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Post by frenchgashead on Aug 5, 2014 6:11:52 GMT
I've supported the Gas for 60 years and never thought we'd be in the mess we are now. We all want a successful season and a return to League football. What worries me is that we may be too optimistic about the coming season. Then if it goes sour towards the end of the year the recriminations will start again and we get nowhere. Let's hope for the best but be realistic about what we can achieve. Few clubs have ever come straight back from the Conference and we should expect a long hard slog. It's a tough league as other ex-League clubs have found as they're still there. So where are we and what can we realistically expect?
1. The UWE may or may not happen. But it's not going to make any difference for the next two seasons. Even then playing in front of a 1/3 or 1/4 full stadium is not a recipe for success. The UWE would be a great foundation on which to build but a lot has to happen on the field before we can reap the benefits.
2. We have a relatively inexperienced manager who seems a good prospect but who can tell?
3. We have an almost new team that is bound to take time to gel and learn how to play together. Do we have a big enough squad and enough quality? Perhaps.
4. The match on Saturday is a tough start - it'll take a while before we see where we are.
Frankly, I would be satisfied with a top half finish as a realistic expectation. It should then provide a platform for a real go at promotion in 2015-16.
The play-offs would be a great bonus. With only one automatic promotion spot I think that's a sort of 25 -1 shot though we all want it - who wouldn't.
I think failure this season would only be a finish well into the bottom half.
This is not being pessimistic - I want success as much as anybody but being too optimistic could easily backfire if things go wrong.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 6:46:08 GMT
5. The club is skint so we have to do the best we can with the players we have
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Post by Surrey Gas on Aug 5, 2014 7:25:41 GMT
As a relative newby to Rovers (been supporting them for only 45 years) I think the vast majority of fans realise that an immediate return to the league is a longshot. But I will be disappointed if we are not pushing for promotion/play-offs this season even if we fall just short. This is essential to keep fans coming through the turnstiles.
I also disagree on your UWE point - if the UWE construction starts that will give the club a huge boost of positivity and attract more fans and better players in the lead up to the stadium openning. On the contrary, if the UWE doesnt happen it will have the opposite affect of fan morale.
Totally agree on points 2,3 and 4 though. Also Henbury's point 5
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trunky
Joined: June 2014
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Post by trunky on Aug 5, 2014 7:32:02 GMT
I cant understand where any optimism is coming from,hardly anything has changed from last season except we have got players of a lower standard and an untried manager,unless the clowns running this club vacate their positions I think there is more chance of us going out of existence rather than ever playing league football again.
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simonj
Archie Stevens
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 817
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Post by simonj on Aug 5, 2014 7:38:00 GMT
Its absolutely key to begin well, I know this is obvious, but we can build momentum very quickly. Any element of early success will get us going in the right direction. Skint, of course, we have less because of our demise, but surely we have a budget to compete.
We have retained several first team players (like that's a positive) who actually should be strong and good enough if DC can instil the realism that they need to fight first and then show they are better than the league they are playing in. As for the additions to the squad, again we hope DC has got some of what he was looking for.
I cant wait for the season, but rest assured we start poorly the whole thing will go disastrously, start well and we will maintain half decent support. Fingers crossed but I am not full of much optimism more hope, we deserve some good times right now.
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dinsdale
Andy Rammell
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 495
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Realism
Aug 5, 2014 7:46:53 GMT
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Post by dinsdale on Aug 5, 2014 7:46:53 GMT
5. The club is skint so we have to do the best we can with the players we have We have a big budget though for this level |
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Post by phillistine on Aug 5, 2014 8:03:12 GMT
I dont think that people realise just what a change UWE is going to make to Rovers. At present we derive income from Football and the odd non footballing event such as car boot sales etc. UWE is going to be a much more prestigious stadium and will earn additional income that we are presently not enjoying from the additional activities that will be based there.
I havent seen specific details but I notice that there is mention of offices and we all know that Fleetwood has been transformed due to the income they derived when their owner based his company at the stadium. Cardiff City Stadium is earning a lot of income from conferences and just being a venue. UWE is going to be in a fantastic location to be a conference venue- if indeed that is planned- as Bristol sadly lacks a major venue.
It wont be just a matter of moving to UWE and carrying on as we are . If a shopkeeper moves from a small shop to a much larger modern one , they dont do that just to carry on as they are. They refit, buy in additional stock and earn additional income from a premises which is planned for the current economic climate.
