Prospects for 2015

[Gullscorer]

In his comments after the Braintree match, Chris Hargreaves admitted that the Gulls team was rubbish, and said many players are playing for their futures, with ten contracts up next summer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30574792 With the New Year fast approaching, this leads me to contemplate the likely prospects for the Gulls in 2015.

Chris Hargreaves took over as manager of the Gulls at Plainmoor exactly twelve months after John Sheridan was appointed as boss of Plymouth Argyle. In his first full season at Home Park, many Argyle fans were as doubtful of Sheridan's abilities to take their club forward as many Gulls fans are of CH this season. And yet they finished last season in tenth position, compared with twenty-first in their previous season. The Gulls, as we know, were relegated along with Bristol Rovers (interesting to note that Wycombe Wanderers, who were almost relegated on the last day of the season, are now leading the League Two promotion push). And this season Plymouth Argyle currently stands at only three points (and two places) behind the automatic promotion spots, with a game in hand.

The main difference between the two managers is that Sheridan is an experienced football boss whereas Hargreaves is in his first job in football management. This is not necessarily a disadvantage; there are many other factors involved. Hargreaves is probably now in a similar situation to the one Sheridan was in last season, and, whilst it's quite possible for us to make the play-offs this season, I would not be too unhappy if we finished somewhere between tenth place and the play-off places, with the prospect of a serious promotion push next season.

Which is not to say that promotion is out of our reach this season. We could yet be promoted despite the inconsistencies of our squad, necessarily young and inexperienced due to the club's lack of financial resources. Unlike some Plainmoor supporters, I have faith in the ability of Hargreaves as a manager, and I look forward with anticipation to the second half of the season and, more importantly, to the squad-building Hargreaves will undertake in preparation for the 2015/16 season.

But right now, it's up to some members of the squad to quickly learn a few lessons, to pull up their socks and to decide just how serious they are about achieving success this season, for their team mates, for the club they represent, and for their own footballing futures. How badly do they want such success? How much determination have they got, how much bottle? I believe they do want it, but they should understand just how serious the professional game is, with livelihoods at stake.

And, most importantly, as supporters we should give them every support and encouragement, rather than whinging and criticising at every opportunity.

Good luck to them (and us) all in 2015..

[Behind-the-Gulls]

[DJ Gull]

In his comments after the Braintree match, Chris Hargreaves admitted that the Gulls team was rubbish, and said many players are playing for their futures, with ten contracts up next summer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30574792 With the New Year fast approaching, this leads me to contemplate the likely prospects for the Gulls in 2015.

Chris Hargreaves took over as manager of the Gulls at Plainmoor exactly twelve months after John Sheridan was appointed as boss of Plymouth Argyle. In his first full season at Home Park, many Argyle fans were as doubtful of Sheridan's abilities to take their club forward as many Gulls fans are of CH this season. And yet they finished last season in tenth position, compared with twenty-first in their previous season. The Gulls, as we know, were relegated along with Bristol Rovers (interesting to note that Wycombe Wanderers, who were almost relegated on the last day of the season, are now leading the League Two promotion push). And this season Plymouth Argyle currently stands at only three places behind the automatic promotion spots.

The main difference between the two managers is that Sheridan is an experienced football boss whereas Hargreaves is in his first job in football management. This is not necessarily a disadvantage; there are many other factors involved. Hargreaves is probably now in a similar situation to the one Sheridan was in last season, and, whilst it's quite possible for us to make the play-offs this season, I would not be too unhappy if we finished somewhere between tenth place and the play-off places, with the prospect of a serious promotion push next season.

Which is not to say that promotion is out of our reach this season. We could yet be promoted despite the inconsistencies of our squad, necessarily young and inexperienced due to the club's lack of financial resources. Unlike some Plainmoor supporters, I have faith in the ability of Hargreaves as a manager, and I look forward with anticipation to the second half of the season and, more importantly, to the squad-building Hargreaves will undertake in preparation for the 2015/16 season.

But right now, it's up to some members of the squad to quickly learn a few lessons, to pull up their socks and to decide just how serious they are about achieving success this season, for their team mates, for the club they represent, and for their own footballing futures. How badly do they want such success? How much determination have they got, how much bottle? I believe they do want it, but they should understand just how serious the professional game is, with livelihoods at stake.

