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General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: taxi Phil on March 16, 2017, 11:32:34 AM
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Somewhere amid the protests, there's a game being played. The result is almost certainly academic to either of two poor teams.....though from our point of view, a win would buy us a few more days off the bottom of the league.
Altrincham 3 (Owens, Newby, Cyrus) Stalybridge 1 (Chalmers)
Attendance (officially) 972
Attendance (actual bodies) 794
Attendance (by 3.20pm) 731
Each side reduced to 10 men around the hour mark.
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Sorry Phil - I'm not counting that many. The score and 10 a side I can manage ;D
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2-2
Two wank teams with nothing to play for
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Alty 21/10
Draw 13/5
Celtic 2/1
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2-2
Two wank teams with nothing to play for
Call.
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We are playing to do the double over Stalybridge.
We are playing so as to avoid finishing bottom club in the division.
We are now playing for pride and arguably have more to play for than the mid table teams.
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First game for me since Worcester.
Tomlinson
Lynch Heathcote Cyrus McWilliams
Brownhill
Newby. Jones Richman. Clee
Owens
Wouldn't be my line up but thats what I reckon
Long ball from us.2-1. Cyrus and an og.
856 attn
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We are playing to do the double over Stalybridge.
We are playing so as to avoid finishing bottom club in the division.
We are now playing for pride and arguably have more to play for than the mid table teams.
Ah, we all need a laugh at a time like this.
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We are playing to do the double over Stalybridge.
We are playing so as to avoid finishing bottom club in the division.
We are now playing for pride and arguably have more to play for than the mid table teams.
do we have any pride left?
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We are playing to do the double over Stalybridge.
We are playing so as to avoid finishing bottom club in the division.
We are now playing for pride and arguably have more to play for than the mid table teams.
do we have any pride left?
That went with Fabio Bassangue.
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We are playing to do the double over Stalybridge.
We are playing so as to avoid finishing bottom club in the division.
We are now playing for pride and arguably have more to play for than the mid table teams.
do we have any pride left?
this post sums up our tragic season .
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And it's Matt and Robbie's job to get it back and if you listen to their session on Tuesday you can recognise that.
Oh never mind. Turn Leonard Cohen over and play the other side.
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And it's Matt and Robbie's job to get it back and if you listen to their session on Tuesday you can recognise that.
Oh never mind. Turn Leonard Cohen over and play the other side.
All I heard on Tuesday was two guys desperate to pitch themselves for the job, with no real experience. When they should have been at Stalybridge watching 2 of our next 3 opponents
Bit sad really, some people have no shame
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Nothing wrong with really wanting the job. We've had managers with experience this season and it was a complete shambles. Let them have the job , see how it goes because the alternative of starting all over again will end up in tears.
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And it's Matt and Robbie's job to get it back and if you listen to their session on Tuesday you can recognise that.
Oh never mind. Turn Leonard Cohen over and play the other side.
"Give me back the Berlin wall
Give me Stalin and St. Paul
I've seen the future, brother
It is murder."
Leonard Cohen
(possibly contemplating life in the Evo-Stik League).
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We are playing to do the double over Stalybridge.
We are playing so as to avoid finishing bottom club in the division.
We are now playing for pride and arguably have more to play for than the mid table teams.
Well that gang of C**ts should have been doing beforehand, surely? How do we have more to play for? Unless you count scrabbling for a contract in the Evostick as "something to play for". Very bizarre post.
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You might not have noticed but the team that started the season is not the team that is playing now. 50 odd players have pulled on the shirt but how many actually put a shift in?
There was a cancer in the dressing room. Mentally as well as physically we were dysfunctional. Slowly this has been addressed and now the team are a team again. In my opinion it was first noticeable away at FCUM.
We are starting again from a very low point (Glue league) but the rebuild has already started even though we still have to take the hit that is relegation.
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Nothing wrong with really wanting the job. We've had managers with experience this season and it was a complete shambles. Let them have the job , see how it goes because the alternative of starting all over again will end up in tears.
There is something wrong with neglecting the team, which the management team did on Tuesday
They chose to showcase themselves instead of preparing our team to face 2 of our 3 next opponents - sad really
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Nothing wrong with really wanting the job. We've had managers with experience this season and it was a complete shambles. Let them have the job , see how it goes because the alternative of starting all over again will end up in tears.