This is not fantsy this is realism.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 8:25:28 GMT
5. The club is skint so we have to do the best we can with the players we have We have a big budget though for this level We may have a big budget for this level but we are still skint |
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me
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 155
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Post by me on Aug 5, 2014 8:57:24 GMT
I cant understand where any optimism is coming from,hardly anything has changed from last season except we have got players of a lower standard and an untried manager,unless the clowns running this club vacate their positions I think there is more chance of us going out of existence rather than ever playing league football again. I feel optimism in the way DC is trying to recruit players. In previous years we have recruited journeymen footballers who couldnt give a monkeys about BRFC, DC is trying to change that. However this is difficult to achieve overnight, unfortunately in the world of many football supporters, instant success is the only option, and this might cause problems if we are mid table or worse after 10 games. As always at the beginning of the season there are people with expectations of being 10 points clear at the top at christmas and if this does not happen, then people will be moaning. I am expecting a season where we are challenging for the play offs, but the truth is we do not know how good are players are at the moment, I just hope all supporters get behind all players and give them all a chance (including Ellis). With regards to the board, I really wish people would stop bring up them leaving, it is not going to happen unless an investor comes in. We are stuck with them, there is no point moaning about them all the time. Yes they are clowns, but we all know that after the last few years. |
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harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,424
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Post by harrybuckle on Aug 5, 2014 9:16:47 GMT
all football fans of all clubs are always optimistic at the seasons start all predict promotion but then reality bites ..I have never even seen a Conference game so do not know how good/bad it is. I saw the Coventry friendly and watched all the new players and must admit was encouraged with their work rate and their overall ability but cant compare them with say Grimsby until Saturday afternoon. We have a hard start and like most Clubs at this level a shed load of new players who will take time to gel and form a unit.
We shall be better to see know after about six games
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 9:22:21 GMT
I dont think that people realise just what a change UWE is going to make to Rovers. At present we derive income from Football and the odd non footballing event such as car boot sales etc. UWE is going to be a much more prestigious stadium and will earn additional income that we are presently not enjoying from the additional activities that will be based there. I havent seen specific details but I notice that there is mention of offices and we all know that Fleetwood has been transformed due to the income they derived when their owner based his company at the stadium. Cardiff City Stadium is earning a lot of income from conferences and just being a venue. UWE is going to be in a fantastic location to be a conference venue- if indeed that is planned- as Bristol sadly lacks a major venue. It wont be just a matter of moving to UWE and carrying on as we are . If a shopkeeper moves from a small shop to a much larger modern one , they dont do that just to carry on as they are. They refit, buy in additional stock and earn additional income from a premises which is planned for the current economic climate. This is not fantsy this is realism. i hope your right but for every new ground success story theres a catastrophic failure so its not a sure thing. of course now that so much time,effort and money has gone into project it makes sense for the club to see it through if they can. im optimistic we can have a good season,the games come thick and fast so we will soon find out |
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Post by mancgas has left the building on Aug 5, 2014 9:56:09 GMT
Big budgets dont get you pout of this league - that's been proven time and time again - team work and consistency does give you a chance. We'll know after 13 games whether this group of players gives you that. What was clear in game vs Coventry was everyone of new players wanted to be here and were giving everything they had. I cant remember the last time we had anything like that.
And actually you know what I'd settle for 11 blokes dying for the shirt any day over odd exceptional player or should I say odd player getting exceptional personal outcomes, like O'Toole. I'd imagine the fact only Northampton wanted him has come as a shock to him and may make him a better man. Or on the other hand its more likely it wont. But I'd take a lesser talent like Sinclair (albeit he looked every bit as good as O'Toole in the Coventry game) over the O'Tooles of the professional game.
So I'm realistic we may be in this league a while, but hopefully we'll be building a team and spirit that will see us rise through the leagues again in two or three years.