And, most importantly, as supporters we should give them every support and encouragement, rather than whinging and criticising at every opportunity.

Good luck to them (and us) all in 2015..

Amen!

[Dave]

Nice post Gullscorer, nice sentiment. I fully agree with your paragraph regards players needing to pull up their socks up, something I intend to share my opinions on, in the upcoming Rovers match thread

Comparisons to Sheridan and Plymouth Argyle for me are not the right comparisons to make, Argyle whether you tolerate them, or like Dutchgull absolutely hate them, they do have a Championship infrastructure at their club, they can draw support from across Cornwall and around Devon, they've maintained a 6,000 + average gate. New investment coupled with financial stability was always going to see them rise up league 2 and probably to promotion.

Comparisons to Wycombe are closer to us, Wycombe should have gone down with us, in fact had they been playing anyone else but us last day, they probably would not have got the win they needed. There however remains a big difference between Wycombe and Torquay United, you don't have to be a brain surgeon, accountant or a lawyer to figure out the consequences of relegation from the football league for clubs the size of infrastructure, fan base, of Torquay United, not Luton or Bristol Rovers with 5,000 plus gates, or Barnet with massive income streams that mean they do not have rely so much on foot fall through the turnstiles.

Wycombe as a club last summer went and grasped the nettle, they worked their nuts off changed their priorities, learnt lessons and are now reaping the benefits, the previous summer Torquay United had the chance to do that, instead choose to wave the white flag, and fully deserved relegation followed. A reported £200,000 used to sack managers, if, just 50 % of that had been used to back those managers, we'd be at the very least a secure league 2 club, with average gates 600 + higher and the out look for 2015 very, very different to what it is now.

The out look for 2015, I'll put it straight, no grey areas, our football club has to gain promotion back to the football league this season, full stop. Failure to do so will result in the lost of the parachute payment, and eventual loss of youth funding, and our out look could be very bleak going forward, some will say, but we can then off load these high paid time wasters, yes, but, the clubs income could drop by a further reported £375,000 a year, the wage packets of Tonge/Harding and co will not amount to that.

Would I be happy with a 10th place finish this year, NO, unless we get off to a good start next season expect our gates to drop down towards the 1,500 mark. A promotion push next season, wake up a smell the coffee, Chris Hargreaves will have no choice with out new investment at the club to go out and find more, Ajala, Richards and O'Archie type signings, ok, he might strike lucky and find some real gems, but if he doesn't, the notion of our club slipping towards the bottom end of the conference, and not now, or the medium term, but long term slipping into the conference south is not so ridiculous. The terminal slide our clubs been in for 18 months needs to be arrested and quick.

[Dutchgull]

"or like Dutchgull absolutely hate them,"

[Dutchgull]

Joking aside I am really worried for the future of our club. I fear a Hereford Utd style meltdown.

Some good home truths there Forevertufc.

[lucy6lucy]

Nice post Gullscorer, nice sentiment. I fully agree with your paragraph regards players needing to pull up their socks up, something I intend to share my opinions on, in the upcoming Rovers match thread

Comparisons to Sheridan and Plymouth Argyle for me are not the right comparisons to make, Argyle whether you tolerate them, or like Dutchgull absolutely hate them, they do have a Championship infrastructure at their club, they can draw support from across Cornwall and around Devon, they've maintained a 6,000 + average gate. New investment coupled with financial stability was always going to see them rise up league 2 and probably to promotion.

Comparisons to Wycombe are closer to us, Wycombe should have gone down with us, in fact had they been playing anyone else but us last day, they probably would not have got the win they needed. There however remains a big difference between Wycombe and Torquay United, you don't have to be a brain surgeon, accountant or a lawyer to figure out the consequences of relegation from the football league for clubs the size of infrastructure, fan base, of Torquay United, not Luton or Bristol Rovers with 5,000 plus gates, or Barnet with massive income streams that mean they do not have rely so much on foot fall through the turnstiles.

Wycombe as a club last summer went and grasped the nettle, they worked their nuts off changed their priorities, learnt lessons and are now reaping the benefits, the previous summer Torquay United had the chance to do that, instead choose to wave the white flag, and fully deserved relegation followed. A reported £200,000 used to sack managers, if, just 50 % of that had been used to back those managers, we'd be at the very least a secure league 2 club, with average gates 600 + higher and the out look for 2015 very, very different to what it is now.