There is something wrong with neglecting the team, which the management team did on Tuesday
They chose to showcase themselves instead of preparing our team to face 2 of our 3 next opponents - sad really
No they didn't. They chose to address the cancer which is dividing the supporters and put facing the perennial whingers like you ahead of a trip to watch 2 of the next 3 opponents. Ordinarily you would be pleased to be put at the front of the queue but with your moaning head on you refuse to see anything positive that is taking place.
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I wish people would stop using the present management team as a way to express their displeasure with the board. The chairman should obviously consider his position in light of two relegations, but imo using MD and RL as scapegoats for poor past managerial appointments is just muddying the issue.
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I wish people would stop using the present management team as a way to express their displeasure with the board. The chairman should obviously consider his position in light of two relegations, but imo using MD and RL as scapegoats for poor past managerial appointments is just muddying the issue.
In my opinion they're ANOTHER poor managerial appointment. I'd love them to prove me wrong though.
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You might not have noticed but the team that started the season is not the team that is playing now. 50 odd players have pulled on the shirt but how many actually put a shift in?
There was a cancer in the dressing room. Mentally as well as physically we were dysfunctional. Slowly this has been addressed and now the team are a team again. In my opinion it was first noticeable away at FCUM.
We are starting again from a very low point (Glue league) but the rebuild has already started even though we still have to take the hit that is relegation.
Very good (reasoned) post - if only we had a few more level heads amongst our fanbase - and most importantly our board.
This current team might have been good for lower-to-mid table - not great in the grander scheme of things, but not so bad given where we were.
It might sound daft to most, but relegation might be better than survival at this point - get the 'winning' mentality back, and hopefully bounce back with renewed momentum. It's worked (albeit at a different level) for the likes of Leicester, Southampton and Norwich.
Dare I say it, some fans might even enjoy our little 'holiday' in the glue league compared to what we've witnessed the past couple of years :D
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I wish people would stop using the present management team as a way to express their displeasure with the board. The chairman should obviously consider his position in light of two relegations, but imo using MD and RL as scapegoats for poor past managerial appointments is just muddying the issue.
In my opinion they're ANOTHER poor managerial appointment. I'd love them to prove me wrong though.
They might prove you wrong Romeo. If they don't, I'll be with you 100%, but surely they should be given the opportunity now when there's nothing to lose and things do seem to be getting a little better.
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Nothing wrong with really wanting the job. We've had managers with experience this season and it was a complete shambles. Let them have the job , see how it goes because the alternative of starting all over again will end up in tears.
There is something wrong with neglecting the team, which the management team did on Tuesday
They chose to showcase themselves instead of preparing our team to face 2 of our 3 next opponents - sad really
No they didn't. They chose to address the cancer which is dividing the supporters and put facing the perennial whingers like you ahead of a trip to watch 2 of the next 3 opponents. Ordinarily you would be pleased to be put at the front of the queue but with your moaning head on you refuse to see anything positive that is taking place.
If they were that arsed about the supporters and the team they would have arranged the meeting for another night in the first place and not a night when they should've been watching future opponents or preparing the team at training.
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Unfortunately we lose this 3-2 after an awful nervy start and a stronger finish. MD and RL will say our lucks rotten.
I sincerely hope they prove me wrong because we've got a fantastic chance of getting a win in our next three games which could sensationally see us only 6 or 7 points of safety with six games to play.
If the revival that the management talk about really is on then this isnt just a pipe dream, but I like others am truly sceptical given the sides we've beaten this season and seeing how much we had to ride our luck at Boston to get the win.
I also think if we lose Newby at the end of March its game over.
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You might not have noticed but the team that started the season is not the team that is playing now. 50 odd players have pulled on the shirt but how many actually put a shift in?
There was a cancer in the dressing room. Mentally as well as physically we were dysfunctional. Slowly this has been addressed and now the team are a team again. In my opinion it was first noticeable away at FCUM.
We are starting again from a very low point (Glue league) but the rebuild has already started even though we still have to take the hit that is relegation.
Very good (reasoned) post - if only we had a few more level heads amongst our fanbase - and most importantly our board.
