I walked from the town centre to the ground on the opening day of last season and we won, so I had to keep doing it for 3 months come rain or shine. Science.
So managers like Evatt sit down in the week with their analysts and the analyst says 'right, I've done my work on Wycombe and you will be interested to know..' SHUT UP. I KNOW WHAT WYCOMBE WILL DO. But boss, they have players like Wing, Hanlan, Vokes, McCleary, Campbell. LA LA LA NOT INTERESTED I KNOW WHAT THEY DO. THEY ARE LIKE A JOHN BECK SIDE AND WILL LUMP IT FORWARD.
The list of managers that have used that line is embarrassing. And it makes them look poorer for it. It is almost as if they assume none of us watched the game.
Once again we have become more than the sum of our parts. And we have very good parts at present. Is it just me or has Vokes just got five years younger, Grimmer found a whole new level to his game, Wing looking championship standard again. And Scowen, the beating heart.
I’m still unclear what our future is or how much the Couhig’s are now emotionally invested in it (where’s the worldwide Wycombe phenomenon, what is happening with the reduction in trust ownership?) yet despite these possible distractions, the loss of Anis and the sadness around Alfie, Gaz and Dobbo continue to inspire an astonishing team spirit.
I think we’re at Wembley again. And I’ll have a decision to make. Friend’s wedding (at our training ground in Marlow as it happens) or promotion party on Wembley Way.
It would be good to hear updates on the road, the trust reduction, ground improvements. All seems to have gone quiet at the moment. I thought we had someone working on the world wide phenomenon but haven’t seen anything for some time.
I heard a rumour from a reasonable source that the road will be little more than a dirt track, its basically so they can extend the capacity by rebuilding the home end. I imagine bars and hospitality rooms will be at the forefront of that renovation.
I thought a long time ago that a track could be built for emergency use only; I wonder what the problem is. Do we need a bigger capacity though? Our attendances have been in steady decline for a long time.
@LDF Attendances have been somewhat disappointing this season, but certainly not in decline. Every chance we'll average 6k + for only the 3rd time at Adams Park this season.
Maybe, but I wouldn't think it makes huge difference. We've had big teams, bringing big away followings for a number of years in League 1. Not sure this season is much different to others.
I would agree that some home attendances haven't been great though. Last season we were selling out, or at least close to selling out several fixtures towards the end of the season. Whilst this season, apart from Sheff Weds, where the home capacity was reduced, we've not really got near. Might be that we'll pull in bigger home crowds towards the end of the season, we usually do.
If I remember rightly the Couhigs wanted to get more use of of the Stadium. Music Events ? Other Events ? Even at our level hospitality boxes are a big earner.
Does anyone other than me think we ended up being disadvantaged by the concussion substitute rule?
As it was we take Grimmer off 1st half, correctly IMHO, although we're very unlikely to make 5 subs anyway - presumably we DON'T get the option to just use one of our 5 free choice subs.
Anyway as a consequence Bolton become eligible for 6 free choice subs as a result!
Interesting question would be what then happens if they had to make a concussion sub after 6 free choice? Do we then become eligible for 6 free choice subs plus the 1 concussion sub already made?
Also does the concussion sub incident count as one of the three substitution event per side?
That would make sense, if it could be quickly and relatively cheaply implemented, for a season in the Championship.
However, why do we need extra access for larger capacity crowds? It's not like the bigger crowds will bring more cars into the top car park as from what I can tell it operates at it full capacity (due to it being a grass bank).
That suggests what we need is better access/egress for pedestrians along Hillbottom Road and/or better segregation from the traffic flow - barriers down the pavement edge. Surely an option which can be solved with far less financial outlay.
Can we not put down a "temporary' road, a bit like the military do for their heavy armoury? Then on the Sunday roll it up again or am I just talking utter codswallop like I usually do, so my wife tells me?
We could have coped with twice the number of cars yesterday but… in the middle of January that would have been half yesterday’s number and since it’s Green Belt it has to remain a field. So, I’m not sure where we go from here. New road or not, on bad days we will struggle to park anything like the required number.
IF we ever get to a point where we're regularly getting sell-out crowds, the only realistic option I see is relocating. But I think about 8k average is our ceiling, regardless of what division we're in.
Comments
I walked from the town centre to the ground on the opening day of last season and we won, so I had to keep doing it for 3 months come rain or shine. Science.
I feel the same ,I walk from Hazlemere for every home game. Frightened not to now.
So managers like Evatt sit down in the week with their analysts and the analyst says 'right, I've done my work on Wycombe and you will be interested to know..' SHUT UP. I KNOW WHAT WYCOMBE WILL DO. But boss, they have players like Wing, Hanlan, Vokes, McCleary, Campbell. LA LA LA NOT INTERESTED I KNOW WHAT THEY DO. THEY ARE LIKE A JOHN BECK SIDE AND WILL LUMP IT FORWARD.
The list of managers that have used that line is embarrassing. And it makes them look poorer for it. It is almost as if they assume none of us watched the game.
