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Post by BelleVueShrew on Jan 13, 2011 2:44:50 GMT 1
FROM THE HEART
I didn't post this at the weekend as I did not want to be accused of a knee-jerk reaction. I have also with-held from posting it over the last few weeks; as much as I have wanted to.
However, here are my feelings, as they stand.
Town have, ever since the ground move, continued to flatter to deceive.
By that I mean the opening exchanges, particularly at home, have seen us play an exciting, expansive, brand of football whereby we have over run teams and looked like the real deal. Pass and move, high tempo, unity. We have out-played, out-thought and out-fought teams.
Come the end of September though that brand of football has petered out and by the time October and the first signs of autumnfall have appeared we have been a shadow of the side that started out.
Under GT, the Messiah (yes, I was there first time round) I had real hope that this would not be the case at the fourth time of asking in our new surroundings.
Sadly I now find myself more disillusioned than ever before after yet another false start.
August and September saw a style of play whereby others failed to hang onto our shirt tails. We moved the ball well, had zest, tempo, eagerness, all reasoned with an absolute ethos of team work. To be fair, no change to a Peters or Simmo bolt from the starting block.
Everyone seemed to know each others game. There was a willingness, a togetherness. Surely this was it?
Should I have known better? History maybe depicts yes. I am now at a complete loss. I haven't enjoyed a game in ages. Discounting away games I have been to (they have been even more dire), consecutive home games against Torquay, Lincoln, Barnet, Southend, Hereford (yes, the first half), Cheltenham, Crewe and Morecambe have, on the whole, proven our lack of desire and capability.
What is the reasoning for this? Well, I am the first to admit I do not know what goes on behind the scenes (not anymore anyway).
Is it management / coaching tactics; player divisions; player / management fall-outs; inability to perform consistently at the required level; laziness; apathy?
I can't say in all honesty if it's any of the above, a mixture or indeed there are other factors that have a bearing. I will tell you my take on things though as I see it.
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Post by BelleVueShrew on Jan 13, 2011 2:48:40 GMT 1
My main area of concern, and where I see our real problems lying is midfield, both in a defensive and attacking mindset.
When we don't have the ball we stand off and create an inclusive line of defence some 20 odd yards from our goal-line made up of defenders and midfielders.
We allow teams to come at us and dictate what they are going to do with the ball. They pass it around unchallenged and await openings to develop with absolutely no pressure. Even Hereford did this with consummate ease for a good half hour or so.
Inevitably they will and do find a suitable opening.
On the other hand is when we obtain possession. The midfield still hold that stance, there is no creativity whatsoever.
The ball is largely hoofed forward to a front two who are expected to do wonders and s**t miracles with it!!
That would be fine if foraging runs were made from the midfield to expoit spaces and draw players. But the reality is this just doesn't happen and our front two, whoever they are, are left isolated and invariably cannot penetrate a sound defensive wall where they are completely out numbered.
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Post by BelleVueShrew on Jan 13, 2011 3:12:05 GMT 1
The end result?
As I see it, is dire, turgid football that I am deriving absolutely zero pleasure from watching.
I walked out after the third goal against Morecambe. No disrespect to the away team; but they were there for the taking. One goal back and they would have in all probabilty crumbled as Hereford did when we eventually tok the lead.
But, the real question to me is are what we witnessing down to manager / coaching directives or the players?
If it is the former, IT AINT WORKING - GET REAL
If it is the players not performing, THEN SORT IT OUT MANAGEMENT
I have not enjoyed a game in weeks. Should I and my children, the future generation, renew our season tickets? Not on your life watching that crap.
I was going to Barnet. Am I now? No way. And, before you start slagging me off and questioning my loyalty, have a word with people who know me, and the years I have put into supporting this club. Travelling the length and bredth of this country, fundraising and cajouling others into going.
Am I the only one questioning renewal of season tickets? I know a lot of people and there are many completely disillusioned at present and, based on things as they are, questioning renewing.
Let it rumble on STFC or DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT
As I said at the beginning - from the heart. Please print it off Ian and place it on Roland's desk. After all, we are both coming from the same desire to watch and enjoy our local team.
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Post by doogschitt on Jan 13, 2011 8:47:29 GMT 1
Well said!!, a very constructive criticism. Not so long ago I went to Vale Park to watch two teams, 1st V 2nd at the time play a game of football. High tempo was the way it was described and it was exciting to watch. The ball was passed with accuracy and to see Wright passing a ball from one wing to Ainsworth on the opposite wing and for us to be looking dangerous in the box was really quite adrenalin pumping.