This current team might have been good for lower-to-mid table - not great in the grander scheme of things, but not so bad given where we were.
It might sound daft to most, but relegation might be better than survival at this point - get the 'winning' mentality back, and hopefully bounce back with renewed momentum. It's worked (albeit at a different level) for the likes of Leicester, Southampton and Norwich.
Dare I say it, some fans might even enjoy our little 'holiday' in the glue league compared to what we've witnessed the past couple of years :D
It does sound daft to want relegation over survival yes
And to suggest this leauge we are heading towards may be fun is incredible
I have no words left
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I wish people would stop using the present management team as a way to express their displeasure with the board. The chairman should obviously consider his position in light of two relegations, but imo using MD and RL as scapegoats for poor past managerial appointments is just muddying the issue.
Lord knows I've always had time for Buzz and Robbie but I think the worrying thing is that GR has learned no lessons from Tolson, he's now made an appointment that's not based on capability or experience. I'm afraid Matt Doughty as assistant to Tolson and Harvey has a large responsibility for where we are now.
Where is the clear headed structural thinking here? They were appointed to the end of the season on their own prompting for Gods sake. We've moved from utterly shambolic to less shambolic yes but did we really give up on this season before Xmas.
This clubs deserves more than managers being given a job on the bare minimum of improvement, if they lack credibility and accountability - the two key factors in our downfall (starting from the top) - then it will continue.
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I agree with you Ballers, but surely the next 9 games (?) will be an opportunity to make a sound assessment about the current management team when there's absolutely nothing to lose? If it doesn't work out, then it doesn't work out and we can start again in the summer.
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On the subject of managerial experience, Jim Harvey had it in bucketfuls and bombed badly. Young was experienced too, and was a total washout.
Look at the Cowleys.....probably the management success story of the season. Where were they 5 years ago ?
Every manager has to cut his teeth somewhere.....maybe Buzz and Robbie will blossom in the glue league, sceptical as I am. At least they have roots at this club.
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As stated by the pair at the meeting, they deserve the chance to start next season, bringing their own players and ideas in before and from the start of next season. This season they are doing their best with what they already had to work with. Matt and Robbie said it was a thankless task to start with what they had, in the light of results so far before they started. We are now seeing the signs of improvement. Believe me there is still a long way to go before things really improve, we can start by winning the next two games. If we do I also think there is a real chance we can survive, but if we don't then we go to the glue league. Even if that happens, from the meeting last Tuesday, I still think they deserve their chance to build their own team. Don't write them or the team off just yet, see what happens in the next two games, it could be boom or bust. As fare as Stalybridge in concerned my head says score draw but my heart says 1-0 win. Time will tell.
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Where do experienced managers get their experience from if they are never to be given a chance?
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Look at the Cowleys.....probably the management success story of the season. Where were they 5 years ago ?
Cowley began at Concord, cutting his teeth at a level commensurate with his lack of experience. Once he proved a success with them he was given the Braintree and then Lincoln jobs. He's been a manager for ten years and started when Concord were in the Essex Senior League. He was not given a job trying to keep a previously stable club from a second consecutive relegation.
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As stated by the pair at the meeting, they deserve the chance to start next season, bringing their own players and ideas in before and from the start of next season. This season they are doing their best with what they already had to work with. Matt and Robbie said it was a thankless task to start with what they had, in the light of results so far before they started. We are now seeing the signs of improvement. Believe me there is still a long way to go before things really improve, we can start by winning the next two games. If we do I also think there is a real chance we can survive, but if we don't then we go to the glue league. Even if that happens, from the meeting last Tuesday, I still think they deserve their chance to build their own team. Don't write them or the team off just yet, see what happens in the next two games, it could be boom or bust. As fare as Stalybridge in concerned my head says score draw but my heart says 1-0 win. Time will tell.
Of course they said it was a thankless task Steve they didn't win a league game for 3 months, I doubt they would have said it was all planned that way. I agree with the rest of what you've said.
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We have nine games left. I think it's safe to say we'll get nothing at Salford. Five of the rest are winnable if we pull all the stops out, and the other three could be drawn with luck if we've built some momentum.