The out look for 2015, I'll put it straight, no grey areas, our football club has to gain promotion back to the football league this season, full stop. Failure to do so will result in the lost of the parachute payment, and eventual loss of youth funding, and our out look could be very bleak going forward, some will say, but we can then off load these high paid time wasters, yes, but, the clubs income could drop by a further reported £375,000 a year, the wage packets of Tonge/Harding and co will not amount to that.

Would I be happy with a 10th place finish this year, NO, unless we get off to a good start next season expect our gates to drop down towards the 1,500 mark. A promotion push next season, wake up a smell the coffee, Chris Hargreaves will have no choice with out new investment at the club to go out and find more, Ajala, Richards and O'Archie type signings, ok, he might strike lucky and find some real gems, but if he doesn't, the notion of our club slipping towards the bottom end of the conference, and not now, or the medium term, but long term slipping into the conference south is not so ridiculous. The terminal slide our clubs been in for 18 months needs to be arrested and quick.

a harsh but regrettably true post. I don't think we will do a Hereford . But without investment, just how we will ever push for promotion. Let's not forget, it took Cambridge 3/4 seasons to put a promotion push together after we beat them in the playoff final. A lot depends on the 2015/16 squad and budget if we don't go up this season, which seems unlikely as we just cannot beat the lesser sides in this league.

[Gullscorer]

You make some good points Forever. I was focussing on the managers of Argyle and Torquay in my comments without looking at the clubs' respective financial resources, but of course the larger gates of Argyle, Luton and Bristol Rovers should be much to their advantage, though one has to ask, in that case what on earth were Rovers doing to get themselves relegated in the first place.

The answer of course is that it's not all about money. My own feeling is that having a good management team in pace, both on and off the pitch, is the most important factor in a club's survival or success, though in the case of the Gulls, you're right, there must be a much greater sense of urgency given the state of our finances, and I'm sure Chris Hargreaves is aware of this.

CH has already achieved minor miracles in terms of the players he has brought in, and he knows there are still other good players out there who will cost nothing to sign, who are talented and hungry for success. We could even yet see another O'Kane or Olejnik. CH knows what still needs to be done, and as soon as possible.

The main problem here is that football miracles at Plainmoor don't happen overnight. Time will tell whether CH can achieve the impossible before the club finally sinks without trace. The club's demise is something nobody at Plainmoor wants to see.

If there are enough supporters who feel the same way, now is the time to get up to Plainmoor and support CH and the team, and to bring a friend. After all, nobody can say the football being played is not, for the most part, loads more attractive and exciting to watch than the stuff we've been accustomed to seeing over recent seasons..

[PlainmoorRoar]

The key for me is to get the massively overpaid players out of the club.

Tonge, Benyon, Harding, Downes are all on silly money. Add to that list, Rice, Sulivan, Cruise and perhaps Yeoman who aren't good enough and you would free up a huge amount of budget. Budget that if we got promoted could mean to some decent signings that we have left!

Not getting promoted wouldn't be the end of the world for me, last time we were in the conference we had a lot of players that first year, the best stayed and gelled and became a team in the second season.

Get rid of the over paid and crap, keep the core, add well and we have the makings of a good team!

[SuperNickyWroe]

The key for me is to get the massively overpaid players out of the club.

Tonge, Benyon, Harding, Downes are all on silly money. Add to that list, Rice, Sulivan, Cruise and perhaps Yeoman who aren't good enough and you would free up a huge amount of budget. Budget that if we got promoted could mean to some decent signings that we have left!

Not getting promoted wouldn't be the end of the world for me, last time we were in the conference we had a lot of players that first year, the best stayed and gelled and became a team in the second season.

Get rid of the over paid and crap, keep the core, add well and we have the makings of a good team!

thats what needs to happen.......

otherwise this will be the case.......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30578490

[KingsteigntonYellow]

I hate that in this league a club cannot establish itself, and that you're either a funded team fighting for promotion or fighting against administration. Something has to change eventually.

