Just Back

To Car

That was absolutely superb. From first to last. We played them off the park. Started brightly, and conceeded after switching off from a corner but responded well. JMD missed an open goal and then 2 thunderbolts giving us a lead we richly deserved. Second half Clifton planted a lovely headed back across goal, before taylor was denied with a good save

They came into a bit more and hit the post before we put the icing on the cake with the Goal from Taylor who held the ball up brilliantly afternoon and deserved his goal

Mcatee put in a complete a performance as you will see. He was absolutely unplayable but i want to give a mention to the 2 CB’s and Joey Jones in front of the back 4 who fitted in fantastically well

Delighted for PH and the team, a superb 3 points backed by outstanding support

Absolutely fantastic performance.
I'm so glad we were at the away end when the first two went in because the view of them flashing into the goal was Jevenesqe.
Great performance by player and fans alike.
Best away day for years UTM

Unbelievable result and performance by the lads, absolutely gutted I couldn’t make it today.  I really don’t think teams will want to get us in the playoffs.

How was Joey Jones today? (Edit sorry just saw that you mentioned him)

UTFM

Quoted from GhostDan

Unbelievable result and performance by the lads, absolutely gutted I couldn’t make it today.  I really don’t think teams will want to get us in the playoffs.

How was Joey Jones today? (Edit sorry just saw that you mentioned him)

UTFM

IMO he was proper good

I’m a bit puzzled by Joey Jones.  He hasn’t exactly pulled up trees in his career and presumably wasn’t wanted by Dagenham.  What has Hurst seen in him?  Would love him to be a Nolan-esque signing but just curious about the back story!

It's an absolute belter of a win!!!

Quoted from LondonMariner43

I’m a bit puzzled by Joey Jones.  He hasn’t exactly pulled up trees in his career and presumably wasn’t wanted by Dagenham.  What has Hurst seen in him?  Would love him to be a Nolan-esque signing but just curious about the back story!

Presume he's been watching him for a while, has a lot of experience at this level. Started as a promising youngster in the youth academies of some huge clubs, played internationally as a young player and found himself dropping down the leagues in search of regular first team football. There are times a player just doesn't click with a manager or gel with a team and it might be the case at Dagenham. He's been part of a couple of promotion campaigns so can see why he is a good signing on paper, maybe it just hasn't worked out there. He's out of contract in the summer so let him go on loan until the end of the season as deemed surplus to requirements. Could just be the case of the right manager and the right team to get him back on track. The recent signings by Hurst seem to be players who have experience in promotion campaigns at this level, he's got an idea of what he wants and it's players who know what it takes to get to the playoffs and get promoted at this level with lots of experience in this league. Perhaps the mindset you need at this point of the season over young players getting game experience that might not have that mental toughness needed.

Today's game was one I had penciled in at the start of the season.

Because of ill health I could not venture past the end of the road never mind Chesterfield.

BUT

I feel I could run up and down the stairs after today's result.

Good job I live in a bungalow.  

I think PH must take a lot of of credit for putting together a a squad that seems up to the challenge and has strengths in all areas. This is also a comparatively young squad with players that still have the potential to get better. Even if we don't get promoted this season I think we are in a great position to be very serious contenders for next season. There are strong signs of continuity in the the squad that can only be a good sign for seasons to come.

Just on the train (fūck off Cross Country) and amused to see these threads on the Chesterfield board after most of their lot were expecting a comfortable win. lol. Lmao.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/SRgHx64x/68-D1-F4-AF-5277-499-E-8-FD1-C26235-D28988.jpg[/img]

My view today:
Two worldly goals
One worldly miss.
Fantastic team performance.
Jones can be happy with his debut. Looks a footballer and I was impressed how he was always talking and organising the midfield.
Can we sign Smith please.
So happy that Taylor got his goal today as I thought his hold up play was superb.
Special mention from me to Amos who goes under the radar sometimes. Can pick a pass really well and his defensive positioning and defending is improving game by game.
Great support and lovely to see Hurst celebrating.

Just got back to Sheffield absoltely steaming,

Unbelievable from the team and fans

One nil down and on the ropes, at 2-1 after half time seemedlike they had the ball for an eternity but we weathered it

Brilliant from ebery single player, this should be the turning point now, we've not only beat but hammered a top team

SO PROUD TO BE GTFC

After looking lacking quality cover save for our best XI in the first half of the season PH has suddenly delivered it in all positions with some astute signings and helped by players coming back from injury. Timing and momentum is really important with play offs. Our toughest games are at home - probably two full houses for those. The planets are aligning for us…

What an absolutely superb win that is, have to say I feared the worst at 1-0.