Total points if we pull off that sort of miracle ? A mere 34. We'd still almost certainly be down before going to Tamworth on the final day.
I stopped dreaming months ago, but I'm ready to embrace the challenge of bouncing back....although enjoying it is secondary.
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Look at the Cowleys.....probably the management success story of the season. Where were they 5 years ago ?
Cowley began at Concord, cutting his teeth at a level commensurate with his lack of experience. Once he proved a success with them he was given the Braintree and then Lincoln jobs. He's been a manager for ten years and started when Concord were in the Essex Senior League. He was not given a job trying to keep a previously stable club from a second consecutive relegation.
But that demonstrates part of my argument. Braintree and Lincoln took them on because they had a progressive profile. You couldn't say that about our last two permanent appointments.
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Look at the Cowleys.....probably the management success story of the season. Where were they 5 years ago ?
Cowley began at Concord, cutting his teeth at a level commensurate with his lack of experience. Once he proved a success with them he was given the Braintree and then Lincoln jobs. He's been a manager for ten years and started when Concord were in the Essex Senior League. He was not given a job trying to keep a previously stable club from a second consecutive relegation.
But that demonstrates part of my argument. Braintree and Lincoln took them on because they had a progressive profile. You couldn't say that about our last two permanent appointments.
But you also say maybe they'll cut it in the glue league, when there is little evidence of that, as they haven't proven themselves at that level or at any level.
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We are playing to do the double over Stalybridge.
We are playing so as to avoid finishing bottom club in the division.
We are now playing for pride and arguably have more to play for than the mid table teams.
How did this pan out then ?
Not long left now
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There was no lack of effort today on either side. There was just no quality, particularly in the final thirds. I'm not inclined to pay £14 to watch nil every week. I hope the chairman enjoyed it.
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That was awful. Two dreadful teams serving up another highly unwatchable game of football. Could have heard a pin drop after the walkout. Andy Owens, not sure I've seen a bigger donkey in the shirt since Chris Young in the Bernard Taylor days.
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We have nine games left. I think it's safe to say we'll get nothing at Salford. Five of the rest are winnable if we pull all the stops out, and the other three could be drawn with luck if we've built some momentum.
Total points if we pull off that sort of miracle ? A mere 34. We'd still almost certainly be down before going to Tamworth on the final day.
I stopped dreaming months ago, but I'm ready to embrace the challenge of bouncing back....although enjoying it is secondary.
That 34 points just became 32. Dreadful. The first team we've taken 4 points from. The only team not to score against us. Yippee ! Mine's a hemlock.
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First half was sh*te.
Second half marginally better.
Could have won it,could have lost it. No team deserved to have scored.
Crap, Neither will challenge for a title next season.
Crap.
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The pitch made it difficult today, I agree it was not a great game.
But we had the better chances, hitting the post and forcing a few saves from there keeper. but a draw about right.
We lack an inform striker, if we had one I am sure we would have won. Reeves of old or Colin little is what we are missing.
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The pitch made it difficult today, I agree it was not a great game.
But we had the better chances, hitting the post and forcing a few saves from there keeper. but a draw about right.
We lack an inform striker, if we had one I am sure we would have won. Reeves of old or Colin little is what we are missing.
Breezy with it too.
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The pitch made it difficult today, I agree it was not a great game.
But we had the better chances, hitting the post and forcing a few saves from there keeper. but a draw about right.
We lack an inform striker, if we had one I am sure we would have won. Reeves of old or Colin little is what we are missing.
Instead of lumping it up to lumbering Sunday league clown Andy Owens!
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Interesting article in the matchday program by Mike Garnett called the unpalattable truth...
Basically stating we have over achieved in the last 13 years or so. Sobering reading.
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Interesting article in the matchday program by Mike Garnett called the unpalattable truth...
Basically stating we have over achieved in the last 13 years or so. Sobering reading.
Can you copy it here ? ... without jumping to conclusions it sounds like we are happy being in the leauge below then ?
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HI Wayno, whats your email address, will send to you. I cannot upload it.
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Another clean sheet.
I don't think Matt is correct for the job (lack of managerial experience( but we've kept a fair few clean sheets recently under him
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Based on last 6 matches, we would be mid table. So there is improvement. Far from perfect but it is improving.
