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Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: darren61 on May 27, 2016, 08:41:23 pm

Title: Is this the real thing?
Post by: darren61 on May 27, 2016, 08:41:23 pm
Is anyone else getting the feeling that next season will bring back some glory days? Or am i just drunk? Has Ronny from Donny got any thoughts?
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: RedJ on May 28, 2016, 11:48:57 am
I think it could be a good season for us, especially if another striker comes in.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Retdon1 on May 28, 2016, 12:14:08 pm
I honestly think we will pi*s it next season.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Rovers91 on May 28, 2016, 12:43:22 pm
I wouldn't say piss it because Portsmouth will be strong but I think we will have a good season and we have got to be aiming to win it.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: The Red Baron on May 28, 2016, 01:09:46 pm
I wouldn't say piss it because Portsmouth will be strong but I think we will have a good season and we have got to be aiming to win it.

I think most Portsmouth fans would have thought they would p*ss it last season. I think we should certainly be looking at top seven though.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: RobTheRover on May 28, 2016, 02:13:32 pm
It's funny,  the pain of last season feels a distant memory already.

I'm really looking forward to the new season.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: steve@dcfd on May 28, 2016, 02:58:05 pm
I wouldn't say piss it because Portsmouth will be strong but I think we will have a good season and we have got to be aiming to win it.

I think most Portsmouth fans would have thought they would p*ss it last season. I think we should certainly be looking at top seven though.

If we don't finish in the top three automatic promotion then we will have not achieved the objectives set.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: DonnyBazR0ver on May 28, 2016, 03:10:46 pm
Yep, it's time to turn this ship around. It's time to see joy on peoples faces. It's time the football did the talking!
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: the vicar on May 28, 2016, 03:28:29 pm
with out automatic we have failed, as playoffs are to close to call simple as
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Chris Black come back on May 28, 2016, 03:37:58 pm
Let's hold the horses.

These are good signings seemingly, all done early.

The issues with Ferguson hasn't been the players, it has been getting them to play as a cohesive unit and with some b*llocks to see the job through.

Great we have got some seemingly good signings but this is literally only half the job. Ferguson needs to get them playing. Last season showed that he really struggles at times. This can't be the case next season.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Copps is Magic on May 28, 2016, 04:34:45 pm
Too early to tell. I thought the signings last summer added to the squad but I was very wrong. Trying to stay a bit more impartial this time round. I like the look of the midfield already and the Keeper. Defensively and upfront we're still very short. 

Give me Keshi and a couple more defenders then I'll jump back on the bandwagon.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: dickos1 on May 28, 2016, 04:44:44 pm
He's signing his players now, he struggled to get the players playing that weren't his players
All these players want to play for him that's why they're here
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Chris Black come back on May 28, 2016, 04:55:39 pm
Let's just say the jury is out.

Will be willing him to win but the debacle of last season weighs very heavy.

I think we can all agree that there are absolutely no excuses this season. He has to get us challenging right from the very start. He has been provided with every possible advantage.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: dickos1 on May 28, 2016, 05:53:19 pm
Agreed but we also can't keep banging on about last season and give him a fresh start
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Retdon1 on May 28, 2016, 06:03:20 pm
Need to give him around 15/20 games and see where we are. Anywhere other than top 6 at this point and he should go. This will be his team so no excuses. Coming round to the thinking that relegation could not be such a bad thing as it gives us the chance to finally get rid of all the dead wood that dickov left us with and start fresh. Hopefully build some momentum like burton and Rotherham have done in previous seasons.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: steve@dcfd on May 28, 2016, 06:35:12 pm
Relegation was a bad thing, but we have to stop the rot now. It's not about 15/20 games unless by then we have a minimum of 30/40 points. This would we are on target for automatic.

From now it's up to the club, owners, CEO and manager to provide the players to get us out of the league.
It's then up to the manager and players to get there.
If we need assistance in the January window to achieve the objective I will expect the owners to assist that aim.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Sammy Chung was King on May 29, 2016, 12:18:20 am
Give him pre season and a fair few games early on, then the team should start improving going upto christmas, hitting top form around that time.
You want to be around the other teams near the top from the start, maybe 3-6 points from the top going into christmas. This league isn't the best, but it isn't easy, we will have to compete physically as well as the technical side.
 I don't expect promotion, though i would be massively disappointed if we aren't promoted. I suspect we will have to be patient early on in the season.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: les@donr on May 29, 2016, 06:07:25 pm
We will be a big team in L2, other teams will especially want to  beat us. The players will have to be both mentally and technically superior to the opposition. Fergie will have to get off to a winning start, otherwise he will have to go.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: mrfrostsdad on May 29, 2016, 07:28:23 pm
It's funny,  the pain of last season feels a distant memory already.