Credit to Hurst for bringing players into our midfield who have obviously made a huge difference

Best Result for a while
Great we played to the potential we know we are capable of
If we make the playoffs (and why shouldn’t we on that performance) we shouldn’t fear anyone
Come on Town!!

Just back. What a day! Town fans unbelievable from start to finish. Actually thought chesterfield played the ball around quite nicely and after they got the first I did worry. Up steps McAtee with an absolute belter, and to be honest, I all but missed the 2nd as I was too busy shushing the chesterfield fans in the corner. Got a tug of the shirt of my mum and just saw it fly in. Voice was absolutely done in by half time.

Second half I was hoping to see us shut up shop and nick one on the break, but we went 1 better than that with an early goal giving us the 2 goal cushion. Didn't actually think there was much wrong with Taylor's disallowed goal but refs always always give those don't they? Never mind, Taylor got a deserved goal to round off 4 absolutely brilliant goals to be fair.

Currently hoping Woking can hold out for the remaining 6 minutes added time to round off an absolutely perfect day, don't think I can pick a MoM but I was surprised to see Chesterfield bring their CM off, thought he did well up until that point.

Things looking up, really put a marker down today. UTFM

Great game and much the better side. Thought Taylor was fabulous today.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

Great game and much the better side. Thought Taylor was fabulous today.

Well done all today. Chesterfield forum has kept me extremely amused tonight. On commentary and summary, Crofty very complimentary about Ryan Taylor and Jones is obviously going to sit to let the rest of the front six play. Fingers crossed he stays fit as he might just be the missing piece of the jigsaw.

Today we looked really really good and everyone performed well.  They started well and looked decent but we then outworked, outthought and outplayed them.
Could have been more really but happy with 4-1 away.  Thought Joey Jones looked calm and comfortable on the ball and Gavin Holahan was excellent in driving us forward.  Taylor and McAtee playing closer together were great.  Harry’s energy telling and Luke Waterfall commanding at the back.
Hurst should take a lot of credit for assembling a fine squad and we look good to push on at the business end of the season.  Wow - what a great away day!

Class

Boreham did lose at home!

Chesterfield fans complaining tonight that we should have had more tickets.  Saying that putting black covers on seats is pointless.  They wanted more away fans to get more money in.

They have other more serious things to worry about though.

Boreham did lose at home!

Chesterfield fans complaining tonight that we should have had more tickets.  Saying that putting black covers on seats is pointless.  They wanted more away fans to get more money in.

They have other more serious things to worry about though.

All that beautiful intricate football that we have been playing all came together today in one absolutely top class performance. To think we can play at that level in tier 5 is astounding. That performance would not have looked out of place during Buckley's pomp, which is about the best compliment I can give.

The newly found midfield that allows MacAtee to play further forward seems to be the final piece of the jigsaw.

I have always been a big Taylor fan, and so pleased he got his goal but he and MacAtee are unplayable in this form.

4 brilliant goals; we could and should have had more, but everyone contributed and what a strong bench!

The manager deserves great praise indeed for getting these players together, and getting them to play to this standard, but what an enigma Hurst is. Just when you think he is done for (for example all those games midseason when we couldn't buy a result) and he comes back stronger than ever.

What a seasons finale we can look forward to.

Impossible to identify any poor performances today, only blot was a poor goal to concede but amazing bouncebackability saw us go on to fundamentally dominate the game.

Jones looked like he’d been on the middle all season, Taylor was immense today as was waterfall again.

Games like today are what Mcatee dreams on and aside from his goal, he, along with Clifton and Holohan picked up so many lose balls and dogged their players all game.

Mega away day all round…

It's very quiet from the reactionary, knee-jerk, Hurst out brigade!!!!

Quoted from rancido

It's very quiet from the reactionary, knee-jerk, Hurst out brigade!!!!

qu'elle surprise !

Quoted from rancido

It's very quiet from the reactionary, knee-jerk, Hurst out brigade!!!!

Don't worry, Weymouth next week and it would be very Grimsby Town for us to not get 3 points there so they might be back then.

Quoted from rancido

It's very quiet from the reactionary, knee-jerk, Hurst out brigade!!!!

Just like it was very quiet from the Hurst can do no wrong brigade when we lost to Solihull Moors, Southend, Wrexham etc etc

Let’s keep the smug comments for the end of the season when we know what division we’ll be in.

Quoted from Sussexmariner

Just like it was very quiet from the Hurst can do no wrong brigade when we lost to Solihull Moors, Southend, Wrexham etc etc

Let’s keep the smug comments for the end of the season when we know what division we’ll be in.