[Tamargull]

I really fail to understand why some think Hargreaves is doing such a good job? Personally I think his performance has been inconsistent to say the least including a number of tactical mistakes in games. Can someone please explain how such a performance warrants the description of performing 'minor miracles' as asserted by one poster?

[Gullscorer]

Read the link in SNW's post and you will understand: CH has no money, no funding, with which to do his job.

You can look at any manager's record and find some inconsistency to criticise, but given the situation in which CH is working, he has indeed performed minor miracles to sign, for example, Luke Young and a few other half-decent players for not much more than peanuts, most of them necessarily young and inexperienced and inconsistent thanks to the dearth of finances, to take them on a fine unbeaten run early in the season, and to have them still maintain a challenge just outside the play-off places.

There's no reason why they should not recover that early season form in the second half of the season. They will have a better chance of doing so if we go to Plainmoor and cheer them on, rather than whinging and criticising. Think positive, not negative. To do otherwise is self-defeating..!!

[Jeff]

I'm reasonably content with our prospects for 2015. Maybe not for this season to be a rip-roaring success, but perhaps for the future.

At the start of this season I was fearing the worst. A rookie manager in charge of an underperforming squad still saddled with the inflated salaries of the previous regime, it wasn't a good recipie. I was expecting an inconsistent season placing us somewhere between 12th and 16th. But although a shocking run of form could still see us achieve that, I've been encouraged by what I've seen. The football has on the whole been good (although I was at Braintree......), and despite a number of poor results we are still within touching distance of the play-off pack which is as equally frustrating as it is encouraging. Provided we don't shoot ourselves in the foot over xmas, we could still be on the fringe of the playoffs heading into 2015 having already got both our games out of the way with Barnet, Rovers, Grimsby, Gateshead, Forest Green and in-form Dover.

The main reason for optimisim is that despite his shortcomings, it does seem like one of Greavsie's strengths is an eye for a diamond in the rough. I wasn't overly optimistic when our pre-season transfer dealings saw us bring in a completely untried midfielder (Richards - normally you'd look for a youngster who had a loan spell in someone elses first team as a signing at this level), a winger who spent last season warming the bench at Welling (Ajala) and a forward who if you google its impossible to find any reference too since a spell in Southend's youth team about 4 years ago (O'Achie). But all of them have proved useful at this level, and bearing in mind they are likely to be on much smaller salaries than some of Knill's signings then they are certainly providing better value for money.

Based on the reasonably success of Richards, Ajala, O'Achie, I'm positive at the prospect of Greavise wheeling and dealing with a transfer budget without compensating for the likes of Benyon, Harding, Tonge, Chappell (and maybe Cameron, Downes and Pearce too). The purse strings will still be tight for the next few years, but that doesn't mean we won't be seeing any exciting players with potential any time soon.

[A Realist]

Personally I think that the most important issue next month will not be who comes into the club, but who doesn't leave. Ideally if CH can somehow get a better keeper from somewhere then I really believe that the play offs are realistic. It also has to be said that the run of fixtures has been really unkind to the team and it would be hard for any team in the division to put a decent run together with these games. Even when not playing the top clubs, the team have had a habit of running into teams in form. At the time Eastleigh came to Plainmoor they were the form side and then after beating them, Dover were next and they were the side in the best form in the league.

As it stands at the moment, after new years day, of all the teams challenging for the plays offs/promotion (11th upwards as it stands) the team will have played Barnet, Bristol Rovers, Grimsby, Gateshead and Forest Green twice and travelled to Macclesfield and Kidderminster. There will still be some tough games to come but the facts are that the run in, in theory, should get easier. There will be chances to start putting unbeaten runs together. Also, the other teams will all start facing each other and some of them have really difficult runs of games coming up. Grimsby, eg, have got Macc twice, Lincloln which is a derby game, Barnet, Gateshead and Eastleigh in 6 of their next 7 games. Rovers also have Torquay twice, Macclesfield and Woking in 4 of their next 5. No matter what, there will be teams above dropping points and if the team can stay in and around the play offs then imo the run in is one of the "easier" ones. The likes of Alfreton, Telford and Altrincham have all still to come to Plaimoor and even though its not certain, those are more than winnable games.

Ideally a better first choice keeper would be ideal and if that happens, then the rest of the team are good enough to finish top 5. Of that I have no doubt.