I'm really looking forward to the new season.

Really?? Not for me it doesn't. I'm still fuming that Ferguson managed to get the worst out of the players and is still in a job.
We thought we'd made some good signings last close season, and in general they turned out to be rubbish. Two useless managers compounded the situation.
Yes, I'm looking forward to next season because it HAS to be better. Let's not count our chickens though eh??
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: BillyStubbsTears on May 29, 2016, 10:57:19 pm
Relegation was a bad thing, but we have to stop the rot now. It's not about 15/20 games unless by then we have a minimum of 30/40 points. This would we are on target for automatic.

From now it's up to the club, owners, CEO and manager to provide the players to get us out of the league.
It's then up to the manager and players to get there.
If we need assistance in the January window to achieve the objective I will expect the owners to assist that aim.

Steve. We went through this last season.

The last 8 times we got promoted, we have had, after 15 matches.

12/13 27 points
07/08 22 points
03/04 28 points
02/03 29 points
83/84 25 points
80/81 26 points*
68/69 29 points*
65/66 25 points*
(*Converted to 3 points for a win.)

You've got to go back to 1949/50 to find a season where we got 30 points from the first 15 games (under 3 points for a win).

Be a bit realistic eh?


EDIT:
Correction: You've got to go back to 1949/50 to find a season where we got 30 points from the first 15 games AND GOT PROMOTION.

We got 31 points from the first 15 games in 94/95. And we finished 9th.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Sammy Chung was King on May 30, 2016, 12:53:23 am
With what will be half of a new squad, it's unlikely you just start off winning from the start. It will be gradually improving over the season, with us needing to be at our peak when the trophies are being handed out. Expect us to lose somewhere, that you expect us to win at, expect a disappointing point at a struggling team, but also expect a big win at a tough place, this will all happen early on.

As much as the manager hasn't convinced me, how could he getting a team more than good enough relegated?, he will need patience.
I will have to bite on something, to stop me wanting him sacked if we start badly. But if we want to do well, any manager needs time to improve things.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Chris Black come back on May 30, 2016, 09:04:03 am
A little concerning that some folk are already preparing excuses for him.

What else does he need to do the job?

This looks a piss poor league. We will almost certainly have the biggest budget in this league probably bar Portsmouth. He has had plenty of time in charge of the club (including taking us down last season) and has been given money to spend and has done so on seemingly good players, incredibly early. He will have a full pre-season with his chosen team (players he has chosen to buy or chosen to retain). No takeover shenanigans. Nothing to distract him from promotion.

We need to be in the top two at Christmas. That is not unrealistic folks.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: steve@dcfd on May 30, 2016, 11:02:38 am
The last time we were in this league, although it was league 3, in 2003/2004 we won the league with 92 pts and after 15 games we had 29 pts. So I believe I am being realistic, as CBCB says we should be there. I sick of excuses and the average. Let's take the league by the scruff of the neck and by the end of the season have 99+ pts like the poor club of Northampton!!
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Sad-Rovers on May 30, 2016, 11:42:44 am
I'll be disappointed with anything less than the title to be honest. As CBCB says there are absolutely no excuses for him this time, he's been backed to the hilt and it'll definitely be his squad this season.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Jonathan on May 30, 2016, 12:16:46 pm
I'll be disappointed with anything less than the title to be honest. As CBCB says there are absolutely no excuses for him this time, he's been backed to the hilt and it'll definitely be his squad this season.

Really, if we were to end up getting promoted in one of the other slots and you could honestly say that were "disappointed", then I think you need to realign your priorities. Otherwise you'll struggle to get any enjoyment out of the years you have ahead of you supporting Rovers.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Sad-Rovers on May 30, 2016, 12:34:33 pm
I'll be disappointed with anything less than the title to be honest. As CBCB says there are absolutely no excuses for him this time, he's been backed to the hilt and it'll definitely be his squad this season.

Really, if we were to end up getting promoted in one of the other slots and you could honestly say that were "disappointed", then I think you need to realign your priorities. Otherwise you'll struggle to get any enjoyment out of the years you have ahead of you supporting Rovers.