If ever there was a day for ALL Mariners to be smug surely this was it - why the divisive comments?

Typical bloody Hurst. Too negative.


😆😆😆😆😆

Quoted from grimsby pete

Today's game was one I had penciled in at the start of the season.

Because of ill health I could not venture past the end of the road never mind Chesterfield.

BUT

I feel I could run up and down the stairs after today's result.

Good job I live in a bungalow.  

PMSL 🤣

Quoted from Sussexmariner

Just like it was very quiet from the Hurst can do no wrong brigade when we lost to Solihull Moors, Southend, Wrexham etc etc

Let’s keep the smug comments for the end of the season when we know what division we’ll be in.

I'm 99% sure we will still be in this division next season. Does that mean he's failed? NO. We're up against teams spending redicilous money. If we don't reach the play offs then I'd say its a bit of a failure this season but still wouldn't beat him with a stick.
UTM

Cricket bat?  

Quoted from lukeo

I'm 99% sure we will still be in this division next season. Does that mean he's failed? NO. We're up against teams spending redicilous money. If we don't reach the play offs then I'd say its a bit of a failure this season but still wouldn't beat him with a stick.
UTM

The main purpose of this season was rebuilding a squad almost from scratch, and though weve got quite a few loanees, weve definately got a great squad coming together, took years to put anything this good together last time we were down

Quoted from lukeo

I'm 99% sure we will still be in this division next season. Does that mean he's failed? NO. We're up against teams spending redicilous money. If we don't reach the play offs then I'd say its a bit of a failure this season but still wouldn't beat him with a stick.
UTM

99 percent really ? That is seriously negative , especially after yesterdays showing

Excellent win and a terrific man to man performance and every goal was excellent in its own way.

Also a mention for the fans, superb following and take the pitch invader out of the equation I saw no serious trouble at all which doesn't fit the narrative does it, all I saw was fans having a good day, jumping up and down and throwing beer all over the concourse before the game and banging on the shutters does not equate to trouble or hooliganism, I also saw plenty of fans helping young kids and elderly fans

Quoted from Davec

Excellent win and a terrific man to man performance and every goal was excellent in its own way.

Also a mention for the fans, superb following and take the pitch invader out of the equation I saw no serious trouble at all which doesn't fit the narrative does it, all I saw was fans having a good day, jumping up and down and throwing beer all over the concourse before the game and banging on the shutters does not equate to trouble or hooliganism, I also saw plenty of fans helping young kids and elderly fans

I saw a significant amount of bully boy tactics and over zealous stewarding and policing though…

Quoted from Sussexmariner

Just like it was very quiet from the Hurst can do no wrong brigade when we lost to Solihull Moors, Southend, Wrexham etc etc

Let’s keep the smug comments for the end of the season when we know what division we’ll be in.

Was it? Quite a few posters came out in support of the manager with the recognition that this term and possibly next is about re-building the squad and in reality the club from top down.

Great performance yesterday, can we avoid the boring “who’s quiet this week” argument?

The win was never in doubt yesterday. We have a really good record away at Chesterfield so the only question was the score,  4-1 was a big fat cherry on the cake!
Got to back it up at Weymouth next week

Quoted from supertown

99 percent really ? That is seriously negative , especially after yesterdays showing

Anyone who knows me knows I'm always positive about town. 99% is probably a bit over exaggerated. But, we have teams with games in hand over us. Then we'd have to play 2 away games (1 against a team that's got a redicilous amount of money behind them) and then after that we'd have to win at Wembley..
It's not impossible and I'm fully behind the boys and would love this to happen

Quoted from ska face

Great performance yesterday, can we avoid the boring “who’s quiet this week” argument?

Maybe boring to you but quite relevant when you consider the number of posters who wanted him sacked at Christmas. Several of the players who contributed to that "great performance", your words, were recruited by PH since then and could be crucial if we are to achieve promotion this season.

I do find it odd that after our best win of the season, the board isn't that busy. Had we lost 4-1 however...

People in general are a negative lot and love a good moan.

Quoted from ginnywings

I do find it odd that after our best win of the season, the board isn't that busy. Had we lost 4-1 however...

People in general are a negative lot and love a good moan.

Yes certain posters do seem to go missing dont they. No names mentioned👀

although a morris minor posted on the match thread when we went 1-0 down and strangely hasnt posted since

Divs the lot of them

Yep, we played well. Let’s just enjoy and celebrate the great feeling of demolishing one of our rivals.

