We are the champions

[trev]

May 25, 2021 8:49:56 GMT oohaah said:

That should, of course, had read 'cooler, wiser, and grumpier heads'.

[Andy K]

May 25, 2021 8:32:05 GMT markf said:

That last para quoted a comment I had made in a defence of Matt G at the time and as a result took the comment a little out of context.

During that run we hadn't played that badly but not had the best of fortune. Last minute penalty given away against Ebbsfleet springs to mind.

A couple of those comments were bang out of order and my how the authors must now be keeping a low profile; that's assuming they remember typing them of course.

Anyone who was reading those posts around that time will know you were spot on Mark, and you are again with this post.

[Kebab Belly Bob]

There is a similar situation at Notts County.
A number of ‘fans’ were berating the new manager IB
after a poor start when he replaced Ardley.
They wanted him out and were bemoaning his tactics and selection.
They said they wouldn’t make the play offs etc.
Fast forward a month or two and they are on a terrific run of form, guaranteed a play off place and playing some good stuff.
Some people are impatient and demand immediate results. They are short sighted and cannot see the longer term plans.

It was clear from the outset what Matt Gray could and would bring to the club, and with the recommendation of mighty Dos and our incredible board, that should have been more than enough to justify the appointment.

Massive congratulations to everyone on a stellar achievement.
Onward and upward (literally I hope)

Kbb

[sol]

I have been in cloud ⛅️ 9 since Sunday afternoon, it killed me not being there but I guess it’s work as well for me.

I am honestly so chuffed for all you folks who have followed the club for so many many years.

I feel like a bit of a fraud having only been a fan since 2011 (FA CUP v N County 2-0 defeat) and first away game 22nd October 2016 v Southport (1-1) - however I have been so welcomed by every single person it feels like I have been a supporter for 123 years!

Look forward to the amazing home and especially away games next season and all the magical smiles on our faces when we leave Carlisle, Bristol Rovers, Bradford, Swindon, Salford with 3 points.....

Stay well and see you in August.

[os]

One reason I love this forum is that its all here :

Comments :

- I said at the start of the season that this was a bad choice of manager and sadly I have been proved correct. Get an experienced man in and don't leave it until a miracle is needed to stay up.

- We need a new manager and NOW . TAXI FOR MATT GRAY please .

- I'm not necessarily saying that Matt should be sacked, but from a psychological standpoint, now would actually be a good time

- but under Matt I have seen nothing that makes me think he is a good enough Manager and the buck stops with him.

And there are more, they all have their names by them too

[Big Al]

I will freely admit that I was one of those who doubted Matt’s credentials and, yes, I was also one who believed at the time that a different option might be required. As a lifelong fan I am delighted to have been proved wrong and have egg on my face.

That should not mean, however, that we launch some sort of witch-hunt and name and shame vendetta against those who, still with the best interests of the club, criticised the direction we were heading in at the time which was distinctly downwards. Those views at the time were not completely invalid.

Again I am delighted to have been proved wrong, hold my hands up to having been incorrect and am thrilled for Matt, his management team and all the players and support staff who made this come true.

[davep]

I was thinking back to the time when we won promotion from the Rymans League to the National League South. At the back end of the season, Dos signed a striker - Leroy Griffiths - "to help us get over the line". Sure enough, Leroy scored some vital goals that helped us secure the championship. I do think that the signing of Donovan Wilson was pivotal in helping us get over the line this time round. Not only did he score goals, but he scored some vital goals. I do hope that Donovan can stay with us next season. I know that he is a Bath player, but he deserves an opportunity at a higher level. If the situation was reversed, I don't think that Sutton would stand in his way. Mind you, as Harry Kane is looking to move to a club that wins things, it might suit him to move to Sutton United?

[Andy K]

May 26, 2021 9:12:20 GMT davep said:

I was thinking back to the time when we won promotion from the Rymans League to the National League South. At the back end of the season, Dos signed a striker - Leroy Griffiths - "to help us get over the line". Sure enough, Leroy scored some vital goals that helped us secure the championship. I do think that the signing of Donovan Wilson was pivotal in helping us get over the line this time round. Not only did he score goals, but he scored some vital goals. I do hope that Donovan can stay with us next season. I know that he is a Bath player, but he deserves an opportunity at a higher level. If the situation was reversed, I don't think that Sutton would stand in his way. Mind you, as Harry Kane is looking to move to a club that wins things, it might suit him to move to Sutton United?

It's worth remembering that Donovan playing at Bath was the lowest level he'd played at, and ended up there as it was his local team. He was at Macclesfield the previous season and was let go when they went pop.