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Post by casey12a on Aug 5, 2014 10:02:34 GMT
I dont think that people realise just what a change UWE is going to make to Rovers. At present we derive income from Football and the odd non footballing event such as car boot sales etc. UWE is going to be a much more prestigious stadium and will earn additional income that we are presently not enjoying from the additional activities that will be based there. I havent seen specific details but I notice that there is mention of offices and we all know that Fleetwood has been transformed due to the income they derived when their owner based his company at the stadium. Cardiff City Stadium is earning a lot of income from conferences and just being a venue. UWE is going to be in a fantastic location to be a conference venue- if indeed that is planned- as Bristol sadly lacks a major venue. It wont be just a matter of moving to UWE and carrying on as we are . If a shopkeeper moves from a small shop to a much larger modern one , they dont do that just to carry on as they are. They refit, buy in additional stock and earn additional income from a premises which is planned for the current economic climate. This is not fantsy this is realism. I agree with the principle phillistine, I just have no faith in the people running our club being able to pull off maximising (or even getting an average amount of) this revenue. We were all told at Twerton that we'd be much better off if we owned a ground due to the revenue it would produce and look at us now. Over £6m in debt and a non league club. |
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Post by swissgas on Aug 5, 2014 11:01:53 GMT
I dont think that people realise just what a change UWE is going to make to Rovers. At present we derive income from Football and the odd non footballing event such as car boot sales etc. UWE is going to be a much more prestigious stadium and will earn additional income that we are presently not enjoying from the additional activities that will be based there. I havent seen specific details but I notice that there is mention of offices and we all know that Fleetwood has been transformed due to the income they derived when their owner based his company at the stadium. Cardiff City Stadium is earning a lot of income from conferences and just being a venue. UWE is going to be in a fantastic location to be a conference venue- if indeed that is planned- as Bristol sadly lacks a major venue.It wont be just a matter of moving to UWE and carrying on as we are . If a shopkeeper moves from a small shop to a much larger modern one , they dont do that just to carry on as they are. They refit, buy in additional stock and earn additional income from a premises which is planned for the current economic climate. This is not fantsy this is realism. There is already a large modern exhibition & Conference centre on the UWE campus a few hundred yards from the proposed stadium www1.uwe.ac.uk/business/venuehireandevents/exhibitionsandconferences.aspxThere is already a large modern sports centre and gym on the UWE campus a few hundred yards from the proposed stadium www1.uwe.ac.uk/aboutus/departmentsandservices/professionalservices/centreforsport.aspxI am afraid that Rovers fans have been indoctrinated to believe that if you ignore something unpleasant it will disappear. The reality is that right on the doorstep of the proposed new stadium there is serious competition for all the revenue earning facilities we have been told about but no one is willing to talk about it ? |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 11:05:14 GMT
I dont think that people realise just what a change UWE is going to make to Rovers. At present we derive income from Football and the odd non footballing event such as car boot sales etc. UWE is going to be a much more prestigious stadium and will earn additional income that we are presently not enjoying from the additional activities that will be based there. I havent seen specific details but I notice that there is mention of offices and we all know that Fleetwood has been transformed due to the income they derived when their owner based his company at the stadium. Cardiff City Stadium is earning a lot of income from conferences and just being a venue. UWE is going to be in a fantastic location to be a conference venue- if indeed that is planned- as Bristol sadly lacks a major venue.It wont be just a matter of moving to UWE and carrying on as we are . If a shopkeeper moves from a small shop to a much larger modern one , they dont do that just to carry on as they are. They refit, buy in additional stock and earn additional income from a premises which is planned for the current economic climate. This is not fantsy this is realism. There is already a large modern exhibition & Conference centre on the UWE campus a few hundred yards from the proposed stadium www1.uwe.ac.uk/business/venuehireandevents/exhibitionsandconferences.aspxThere is already a large modern sports centre and gym on the UWE campus a few hundred yards from the proposed stadium www1.uwe.ac.uk/aboutus/departmentsandservices/professionalservices/centreforsport.aspxI am afraid that Rovers fans have been indoctrinated to believe that if you ignore something unpleasant it will disappear. The reality is that right on the doorstep of the proposed new stadium there is serious competition for all the revenue earning facilities we have been told about but no one is willing to talk about it ? I find some of your posts Swiss realistic but depressing at the same time. Lets just see what happens if the thing is built |
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Post by gasheadnaboo on Aug 5, 2014 11:12:24 GMT
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Post by swissgas on Aug 5, 2014 11:48:27 GMT