Quoted from ginnywings

I do find it odd that after our best win of the season, the board isn't that busy. Had we lost 4-1 however...

People in general are a negative lot and love a good moan.

You having a moan there ginny? 😉

Quoted from rancido

Maybe boring to you but quite relevant when you consider the number of posters who wanted him sacked at Christmas. Several of the players who contributed to that "great performance", your words, were recruited by PH since then and could be crucial if we are to achieve promotion this season.

Like I said,  boring.

It is interesting how different people react in different ways. I find a great win like yesterday almost invigorating, get up on Sunday with a spring in the step, reading through the just back thread, laughing at the Chesterfield forum exploding etc. After  loss I find it better to stay off here, it's too gloomy and almost poisonous sometimes.
Get the feeling Yoda and his chums can't wait for us to lose so they can unload. Weird

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Was it? Quite a few posters came out in support of the manager with the recognition that this term and possibly next is about re-building the squad and in reality the club from top down.

And quite a few anti-Hurst posters came on here when we were winning and top of the league saying they were wrong about Hurst, me included.

My point being, every time we win a game pro Hurst slag off the doubters  and vice versa,  let’s just keep our opinions for the end of the season, personally I think knowing what we know now and the amount of money the likes of Stockport, Wrexham Chesterfield have spent this season Town going up automatically is clearly not a failure but in my opinion not getting into a playoff position is. Will have to wait and see what the owners plans are for next season.

See you all at Weymouth

Quoted from buckstown

It is interesting how different people react in different ways. I find a great win like yesterday almost invigorating, get up on Sunday with a spring in the step, reading through the just back thread, laughing at the Chesterfield forum exploding etc. After  loss I find it better to stay off here, it's too gloomy and almost poisonous sometimes.
Get the feeling Yoda and his chums can't wait for us to lose so they can unload. Weird

This!

A good omen early yesterday.  We ere staying at the Holiday Inn in Grimsby for a short break. (Which is right next to the railway station).  

I went out about 1030 and immediately heard Town fans singing in the station.  About 30 of them, in good voice and sounding optimistic.  Very uplifting.  Even before the win.  

(Good to see Dembele scoring an excellent goal for Bournemouth.  Dribbled past a number of defenders before coolly scoring).

I'm the same, if we win I'm glued on here. If we lose I tend to avoid coming on so much for a couple of days.

I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere yet but was there any trouble outside the ground yesterday or anything? Also why were 3 lads ejected early on? Just curious.

Quoted from lukeo

I'm the same, if we win I'm glued on here. If we lose I tend to avoid coming on so much for a couple of days.

I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere yet but was there any trouble outside the ground yesterday or anything? Also why were 3 lads ejected early on? Just curious.

Some stuff mentioned on the Chesterfield forum but most of it seems like kids giving it the big un until they get chased off. Most incidents were in the ground and just the same coke fiends who can't stay still seeking attention. This on Twitter was kinda funny, imagining bringing your kid to the game and getting you both removed from the ground by being a pillock. https://twitter.com/shornkoomins/status/1510262242754932736?s=21&t=dwKCXi_Faivi4s_ICB7yHg

Quoted from buckstown

It is interesting how different people react in different ways. I find a great win like yesterday almost invigorating, get up on Sunday with a spring in the step, reading through the just back thread, laughing at the Chesterfield forum exploding etc. After  loss I find it better to stay off here, it's too gloomy and almost poisonous sometimes.
Get the feeling Yoda and his chums can't wait for us to lose so they can unload. Weird

Yep, I feel exactly the same. UTM!

For me the best performance of the season and great credit to Hurst here. I hated all the loanees that we had earlier in the season. It was like a house of cards.
The new midfield is an improvement, strikers on the bench, competition at both right and left back and a winger with more end product.
Next season we now have the basis of a team regardless of which division we are in. This pleases me as much as the result and we look stable.
Very pleased for Hurst he has done an excellent job since the New Year.
Great weekend football and looking forward to the midweek games for the competition. With the exception of versus Wrexham we can have a real go in th playoffs as well.
UTM

Quoted from Kris2

Some stuff mentioned on the Chesterfield forum but most of it seems like kids giving it the big un until they get chased off. Most incidents were in the ground and just the same coke fiends who can't stay still seeking attention. This on Twitter was kinda funny, imagining bringing your kid to the game and getting you both removed from the ground by being a pillock. https://twitter.com/shornkoomins/status/1510262242754932736?s=21&t=dwKCXi_Faivi4s_ICB7yHg

Not condoning the behaviour, nor am I saying he shouldn’t have been booted out but surely the people tasked with that job should actually know how to do it properly?