[trev]

May 26, 2021 6:36:48 GMT Big Al said:

I will freely admit that I was one of those who doubted Matt’s credentials and, yes, I was also one who believed at the time that a different option might be required. As a lifelong fan I am delighted to have been proved wrong and have egg on my face.

That should not mean, however, that we launch some sort of witch-hunt and name and shame vendetta against those who, still with the best interests of the club, criticised the direction we were heading in at the time which was distinctly downwards. Those views at the time were not completely invalid.

Again I am delighted to have been proved wrong, hold my hands up to having been incorrect and am thrilled for Matt, his management team and all the players and support staff who made this come true.

You're absolutely right, Al. A witch hunt would be wholly inappropriate and that's why I've pointedly avoided naming anyone. This period should be all about celebrating, together, the wonderful accomplishment achieved by this club against all expectations. But this should also be a time for reflecting upon the vital importance of allowing managers the opportunity to bed and germinate their ideas and philosophy. 

For my part, as a lifelong West Ham fan, I'll hold my hands up and confess I was telling all and sundry that reappointing David Moyes as manager was a terrible mistake, a step backwards etc. and of course, subsequent events proved me completely wrong. Like you, my face came into alignment with a sizeable quantity of albumen.

Sometimes, patience, faith and trust can reap great rewards in football. 

[oohaah]

Ha, ha, 'albumen'. I knew it must be something to do with egg but still had to look it up.

[sol]

May 26, 2021 9:12:20 GMT davep said:

I was thinking back to the time when we won promotion from the Rymans League to the National League South. At the back end of the season, Dos signed a striker - Leroy Griffiths - "to help us get over the line". Sure enough, Leroy scored some vital goals that helped us secure the championship. I do think that the signing of Donovan Wilson was pivotal in helping us get over the line this time round. Not only did he score goals, but he scored some vital goals. I do hope that Donovan can stay with us next season. I know that he is a Bath player, but he deserves an opportunity at a higher level. If the situation was reversed, I don't think that Sutton would stand in his way. Mind you, as Harry Kane is looking to move to a club that wins things, it might suit him to move to Sutton United?

DAVEP - hope all’s well.

That last line (H Kane) is one for the Twitter world.

I’m not on that medium but I know how it works.

Your brilliant line about Kane & SU would become an overnight retweet hit!

[davethegrave]

I admit that I too was one of those who felt that Matt wasn't learning from his early mistakes but I too am glad to be proved wrong.

[os]

May 26, 2021 6:36:48 GMT Big Al said:

That should not mean, however, that we launch some sort of witch-hunt and name and shame vendetta against those who, still with the best interests of the club, criticised the direction we were heading in at the time which was distinctly downwards. Those views at the time were not completely invalid.

I wasn't really going on a witch hunt, merely pointing out how football can make an arse of us all at times.

Also how these pages carry a history of our feelings over the last decade, the highs and the lows.

Its just amazing to think, those comments and generally held views at the time were just 18 months ago. I still have fixed in my mind the day we lost 3-0 at home to Cambridge City in front of around 350 die hard fans in 2008 as e were relegated to the Ryman league. Many of us thought we would just be happy to be an average Conference South side.

I STILL CANT BELIVE WE ARE A EFL CLUB --------- JUST AMAZING BLOODY AMAZING

[kpinwp]

May 27, 2021 19:07:45 GMT davethegrave said:

I admit that I too was one of those who felt that Matt wasn't learning from his early mistakes but I too am glad to be proved wrong.

It's quite possible that I (and a few others, I'd guess) were only a couple of weeks away from the same feeling, at the time. Who knows, now?

We all worry about our club when things are tough. Of course we do.

And I, too, always thought that the main plan / hope was to normalise us as a National League club, rather than slipping back to NL South.

LD2, eh? Whoa!

[baboonfish]

May 25, 2021 23:22:09 GMT os said:

One reason I love this forum is that its all here :

Comments :

- I said at the start of the season that this was a bad choice of manager and sadly I have been proved correct. Get an experienced man in and don't leave it until a miracle is needed to stay up.

- We need a new manager and NOW . TAXI FOR MATT GRAY please .

- I'm not necessarily saying that Matt should be sacked, but from a psychological standpoint, now would actually be a good time

- but under Matt I have seen nothing that makes me think he is a good enough Manager and the buck stops with him.

And there are more, they all have their names by them too

Why not spend a bit more time enjoying our unexpected success and a bit less time digging up old posts, wagging a finger and reminding anyone who'll listen how wrong they were. Even more insufferable is your desire to prove to everyone how right you were all along. I hope you got a nice pat on the head and a treat.