I am a STH and havent missed a home game this season but after the last half dozen games I too feel a real sense of anti-climax. Hopefully this is just a blip. I dont think that the teams above us are world beaters just players who are more committed to their team. Our midfield is definitely the cause of our woes. If Wright and Ainsworth are having an off day then you can safely kiss goodbye to an attacking game and 50% performances by Robinson home and away are not helping our cause.
Hopefully the new strike partnership of Collins and Bradshaw will yield success and the rest of the team rediscover their ability to be creative and pass the ball quickly and accurately. If they do, we will see the high tempo football once more, if they dont, then we must look forward to mid table obscurity once more.
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mollcollie
Midland League Division One
Welsh and proud to be british
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Post by mollcollie on Jan 13, 2011 9:47:42 GMT 1
:)very well described and I too wonder if I should renew the Season ticket again. One point though about our midfield. more and more we end up playing 4.2.4, as when we are playing the 2 wingers, we are often left wanting when we lose the ball, this dictates that the 2 wingers are not getting back to cover in other positions. I am a friend of a manager from another league 2 team, who told me after they had played us that after the first 10 minutes they knew how the shrews were playing, therefore they played an extra man in midfield and then completely outplayed town for the rest of the game. And i think we all can see the same pattern in towns play.....very predictable. To end......town have a very good starting 13, who are all more than good enough in this league.......the rest of the "Squad" are poor and would struggle in the leagues below. I dont want promotion, only to see us struggle, because a certain so called fan base would be in their element slagging off players and staff. I want Roland to spend some of the JH/GH cash and build for the assault on his destination of the championship and build now. And is it not time to start telling fans what goes on behind the scenes.......no more undisclosed fees, let us know whats in the pot.........town fans are some of the best in fotball, stop treating us like fools
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Post by lexo on Jan 13, 2011 9:49:34 GMT 1
A good and valid post that I think most fans will understand
My area of concern is we have to many loan players coming in / out and this seems to unsettle the team / balance and when a few players get dropped for a couple of games their form seems to drop
A lack of goals / wins to back up confidence is now missing
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Post by elmundo on Jan 13, 2011 9:53:49 GMT 1
I am sure we see these types of threads every season around this time of year, yet season ticket figures hardly vary.
We are fourth division guys, we aren't going to be world beaters. I know it is hard to ascertain why we have changed so much from the start of the season, but if the players could play like that all season, they wouldnt be playing in League Two for Shrewsbury Town.
It can be tough being a STFC fan, but that makes the success we do achieve every now and again even sweeter.
I, for one, will most definitely be renewing my season ticket.
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Post by SouthStandShrew on Jan 13, 2011 9:55:33 GMT 1
Decent viewpoint Chris, and one I always agree with.
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Post by blum on Jan 13, 2011 10:08:18 GMT 1
"Sadly I now find myself more disillusioned than ever before after yet another false start."
Couldnt agree with you more Chris, I know I only pasted this one sentence but I agree 100% with your post(s).
First few games we were firing on all cylinders and I was praying we'd keep it up, however, as you have said (from the heart) it's all gone horrid. I find myself on a Saturday morning dreading it and really consider giving it a miss, but I still find myself sitting there watching utter garbage. When we go for a pint afterwards the general atmosphere is as flat as a witches do-da.
People said we had to change our style of play because teams had gotten wise to our tactics, I think that is rubbish. Something has gone missing and I dont like it one bit.
Next season I honestly think I won't renew my ST, if we dont go up then I certainly won't. I am sick to death of basement football.
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Post by El Huracán!!!! on Jan 13, 2011 10:24:58 GMT 1
Chris,
Intresting stuff, and certinly a side to it that I think many would agree with...
Would you be intrested in cobbleing together parts of the posts above into an artical for the fanzine?? Would be an intresting read for non B and A folks>
PM me and let me know...
On the flip side we still have a great chance of going up this season dispite everything, I guess at the moment its glass half full or half empty...
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Post by Feedo Gnasher on Jan 13, 2011 10:29:49 GMT 1
I don't really understand, why people are so down? Surely you guys must have seen much much worse than this with Shrewsbury?
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Post by stockportershrew on Jan 13, 2011 10:39:40 GMT 1
" People said we had to change our style of play because teams had gotten wise to our tactics, I think that is rubbish. Something has gone missing and I dont like it one bit. I'm not sure it is rubbish. We started off as a new team and for the first few weeks teams don't know quite what to expect. However, teams who did their homework worked out that if you stop the wingers and flood central midfield we're on the back foot. Aldershot were one of the first to do this and it seems other teams cottoned on fairly quickly. What you might question is that we don't seem very adaptable and we perhaps haven't got the creative players in other midfield areas. As the season has developed then results have become harder to come by then confidence begins to fade and we have stopped doing the basics (e.g. defending against) Morecambe and movement of players has become non existent. On a wider point having seen a few other L2/L1 teams over the past few seasons (Bury, Stockport, Macc in non STFC games),most lower league football is an attritional grind. It's not pretty, there's no space and speed and strength seem to be the valued assets. You get the odd exception every season - the teams with a bit of quality and ability to pass the ball like Rochdale but for the most part L2 consists of 20 odd teams of similar standard trying to wear each other down.