Quoted from aldi_01

Not condoning the behaviour, nor am I saying he shouldn’t have been booted out but surely the people tasked with that job should actually know how to do it properly?

I agree 100%. Parenting isn't easy but that is embarrassing.

Ohhh the stewards...

Quoted from aldi_01

Not condoning the behaviour, nor am I saying he shouldn’t have been booted out but surely the people tasked with that job should actually know how to do it properly?

Behave - no problem. Don't behave - big problem. Simple. Wonderful parenting and what a great role model for a developing child. The potential to create another generation of football troublemakers.
Criticise my views as much as you like but it won't change it.

Quoted from rancido

Behave - no problem. Don't behave - big problem. Simple. Wonderful parenting and what a great role model for a developing child. The potential to create another generation of football troublemakers.
Criticise my views as much as you like but it won't change it.

I didn’t criticise; I prefaced my comment with ‘not condoning it’ but I still believe that so called professionals paid to remove morons should still have the correct training or be held to account for urine poor practice.

Quoted from aldi_01

I didn’t criticise; I prefaced my comment with ‘not condoning it’ but I still believe that so called professionals paid to remove morons should still have the correct training or be held to account for urine poor practice.

Sorry, I quoted the wrong post and noted your " not condoning it " remark. As for the rest of my post ,I stand by that. I have been attending town matches, home and away, for 56 years. I have been jubilant in victory and totally downcast in defeat but never to the extent that I drew the attention of the stewards.

Quoted from rancido

Sorry, I quoted the wrong post and noted your " not condoning it " remark. As for the rest of my post ,I stand by that. I have been attending town matches, home and away, for 56 years. I have been jubilant in victory and totally downcast in defeat but never to the extent that I drew the attention of the stewards.

I agree, we’ve all lost our minds when we win or lose. There is an issue with stewarding at football though.

The main thing for me, is not to panic when we lose, and not get carried away when we win.

BUT

Yesterday's team would have us sitting comfortably mid table in league 2.

Clifton is bloody fantastic where ever he plays.
McAtee is everything other than what Scunny said he would be
Taylor is the perfect sole striker with wingers
Smith is a total different player in CB, Waterfall must take a lot of credit for that.
Holohan.... how the hell have we done that?????

Pretty much the perfect performance.  In fact the only blight on it was the slow start that led to their goal, however we arguably needed that to get back into it.    Ironically the behaviour of their lad who got booked for celebrating needlessly, King, riled the crowd which may have in turn lifted the side.

Once we settled it was just pure quality.  Jones took a little bit of settling in and for the first 20 minutes was practically playing as a third centre-back, understandably he was blowing out of his bottom too.  Once he found his feet and developed an initial understanding with Holahan there was no looking back.  Stepping 10 yards further up field he had a flexible 3 of Clifton, Maguire-Drew and Holahan ahead of him, thus allowing McAtee to roam but further upfield than he has in recent weeks.  Less coming to get the ball in the centre circle but more buzzing on the shoulder of defenders and causing havoc.  

McAtee himself was back late Summer/early Autumn displays whilst literally everything started to stick with Taylor.   He had four guys who were willing and capable to work off him and simply Chesterfield couldn't handle it.  Added to that, the gaps created by the inverted Clifton and Maguire-Drew were exploited by Cropper and Amos to good effect.  As has become standard Waterfall was a rock whilst Smith looks better with each game, regardless of what league we're in next year I would love to see him in a Town shirt.  

Easy to get carried away as we're as capable of doing that as we are to suffering a turgid 0-0 at home to a relegation threatened side.  But that 11 looked quality, with options galore on the bench and everyone seemingly coming back to fitness as the right time.  Of course the flip of it all is that we're always only a few injuries away from looking thread bare but so is everyone else.

That's the standard set and it's given me an awful lot more confidence for the play-offs to come.  Regardless of where we finish, we shouldn't fear anyone - which was my issue before the weekend that I didn't think we were capable of taking games to the other sides in and around the play-off spots.

In Jones have we finally got a replacement to Hessenthaler as a real engine definitely in the midfield?

Holohan sounds like a proper box to box.

I was surprised when we signed Jones but by all accounts he was a very good addition and Holohan seems an absolute steal at this level.

Not sure I saw Jones in the Hessenthaler role.  Both Hessenthaler, plus the guy who we finally got to replace him in Giles Coke, were/are great at breaking play up before giving it someone more technical to do the more attacking or creative work.  I rated Hessenthaler but he's far from a technical footballer.  Jones looks to a bit cuter with the ball and showed on Saturday he has that ability to turn the play over quite quickly.  Of course, all on a single performance.

