Expectations are high and rightly so, however, we have to take the point for what it is.
Tough away game at a scruffy and unfashionable side scrapping for their lives. We have to remember this is also his 1st league game in this division for us, so probably a learnt a hell of a lot from this one.
My take was that the pitch was diabolical and doctored in a certain way. Possibly Crawley rolled the fuck out of it to flatten it and let the ball bounce and pick up unnatural speed for passes and through balls.
Looking back, I think Sonny Bradley was hinting in his interview about “winter pitches” and about how tough the game will be, and not knowing what type of pitch to inspect etc.
Also, it seemed as though whenever the ball was within a metre or so of touchline it seemed to bounce out of play. I know that pitches are designed to have a camber away to help with drainage, but thinking about it, I’m sure something was doctored here.
I’m counting time wasting as early as 10th minute from Crawley. The Bolton mascot a week ago was pictured faking injury as a celebration after their late winner. They were a throwback to the rock and roll days of GA’s magnificent reign. The stop start nature was very frustrating and broke up any momentum.
We can’t be arrogant like fans of clubs like Plymouth etc. Crawley had some decent players, posed a solid threat and scored a banger of a goal (I thought Skura was at fault for McCleary miscommunication which lost ball in build up). 4 points in total off this fixture is a promotion winning return, and providing we match it for majority of our remaining opponents, we can do this. If you can’t win it, then don’t lose it, onto next one.
I think Dodds went with the long ball game as he thought that would be our best chance to win, and not because this is the style he wants to implement. We played differently at Preston and I’m really hoping that he will be a guy that mixes it up every game based on the opponents.
With all that being said, I could be talking complete bollocks.
These are all unprecedented times for Wycombe fans and in truth, I think we have all lost our heads after that January window. It’s like 3 decades of Christmas’ and Birthdays rolled into one. If it’s not this year, it will be next year and if it’s not with Dodds, it will be with someone else.
We have a massive part to play here as fans. Go and dust yourself off and remember how fortunate we are to be in this position. This Bristol Rovers game is going to be a game for the ages, 3 points will swing everything, we have to be there in numbers and be as loud as possible. Sing your hearts out for the lads!
What a joy to read such a sensible and articulate summing up of our current situation. It’s worth reminding some of our more pessimistic posters that Derby lost 10 games last season but still finished second. Peterborough and Barnsley lost 12 and Oxford lost 13 but all 3 clubs still made the playoffs. We have so far lost 4.
Change is difficult to deal with. We won’t be the same club in 5+ years as @Shev suggested.
I’ve only known us as being ‘little non-league’ Wycombe, the underdog, the punching above our weight FA Cup and League Cup Semi-finalists, the last day escapes at Lincoln and Torquay, the magic of somehow getting to the championship and almost staying up with next to no real finance. The giddiness of having Tony Adam’s as manager (only to realise he was nowhere near as good a manager as a player), Gormania, John Gregory, Super Laurie Sanchez and Terry Gibson, Gaz and Matty Bloomfield, Martin O’Neil. Bayo and so much more.
We have crappy crowds for sure but very occasionally it’s full to the brim - Slough, Simmo scoring the only goal as we did the league double over Man City, Andy Rammel scoring against wolves and jumping into the pile of snow!
For me, this is our culture and it’s been brilliant, but it’s going to change with the new owner and structure. Football has changed and who knows, maybe one day we’ll ’do a Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford and challenge do a European place but we’ll still be the underdog, overachiever in a different league and time.
We have to embrace the change but we can celebrate our past, our history and make sure that the ‘new supporters’ that will come in on the back of the new money remember that.
Change is difficult to deal with. We won’t be the same club in 5+ years as @Shev suggested.
I’ve only known us as being ‘little non-league’ Wycombe, the underdog, the punching above our weight FA Cup and League Cup Semi-finalists, the last day escapes at Lincoln and Torquay, the magic of somehow getting to the championship and almost staying up with next to no real finance. The giddiness of having Tony Adam’s as manager (only to realise he was nowhere near as good a manager as a player), Gormania, John Gregory, Super Laurie Sanchez and Terry Gibson, Gaz and Matty Bloomfield, Martin O’Neil. Bayo and so much more.
We have crappy crowds for sure but very occasionally it’s full to the brim - Slough, Simmo scoring the only goal as we did the league double over Man City, Andy Rammel scoring against wolves and jumping into the pile of snow!