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HI Wayno, whats your email address, will send to you. I cannot upload it.
will pm you thanks
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Based on last 6 matches, we would be mid table. So there is improvement. Far from perfect but it is improving.
It's certainly worth noting. But unfortunately we've played poor sides, and giving Matt the job full time is one risk too far.
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Interesting article in the matchday program by Mike Garnett called the unpalattable truth...
Basically stating we have over achieved in the last 13 years or so. Sobering reading.
Propaganda commissioned by the club?
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Not sure, send me your email address and I will send it to you.
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I found it quite awkward to read tbh
It's basically saying we have to accept the level we are at and we have been punching above our weight for some time
That in its self is probably true to a certain degree . But done it we have and our ambition should be to continue that
It's clever journalism that says we "achieved" higher status vs "earnt" it via straight promotion
I find that quite distasteful and an insult that "this writer" would belittle the achievements of success via a play off
The sweat and effort put in by those during those games is not a real achievement it seems
I wonder if Chelsea will let bayern Munich have the champions leauge Title as it was won on penalties and not in the normal 90 minutes?
Ironically the dictionary meaning of the word "earned" means gain deservedly in return for ones behaviours or achievements
It really is splitting hairs as the word achievement is used in relating to earned
The article sadly Fails to mention the catastrophic appointments of tolson and young that led us to this point
Young for sure has "earnt" us relegation
Very very sad times
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Not sure, send me your email address and I will send it to you.
Would also Welcome a read
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I read the article and thought it was nonsense. To begin with, It doesn't seem to register the fact that the Northern Premier League was for a long time equivalent to conference north level and claiming a play off win isn't a justly earned promotion is just plain wrong.
But what's worse is the pathetic attempt to write off our current terrible state as natural and something to be expected. Spin the historical facts whatever way you want - to suggest Altrincham FC can't compete with the likes of Gainsborough, Stalybridge, Bradford Park Avenue, Brackley, Harrogate, Gloucester and Worcester is ridiculous. Rock bottom of the conference north can only be described as UNACCEPTABLE
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Its a sad piece that doesnt stand up to logic, that or it fails to appreciate that such "over achievement" has been seen under the guise of the current regime, bit of an own goal if meant to be propaganda. Everyone entitled to their opinions though.
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I've been supporting this club since 1989 and I'm a spring chicken compared to longer supporters
God I feel sorry for them comparing this garbage team to the 1960, 70 s era
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(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/p960x960/17358739_10156086249668975_6609971122148936141_o.jpg?oh=97be797e45d26b34b810f4c9c7ee2519&oe=59699211)
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Some tips for next time:
- Simply putting words in bold is not enough, you have to actually define them. Otherwise the essay is a series of baseless assertions, formed around your unexplained distinction between two words.
- Try to avoid conflating facts and arguments. The statement that we finished 17th in the Conference is a fact. The idea that the club deserves to be in the NPL isn't a 'truth'.
- Make sure you don't use non-sequiturs, such as Manchester City and Stockport - they add nothing to your argument, and make the essay seem to be desperately running out of steam.
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That article is garbage. Earned ? Achieved ? Manchester United won the European Cup in 1999. However, the previous season they finished runners up. So if we apply the logic from the programme articles then Man Utd only earned their passage into Europe and didn't achieve it and should be made to give the trophy back. I stopped buying the programme after being told off by GR for bullying Neil Young out of a job, I don't think i'm missing much if that sort of article is anything to go by.
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Mike Garnett should be ashamed of himself for writing such an article, and the club should be ashamed of itself for allowing it to be printed
Whatever your views on Rowley, thoughts like this have no place at Moss Lane, its an insult to all of us
Garnett out
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Accrington , Barnet , Dagenham , Macclesfield and Burton to name a few have done some major over achieving then.
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The writer of the article is entitled to his opinion, but to say that the last two promotions were not earned is pretty insulting in my view; not least to Heathcote, Sinnott and everyone else who did their bit.
I would also argue that we totally deserve to be in the Evo Stick next season, and I havent heard anyone say otherwise.
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The writer of the article is entitled to his opinion, but to say that the last two promotions were not earned is pretty insulting in my view; not least to Heathcote, Sinnott and everyone else who did their bit.