You're absolutely spot on regards Holohan though.  He has slotted in with ease but more importantly has completely changed the dynamic of our midfield.  Exactly the type of player we've lacked for quite a few years.

Can see Holohan becoming the next Disley. He’s not a shouty-type of leader but he quietly moves the team forward and seems to know where to be. Very pleased we have him for another two years.

You have to credit Hurst again for getting these players in. He can see what others don't and steal them from their club for SFA, and they slot in seamlessly. We have all been complaining about what type of players we need, but Hurst knew what he wanted and quietly and effectively swooped when they became available.

Quoted from Grantley

Can see Holohan becoming the next Disley. He’s not a shouty-type of leader but he quietly moves the team forward and seems to know where to be. Very pleased we have him for another two years.

He'll have to get that hair dyed though.  

Was really surprised by how bad they were, to be honest. Asante offered nothing up front and they seemed to lack quality all over the park for some reason, must’ve been an off day as they’ve obviously a decent squad. Oyeleke looked head & shoulders above the rest of their team when he came on, so if he’s been out recently it gives some indication as to why they’re on the slide.

Thought Khan looked good and especially first 20 minutes was running the show.  Suppose it shows how much control Jones and Holohan grabbed back that he was subbed.  The left back was tricky early on but once Maguire-Drew and Cropper got into it he was pegged back.

Asante is a unit and I can see how he's effective against teams.  Just so happens that Waterfall is as much of a beast as he is.  

Quoted from ska face

Was really surprised by how bad they were, to be honest. Asante offered nothing up front and they seemed to lack quality all over the park for some reason, must’ve been an off day as they’ve obviously a decent squad. Oyeleke looked head & shoulders above the rest of their team when he came on, so if he’s been out recently it gives some indication as to why they’re on the slide.

I had a look on their forum and they were talking about how Cook needs to revert back to wing backs, sounds like he's trying to implement a new system in a playoff run in which is madness really. Throw in your manager who had you top of the league and flying having a complete meltdown and getting sacked on top of losing the best player in the league and it kind of makes sense. I think even with all that going on though, they must have had an off day and we were obviously very much at the races. Unless they pick up a bit of form, they're probably the ones we want in that first playoff round as it's looking likely that they'll be limping into them.

Great to read this on the Chesterfield fans website.

Was the performance any worse than Altrincham, Southend, Weymouth,Maidenhead, Yeovil, Solihull and the rest?

Far worse IMO. Grimsby were sharper, faster, stronger, passed and shot more accurately than us from start to finish. We were overrun more than in any other match this season, and we could easily have conceded 6 or 7. Well-worked as our goal was, it was against the run of play, and we never looked remotely like getting anything from the game. I don't know if it was our formation and selection that was the problem, but they absolutely outplayed us in every area of the pitch. When we've lost or drawn previous games, there has always been a a refereeing decision against us, or an injury to point to as a bit of an excuse, but not in that match; no excuses, no bad luck, no bad decisions - we were absolutely pasted. The next game will show whether Cooky's up to the job or not.

Wow!  Don't often see comments like that about us when we've played well. There's always some excuses why we won. Fair play to them

Quoted from mimma

Wow!  Don't often see comments like that about us when we've played well. There's always some excuses why we won. Fair play to them

As fans, it's natural to have clouded judgement of our performances but when fans and management of an opponent at the top end of the table praise our performance you know it was a good one.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

As fans, it's natural to have clouded judgement of our performances but when fans and management of an opponent at the top end of the table praise our performance you know it was a good one.

Beating them 4-1 on their own patch is usuallly a decent indicator as well.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

As fans, it's natural to have clouded judgement of our performances.

Agreed. I still think Muzzy Izzet's overhead kick was primarily down to Darren Barnard's defending on the touchline.

Quoted from Abdul19

Agreed. I still think Muzzy Izzet's overhead kick was primarily down to Darren Barnard's defending on the touchline.

Danny Coyne should have caught it.

Quoted from Abdul19

Agreed. I still think Muzzy Izzet's overhead kick was primarily down to Darren Barnard's defending on the touchline.

Some goal that … remember when playing Leicester and the like was a normal thing 😩

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

Some goal that … remember when playing Leicester and the like was a normal thing 😩

Just look at the Premier League today; the top 10 in particular. Man City, West Ham, Wolves, Palace, Leicester, Brighton, Brentford, Newcastle, Watford, Burnley, Norwich - all sides that I’ve seen us play at or below our level for at least three seasons running. Whichever 3 sides come up from the Championship this season, you’ll be able to add to that list. It could even include a club who spent several years in the Conference with us.

