Along with the win at Torquay and the heroic Mansfield player’s goal against Bristol Rovers that same historic afternoon, that, @NewburyWanderer, has got to be one of the top hypotheses.
Gareth goes. History isn’t made. He’s clearly the greatest.
The other day I watched Belper Town playing Stafford Rangers in the Norther Premier League, in front of a few hundred people.
Belper have pretty much always bobbed about at that level but Stafford were founder members of what became the Conference and I remember us playing them, including a win at their ground following an outrageous dive from Keith Scott for a penalty.
That’s what’s so amazing about our league system. A team way down in the NPL with supporters who’ll remember playing against a team that was in the Championship.
I always love watching the highlights of that game. A true miracle that Bristol didn't score. They hit the woodwork three times, and each time it bounced to safety. Sir Colin Daniel's shot hits the post and goes in. Beautiful
I actually brought myself to watch the playoff final this morning. With no game I questioned myself as to how bad we were/how good Sunderland were. On 2nd watch, I would say we actually looked the better team for large chunks, with Sunderland somehow never looking threatened.
It begged the question - "what if we had had a shot on goal better than Hanlan's miserable effort?"
I know. I don't know why I punish myself. The game was a bit of a blur and I think about it often. I don't remember us being woeful but I do remember thinking that we didn't look up to the occasion. Such a contrast from the MK game(s) in the semis. My thoughts were confirmed. We were by no means terrible, just created absolutely nothing. At the same time, neither did Sunderland. Their goals were out of nothing and due to individual errors and slack defending.
It also made me wonder - had we had Thompson, Mehmeti and had Wing being playing as well as he is now (in Horgans place - who had a pretty good game btw) - I think the game was there for the taking.
Vokes looked tired and off the pace for the whole game but to me he always looks a bit lethargic/not interested. I think it's just his style and mannerisms.
My initial reaction was to strongly disagree that a town centre stadium would attract significantly greater numbers of fans. That was on the basis that, in the thirty years that have elapsed since the move to Adams Park, the number of cars per head of population has probably tripled and, generally speaking, walking more than a few hundred yards seems to be too much like hard work for the majority of people.
However, given the often prohibitive cost of travel to the big London clubs and the cost of admission, having a League 1/Championship club within a couple of miles walk could well prove to be an attractive proposition/alternative.
Sounds vaguely suggestive. I know he’s not that old but for some reason it reminded me of the tale of an aged inmate of an old folks’ home getting told off for chasing an elderly lady round the table. A member of staff reprimanded him, saying he should remember she had acute angina. “I know” he replied. “That’s why I’m chasing her”.
Comments
What if Crewe didn't offer Kenny Swain a better contract, and didn't reject Wanderers manager's job, after originally accepting.
What if Richard Harris was just given a bit more time and opportunity as a player?
If only
What if Tommy Doherty didn’t play a sideways pass to Shevchenko at Stamford Bridge to give them an easy opener?
What if Essandoh or his agent didn't have a tv?
These are very good
What if instead of selling Nathan Tyson we kept him for the next five years?
What if they'd made more effort to level Loakes Park?
What if Frank Adams hadn't gifted Loakes Park to Wyucombe Wanderers?
Along with the win at Torquay and the heroic Mansfield player’s goal against Bristol Rovers that same historic afternoon, that, @NewburyWanderer, has got to be one of the top hypotheses.
Gareth goes. History isn’t made. He’s clearly the greatest.
The other day I watched Belper Town playing Stafford Rangers in the Norther Premier League, in front of a few hundred people.
Belper have pretty much always bobbed about at that level but Stafford were founder members of what became the Conference and I remember us playing them, including a win at their ground following an outrageous dive from Keith Scott for a penalty.
That’s what’s so amazing about our league system. A team way down in the NPL with supporters who’ll remember playing against a team that was in the Championship.
We'd have stayed non league and never employed O Neill?
What if the Gasroom never existed?
Do you really think so?
We'll never know for sure, but the ground move gave us the platform to move forward.
‘What if Adams Park was where Loakes Park was,’ would probably be a better question.
I'm absolutely convinced we'd get bigger crowds
No doubt about it. I'd go so far as to say our average home gate would be doubled.
I always love watching the highlights of that game. A true miracle that Bristol didn't score. They hit the woodwork three times, and each time it bounced to safety. Sir Colin Daniel's shot hits the post and goes in. Beautiful
Not in league 1 surely? We wouldn't be getting 10k a game.
We could possibly average somewhere near that if we got into the championship, if we allowed the away club 2,500 or so.
I actually brought myself to watch the playoff final this morning. With no game I questioned myself as to how bad we were/how good Sunderland were. On 2nd watch, I would say we actually looked the better team for large chunks, with Sunderland somehow never looking threatened.
It begged the question - "what if we had had a shot on goal better than Hanlan's miserable effort?"
My grammar would be much worse, lesser and fewer, that's for certain.
You’re a better man than me! Didn’t Vokes have a great chance just before half time? Or just before their second?
I know. I don't know why I punish myself. The game was a bit of a blur and I think about it often. I don't remember us being woeful but I do remember thinking that we didn't look up to the occasion. Such a contrast from the MK game(s) in the semis. My thoughts were confirmed. We were by no means terrible, just created absolutely nothing. At the same time, neither did Sunderland. Their goals were out of nothing and due to individual errors and slack defending.
It also made me wonder - had we had Thompson, Mehmeti and had Wing being playing as well as he is now (in Horgans place - who had a pretty good game btw) - I think the game was there for the taking.
Vokes looked tired and off the pace for the whole game but to me he always looks a bit lethargic/not interested. I think it's just his style and mannerisms.
I did say I remembered Horgan playing well. Thanks for confirming
That's about how i remember it, we just never got going.
My initial reaction was to strongly disagree that a town centre stadium would attract significantly greater numbers of fans. That was on the basis that, in the thirty years that have elapsed since the move to Adams Park, the number of cars per head of population has probably tripled and, generally speaking, walking more than a few hundred yards seems to be too much like hard work for the majority of people.
However, given the often prohibitive cost of travel to the big London clubs and the cost of admission, having a League 1/Championship club within a couple of miles walk could well prove to be an attractive proposition/alternative.
What if Guppy had connected at The Hawthorns?
Sounds vaguely suggestive. I know he’s not that old but for some reason it reminded me of the tale of an aged inmate of an old folks’ home getting told off for chasing an elderly lady round the table. A member of staff reprimanded him, saying he should remember she had acute angina. “I know” he replied. “That’s why I’m chasing her”.
I’m not sure what would have to happen in my life to ever watch that play-off final again.