tests but I feel we might have gone too far the other way and picked teams way above the level we should expect. In my opinion we should have at least played a national league team somewhere in there.

To end on a more positive note, I agree with you when you say you have big expectations for the season. I think it will all come down to squad depth and injuries really. There's a few decent away fixtures to get our teeth into at least.

[Catte]

That was a great read, and uncomfortable paragraph in the midst of the piece, I suspect that most clubs would struggle to put such a good piece.

[Wild Bill]

Listening to Derek on his latest interview, I'd be surprised if we ever see Johal and Co at the Mazuma. He said that their presence was a distraction for parts of last season. However, he gave the impression they are now off the scene.

Hopefully any future takeover is quicker and otherwise the club can continue to operate as it does currently (up for sale but living within its means).

[twosheds]

A brilliant read...a few uncomfortable home truths about our illustrious owners and time wasters..but we soon realized that little big man was only interested in trying to raise his profile.....the sooner Bond Group disappear into the sunset, the better.

[redrobo]

Eloquent as usual....

Maybe HE should be OUR clubs Communications Manager as the latest appears to do very little to communicate to us mere mortals....

[Zip It Shrimpy]

Kendal Town would have been a stiffer test, and closer / more meaningful for the fans.

Kendal Town, top of their league after 5 games. Won 4, drawn 1.

[Gone_Shrimping]

Kendal Town would have been a stiffer test, and closer / more meaningful for the fans.

Kendal Town, top of their league after 5 games. Won 4, drawn 1.

They should have been 5 games and 5 wins , they were 4-1 up against the team they drew against.

Agreed about playing them , easy to get to for Morecambe fans , they have some ex Morecambe players such as Yawson in their team , we used to play reserve games at Parkside Road , nice bar overlooking the pitch with decent food.