Thing is; all of those clubs are unrecognisable from the 90s and early millennium - on almost every level. By contrast, here’s a photograph of Blundell Park from the 1980s; but for the adverts on the roof, it could have been taken yesterday.

[img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/43/f4/66/43f4664a9391df163183756e54c9d665.jpg[/img]

Not a criticism of the current regime, obviously. Things are starting to change, slowly but surely. But time has stood still at GTFC for decades while the world kept spinning.

Quoted from Poojah

Just look at the Premier League today; the top 10 in particular. Man City, West Ham, Wolves, Palace, Leicester, Brighton, Brentford, Newcastle, Watford, Burnley, Norwich - all sides that I’ve seen us play at or below our level for at least three seasons running. Whichever 3 sides come up from the Championship this season, you’ll be able to add to that list. It could even include a club who spent several years in the Conference with us.

Thing is; all of those clubs are unrecognisable from the 90s and early millennium - on almost every level. By contrast, here’s a photograph of Blundell Park from the 1980s; but for the adverts on the roof, it could have been taken yesterday.

[img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/43/f4/66/43f4664a9391df163183756e54c9d665.jpg[/img]

Not a criticism of the current regime, obviously. Things are starting to change, slowly but surely. But time has stood still at GTFC for decades while the world kept spinning.

Makes you wonder why all the eulogising of the folk that have been moved on or left doesn’t it?

Certainly, over the last 20 years nothing has changed unless it was forced, and regimes before that weren’t that forward thinking either…frightened to gamble? Small time mentality? Lack of ideas? Happy to just keep chugging away with little change?

Combination of all of them?

Quoted from aldi_01

Makes you wonder why all the eulogising of the folk that have been moved on or left doesn’t it?

Certainly, over the last 20 years nothing has changed unless it was forced, and regimes before that weren’t that forward thinking either…frightened to gamble? Small time mentality? Lack of ideas? Happy to just keep chugging away with little change?

Combination of all of them?

You are quite right. The only major changes at BP since the completion of the Findus Stand in 1984, almost 40 years ago, were forced upon us.

The seats in the Pontoon, Osmond and Lower Findus. Compulsory due to the Taylor report.

The replacement of the old scoreboard with the big telly in the corner. Necessary because the old one broke.

The replacement of the floodlights. Forced upon us because of they were quite literally the oldest football floodlights in the world - almost 70 years old.

The removal of the pitch hump and the replacement of the Victorian irrigation system - necessary because the EFL require, y’know, a flat pitch and because it was fùcking VICTORIAN, ffs. Everyone else had pop-up sprinklers and lighting rigs while we still needed to enlist a tosher (Google it) to help dredge the turd (and let’s be honest, there’s been no shortage of it on that pitch in recent seasons).

I dunno, when you lay it bare it’s just a harsh reminder of how far we haven’t come this century, and how much catching-up we have to do.

At least we have more progressive people in control of the club today.

Quoted from Poojah

You are quite right. The only major changes at BP since the completion of the Findus Stand in 1984, almost 40 years ago, were forced upon us.

The seats in the Pontoon, Osmond and Lower Findus. Compulsory due to the Taylor report.

The replacement of the old scoreboard with the big telly in the corner. Necessary because the old one broke.

The replacement of the floodlights. Forced upon us because of they were quite literally the oldest football floodlights in the world - almost 70 years old.

The removal of the pitch hump and the replacement of the Victorian irrigation system - necessary because the EFL require, y’know, a flat pitch and because it was fùcking VICTORIAN, ffs. Everyone else had pop-up sprinklers and lighting rigs while we still needed to enlist a tosher (Google it) to help dredge the turd (and let’s be honest, there’s been no shortage of it on that pitch in recent seasons).

I dunno, when you lay it bare it’s just a harsh reminder of how far we haven’t come this century, and how much catching-up we have to do.

At least we have more progressive people in control of the club today.

I know some have been negative towards 1878 but I’m 100% sure that given time they’ll take the club forward, maybe not the the level of the clubs you described earlier in the thread but it will get better from top to bottom.

It is interesting though as a club we have an odd record in terms of the fans forking out for stuff, Operation Promotion, Bonnetti, Joe Waters and the Ponny rebuild cone to mind. My dad also said the fans put money in to get Sir Matt but I’m not sure about that.

Can add World and European Champions Chelsea to that esteemed list.  We beat them more than once in the old Championship.  I did not see the 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge (from 2-0 down).