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Post by froggy on Jan 13, 2011 10:44:45 GMT 1
Calm down calm down, i'll reveal it to you all.
Over the past couple of years we've had a quality squad, capable of getting up the leagues. Thing is, on 31st December, the players and manager are called into Roland's office and spoken to (yearly).
He congratulates them on a fine start to the season and gives out awards, however, he gives them the bad news:
"look lads, you're a brilliant side and you can play the best football in the league (at times) but we really can't afford to get promoted so could you please, you know, just go a bit easier in the next half of the season."
And that is why we will NEVER get promoted ...
=]
Peace
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Post by stfcfan87 on Jan 13, 2011 11:20:17 GMT 1
It's an odd one.
Its almost like the long enforced time off in december has had a big effect on our play and we've struggled to get back into any kind of form.
I went to crewe away and thought we were superb, but since then....
At the start we looked an excellent side, good passing, plenty of width and two skillful on form pacey wingers causing all sorts of problems for teams and an attacking midfielder getting forward to support the strikers - teams didn't know who to mark.
But then Ainsworth got injured and thus the outstanding width we had went. Tope came in and did well initially but then faded. Then Disley got injured and we've lacked the running from midfield. Ainsworth's been back but not been the same, so we've had the effect that whoevers been on the left wing has been poor. A team that's built with width in mind, has had only one on-form winger who has been neutralised as Wright has been double marked, there's been little from the other side, and without disley our midfield lacks anyone to get forward.
Consequently we've stopped creating as many chances and thus scoring goals.
Just hope it can come back together.
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Post by El Huracán!!!! on Jan 13, 2011 11:46:14 GMT 1
The strange thing is this Crimbo/New year hangover/poor form has happened a few seasons at the new ground now, and we never really shake it off... even the Playoff season we stumbled in after a poor end to the season... In fact im going to check it out, Will be back with some stats..
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Post by nickjonesey on Jan 13, 2011 11:58:36 GMT 1
Good post(s) Chris and obviously straight from the heart. IMO what makes this patch more disappointing this season is the additional expectation/ belief that this year, with GT at the helm and the best team we have had for ages, could just be THE year. The realisation that we are not going to batter everyone with free- flowing attractive attacking football has now well and truly dawned and it does not feel nice at all. It is a blessing that we are still thereabouts and that with a good run we can be in the automatic places. Hopefully we can look back at this thread in May and regard it as a reference point just before things 'clicked'
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Post by d00bie on Jan 13, 2011 13:07:43 GMT 1
A very accurate description of the state of football on offer atm Chris. And Windsor Jnr stop (even if it is true) Oh and seeing as you mentioned season tickets Link------> They can't even give them away
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2011 13:30:49 GMT 1
Chris, Intresting stuff, and certinly a side to it that I think many would agree with... Would you be intrested in cobbleing together parts of the posts above into an artical for the fanzine?? Would be an intresting read for non B and A folks> PM me and let me know... On the flip side we still have a great chance of going up this season dispite everything, I guess at the moment its glass half full or half empty... Although I agree with some of what Chris has written, I don't agree with encouraging negativity which will only encourage a negative effect on our gates and create more negativity. Whilst watching STFC has not been great recently, I do think their are signs that this season could well pan out better than previous seasons.
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Post by El Huracán!!!! on Jan 13, 2011 13:43:39 GMT 1
A fanzine is there to reflect all sides of how fans are feeling and hes not the only one thinking that way.
Im an editor, and I still think we will go up and there will be articals reflecting that...
Just I read this as a well written and passionate peice that reflects what a few have said on B and A and a few have told me at games..... hiding away from the way some people are feeling does not help either...
Hope that helpes...
