I know this won't be popular but it is my view so here goes
The chances of staying up now are very slim, yes NW needs to keep trying and do his best but as each game goes the end will become obvious in a few more games. Don't be depressed we all know we don't have the budget and this year was going to be hard, remember where we have come from and back in League 1 is not the end of the world we have given it our best shot. The time is now to spend the effort behind the curtains to plan for league 1 in all parts of the club, we need to plan to have a mixture of experience and youth next season, we do have some good players that will do ok in league 1 but we need fresh blood. The loan rules change next season so we need to plan now not to rely on it, we need to try and offload the larger wage earners, give short 1 year deals to a few experienced players that will do ok in league 1. Look for a manager that can deal with League 1 our goal should be top 10 we don't want to do a Yeovil, consolidate focus on getting a good start. The day we go down is the day we need to bring in the changes, no waiting for july/august for the manager and players, do the business early and have a longer pre-season.
Most import for me is get a goal scorer and spend any money we have on someone that scores 20 a season
We all want to stay up, but a good businessman which TS is, always has a plan b, I want us to have a good plan b.
For the rest of the season we need to give NW and the players all the help we can on match days
Great post and spot on. It's never over until it's over but as you say we have spent probably the least of any team this season and you get what you sow. Our chairman has decided not to gamble on a big budget and at the end of the day it's his money not mine. I as all of you apart from a few pounds in match days haven't put my hand in my pocket and donated thousands to the cause he has. I'll keep on hoping but it looks like it will be a game against the blades next season. UTM
Of course TS has kinda gambled in his own way . Perhaps he can't see what we see. Perhaps no one is telling the truth at the club. Perhaps they don't want to see it and then see what is needed.
That's why appointing redder 's and sacking him is strange. No consistency but the talk in and arpund the club was about consistency. I think TS has learnt a hard lesson.
I don't think there has ever been a shared philosophy. I think they make it up and react. That's OK but don't tell us something different.
UTM
-- Edited by ian on Tuesday 23rd of February 2016 10:50:27 PM
It certainly will be a task, it always is for any relegated club. Going gung ho to get straight back up will be doomed to failure. In past years, off memory remember when we won D4 then sold Mendonca & Williamson, we were in the play offs at Christmas and obviously fell flat, it seemed that promotion was thrown away because we didn't want to, the conditions weren't right.
Maybe we need a piece of that, lets build the academy, have training facilities to attract the players, lets get out in the community and build RUFC up from the outside in, sort those blummin units out, and once & for all get rid of the elephant in the room which is G&C. Lets do those things then when we're ready lets do it. When we decide its right we need to be in a place where we can develop NYS as soon as we go up, knowing we have more than what it takes to stay up, while having players coming through to sustain it, these don't even need to be our own players but realistic targets from elsewhere. That way the season back in the Champ is not seen as holy grail but a development, we need that place filled with 15k to sustain it, even if that means knocking a couple of k off the 1st season attendance if we do go up. If it's marketed right supporters won't mind, its almost like what Bristol City have done developing Aston Gate, and what Bournemouth did with their 3 sided ground, and presumably what Oxford would do there.
275000 people in the Rmbc area and we get just over 10k average. So we need to promote the club. I am looking forward to next season in what ever division we are in. LG1 it looks like, but donny.chessy.barnsley.deedars.scunny.will bring good followings.
Its about the same population here, with way less foreigners, and City only get 4000 & not much more when they were in L1. Too many people move here from elsewhere and keep their own alliances. My lad is born & bred in Exeter and a devout Miller, he's already told me if he has kids so with they.
Agree with some points derby ,although dont believe short term contracts way to to go thats what we have now with all loan player's what we need is strip back loan player's bring in player's on two - three year contracts to grow some feeling and affinity with club and mostly with supporters who the club need more than ever before , also about striker's we've had them in the past (Alfie , Dichio, Aghard and more ) but for one reason or another can't hold onto them so obviously something has to change I.e wage structure if it doesn't then the most we can hope for is yo yoing between league 1 and championship which I can live with as long as we are entertained more than this season .
The major job to be done at this time is the academy to bring young home grown talent thats where the affinity will begin.
Never been easy being a Miller and I know its hard at the moment but we've had alot worse over the years going bust twice old fourth division that was bad anyone young enough not to remember them day's just think how bad it feels today and multiply by 5 we were in despair for a lot of years.
At least we have a fantastic stadium and a terrific chairman who as the Millers at heart , the only thing he needs is guidance on football side of business so he thinks with his head and not his heart .
Taken my head out of noose because I know after beating the Bee's on Saturday I will feel a lot more optimistic.
Come On you Reds
whatever league we will be in the team will need rebuilding with proper long term contracts this 2 year and 1 year crap has killed us if we go down we will be there for at least two seasons unless stewart and douglas wake up and realise this.
yes tony has spent millions none is disputing this , but if his dream is premiership then gamble tony but gamble wisely
-- Edited by hillsborough miller on Thursday 25th of February 2016 09:34:30 AM