But I did see us beat Chelsea 2-0 at BP in the early 1980s.  Class.

It's been an aim of the club to move ground for years which I'm sure has prevented improvements to BP but I can't see a new stadium coming any time soon, that ship sailed a long time ago.

Like Herts said, I'm sure 1878 will take the club forward. Strides forward are continually being made and a culture of constant improvement will ensure we continue to make progress.

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

Can add World and European Champions Chelsea to that esteemed list.  We beat them more than once in the old Championship.  I did not see the 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge (from 2-0 down).

But I did see us beat Chelsea 2-0 at BP in the early 1980s.  Class.

I remember that game and after the game Geoff Hurst sat on their bus at the top of Blundell Av waiting for their players to come out looking really drunk off.

Trevor Whymark scored on his debut. Chelsea fans in the pony and barretts.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

It's been an aim of the club to move ground for years which I'm sure has prevented improvements to BP but I can't see a new stadium coming any time soon, that ship sailed a long time ago.

Like Herts said, I'm sure 1878 will take the club forward. Strides forward are continually being made and a culture of constant improvement will ensure we continue to make progress.

Whilst I’ve no issue with ambition to have a new ground, in truth, under the stewardship of Fenty it was never happening, however much he believed it. The failure to at least maintain BP based on a pipe dream is negligence and stupidity. Nobody is saying spending huge sums to maintain it but literally, in my life time in fact, things have only been done when forced upon the club. That goes beyond Fenty to.

As a club we seem to want to raise money for something all the time, and by club I mean fans. Is it altruism? Is it blind love? Is it charitable or stupidity? We mocked chesterfield for asking their fans to raise money for pitch coverings yet we even raised money for the frauds friend that died. All that, after being told the hard earned cash of fans raised in the wake of a playoff defeat wasn’t a factor in the following promotion…

Quoted from aldi_01

Whilst I’ve no issue with ambition to have a new ground, in truth, under the stewardship of Fenty it was never happening, however much he believed it. The failure to at least maintain BP based on a pipe dream is negligence and stupidity. Nobody is saying spending huge sums to maintain it but literally, in my life time in fact, things have only been done when forced upon the club. That goes beyond Fenty to.

As a club we seem to want to raise money for something all the time, and by club I mean fans. Is it altruism? Is it blind love? Is it charitable or stupidity? We mocked chesterfield for asking their fans to raise money for pitch coverings yet we even raised money for the frauds friend that died. All that, after being told the hard earned cash of fans raised in the wake of a playoff defeat wasn’t a factor in the following promotion…

Completely agree, though it can never be substantiated my belief is that the former "leadership" a term I use loosely to describe our last board wanted to build a new ground to inflate the value of their equity rather than ensure the betterment of the club for all stake holders.  

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Completely agree, though it can never be substantiated my belief is that the former "leadership" a term I use loosely to describe our last board wanted to build a new ground to inflate the value of their equity rather than ensure the betterment of the club for all stake holders.  

I always believed this was the plan all along. He would never do anything without a payoff at the end of it. Nothing wrong with that per se if you are a hard nosed businessman intent on making money, but I think when it didn't work out he just decided to keep his losses as low as possible.

In the end he got everything back as well as having all the benefits of being top dog all those years so he might be a lot of things but he is no fool in that respect.

Do we really need a new ground, Blundell Park is steeped in history and connections with family and friends long departed.What we need is someone with flair and creativity that can develop in within the existing constraints,it can be done.

Long term, we need a new stadium. However, at the moment we can see that with just a little success on the pitch, our present stadium capacity is insufficient.

I think, in the medium time, if things keep improving on field, we could maybe erect structures in the open corners. This would increase the ground capacity enough for now.

Quoted from aldi_01

Whilst I’ve no issue with ambition to have a new ground, in truth, under the stewardship of Fenty it was never happening, however much he believed it. The failure to at least maintain BP based on a pipe dream is negligence and stupidity. Nobody is saying spending huge sums to maintain it but literally, in my life time in fact, things have only been done when forced upon the club. That goes beyond Fenty to.

As a club we seem to want to raise money for something all the time, and by club I mean fans. Is it altruism? Is it blind love? Is it charitable or stupidity? We mocked chesterfield for asking their fans to raise money for pitch coverings yet we even raised money for the frauds friend that died. All that, after being told the hard earned cash of fans raised in the wake of a playoff defeat wasn’t a factor in the following promotion…

I don't think altruism and The Leech belong in the same sentence. However, as has been demonstrated, our fans have shown altruism in their regard for our club and it's success.