I would also argue that we totally deserve to be in the Evo Stick next season, and I havent heard anyone say otherwise.
totally agree with this .. and we still don't know if we are at rock bottom yet
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The writer of the article is entitled to his opinion, but to say that the last two promotions were not earned is pretty insulting in my view; not least to Heathcote, Sinnott and everyone else who did their bit.
I would also argue that we totally deserve to be in the Evo Stick next season, and I havent heard anyone say otherwise.
totally agree with this .. and we still don't know if we are at rocnk bottom yet
When we're in the bottom 6 of the glue league in September we'll know that rock bottom has been redefined.
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The writer of the article is entitled to his opinion, but to say that the last two promotions were not earned is pretty insulting in my view; not least to Heathcote, Sinnott and everyone else who did their bit.
I would also argue that we totally deserve to be in the Evo Stick next season, and I havent heard anyone say otherwise.
totally agree with this .. and we still don't know if we are at rocnk bottom yet
When we're in the bottom 6 of the glue league in September we'll know that rock bottom has been redefined.
what sits below the glue leauge out of interest? Amatuer football ?
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North West Counties not quite amateur
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North West Counties not quite amateur
ta
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I'd like to know what our current management trio - all involved in the time period as players/managers - think of not earning our place as footballs top table.
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An interesting, if in my opinion,incomplete view on our recent history and indeed the meritocracy of the play-off system.
I suspect Mike, like me, is a bit of a traditionalist and although a comparative newcomer to supporting the team (1971) I still subscribe to the White & Swales philosophy, i.e. Altrincham FC should aspire to being among the best, if not the best semi professional team in England and Wales. Back then to have been that would see you knocking on the door of the FL but in the decades in between it might've seen you in the relegation zone of the Conference National. Personally speaking, chasing league position whilst important is not crucial, the Berman years in particular have taught me that. However, in 2017 we clearly have the resources, the support and the access to playing talent to be the club White and Swales wanted us to be - it's a stated aim of the 5 year plan after all.
At the start of this season there were 6 part time sides in the league above us and about the same number of better resourced sides in this league, at least 2 of which we can accept are aberrations. With the greatest of respect Mike, given the resources upon which we can clearly call, this wretched season points to a much greater malaise at the club than the swings and roundabouts of footballing fortune.
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I'd like to know what our current management trio - all involved in the time period as players/managers - think of not earning our place as footballs top table.
great question
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Two poor teams of which we were the less poor, mainly due to Newby. Undoubtedly MOM and had he scored it would have been given. Terrible as Owens is hes the only option we have until Hobson is fit. Hes the only option because of the brand of football we are plying ie route 1.
Special mention for the Cyrus burst forward with ball at his feet. Thought it Rio Ferdinand for a minute.
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A special mention indeed for John Cyrus. A completely different player to the one I have seen previously. Yes I know it was only Stalybridge, but he was much more confident and commanding yesterday. Newby motm.
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Man of the Match? The organiser of the walkout.
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I've no idea why Mike Garnett chose to write that piece other than there was a blank page in the program that needed filling. Promotion can only happen if you have amassed enough points to be awarded automatic promotion or a place in the playoffs. If you are in the playoffs you have some more work to do but you still have the opportunity to earn the right to be promoted.
The rest is just froth to fill a page.
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I've just read the article by Mike Garnett and basically it's a pile of sh*te!!
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The article is now on the main website.
I find the piece hard to understand and read. It makes far too many generalisations and does not account for the time we eventually adjusted into the Conference National. Whatever league you play in, you have earned that right to be there.
I also think the attempted comparison of Manchester City and Stockport is bizzare and unwise. City were nationally considered to be underachieving and ended up playing in the same division as Macclesfield Town, before being taken over and having millions pumped into them. Stockport County, who have been nationally reported as being financially mis-managed and are very much underperforming giving their respective resources.
The article seems to be going against the strategic review, which states a realistic ambition to be at least a national league club within the next five years. So, why are we accepting that relegation to the lowest ever position is acceptable?
Its shocking enough that bad board decisions cost relegation from the National Premier and yet more atrocious decisions have cost us relegation to the lowest point ever in our proud history.