Once again we have become more than the sum of our parts. And we have very good parts at present. Is it just me or has Vokes just got five years younger, Grimmer found a whole new level to his game, Wing looking championship standard again. And Scowen, the beating heart.
I’m still unclear what our future is or how much the Couhig’s are now emotionally invested in it (where’s the worldwide Wycombe phenomenon, what is happening with the reduction in trust ownership?) yet despite these possible distractions, the loss of Anis and the sadness around Alfie, Gaz and Dobbo continue to inspire an astonishing team spirit.
I think we’re at Wembley again. And I’ll have a decision to make. Friend’s wedding (at our training ground in Marlow as it happens) or promotion party on Wembley Way.
Bolton have actually just gone and renamed their stadium the Toughsheet Community Stadium. I mean...
It would be good to hear updates on the road, the trust reduction, ground improvements. All seems to have gone quiet at the moment. I thought we had someone working on the world wide phenomenon but haven’t seen anything for some time.
Also the new training ground in little Marlow, nothing on that in about 18 months
Even the most optimistic, cup 100% full type can't possibly think that this wonder new road has any chance of happening in the foreseeable future?
Anyone know what's happened to Grimmer?
Yup, GA said he’s fine and was just taken off as a precaution for concussion.
https://twitter.com/wwfcofficial/status/1627054328350642176?s=46&t=sIgE3RHQi1KZqU-2Vgy4DQ
I heard a rumour from a reasonable source that the road will be little more than a dirt track, its basically so they can extend the capacity by rebuilding the home end. I imagine bars and hospitality rooms will be at the forefront of that renovation.
I really can’t see that money being available unless the club takes out a massive loan and I really wouldn’t want that.
Why do we want to enlarge the ground as we never have capacity crowds. If we have money to invest, then invest it in the squad.
Ah, so we're planning on hosting a round of the World Rally Championship?
According to BFP, going to be resting for a week so I assume he won't be playing against Shrewsbury.
I thought a long time ago that a track could be built for emergency use only; I wonder what the problem is. Do we need a bigger capacity though? Our attendances have been in steady decline for a long time.
The terrace needs doing unfortunately, it's literally crumbling
Who would loan the club money when they wouldnt have the stadium as security?
I think @Otter87 said it's only got another year or two before it has to be done for safety reasons?
@LDF Attendances have been somewhat disappointing this season, but certainly not in decline. Every chance we'll average 6k + for only the 3rd time at Adams Park this season.
Do you think the average has been boosted by some unusually large away followings?
We've clearly been inside Ian Evatt's head for a long time. Here's what he said after losing to Sheffield Wednesday - in August.
Maybe, but I wouldn't think it makes huge difference. We've had big teams, bringing big away followings for a number of years in League 1. Not sure this season is much different to others.
I would agree that some home attendances haven't been great though. Last season we were selling out, or at least close to selling out several fixtures towards the end of the season. Whilst this season, apart from Sheff Weds, where the home capacity was reduced, we've not really got near. Might be that we'll pull in bigger home crowds towards the end of the season, we usually do.
If I remember rightly the Couhigs wanted to get more use of of the Stadium. Music Events ? Other Events ? Even at our level hospitality boxes are a big earner.
Does anyone other than me think we ended up being disadvantaged by the concussion substitute rule?
As it was we take Grimmer off 1st half, correctly IMHO, although we're very unlikely to make 5 subs anyway - presumably we DON'T get the option to just use one of our 5 free choice subs.
Anyway as a consequence Bolton become eligible for 6 free choice subs as a result!
Interesting question would be what then happens if they had to make a concussion sub after 6 free choice? Do we then become eligible for 6 free choice subs plus the 1 concussion sub already made?
Also does the concussion sub incident count as one of the three substitution event per side?
That would make sense, if it could be quickly and relatively cheaply implemented, for a season in the Championship.
However, why do we need extra access for larger capacity crowds? It's not like the bigger crowds will bring more cars into the top car park as from what I can tell it operates at it full capacity (due to it being a grass bank).
That suggests what we need is better access/egress for pedestrians along Hillbottom Road and/or better segregation from the traffic flow - barriers down the pavement edge. Surely an option which can be solved with far less financial outlay.
Can we not put down a "temporary' road, a bit like the military do for their heavy armoury? Then on the Sunday roll it up again or am I just talking utter codswallop like I usually do, so my wife tells me?
We could have coped with twice the number of cars yesterday but… in the middle of January that would have been half yesterday’s number and since it’s Green Belt it has to remain a field. So, I’m not sure where we go from here. New road or not, on bad days we will struggle to park anything like the required number.
That attendance thing I don't think is correct at all.
IF we ever get to a point where we're regularly getting sell-out crowds, the only realistic option I see is relocating. But I think about 8k average is our ceiling, regardless of what division we're in.
Not sure that's going to convince any of the safety certificate issuers!
Or encourage anyone to drive their nice car that way!