I'm quite happy with my expectations to be honest. There's no way we should have been relegated with the squad we had, that much is certain. I'd imagine he will have the biggest budget in L2, he's an experienced manager at this level and will have a squad of his own making. It's not unreasonable to expect us to take the L2 title.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Jonathan on May 30, 2016, 12:42:27 pm
I'll be disappointed with anything less than the title to be honest. As CBCB says there are absolutely no excuses for him this time, he's been backed to the hilt and it'll definitely be his squad this season.

Really, if we were to end up getting promoted in one of the other slots and you could honestly say that were "disappointed", then I think you need to realign your priorities. Otherwise you'll struggle to get any enjoyment out of the years you have ahead of you supporting Rovers.

I'm quite happy with my expectations to be honest. There's no way we should have been relegated with the squad we had, that much is certain. I'd imagine he will have the biggest budget in L2, he's an experienced manager at this level and will have a squad of his own making. It's not unreasonable to expect us to take the L2 title.

Unfortunately the game is played on grass rather than paper, as all the teams with bigger budgets and more esteemed managers than Leicester found out. As all the teams that finished below the shambolic Northampton found out. Anyhow, expecting the title is one thing - that's just a reflection of your own evaluation of the possibilities. Finding yourself "disappointed" by anything else is another thing entirely. Hypothetically speaking, if we were to achieve promotion by any means then I think it would be an unfortunate minority of fans that would not feel compelled to enjoy it.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: The Red Baron on May 30, 2016, 12:42:56 pm
I'll be disappointed with anything less than the title to be honest. As CBCB says there are absolutely no excuses for him this time, he's been backed to the hilt and it'll definitely be his squad this season.

Really, if we were to end up getting promoted in one of the other slots and you could honestly say that were "disappointed", then I think you need to realign your priorities. Otherwise you'll struggle to get any enjoyment out of the years you have ahead of you supporting Rovers.

I agree, Jonathan. The two occasions on which we've won a Divisional title in my 47 years as a fan, I wouldn't have backed us with counterfeit money before the season.

My expectations are top seven, and I'll be delighted with a top three finish.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: MrWoodySir on May 30, 2016, 12:43:46 pm
I'll be disappointed with anything less than the title to be honest. As CBCB says there are absolutely no excuses for him this time, he's been backed to the hilt and it'll definitely be his squad this season.
Exactly, huge pressure on him from the start.

Even ol' Fergie couldn't mess this up.... could he?  ;)
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Sad-Rovers on May 30, 2016, 12:56:46 pm
I'll be disappointed with anything less than the title to be honest. As CBCB says there are absolutely no excuses for him this time, he's been backed to the hilt and it'll definitely be his squad this season.

Really, if we were to end up getting promoted in one of the other slots and you could honestly say that were "disappointed", then I think you need to realign your priorities. Otherwise you'll struggle to get any enjoyment out of the years you have ahead of you supporting Rovers.

I'm quite happy with my expectations to be honest. There's no way we should have been relegated with the squad we had, that much is certain. I'd imagine he will have the biggest budget in L2, he's an experienced manager at this level and will have a squad of his own making. It's not unreasonable to expect us to take the L2 title.

Unfortunately the game is played on grass rather than paper, as all the teams with bigger budgets and more esteemed managers than Leicester found out. As all the teams that finished below the shambolic Northampton found out. Anyhow, expecting the title is one thing - that's just a reflection of your own evaluation of the possibilities. Finding yourself "disappointed" by anything else is another thing entirely. Hypothetically speaking, if we were to achieve promotion by any means then I think it would be an unfortunate minority of fans that would not feel compelled to enjoy it.

Don't get me wrong I'll be happy with promotion, but my expectation based on his pedigree, the money the board have given him and his signings so far is the title. I still don't think I'm over us being relegated to be honest. The last two relegations we've gone through I'd reconciled with myself well in advance, I'd even had money on us to go down. This season I fully expected us to stay up, right until the Crewe game.

If we scrape up via the play offs I think I'd expect him to be sacked afterwards, as mad as that sounds.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Jonathan on May 30, 2016, 01:11:32 pm
Is there actually such a thing as 'scraping up via the play offs?' To me, achieving promotion via the play offs represents one of the truly great days for a smaller club such as ours (and dare I say Barnsley who just 'scraped up via the play offs' after being bottom of the league in November). I'll never forget beating Dagenham at Stoke or Leeds at Wembley. Incredible occasions.

I think the Board have stated promotion is the aim, as it should be, and within that you obviously aim to finish as high as possible. But promotion by any means is a great achievement and one that should be celebrated.