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Post by stfcfan87 on Jan 13, 2011 13:46:10 GMT 1
Good post(s) Chris and obviously straight from the heart. IMO what makes this patch more disappointing this season is the additional expectation/ belief that this year, with GT at the helm and the best team we have had for ages, could just be THE year. The realisation that we are not going to batter everyone with free- flowing attractive attacking football has now well and truly dawned and it does not feel nice at all. It is a blessing that we are still thereabouts and that with a good run we can be in the automatic places. Hopefully we can look back at this thread in May and regard it as a reference point just before things 'clicked' In fairness that raised hope has been there ever since we moved. In the first season it was there because we had just lost at wembley and were expecting the new ground to make a difference, in the second season we spent big, in the third season we just hoped that we'd kick on from the wembley trip and then this season..... what's the saying, 'i can cope with the despair, but it's the hope that kills me'
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Post by blum on Jan 13, 2011 17:17:28 GMT 1
Calm down calm down, i'll reveal it to you all. Over the past couple of years we've had a quality squad, capable of getting up the leagues. Thing is, on 31st December, the players and manager are called into Roland's office and spoken to (yearly). He congratulates them on a fine start to the season and gives out awards, however, he gives them the bad news: "look lads, you're a brilliant side and you can play the best football in the league (at times) but we really can't afford to get promoted so could you please, you know, just go a bit easier in the next half of the season." And that is why we will NEVER get promoted ... =] Peace Jnr, for many years now friends who dont follow the Town have always said, "they dont want to go up", they cant afford to go up" (Dagenham? for example ) and I have always replied with a " dONT TALK THROUGH YOUR A*SE" I still know in my heart it isn't but conspiracy runs deep and it makes you wonder, it really does. FAO Stockport Shrew, I know you dont agree with me (earlier post) but I honestly believe we ARE playing rubbish football at the moment. Since Hereford there hasnt been much to change my opinion. It's hard to define a formation, players out of position and it aint getting any better. When things turn around, which hopefully they will I will be one of the first to say I was wrong, but for now I'll stick with my opinion.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2011 17:30:32 GMT 1
I dont understand what some people want from our club anymore, we are in League 2, we are not a big club, after some poor results we are still in the top few teams, we have a nice new stadium and we can afford to keep players who are probably on pretty nice wages for this level, and we have shown we can afford to fork out on the odd transfer fee aswell, look at a club like Chester, they have nothing now, they were competing and even beating us not many seasons ago at all, other clubs like Pompey and Sheff Weds are going close to non existance and these clubs are easily 5 times our size, Wrexham also spent years above us, now they cant get near to getting back in the league, Hereford are very close to going down this season and it will be very hard for them to come back if it happens, they were League 1 not to long ago either, and our fans are complaining that we arnt playing like Real Madrid every week and we're not cruising at the top of the league? Get realistic.
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Post by BelleVueShrew on Jan 13, 2011 17:41:05 GMT 1
It is the old adage, you are only as good as your last game. Well you can now multiply that by quite a few.
I can take losing. This isn't about the losing. Many is the time I have clapped the team off on the back of a defeat because at least they have given it their all and applied themselves in a professional manner.
It is the manner we are losing. Where is the movement, where is the passion, where is the fight? I'm not talking about all the players here, for instance I was impressed with Collins and Bradshaw Saturday and their desire. But they had absolutely no back up whatsoever
Like I said, the midfield is pitiful. We stand way too deep off teams and let them play the ball round at leisure. That is not what I want to see from my team and it has reached the point I really don't want to go down anymore and watch unispiring, insipid displays.
If I was asked to renew my season ticket tomorrow I wouldn't, simple as!
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Post by stuttgartershrew on Jan 13, 2011 17:47:40 GMT 1
I dont understand what some people want from our club anymore, we are in League 2, we are not a big club, after some poor results we are still in the top few teams, we have a nice new stadium and we can afford to keep players who are probably on pretty nice wages for this level, and we have shown we can afford to fork out on the odd transfer fee aswell, look at a club like Chester, they have nothing now, they were competing and even beating us not many seasons ago at all, other clubs like Pompey and Sheff Weds are going close to non existance and these clubs are easily 5 times our size, Wrexham also spent years above us, now they cant get near to getting back in the league, Hereford are very close to going down this season and it will be very hard for them to come back if it happens, they were League 1 not to long ago either, and our fans are complaining that we arnt playing like Real Madrid every week and we're not cruising at the top of the league? Get realistic. I don't think its being unrealistic to warrant more than what we saw served up by Town against Crewe. Granted that's my only game but by the looks its no one off...isn't that the concern, the gripe folk have? That its something that we are now seeing week in, week out? Real Madrid?! Made me chuckle that...what about something a tad more realistic like the performances Town put in a few months back in August. I think that's what folk are hoping and expecting...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2011 17:57:58 GMT 1