For me, this is our culture and it’s been brilliant, but it’s going to change with the new owner and structure. Football has changed and who knows, maybe one day we’ll ’do a Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford and challenge do a European place but we’ll still be the underdog, overachiever in a different league and time.
We have to embrace the change but we can celebrate our past, our history and make sure that the ‘new supporters’ that will come in on the back of the new money remember that.
Onwards and upwards.
Are there any instances where "we" don't have to embrace the change? Possibly some examples from history where it might've been better if "we" hadn't?
Are there any instances where "we" don't have to embrace the change? Possibly some examples from history where it might've been better if "we" hadn't?
As fans we have a simple choice: decide that our devotion to WWFC is more important than any misgivings we have about the owners and the direction in which we feel they are taking us, or withdraw our support until such time as the club finds new owners that meet our approval. I can’t think of any compromise position.
One of my colleagues ( a complete neutral) went to the game as he lives near Crawley. It was interesting to get his view. He was impressed by Udoh troubling their centre backs, Scowen was 'a terrier', he thought Fred was completely anonymous and Low was a bit dirty and was lucky to stay on the field. The bloke that came on looked quality...I assume he means Simons.
I said it was unlucky he did not get to see Kone in action.
A possible compromise position would be that the owners, implicitly acknowledging the fan base, go on something of a charm offensive. I’m not talking daytime fireworks, Cajun spice burgers or even hot water, more a regular ‘state of the nation’ presentation from Dan Rice summarising how the ‘first 100’ days have gone in his opinion. Obviously would have some PR spin to it but a lack of warmth, personality and fan empathy is throwing a shadow over what should be a much more positive period. This would go some way to ameliorate this.
As fans we have a simple choice: decide that our devotion to WWFC is more important than any misgivings we have about the owners and the direction in which we feel they are taking us, or withdraw our support until such time as the club finds new owners that meet our approval. I can’t think of any compromise position.
My position is that I will continue to support the club and the team, but I’m enjoying it less than before and I dislike the new ownership team. I’m entirely neutral on Mike Dodds and I hope he is a great success.
A possible compromise position would be that the owners, implicitly acknowledging the fan base, go on something of a charm offensive. I’m not talking daytime fireworks, Cajun spice burgers or even hot water, more a regular ‘state of the nation’ presentation from Dan Rice summarising how the ‘first 100’ days have gone in his opinion. Obviously would have some PR spin to it but a lack of warmth, personality and fan empathy is throwing a shadow over what should be a much more positive period. This would go some way to ameliorate this.
To be fair to DR he has done several interviews with Phil and spoken at various functions like the ex-players dinner and supporters forums, so he has engaged with the fans in that way. I think he prefers to avoid the limelight but that’s his choice.
As fans we have a simple choice: decide that our devotion to WWFC is more important than any misgivings we have about the owners and the direction in which we feel they are taking us, or withdraw our support until such time as the club finds new owners that meet our approval. I can’t think of any compromise position.
Much as I agree with your premise @glasshalffull if the owners decide on an exciting move to West London, creating Reading Wanderers or put tickets up to £66 a game with no reductions, I reserve the right to post 'What the f...k???'
Much as I agree with your premise @glasshalffull if the owners decide on an exciting move to West London, creating Reading Wanderers or put tickets up to £66 a game with no reductions, I reserve the right to post 'What the f...k???'
If they did anything like that I think I would beat you to posting ‘What the f..k???’
My position is that I will continue to support the club and the team, but I’m enjoying it less than before and I dislike the new ownership team. I’m entirely neutral on Mike Dodds and I hope he is a great success.
I respect your opinion but remind you that in my time following WWFC Ivor Beeks, Steve Hayes, the Supporters Trust and Rob Couhig have all been disliked at various points of their respective tenures. It goes with the territory I’m afraid.
Fuck's sake. Every time I think I'm missing the gasroom and I might come back, I find acres of this kind of shit. You're not the gasroom police, you're not even a moderator. Stop trying to police what other people post. If it's time to move on, as you have posted a million words on, then move on.
Hear hear to that. I somehow forced myself to read the latest waffling diatribe from @TheAndyGrahamFanClub after initially wondering what strange ramification had led him to describe MB as a loyal employer.
The circumstances leading to the parting of ways may not be officially documented but it surely doesn’t require incessant repetition on here for anyone with half a brain to understand how it was destined to happen.
