Ryan Sparks

But he will say we've made progress, that survival was the plan and we build on the foundations created by Bill and Ben in the summer.
He won't say we've ballsed up a great chance of maybe going up this season.
If he does then hats off to him and maybe the managers have been told that recent performances despite us being safe have not been tactically and played as they should have been.

 

Hope he means it and is not just spin,

 

He’s certainly talking a good talk tonight, let’s hope the actions match it in the summer.

 

Wonder what next seasons shirt is going to be then. "If you see next seasons shirt, then you know that promotion is what we're aiming for" (or something along those lines) from Ryan. 1911 FA Cup winning shirt is not the one that springs to mind regarding promotion, so I'm thinking it'll be the shirt from 85 when we got promoted, plus a nod to the 56 who never got to see us play in the league above. Nice shirt that, but not massively different to the one we're wearing this season. Unless we go back to the boars head badge.

 

I know he's a comms guy but I like the way he talks. Ambitious and backs himself to do it and for me that sort of attitude filters down the organisation, which is why I think there's been a greater sense of positive things happening at the club since he's taken the CEO role.

 

That attitude might have filtered down to T&S and the players initially but something seems to have changed. I remember a few weeks ago actually looking forward to games again and believing we would actually win them, and a lot of that belief came from the noises T&S and the players were making at that time - 'we go out to win and believe we can win every game' they said, and the players couldn't praise them highly enough for the training, preparation and detail that was going on behind the scenes. There seemed to be an air of confidence in the players again when they walked out onto the pitch, and that togetherness and team spirit was there for all to see.
So what changed? Why over the last few weeks have T&S sounded much less bullish in their pressers? Why do the players have less urgency and seemingly less desire about them when there has actually been something very much still worth playing for? It just doesn't make any sense.

 

Yeah the weird thing is just how abject they've gone back to being with all the old problems resurfacing. was it a case of the 1-0 wins papering over the cracks and we were always riding our luck a bit?

For me, I think they were relying on vernam and crankshaw to come in and do the creative heavy lifting, but as they've both struggled it's flummoxed them as to what to do now and heads are maybe now starting to drop. I feel if those two guys were delivering more the formation and side would look a lot more potent as Cooks been banging them in regardless. imagine what he could do if we actually gave him some service for a change.

 

T&S are youth team coaches and in youth team football it is the performance that counts not as much the result. After listening to last nights terrible interview it is obvious that T&S have the same view about the games that performance counts more than the result, Am not sure they can get that approach out of their mindset and we need an experienced manager who knows that performance without the result is no good

 

Can't blame Ryan for taking the job. He's an ambitious young man wanting to change the world over night be that the new tunnel, improvements to the McCall/Hendrie suits, Gay Pride, and the clubs backing for BRE in his battle against racist police. He'll get there but it takes time. Rupp should look at getting an older head to help Ryan on a part-time basis or even an advisory role. I'm sure someone like David Baldwin or James Mason would spare the time to help push the club forward and importantly sell more season tickets.

 

There needs to be positive vibes coming from the club in advance of ST sales.

I’d be saying something like ‘If we can reach the target of 12000 season ticket sales we will guarantee to assemble a squad not only good enough to gain automatic promotion from league 2 but also to challenge for promotion from league 1 the season after’
‘But in order to do that we must increase prices to £249’

 

There is not a chance in this world that we would sell 12000 at £249. A small increase and a show of content and a concerted sales drive is what. Is needed especially after this very difficult year

 

Then we as a group of fans have to accept mediocracy

 

Didn't Phil Parkinson plied his trade at Valley Parade for 5/6 season with cheap season tickets, whilst improving our league position season on season, that suggests that the right man could do similar, I don't think many would be adverse to paying more for a season ticket but your figure of 12,000 at £249 ain't gonna happen.

 

Certainly did and even Stuart got us into the play offs with the self same affordable prices. Efforts should be put in to selling more rather than big increases