I don't see any relevance in our fluctuating league position. In all the years we have been in the National North, the worst, until now, was 14th.
A very poor piece that only seems to be setting the scene for next season.
Just seems to sum up lack of ambition and poor mentalities currently at the club.
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I've no idea why Mike Garnett chose to write that piece other than there was a blank page in the program that needed filling. Promotion can only happen if you have amassed enough points to be awarded automatic promotion or a place in the playoffs. If you are in the playoffs you have some more work to do but you still have the opportunity to earn the right to be promoted.
The rest is just froth to fill a page.
I dont always agree with you . But I am complete agreement here
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The article is now on the main website.
I find the piece hard to understand and read. It makes far too many generalisations and does not account for the time we eventually adjusted into the Conference National. Whatever league you play in, you have earned that right to be there.
I also think the attempted comparison of Manchester City and Stockport is bizzare and unwise. City were nationally considered to be underachieving and ended up playing in the same division as Macclesfield Town, before being taken over and having millions pumped into them. Stockport County, who have been nationally reported as being financially mis-managed and are very much underperforming giving their respective resources.
The article seems to be going against the strategic review, which states a realistic ambition to be at least a national league club within the next five years. So, why are we accepting that relegation to the lowest ever position is acceptable?
Its shocking enough that bad board decisions cost relegation from the National Premier and yet more atrocious decisions have cost us relegation to the lowest point ever in our proud history.
I don't see any relevance in our fluctuating league position. In all the years we have been in the National North, the worst, until now, was 14th.
A very poor piece that only seems to be setting the scene for next season.
Just seems to sum up lack of ambition and poor mentalities currently at the club.
Agree with Caspar.........Defeatist attitude at best, maybe just pack in and play park football or accept a club with a 1000 person fanbase cannot compete with Curzon Ashton or Buxton, let alone Accrington, Morecambe and Southport.
Bizarre comparison of earned vs achieved.......a load of horse$hit really
I don't recall 14th in Conf North ? :-
5th and promoted
8th
4th
3rd and promoted
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Agree with Caspar.........Defeatist attitude at best, maybe just pack in and play park football or accept a club with a 1000 person fanbase cannot compete with Curzon Ashton or Buxton, let alone Accrington, Morecambe and Southport.
Bizarre comparison of earned vs achieved.......a load of horse$hit really
I don't recall 14th in Conf North ? :-
5th and promoted
8th
4th
3rd and promoted
14th in the Unibond Premier (pre Conference north) in 2002/3
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So this negative drivel is ok to be printed in the programme , yet a a few factual tweets about the walkout is not tolerated by the men at the top? Unbelievable.
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Astonishingly, John Laidlar has now published the article in full on the Club's official website. Rowley is dragging this Club into oblivion.
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Rowley step down I don't want him out
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Astonishingly, John Laidlar has now published the article in full on the Club's official website. Rowley is dragging this Club into oblivion.
many programme articles get published in full on the website. I'm ok with that to be honest, I no longer buy a programme so reading some of the amount 48 hours after the game is a bonus to me. As for the content, sometimes I agree with it, sometimes I don't. Its not often we get something so blunt to discuss in the programme and the author has every right to state his / her case. It would be very interesting to see if a countering piece were permitted to be published.
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A countering article might prove difficult to produce convincingly. We can hardly claim to be in good shape on the pitch. I actually tend to largely agree with most of what Mike says, though his choice of words could have been better.
It is an indisputable fact that there are no part time clubs in the top four tiers, and a minority at level five. A handful of part time clubs have been competitive at that level, but generally it is an achievement for such a club to be in the top half.
We have to accept that we will be a level 7 club next season. I believe we can make it straight back to level 6 for 2018-9, and our target has to be level 5 by 2020-21 at the latest.
The five year plan mentioned the possibility of going full time in the longer term, and if we are to consolidate, or eventually reach the Football League, it has to be done as soon as we reach level 5. Otherwise our ambitions can only be top half level 5.
When we were the top level 5 club nearly 40 years ago, there were no full time clubs at that level. When Lincoln came down as the first automatic club to be relegated they stayed full time. A lot of people were sceptical, but when they went straight back up the decision was vindicated and it was effectively a game changer. Incidentally, the only one of the 92 league clubs in our first Championship season who currently sit lower than us are Hereford....but the league is full of teams who have passed us by, all of them on budgets we can only dream of.