I look back with sadness now to the time - three or four months ago - when I was still naive enough to suggest on here that it was imperative for the new owners to offer MB a contract extension that he wouldn’t be able to refuse. I was also naive enough, as weeks and months went by, to wonder why such an offer was not forthcoming.
The sadness of realisation and the subsequent tears when the inevitable happened will dog me for life.
But we really do have to put all that behind us and hope that Mike Dodds will succeed in restoring what I used to refer to as Premier League style (if not quite quality!) football.
My position is that I will continue to support the club and the team, but I’m enjoying it less than before and I dislike the new ownership team. I’m entirely neutral on Mike Dodds and I hope he is a great success.
Hear hear to that. I somehow forced myself to read the latest waffling diatribe from @TheAndyGrahamFanClub after initially wondering what strange ramification had led him to describe MB as a loyal employer.
The circumstances leading to the parting of ways may not be officially documented but it surely doesn’t require incessant repetition on here for anyone with half a brain to understand how it was destined to happen.
I look back with sadness now to the time - three or four months ago - when I was still naive enough to suggest on here that it was imperative for the new owners to offer MB a contract extension that he wouldn’t be able to refuse. I was also naive enough, as weeks and months went by, to wonder why such an offer was not forthcoming.
The sadness of realisation and the subsequent tears when the inevitable happened will dog me for life.
But we really do have to put all that behind us and hope that Mike Dodds will succeed in restoring what I used to refer to as Premier League style (if not quite quality!) football.
It never ceases to amaze me how people's perception of a post is so different. Other than the typo of employer instead of employee, I thought @TheAndyGrahamFanClub's recent post was concise and to the point and yet you consider it was a "waffling diatribe".
Hopefully come Saturday evening we will all have a more enjoyable matter to debate!
It never ceases to amaze me how people's perception of a post is so different. Other than the typo of employer instead of employee, I thought @TheAndyGrahamFanClub's recent post was concise and to the point and yet you consider it was a "waffling diatribe".
Hopefully come Saturday evening we will all have a more enjoyable matter to debate!
I used “waffling diatribe” in reference to the whole bloody series! And I liked the sound of it without knowing if it was particularly apposite.
Change is difficult to deal with. We won’t be the same club in 5+ years as @Shev suggested.
I’ve only known us as being ‘little non-league’ Wycombe, the underdog, the punching above our weight FA Cup and League Cup Semi-finalists, the last day escapes at Lincoln and Torquay, the magic of somehow getting to the championship and almost staying up with next to no real finance. The giddiness of having Tony Adam’s as manager (only to realise he was nowhere near as good a manager as a player), Gormania, John Gregory, Super Laurie Sanchez and Terry Gibson, Gaz and Matty Bloomfield, Martin O’Neil. Bayo and so much more.
We have crappy crowds for sure but very occasionally it’s full to the brim - Slough, Simmo scoring the only goal as we did the league double over Man City, Andy Rammel scoring against wolves and jumping into the pile of snow!
For me, this is our culture and it’s been brilliant, but it’s going to change with the new owner and structure. Football has changed and who knows, maybe one day we’ll ’do a Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford and challenge do a European place but we’ll still be the underdog, overachiever in a different league and time.
We have to embrace the change but we can celebrate our past, our history and make sure that the ‘new supporters’ that will come in on the back of the new money remember that.
I’ve just remembered. I meant to say “rambling diatribe”. I didn’t want to be unkind. It’s just that it’s all become somewhat repetitive and old hat. But most have now moved on.
I’ve just remembered. I meant to say “rambling diatribe”. I didn’t want to be unkind. It’s just that it’s all become somewhat repetitive and old hat. But most have now moved on.
So on that basis, that Crawley pitch was terrible.
Is it time to set up a new thread for everything surrounding MB's departure so those who are interested can discuss it until the end of time whilst the rest of us move on?
It never ceases to amaze me how people's perception of a post is so different. Other than the typo of employer instead of employee, I thought @TheAndyGrahamFanClub's recent post was concise and to the point and yet you consider it was a "waffling diatribe".
Hopefully come Saturday evening we will all have a more enjoyable matter to debate!
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What a joy to read such a sensible and articulate summing up of our current situation. It’s worth reminding some of our more pessimistic posters that Derby lost 10 games last season but still finished second. Peterborough and Barnsley lost 12 and Oxford lost 13 but all 3 clubs still made the playoffs. We have so far lost 4.