On another note, I think it's probably a bit early to be having these discussions about next season's permutations. This season isn't over until later today!
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: steve@dcfd on May 30, 2016, 03:21:42 pm
My expectation is high I want top three at least. If we are in the playoffs then I will still be satisfied. The club so far have given monies to get players that Duncan wants. Saying he as been backed to hilt is overtop the owners won't have spent 60m so yes the progress so far with players is good. I expect players to go and better players to come in but after McSheffrey we might have to wait.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Chris Black come back on May 30, 2016, 03:33:22 pm
That is not a "high" expectation. We can't buy success nor should we attempt to do so, but the facts are Ferguson will have a squad of the best players in that league. His job is to get them playing to their potential. He failed with the squad last season. He must succeed with the squad this season - particularly as they are "his" players.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Sammy Chung was King on May 31, 2016, 01:17:26 am
He has been supported, but put it in proportion they are free transfers. Yes they will be on decent wages some of them, but it will be no more support than the other challengers get.
Will the board stump up for a player, if he is the right one, and he cost 100/150,000 to buy plus his wages?, let's see.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: BillyStubbsTears on May 31, 2016, 01:55:27 am
The last time we were in this league, although it was league 3, in 2003/2004 we won the league with 92 pts and after 15 games we had 29 pts. So I believe I am being realistic, as CBCB says we should be there. I sick of excuses and the average. Let's take the league by the scruff of the neck and by the end of the season have 99+ pts like the poor club of Northampton!!

So...last time we were in this league, we won the title and we had 29 points after 15 games.

But now you're saying that we ought to have 30 points after 15 games to be on course for automatic promotion. Even though we've achieved automatic promotion 6 times in the past 60-odd years, plus finishing in 2nd place in the Conf, and bottling automatic promotion with a woeful last month in 2007/08 without ever once in those 8 occurrences having managed to get 30 points from the first 15 games.

Do you not think you're being just a tad harsh in your expectations?
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: dickos1 on May 31, 2016, 03:13:29 am
I find it staggering that people are sharpening their knives already, ridiculous
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Jonathan on May 31, 2016, 07:42:50 am
He has been supported, but put it in proportion they are free transfers. Yes they will be on decent wages some of them, but it will be no more support than the other challengers get.
Will the board stump up for a player, if he is the right one, and he cost 100/150,000 to buy plus his wages?, let's see.

There's no point chasing after paying transfer fees when your number one targets are out of contract. Aside from which, Etheridge is going to cost a fee because of his age.

The most refreshing thing is that, for the first time in many years, we're picking off our main targets without working down and down the list and ending up with an influx of trialists that we have to decide on based on performances in (ultimately meaningless and half paced) friendly matches.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: DonnyOsmond on May 31, 2016, 08:11:04 am
Plus if they're out of contract the players usually ask for a higher signing on fee than when they're contracted. I don't get why people want us to spend transfer fees for the sake of spending a transfer fee.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: ferribyrover on May 31, 2016, 08:36:38 am
It is good that we are signing targeted players. But apart from Rowe we don't know if they are good enough to turn us into promotion contenders. Plus the doubts about the manager are still there.
I just wonder if this plan - rebuilding and recruiting early close season for 16/17 season -has been in place for many months, except for an unforeseen relegation.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: RoversAlias on May 31, 2016, 10:31:46 am
Transfer fees are largely non-existent at this level. Sammy nor anybody else can claim the manager isn't being backed due to free transfers. You don't know the wages or the sign on fees, which cannot all be cheap as chips considering that three of our signings to date rejected new deals at their cluns to join us, and the other turned down L1 clubs to come here.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Sammy Chung was King on June 02, 2016, 02:20:47 am
I'm not knocking ambition, and you are right fees very rarely get paid in the lower leagues, i was wondering if a fee needed to be paid, would the board give him the money, or go for another option?.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: DonnyOsmond on June 02, 2016, 02:59:06 pm
I'm not knocking ambition, and you are right fees very rarely get paid in the lower leagues, i was wondering if a fee needed to be paid, would the board give him the money, or go for another option?.

We're paying a fee for Etheridge and Wright.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Bristol Red Rover on June 02, 2016, 03:18:03 pm
There's a lot of comments knocking the quality of League 2, referring to our high spending etc and equating all that to auto promotion or even title expectations. What happened to "the likes of Doncaster", "we're just a pub team" etc?

Relax, enjoy what we have, and above all respect our opposition and our place in the world.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Alan Southstand on June 02, 2016, 03:24:03 pm
Should be's and could be's at this early stage are as meaningless as the pre-season friendlies, but it is a talking point on another-wise boring cricket season.