We have to be healthy both on and off the field. We simply MUST get straight back up. Having seen Blyth and Matlock this season, we ought to be at least competitive in that league.
Our target is Conference mid table in four years at the most.....and full time football from that point, finances permitting.
But a final word of warning. The success stories of Burton and Fleetwood have not been hampered by having two of the biggest clubs in England a mere tram ride away. We will struggle to attract gates above 2500 on a regular basis no matter how successful we are. But it shouldn't stop us from trying our damnedest to punch our weight.
But we need to put a lot of extra weight on (unlike me !).
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Good post Wayno.
I agree with you.
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I think half of the argument of this article - essentially that our natural position as a club, given our level of support and playing budget, is the middle/top half of the Conference North - isn't that controversial. But to use that to make out that our relegation from that league is the sort of thing we should have been expecting to happen sooner or later is absurd. We shouldn't be anywhere near the relegation places in Conference North, even at our lowest ebb.
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It's a perfectly reasonable article with valid points to create debate and doesn't deserve to be called drivel and so on, although I found its timing very strange. You might even have thought the programme editor had arranged its publication on a day when had a fans' protest and are still, at least in theory, fighting relegation to ensure that somebody else got some flak.
No team has a god-given right to be in a particular division, but I disagree on some of Mike's points. Since the creation of the Alliance Premier League, we have spent the majority of that time in that league's top division, although we have been one of a number of yo-yo clubs along with the likes of Southport and Tamworth in recent years, as the top division has become more professionalised. Also, the difference between "earned" and "achieved" performance is really only valid if Altrincham were the only team ever to have achieved promotion through a play-off or to have been reprieved. Since 2005-06, 50% of promoted clubs have come up through the play-offs, and while I don't have the figures to hand to see how well they have performed compared to the champion clubs (it would be interesting to see that), this means that those clubs are also competing at the higher level in some numbers and our performances are judged against them just as against other clubs.
So, we should still be top half National League North at worst, and I don't think we can put this season, where we have been so far adrift, as just a poor season within our usual parameters.
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I think half of the argument of this article - essentially that our natural position as a club, given our level of support and playing budget, is the middle/top half of the Conference North - isn't that controversial. But to use that to make out that our relegation from that league is the sort of thing we should have been expecting to happen sooner or later is absurd. We shouldn't be anywhere near the relegation places in Conference North, even at our lowest ebb.
Exactly this.
We should be a top half Conf North / bottom half Conf National team given our current resources, but with ambitions of more. There is no point in carrying on if there's no ambition. This piece appears to be saying that we should all of been half expecting relegation to the lowest level in our history irrespective of 'off the field' goings on and that is total and utter garbage of the worst kind. Some might go so far as to say this is a strategically (that word again) timed propaganda piece.
It appears as if Altrincham FC has become a dictatorship. Propaganda pieces, use of the press to besmirch the name of opponents, family members and friends filling supposedly open vacancies, family members spying on dissenters, shutting down of anyone with an opposing viewpoint and a total inability to admit any wrong-doing.
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I think half of the argument of this article - essentially that our natural position as a club, given our level of support and playing budget, is the middle/top half of the Conference North - isn't that controversial. But to use that to make out that our relegation from that league is the sort of thing we should have been expecting to happen sooner or later is absurd. We shouldn't be anywhere near the relegation places in Conference North, even at our lowest ebb.
Exactly this.
We should be a top half Conf North / bottom half Conf National team given our current resources, but with ambitions of more. There is no point in carrying on if there's no ambition. This piece appears to be saying that we should all of been half expecting relegation to the lowest level in our history irrespective of 'off the field' goings on and that is total and utter garbage of the worst kind. Some might go so far as to say this is a strategically (that word again) timed propaganda piece.
It appears as if Altrincham FC has become a dictatorship. Propaganda pieces, use of the press to besmirch the name of opponents, family members and friends filling supposedly open vacancies, family members spying on dissenters, shutting down of anyone with an opposing viewpoint and a total inability to admit any wrong-doing.
The first four words of your final paragraph are, unfortunately, unnecessary.