Get a grip

[fredisley]

Interesting comments from very differing perspectives. Regardless of our opinions on Nicholsons stewardship, I give very little weight or credence to the overused statement when things are going badly that the team needs time to gel, strange that the same comment is never made by managers who have successful starts to the season, these are allegedly, professional sportsman, its their job, they should do better.
Historically, Nicholson had a good contract signed early, the great percentage of season ticket sales in the region of £220,000 was probably his to spend as the takeover was still lumbering on for most of the pre-season break where the promise of investment capital was peddled on a weekly basis.Unlike last season he had a nucleus of a team under contract early, but as in previous years we always wait until the week before the season starts to do a January sale type purchase, and pick up players that no one else has acquired two months earlier.
The reality of getting quality players to move to the west country is in itself a difficult proposition especially as we are not paying anything like top dollar, regardless, that,s part of his job description.
Wherever we end up this season we are committed to keeping him for three seasons, because we all know the difficulty and costs of buying out our last but one manager . So lets give him a chance and hope he learns very quickly, finds a few experienced, seasoned pros that every other club has overlooked and perhaps instil a little fight in the team without the accompanying yellow cards.

[tomogull]

[quote="brucie" The team is better than the one that started last season [/quote]

I hate to mention this, but 'the team that started last season' had SIX points after four games

We are certainly not the team that finished the season but I am sure that under Nico's leadership, we will not be involved in a relegation battle. I agree with gullintwoplaces that the hoofing of the ball aimlessly upfield, thus bypassing the midfield, is frustrating and not pretty to watch but things will get better.

Nico didn't use the broken down coach as an excuse for Tuesday's defeat (I'm sure Hargreaves would have jumped at that), but the rush and lack of pre-match preparation must have had some effect on the performance. I know some won't agree, but I really do think we have to wait until the end of September before we can judge how well, or how badly, the team is doing.

There are several formerly established league clubs that have been in this league for far too long - Aldershot, Lincoln, Wrexham being obvious examples. With the lack of finance and mayhem away from the pitch, the best we can expect is mid-table this season. But Danny is right - we'll be lucky to attract gates of over 2000 if we're an average mid-table side. A good run in the F.A. Cup and the F.A. Trophy are a must to generate funds for the club so that we can consolidate to get up amongst the leaders next season. No mess ups like last season against the likes of poxy Basingstoke (what a disgrace that was) or Bognor Regis. If we're in the higher places next season, we will attract gates of 2000 +.

[Lloyder5]

I don't think we should compare this team to the one that started last season, rather we should look at the team that was left after the management structure imploded and Cox, Ramshaw and Edwards left. That was what Nico first had to work with. This team is better placed although I agree with most it is not as strong as the one that finished the season.

I am generally a 'rose-tinter' or rather I support the team that has been put together within the usual constraints TUFC face, whatever the league we find ourselves in. Therefore, ramblings of those two well-known, long distance lovers and miserablists B and W, do really annoy me. There are though some improvements that do need to be made and would Ithink, take the team forward.

Having actually seen the two home matches, I wasn't too worried. However, I believe the team needs immediate attention in two areas. Whilst I admire the effort and commitment Gerring and McGinty have shown in the two matches I have seen, I don't think it is a good pairing. They are too similar and will be caught out by the better teams. Fortunately we have a potential solution so I will be interested to learn how McGinty and Gallifuoco play (I am not going myself). The other problem is LRT. I thought he improved a bit against Barrow, but I suspect it will not be be enough, so we definitely need a leftback who can take the ball, like Verma on the right and use it constructively. If the middle in strengthened by Gallifuoco and a leftback solution is found, I think the rest of the team will be able to play more football and reach its potential.

[Guildford Gull]

We are four games in!

Granted we have not hit our stride but the overreaction by some is laughable. It is not like we have lost all the games either! (won 1- should have been 2 but for a large slice of misfortune).

People expectations also seem to be way higher than what the playing budget can reasonably be expected to deliver. Barrow (for example) have double (+ more) the playing budget of ours. On playing budget we are probably a bottom half team again - and that is where we currently are. I expect us to pick up and for Nicho to deliver a decent return but currently the chances are against him turning us into a top five outfit which seems to be what some expect.