Superb post.
Are there any instances where "we" don't have to embrace the change? Possibly some examples from history where it might've been better if "we" hadn't?
The new pound coin.
Society seemingly en masse ditching the adverb "very" for the adjective "super"
"I'm super excited about tomorrow's game"
get in the sea
Wait, when did they change the pound coin?
As fans we have a simple choice: decide that our devotion to WWFC is more important than any misgivings we have about the owners and the direction in which we feel they are taking us, or withdraw our support until such time as the club finds new owners that meet our approval. I can’t think of any compromise position.
2017
We didn't have all this diving and play-acting and VAR before decimalisation. Just saying.
Adverts on YouTube. I have plans for the person(s) responsible.
Can't remember the last time I saw a coin tbh
One of my colleagues ( a complete neutral) went to the game as he lives near Crawley. It was interesting to get his view. He was impressed by Udoh troubling their centre backs, Scowen was 'a terrier', he thought Fred was completely anonymous and Low was a bit dirty and was lucky to stay on the field. The bloke that came on looked quality...I assume he means Simons.
I said it was unlucky he did not get to see Kone in action.
A possible compromise position would be that the owners, implicitly acknowledging the fan base, go on something of a charm offensive. I’m not talking daytime fireworks, Cajun spice burgers or even hot water, more a regular ‘state of the nation’ presentation from Dan Rice summarising how the ‘first 100’ days have gone in his opinion. Obviously would have some PR spin to it but a lack of warmth, personality and fan empathy is throwing a shadow over what should be a much more positive period. This would go some way to ameliorate this.
My position is that I will continue to support the club and the team, but I’m enjoying it less than before and I dislike the new ownership team. I’m entirely neutral on Mike Dodds and I hope he is a great success.
To be fair to DR he has done several interviews with Phil and spoken at various functions like the ex-players dinner and supporters forums, so he has engaged with the fans in that way. I think he prefers to avoid the limelight but that’s his choice.
Much as I agree with your premise @glasshalffull if the owners decide on an exciting move to West London, creating Reading Wanderers or put tickets up to £66 a game with no reductions, I reserve the right to post 'What the f...k???'
If they did anything like that I think I would beat you to posting ‘What the f..k???’
We could always take over MK Dons so we have a stadium fit for the project. MK Wanderers has a nice ring to it.
I respect your opinion but remind you that in my time following WWFC Ivor Beeks, Steve Hayes, the Supporters Trust and Rob Couhig have all been disliked at various points of their respective tenures. It goes with the territory I’m afraid.
Hear hear to that. I somehow forced myself to read the latest waffling diatribe from @TheAndyGrahamFanClub after initially wondering what strange ramification had led him to describe MB as a loyal employer.
The circumstances leading to the parting of ways may not be officially documented but it surely doesn’t require incessant repetition on here for anyone with half a brain to understand how it was destined to happen.
I look back with sadness now to the time - three or four months ago - when I was still naive enough to suggest on here that it was imperative for the new owners to offer MB a contract extension that he wouldn’t be able to refuse. I was also naive enough, as weeks and months went by, to wonder why such an offer was not forthcoming.
The sadness of realisation and the subsequent tears when the inevitable happened will dog me for life.
But we really do have to put all that behind us and hope that Mike Dodds will succeed in restoring what I used to refer to as Premier League style (if not quite quality!) football.
Perfect post!
It never ceases to amaze me how people's perception of a post is so different. Other than the typo of employer instead of employee, I thought @TheAndyGrahamFanClub's recent post was concise and to the point and yet you consider it was a "waffling diatribe".
Hopefully come Saturday evening we will all have a more enjoyable matter to debate!
I used “waffling diatribe” in reference to the whole bloody series! And I liked the sound of it without knowing if it was particularly apposite.
Sorry for having a conversation with a person that said they actually liked the post and appreciated the discussion.
whats that about trying to police what other people post?
Well said that man
I’ve just remembered. I meant to say “rambling diatribe”. I didn’t want to be unkind. It’s just that it’s all become somewhat repetitive and old hat. But most have now moved on.
So on that basis, that Crawley pitch was terrible.
Is it time to set up a new thread for everything surrounding MB's departure so those who are interested can discuss it until the end of time whilst the rest of us move on?
I agree with you @TheAndyGrahamFanClub post was excellent.
I don't like the new pound coin.....but there again I fear change.