I dont understand what some people want from our club anymore, we are in League 2, we are not a big club, after some poor results we are still in the top few teams, we have a nice new stadium and we can afford to keep players who are probably on pretty nice wages for this level, and we have shown we can afford to fork out on the odd transfer fee aswell, look at a club like Chester, they have nothing now, they were competing and even beating us not many seasons ago at all, other clubs like Pompey and Sheff Weds are going close to non existance and these clubs are easily 5 times our size, Wrexham also spent years above us, now they cant get near to getting back in the league, Hereford are very close to going down this season and it will be very hard for them to come back if it happens, they were League 1 not to long ago either, and our fans are complaining that we arnt playing like Real Madrid every week and we're not cruising at the top of the league? Get realistic. I don't think its being unrealistic to warrant more than what we saw served up by Town against Crewe. Granted that's my only game but by the looks its no one off...isn't that the concern, the gripe folk have? That its something that we are now seeing week in, week out? Real Madrid?! Made me chuckle that...what about something a tad more realistic like the performances Town put in a few months back in August. I think that's what folk are hoping and expecting... The Crewe game is the worst iv seen us play since probably something like Aldershot or Grimsby last season, but against Morecambe we had 21 shots, 11 which we on target, and their keeper had a great game, on another day we could have won it 4.3 but unfortunetly they didnt go in, but admittidly we are utter s**te at the back. And the way some people talk on here its like they actualy do expect us to play like Real Madrid when we are four tiers down, i dont know what it is with alot of people on here because i never actualy hear people at the games talking like people do on here, its like as soon as people get home they decide to type different things to i hear at the game itself.
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Post by El Huracán!!!! on Jan 13, 2011 18:01:01 GMT 1
Danny
Do we have a better squad that Morcambe and would you expect us to finish above them???
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Post by Feedo Gnasher on Jan 13, 2011 18:24:20 GMT 1
Danny Do we have a better squad that Morcambe and would you expect us to finish above them??? Clearly we will finish above them? Likewis Chesterfield lost to Burton, Vale got battered by Gillingham and Chesterfield in successive games, Rotherham even dropped points at Stockport!! In isolation results can be accepted, but our general level over the last few months is no doubt a bit worrying
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Post by El Huracán!!!! on Jan 13, 2011 18:35:45 GMT 1
I agree but the point is, they have done the double over us this season, and there only 7 points behind us (and there in 16th!) closer than we are to Chesterfield.... if things went bad this weekend and we dont rouse ourselves to beat Chesterfield at home... then discussing Morcambe as our rivals this season wont be far from the mark??
My point was is we have already had a blip thats put us closer to mid table to top... it has to end soon or we get dragged down into a battle for the last play off place?
You point about Chesterfield/Vale/Rotherham is fair but they have points in hand on us, and are looking up rather than over there shoulders now like we are...
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Post by Ned on Jan 13, 2011 18:51:22 GMT 1
I agree. You could always go to Bloomfield Road, Chris
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Post by blum on Jan 13, 2011 20:38:26 GMT 1
I dont understand what some people want from our club anymore, we are in League 2, we are not a big club, after some poor results we are still in the top few teams, we have a nice new stadium and we can afford to keep players who are probably on pretty nice wages for this level, and we have shown we can afford to fork out on the odd transfer fee aswell, look at a club like Chester, they have nothing now, they were competing and even beating us not many seasons ago at all, other clubs like Pompey and Sheff Weds are going close to non existance and these clubs are easily 5 times our size, Wrexham also spent years above us, now they cant get near to getting back in the league, Hereford are very close to going down this season and it will be very hard for them to come back if it happens, they were League 1 not to long ago either, and our fans are complaining that we arnt playing like Real Madrid every week and we're not cruising at the top of the league? Get realistic. IMO you're missing the point. With our fan base and facilities in THIS league we are one of the big boys, so playing like Real Madrid at this level isnt such a daft comment. Your point about the players earning a good living "in this league" shows that they are under performing, we have one of the biggest squads, one of the biggest playing budgets easily up there in the top three or four supported clubs (and a lot of League 1 as well), plus one of the most experianced managers in the lower leagues. Shouldwe as fans just sit back and watch dross or should we expect more? Personally I expect more. You cant compare Chester to Salop either, they were trying to survive with gates of 2000 with a corrupt chairman to boot. Sheffield Wednesday cannot be compared to us either. A city with a population of over 500,000 and us a mere 50 thousand, on supporters V population we are doing very well. Sheffield Wednesday imploded because of mis management off the field. I am all for keeping things tight but yet again it goes back to what I said earlier... We are one of the biggest and best supported clubs in the lower 2 leagues, success brings more support, more sponsorship, more TV money, more League money etc. etc. if you are happy to fester in league 2 then that's fine but speak to other supporters and the general feeling is one of discontent and frustration.
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