In some realms of social media interaction (noticeably more on other forums I don't post on and on Facebook) some are already starting to target the manager. I just don't get it! He is the biggest thing going for us currently and in honesty the guy keeping this club together. Show some respect and some realism!

Did you go to Sutton?

I would rate it as one of the five worst performances I've seen in 45 years of supporting the club. Unless the defence and midfield is strengthen I think we will struggle and finish near the bottom.

[Glostergull]

Criticism on each game as it goes is fine. I've been to every game so far and the two away games were absolutely appalling, Sutton being worse than Macclesfield! However, it's not all doom and gloom because we're only four games in. Will we be fighting for promotion? Probably not, I'd love to be proven wrong. Our budget is as low if not lower than last season, we don't have any investment coming in, our realistic goal should be a mid-table Conference side (anything else then Nicholson needs a knighthood with a statue of himself built outside Plainmoor). Not what we all want in the slightest when TUFC fans can easily remember getting promoted with Burton and now look at how the two clubs went in direction. There's no denying that I fear for the future of the club. A mid-table Conference side will not bring in 2,100 fans every week (around the figure we need) and, as a business, will really struggle at 1,500 each week. Our job as fans is to get behind Kevin and the entire squad, they need our support more than ever; but don't let that allow you to not voice criticism, because the Macclesfield and Sutton games certainly deserved just that.

I had an interesting chat with the Chairman after the 1-1 draw with Barrow. he told me the break even figure for attendances was around 2200. he also said that various things led to the break even figure being so high after last seasons 1850 figure was higher costs all round including bigger playing budget. If Nicho as we suspect has a smaller budget than last seasons. why am I being told by our Chairman that its higher. what is the truth and where do we actually stand with other clubs.? Im not looking at Clobbering Kevin at all. he has done miracles and I think he will do well with what he has again this season but why can we not get a sensible answer from the Board.

[Glostergull]

Criticism on each game as it goes is fine. I've been to every game so far and the two away games were absolutely appalling, Sutton being worse than Macclesfield! However, it's not all doom and gloom because we're only four games in. Will we be fighting for promotion? Probably not, I'd love to be proven wrong. Our budget is as low if not lower than last season, we don't have any investment coming in, our realistic goal should be a mid-table Conference side (anything else then Nicholson needs a knighthood with a statue of himself built outside Plainmoor). Not what we all want in the slightest when TUFC fans can easily remember getting promoted with Burton and now look at how the two clubs went in direction. There's no denying that I fear for the future of the club. A mid-table Conference side will not bring in 2,100 fans every week (around the figure we need) and, as a business, will really struggle at 1,500 each week. Our job as fans is to get behind Kevin and the entire squad, they need our support more than ever; but don't let that allow you to not voice criticism, because the Macclesfield and Sutton games certainly deserved just that.

I had an interesting chat with the Chairman after the 1-1 draw with Barrow. he told me the break even figure for attendances was around 2200. he also said that various things led to the break even figure being so high after last seasons 1850 figure was higher costs all round including bigger playing budget. If Nicho as we suspect has a smaller budget than last seasons. why am I being told by our Chairman that its higher. what is the truth and where do we actually stand with other clubs.? Im not looking at Clobbering Kevin at all. he has done miracles and I think he will do well with what he has again this season but why can we not get a sensible answer from the Board.

[Gullscorer]

And we no longer have anybody on gardening leave, do we? And where when and how does the Players' Fund fit into the picture?

[Colorado Gull]

Anyone remember our results in August 2008?

Histon A 1-1
Woking H 2-1
Ebbsfleet United H 0-2
Crawley Town A 1-3
Salisbury City H 0-1
York City H 1-1

18th with 5 points in August...promoted by the middle of May.

Am I saying that this will happen again? No, not quite, I'm just saying it's too early to worry about the performances on the pitch in the long-term.

[Gullscorer]

It may well be too early, but on the other hand we don't have the players Paul Buckle had, nor the budget he had..