The problem I have with all this influx of players is..... we obviously had a major problem last season with the 'squad that was good enough', otherwise we would have stayed up. That major problem, or problems, still exist currently as only Tyson has left the Club. The manager is the same and most of last year's squad are still with us and they failed to motivate themselves last season. What makes us think that they're suddenly going to have a change of heart and perform like world-beaters (and not egg beaters)?

Obviously there will be few more to leave the fold and, hopefully, a few more to come in before we start again. The next thing is to mold them into a challenging outfit and we simply won't know whether that's is realistic until the matches really get going. I'm pleased we're targeting younger (and hopefully fitter) players but do they have the right attitude to succeed? Again, we have to hope that the manager has done his homework (moreso than PD ever did!!).

I don't think we've signed any 'eyebrow raisers' yet, but then again, because we don't really know these lads (except Rowe), we can hardly be setting any expectation levels at this stage.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Chris Black come back on June 02, 2016, 03:27:07 pm
Cricket season is boring?!

Yorkshire are fighting tooth and nail at top of the table and have just turned over Lancashire in an unbelievable performance. It doesn't get any better!
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: jonnydog on June 02, 2016, 03:28:33 pm
... I don't think we've signed any 'eyebrow raisers' yet, but then again, because we don't really know these lads (except Rowe), we can hardly be setting any expectation levels at this stage.

Although some folk on here already are :lol:
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Alan Southstand on June 02, 2016, 03:31:31 pm
Whatever rings your bells, CBCB! I can't stand cricket - its like croquet with knobs on! And don't get me started on tennis!
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Bristol Red Rover on June 02, 2016, 03:41:07 pm
...And don't get me started on tennis!
I suspect cricket may be one of the few sports where drug taking is more an essential constituent of watching rather than playing it.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: The Red Baron on June 02, 2016, 04:29:01 pm
Whatever rings your bells, CBCB! I can't stand cricket - its like croquet with knobs on! And don't get me started on tennis!

Cricket - greatest sport ever invented.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Chris Black come back on June 02, 2016, 04:45:51 pm
There is cricket - then there is Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Just unfortunate that Headingley is in Leeds.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: NickDRFC on June 02, 2016, 04:58:16 pm
At the risk of dragging this into off topic, completely agree with the posters who are supporting cricket. Yorkshire have done really well so far this season, none more so than with the latest win against Lancashire. We have 2 form batsman currently, both of whom missed the match as they were playing for England. To beat a bang in-form arch rival with no top order batsman firing is some feat - once the likes of Lyth and Ballance hit the form they're capable of there will be no stopping us.

Also to those who criticise, have you ever been to a Test match? Admittedly it's not for everyone but for me there are few better ways to spend the day than sitting in the sunshine (or rain) watching bat versus ball. I've got tickets for both Lords' tests this summer, day 4 though so not much hope of seeing the Sri Lanka game next weekend! Hopefully Pakistan offer a bit more resistance.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Sammy Chung was King on June 04, 2016, 03:00:03 am
Expect it to be a tough season, the team will have to perform almost every week, and when they don't still pick up a point or a narrow win.
Promotion of any kind is success, though i would prefer doing it in style by winning the thing. There are other teams with the same thoughts, so to win it, it will have to be earned.
I don't want to think negative, but if we did fail to get promoted, then it is failure, and something that the manager couldn't retain his job with.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: les@donr on June 05, 2016, 12:25:06 am
L2 is a tough league to get out of, less skils, more blood and guts, as we know from our last experience there. Also newly promoted National Leagues do well in their season in the FL, like we did, so watch out for Cheltenham and Grimsby. I can see Cheltenham going up again aka Bristol Rovers, Johnson is a successful manager at this level.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: Sammy Chung was King on June 05, 2016, 01:11:10 am
L2 is a tough league to get out of, less skils, more blood and guts, as we know from our last experience there. Also newly promoted National Leagues do well in their season in the FL, like we did, so watch out for Cheltenham and Grimsby. I can see Cheltenham going up again aka Bristol Rovers, Johnson is a successful manager at this level.

Cheltenham have a good experienced manager, they have retained the players they wanted to, most importantly Dan Holman, and they also have three or four good up and coming youngsters, they have a lot in there favour.
Grimsby are a danger, they have been in the conference for a few years like we were, they have had chance to build the club up to be better and stronger, again good manager, a couple of prolific goalscorers, they have a chance at probably a nice price.
Title: Re: Is this the real thing?
Post by: RoversAlias on June 06, 2016, 11:11:56 am
"They have retained the players they wanted to."

It's June 6th, they haven't guaranteed keeping anyone yet.