Oxford United ( Away )

Add to that Bristol rovers handball on the line

 

Is this the Jason Thornton thread?

 

The big difference was that Mr Lawn & Mr Rhodes were football fans and more importantly Bradford City fans.
Most fans would back the club if it published a long term plan something sadly lacking, we are and have been kept in the dark far too long now and it's a big factor why season ticket sales will be well down An open and honest plan as to how we will get out of this mess would go a long way to restoring fan confidence

 

I like your idea but can't find a nice way of saying that you're being naive.

 

You are correct we are a poor "team" but the football authorities need to take a big look at themselves. Football is awash with money at the higher levels and some of this needs serious investing in improving the the referring standards as a profession the current crop of premiership referees need to be replaced. The next crop coming up through the leagues need to be better and this should be done by providing a decent remuneration all through the leagues, professional in depth training on - their fitness levels, physiology, psychology, communication technical expertise on the assisting technology and personal support provided. The majority of games of football will not be enjoyable to watch if refereeing standards are not improved and enough fans may drift away from the professional game to effect finances including money provided from tv.

 

You can't be as abject as we've been all season and blame the officials.

 

Where to bloody start?? Felt like topping myself, or the players, or the ref a bit earlier on but a few pints in me and a ruby on the way and sod it.
We were shit today, we defended bravely for most of the game but we were crap - no messing. Bowyer might have got a few things wrong but slagging him off is totally missing the point - this is on the whole a gutless team and today was just another lousy performance, the like of which we have seen MANY times this season. The end was a total farce in SO MANY ways and we are right to feel totally aggrieved at the shambles that ensued, but it must not hide the fact that when we should be fighting for our lives (as AFC Wimbledon) we were mostly shrinking violets. Gutless.
What makes it so embarrassing and frustrating is that as footballers this is far from the worst team we have had but as a team, as characters who have pride in what they do - wow, there are very few bravehearts in this lot.
I have seen there is another post titled Affinity and it hits the nail on the head - one way I can try to describe it is I used to have a great collection of Subbuteo but when me and my brothers left home my lovely mum (bless her) gave it all to charity without us knowing but kept the big box it was all in. A few years later when I went into my parents attic to see what was up there I found the box, I was really excited to find it again but inside it was some old china and other tittle tattle. The box itself was full of memories, happiness and something I loved but what was inside it now meant nothing to me - I had no affinity with it and it was such a disappointment. The box and what used to be in it is my club, my memories (both ups and downs) and my hopes, dreams and heros. What was in it now is what is now inside my club - nothing I love, nothing I have an affinity with and nothing that really means anything to me. I still love the box and I always will as that is part of my life.
Shit, how many beers did I say I have had?! There is just so much to sort at our club and tonight it just feels a bit overwhelming so sorry if this message is a little oddball but I am sure many of you are feeling the same way. Cheers for now

 

Drivel mate, sorry.

Forward thinking, under Lawn, Rhodes, and Parky involved retaining the manager, backing him, and allowing him to build.

That we didn't find a sustainable financial model in a completely financially unsustainable football league system is totally irrelevant to the fact we WERE forward thinking.

Now we're not.

Nobody knows who will be here at the start of next season at any level.

Except players so dire we can't shift them.

 

I will be buying a season ticket, but this is the first season for around 30 years that I haven’t given a crap about missing home games, only been to Rochdale away (decent pick though) and I have no idea where this downward spiral will end, but i’d be very surprised if we are challenging for promotion next season. I find it hard to explain just how quickly I have lost a feeling of closeness to the club. I’ve seen a fair few relegations and near misses but this is the worst for me. It’s more than that. It all just seems a great shame.

 

Surely to get a plan and structure you have to have someone with financial backing, it's been said Stefan has £100m but his heart isn't in football so I would not think he would be the type of owner we are looking for.

 

Na. you've watched ifollow ALL season.

 

Can't agree Dave every business has a business plan and a realistic intent of where it will be in 5 years time and how it will get there. Stefan has no interest in Football but he is a business man ( as his reported wealth testifies) and am sure would hate to fail. He needs to either appoint someone who knows the game inside out and back him or look for a prospective buyer either way a statement of intent from him wouldn't go a miss
Confidence is at an all time low and some commitment from on high is desperately needed and quick

 

Ahh the good old days when stability in our club prompted belief success and players willing to put a shift in

 

I'm no business man but I can't see without finance you can make money in leagues 1/2, that's why Julian & Mark sold the club they realised just what would be required to take us to the next step.
Many posters have quoted what clubs lose to try and get to the promised land, but getting into the Championship is very difficult without serious backing so getting from the Champinship to the Premier you need a Hoyle or Whelan benefactors who have some attachment to the football club in our case.

 

True
It will be a long time before the club is in as good a shape as it was when Mr Lawn & Mr Rhodes sold it with careful investment at that time the Championship was quite easily attainable. We know the rest but all I am trying to say is that to get a club championship ready can be done with prudent financial control as well as investing countless millions (and still fail)

 

Cracking finish.

 

The referee messed up big time today but let's face it we didn't deserve anything from the game and unfortunately bottom of the league is where we belong after the season we've had.

 

https://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=1307&fbclid=IwAR0VdyIG51E4SxcawlmPcxVYkOdBdovXwckq_NEHxifMm9jdmVdHABTDlz8

He's a Championship-level referee

 

right lads, time for some really good news So, yesterday set off at 6:00 am, flight to Washington DC terrible turbulence, some lass puked into the aisle. Then flight to Newark New Jersey. Only 40 minute but delayed due to god knows what but a really hairy flight (turbulence). 5 hour lay over in worst airport in the world. My flight nowhere to be seen, flight prior to mine nowhere to be seen. Eventually mine turns up late and boards late. Push back from gate 45 mins late as the sky lights up in a fantastic lightning storm. 3 hours later after being sat in it on taxiway we take off. Turbulence across atlantic, 3 hours late into Manchester. Had to get a bus from plane to terminal got piss wet through. then picked car up and thought "fook it, it is pissing down, blowing a gale, I need sleep" so I gave it a miss Fantastic decision methinks But I'll defo be there on Saturday. Oh, the clusterfck that was the winner? I heard that the keeper took the kick and the ball was then was PLAYED by an Oxford player in the box. Ruling is a retake and explains why lino at that end flagged after the kick. Also explains why ref scratched the goal and pointed back to the other end (causing City fans to think he's awarded a penalty). Absolutely no idea what the other lino said for him to reverse his decision again though.
Anyway, I need sleep and having seen bits of it online we deserved less than we got.