smudger63

Nice town Shrewsbury, or at least it was last time i went there, but that was a while ago now when they played at Gay Meadow, which i think was a bit more central than the new stadium.

If there were no fans there would be no "product" to sell. Every game like covid, with no atmosphere. Do you think that people in their armchairs would stay enthused to watch games where all you could here was the players yelling when they fell on the floor, Do you think tv companies would be willing to pay the mega money for that "product"? I don't think so somehow, so no fans, no mega TV money, no mega money to make for the owners and players. What keeps the "product" alive is the blind loyalty of the fans, but the owners of clubs now exploit that loyalty, in order to exploit those fans. Unless fans make a stand, and say enough is enough, and vote with their feet, which we and the owners all know they won't, things are only going to get worse sadly.

Do you know why the modern day football world is shite? It's because it's now sadly being seen as a "product " as you so rightly say. Where money is king, and the "game", and after all, that is what it really is, is now being seen as a necessary sideshow to make that money. Fans are customers, where they don't even have to issue them a loyalty card to bring them back, because most will always be there, and even for the ones that do drop off, they know there will be another customer to take their place. The game used to be played for glory, not the money. Every year we have the debate, should we bin the chance of winning the FA Cup, so we have a better chance of top 4, or avoiding relegation, or getting promoted. Why, because we know that Top 4, avoiding relegation, getting promoted will mean more money for the club. So some are happy to forgo the chance of the glory that comes with winning a trophy, and all the memories that come with it. Memories that can be handed down to our kids, and grandkids, and that become part not only of our club's history, but part of the history of those fans that witnessed those occasions, and history that is handed down to the future generations. Football as I knew it has been killed off, for the sake of wealthy people, who just see a way to make money and spread their brand. Seems bizarre now, but I felt our owners were different, that they really got it, football and the massive part the club plays in the community. I really thought they cared, they saw us as part of the club, that they were about doing the best for the fans and in turn the community, that they wouldn't just see us as a customer, who can be replaced. Sadly I think I was wrong!

The fact that those picking the team seem to think picking Mike in white ball cricket is a good idea, doesn't say much for squad depth, and whoever thinks it's a great move to bowl Mike in the power play, is seriously deluded!

Back in Tudor times, the monarchs used to have a Groom of the stool, basically somebody who used to wipe their arse and take the shite away. Amazingly, a much sort after job, because it got you close and gained you favour with the monarch of the day. I can very much see this comparison with Rudkin and Top!.

I think we are going to have to accept that it will be Cooper, and get behind him, but I don't think this ends well. Hope for the best but I fear the worst.

It would make no difference either way. They dont care what the fans think, in any aspect of how the club is run, we are now customers to be seen, and not heard or taken account of.

I would never have thought I would feel this way about the owners, but I want them gone now. It all feels so different the way the club is being run, to when Vichai was running it. Maybe it was all a smokescreen, but I felt that Vichai truly had grown to have the club and the fans in his heart. As a fan I felt we were in good and capable hands. Now as a fan, I feel like I'm just a customer, who they aren't bothered if I buy from them or not, because there will always be some other mug off the street that will buy their tat, and they have proved to be completely incompetant off the pitch too. Some of the decision making on the PR side of things is utterly shambolic too.

Coopers first press conference- Reporter- "So Steve, how does it feel to be the Leicester manager after previously being at Forest?" Cooper- " i dont feel anything as, there is no rivalry as we, erm I mean Forest don't care about Leicester!"

Of course if/when Cooper is announced, he will be lorded as "always our first choice ", not as "we got fed up of trying to get anyone decent, and have made do with this guy"!

72 Quid for those that don't have season tickets to watch Cooper ball, Wow! Our Keepers better start practicing pretending to get cramp on 86 minutes! To be fair the games will be much longer with all the time wasting he gets his teams doing, so a little bit of money back per minute I suppose, for those of us watching at the ground.

Remember when we used to be a family club. Families without season tickets are going to be priced out of going to games . So much for the owners wanting the community to feel a part of the club. Absolutely Shocking! Also gives an indication of how much the season tickets are going to be going up in the coming seasons. The club just seems so out of touch these days, either that or more likely, they just don't care. Well when they start seeing hundreds of empty seats because fans just can't afford to go to games, maybe they might have to have a rethink!

Or, it could be the day we send them down, and it will a double celebration for you.

Son! He loves a goal against us. Hat-trick in the season we went down.

Hasn't Kingy being doing his coaching badges? Obviously would be starting at u21 level, and he may be hoping for something different, and from our point of view, we would be getting someone starting fresh with no previous experience as a coach, and perhaps not ideal, but I'm a sentimental old git these days, and would just love to see Kingy back at the club!

Stefan Borson said on Talk shite the other week, that he would be surprised if we knew about the points deduction until the season was up and running, as the Premier league had the Man City stuff to deal with, and so knowing our fate could be some way off yet.

Budinger is out injured today apparently. Can't see Wright coming back for the 20/20, Scriven still injured I think, which is a blow

I wouldn't even have Ben Mike in my team. I would bring back Holland for him. I doubt those in charge will drop him though.

Swindells coming in for Budinger to open was a little baffling. Swindells is more of a nurdler of runs than a big hitter. He likes to play himself in and build his innings, maneuvering the field around. If they were going to make that change, it maybe would have worked better with Kimber or Ahmed opening with Patel, with Swindells hopefully not needed until after the power play. Handscombe coming in at 3 I'm also not sure about, because again he's more of a builder of innings, although I suppose he does play the anchor role well, but it just stifles our run rate when we lose the first wicket in the power play. Mulder has also been very disappointing so far, and his innings on Friday was just plain baffling, with the possibility of rain, and yet no apparent urgency at all from him. Ben Mike needs dropping, much too erratic and expensive with his bowling, and his batting will come off once every five games at best. Goldsworthy has been outstanding so far, as has Currie of course. Josh Hull is a real handful when he gets it right, and a positive work in progress.

Nearly as stupid as going on pre season tours of Thailand in the monsoon season to play football. 😜

A photo from the Bradford at home programme. The first game after he had returned to Arsenal. There is an interview with him where he talks about his time at the City, and about the emotional farewell at his last home game. He talks about how welcome he had felt at the club, and his delight at how the fans had took to him, and that the club would always have a place in his heart. He goes onto say, how the City scarf that he had been given on his last appearance, and seen in the photo, was now pinned up on his wall at home. Clearly he went on to carve out an excellent career at a number of other clubs, where he spent far longer, and i suspect that we were seen as only a very small part by the end of his career, but it was nice to read the interview, see the photos in the programme, and relive the impact that we had on him, and he had on us at that time.

I was behind that goal on that day. Loved Campbell in the short time he was here. Was really hoping we would somehow be able to sign him permanantly, but no chance given where we were at the time. Seem to remember at the end of his last home game on loan, him walking round the pitch with a City scarf on, that one of the fans had thrown to him, clapping the fans. His last loan game should have been at Brighton away, but when we got there it had been a late postponement. Some of our fans waited outside the players entrance, and Campbell came out to talk with the fans. RIP Kevin Campbell, a great player Gone way to soon!

Well he has also got a video about the scary truth about Arsenal, the scary truth about Villa, and the scary truth about Germany!

He didn't actually say what the scary truth was though did he. Just used the headline as the hook to reel in the watcher.

Absolutely right, Rudkin is nicely and comfortably situated up Tops backside, and has the safest job in football.