I find some of your posts Swiss realistic but depressing at the same time. Lets just see what happens if the thing is built I know exactly what you mean Henbury and I usually have to think twice before posting. People from the AF will remember my early posts and probably I was a little naive (to say the least) to post some of the things I did. You see my background is similar to Nick Higgs' having built a company and come into a lot of money quite suddenly some years ago. This made me start to believe everything I touched turned to gold and my way was the only way to go and I stopped listening to people. The money drained away rapidly and of course I blamed everyone but myself and it took a lot of serious knocks before I got my act together, listened to advice and started building again. Thankfully (knock on wood) I'm a bit wiser now and I've learned from the experience. You say "let's just see what happens" which is fine for us as fans but I'm afraid the club appears to be run like that as well which is not fine. To operate a high profile business like Rovers on that basis is a recipe for disaster and all it is doing is making people unhappy. Far better for everyone, not least Nick Higgs, if we stop pretending there is nothing wrong and confront the reality of the situation. |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 11:57:48 GMT
I find some of your posts Swiss realistic but depressing at the same time. Lets just see what happens if the thing is built I know exactly what you mean Henbury and I usually have to think twice before posting. People from the AF will remember my early posts and probably I was a little naive (to say the least) to post some of the things I did. You see my background is similar to Nick Higgs' having built a company and come into a lot of money quite suddenly some years ago. This made me start to believe everything I touched turned to gold and my way was the only way to go and I stopped listening to people. The money drained away rapidly and of course I blamed everyone but myself and it took a lot of serious knocks before I got my act together, listened to advice and started building again. Thankfully (knock on wood) I'm a bit wiser now and I've learned from the experience. You say "let's just see what happens" which is fine for us as fans but I'm afraid the club appears to be run like that as well which is not fine. To operate a high profile business like Rovers on that basis is a recipe for disaster and all it is doing is making people unhappy. Far better for everyone, not least Nick Higgs, if we stop pretending there is nothing wrong and confront the reality of the situation. If BRFC follow the same route as Cardiff did with their new stadium which is to have a outside management company run the stadium facilities on behalf of the club then maybe we have a chance ?? |
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,261
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Realism
Aug 5, 2014 12:05:22 GMT
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Post by kingswood Polak on Aug 5, 2014 12:05:22 GMT
I find some of your posts Swiss realistic but depressing at the same time. Lets just see what happens if the thing is built I know exactly what you mean Henbury and I usually have to think twice before posting. People from the AF will remember my early posts and probably I was a little naive (to say the least) to post some of the things I did. You see my background is similar to Nick Higgs' having built a company and come into a lot of money quite suddenly some years ago. This made me start to believe everything I touched turned to gold and my way was the only way to go and I stopped listening to people. The money drained away rapidly and of course I blamed everyone but myself and it took a lot of serious knocks before I got my act together, listened to advice and started building again. Thankfully (knock on wood) I'm a bit wiser now and I've learned from the experience. You say "let's just see what happens" which is fine for us as fans but I'm afraid the club appears to be run like that as well which is not fine. To operate a high profile business like Rovers on that basis is a recipe for disaster and all it is doing is making people unhappy. Far better for everyone, not least Nick Higgs, if we stop pretending there is nothing wrong and confront the reality of the situation. Why don't you try and get on the board Swiss ? Go for it |
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Post by swissgas on Aug 5, 2014 12:23:51 GMT
I know exactly what you mean Henbury and I usually have to think twice before posting. People from the AF will remember my early posts and probably I was a little naive (to say the least) to post some of the things I did. You see my background is similar to Nick Higgs' having built a company and come into a lot of money quite suddenly some years ago. This made me start to believe everything I touched turned to gold and my way was the only way to go and I stopped listening to people. The money drained away rapidly and of course I blamed everyone but myself and it took a lot of serious knocks before I got my act together, listened to advice and started building again. Thankfully (knock on wood) I'm a bit wiser now and I've learned from the experience. You say "let's just see what happens" which is fine for us as fans but I'm afraid the club appears to be run like that as well which is not fine. To operate a high profile business like Rovers on that basis is a recipe for disaster and all it is doing is making people unhappy. Far better for everyone, not least Nick Higgs, if we stop pretending there is nothing wrong and confront the reality of the situation. Why don't you try and get on the board Swiss ? Go for it I'm not pitching for that KP my time came and went many years ago and frankly I didn't make the most of it. The only thing I can do is to share my experience and suggest alternatives. My stance hasn't really changed since we were mid table league 1 and fans countered my ideas for improvement with "but we are at our natural level". Someone once talked to me about owning and running a business and said don't think of it as if it is "your business" think of it as if you are running it on behalf of shareholders to whom you are accountable and you will find you have a better business and you will be a happier business owner. I have found that to be good advice. |
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