Match Day 21st October matches

[The Terminator]

Really feel for them. Seems he's back to the blame game of throwing players under the bus after every defeat. I warned Orient fans this would happen and it's no surprise. That nasty piece of work needs to be booted out of the game for good. He's totally out of his depth.

No win since the 2nd September is inexcusable for a club of Orient's stature in that league. He constantly blamed budgets for his lack of success with us (League One he had a bottom 4 budget but others on smaller budgets like Burton and Rochdale coped just fine, but this is despite having a Top 12 budget in League Two last year). He's easily got a Top 5 budget at Orient this year and he knows he can't use that as an excuse. There's a talented squad there at Orient but, because it's Davis, it's badly mismanaged. What you get is a veritable smorgasbord of possession based football to nowhere, the early trademark appetiser of very cheap goals conceded from daft defensive mistakes or a bad pass (usually the opposition's first shot on target) followed by a main course of hoofball to a small striker and then summed up with a dessert of "The players have no fight. The players don't know how to win. I'm a fighter, I'm a winner." rhetoric that he usually spouts after the inevitable defeat.

Interesting to see how he gets on against Gateshead and Wrexham this week. I usually go to the Racecourse Ground once a season so, with the Alex being at Colchester, I might pop down to see how bad it really is next Saturday...

Its all very sad, you always take on board what fans of other clubs say about a manager they've had and you hope they've learned form their mistakes.

Davis hasn't, everything you've said is basically whats happened to us. We started off ok though, we won 5 of our opening 10 games, even though our squad was thrown together at the last minute, there is no way they should be this low in the table.

We've lost 4 home games in a row - They've all had identical patterns to them.

This was his interview yesterday: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05kkzls - Same old clueless shit.

He has got to be sacked, Martin Ling and the new owners have to hold their hands up and say they got it wrong.

 

[simsini]

Not sure how the ref, who was looking straight at the challenge, decided it wasn’t even a foul at the time but then gave a red a couple minutes later after the Bromley players asked him to.

Having seen the video, it has only confirmed what I thought at the time. Ferdinand took a heavy touch and went in two footed on Higgs. It's as clear a red card as you can get. The ref got it right in the end, so that's all that matters really.

 

[Sparrow]

Not sure how the ref, who was looking straight at the challenge, decided it wasn’t even a foul at the time but then gave a red a couple minutes later after the Bromley players asked him to.

It was a simple case of Woking, an 'unpopular' part-timer, being reffed out by the National League.

 

[localhero]

Hey come on, man up - Shaymen, Chester, Darlington and Hereford fans stuck with their teams when they had to watch them playing works and pub league teams, because they knew they were needed more than ever. It's easy to support a team in the good times, if you want to see them again, back your team!

How long do you stick it out for though? I've been watching Tranmere for 26 years and in that time we've won nothing and I'm yet to witness a single promotion. Seasons like the last rope you back in but when the product on the pitch is the worst it's ever been, going to the match feels like a terrible use of time/money.

I have a feeling we'll be in serious trouble if we continue the way we have been this season because there's a lot of people that have stuck it out through thick and thin who are now on the verge of giving up. A mid table finish and I'd be surprised if our attendances don't take a massive hit next season.

 

[EnglishRed]

You don't stop supporting your team because they arent doing very well do you?

Tranmere seem more akin to Luton really, or Grimsby and Lincoln. And like those teams you have to suffer false dawns before you finally get the formula right. But given your stature compared to the majority of the teams in this league the odds are you will eventually get it right. The good thing from Tranmeres point of view is that they aren't in dire financial trouble like Wrexham were. And they haven't had to start again like Chester, Darlington, Hereford etc.

So in conclusion: man up wet pants etc

 

[DontBringBertie]

Hey come on, man up - Shaymen, Chester, Darlington and Hereford fans stuck with their teams when they had to watch them playing works and pub league teams, because they knew they were needed more than ever. It's easy to support a team in the good times, if you want to see them again, back your team!

Not really true about Hereford though is it? They all decided to turn up during their season in League One, slowly dissapearing as they slid down the Conference and miraculously reappearing when they started dicking teams every week at level 9.

2009 (League One) 3,270
2014 (Conference) 1,758
2017 (Level 9) 2,836

 

[B2TF]

Not really true about Hereford though is it? They all decided to turn up during their season in League One, slowly dissapearing as they slid down the Conference and miraculously reappearing when they started dicking teams every week at level 9.

2009 (League One) 3,270
2014 (Conference) 1,758
2017 (Level 9) 2,836

You think that's fun? You think it's fun watching one sided matches against teams whose only tactic is to keep the ball out of play for as long as they can, even if it means 1, 2 or more players simultaneously curling themselves into a ball and playing dead until the referee has no choice but to stop the game and check if they're still breathing? Or a club that pretends it's run out of footballs because their players have booted it over the stand at every opportunity. You think it's fun playing sides whose goals, even on their home ground, are met with complete silence, save for the players' mums and dads? Or playing Mickey Mouse outfits who celebrate every goal as though it's a Wembley winner? Besides, Hereford took 20,000 to Wembley for a trophy that has less status than a County Cup, which was as many as Grimsby & Halifax combined, on the same day. So yes, it is true about Hereford. Thanks for asking.

 

[B2TF]

How long do you stick it out for though? I've been watching Tranmere for 26 years and in that time we've won nothing and I'm yet to witness a single promotion. Seasons like the last rope you back in but when the product on the pitch is the worst it's ever been, going to the match feels like a terrible use of time/money.

I have a feeling we'll be in serious trouble if we continue the way we have been this season because there's a lot of people that have stuck it out through thick and thin who are now on the verge of giving up. A mid table finish and I'd be surprised if our attendances don't take a massive hit next season.

How long do you stick it out for? Well Halifax fans stuck it out through 20 years of flatlining at the foot of the Football League and were getting the same numbers through the gates nearly 20 years later in the Unibond First Division North. so how does about 40 years sound to you?

 

[Luke Imp]

How long do you stick it out for though? I've been watching Tranmere for 26 years and in that time we've won nothing and I'm yet to witness a single promotion. Seasons like the last rope you back in but when the product on the pitch is the worst it's ever been, going to the match feels like a terrible use of time/money.

I have a feeling we'll be in serious trouble if we continue the way we have been this season because there's a lot of people that have stuck it out through thick and thin who are now on the verge of giving up. A mid table finish and I'd be surprised if our attendances don't take a massive hit next season.

Keep digging in!

If you've done it for 26 years, you'll not stop now. It'll be arduous as times, but it'll make that successful season seem even better when you know you stuck through it all.

As ER says, it'll happen. It always does for the bigger sides eventually, although Wrexham are trying their best to stay down here forever having watched quite a few be relegated and go back up again!

 

[DontBringBertie]

You think that's fun? You think it's fun watching one sided matches against teams whose only tactic is to keep the ball out of play for as long as they can, even if it means 1, 2 or more players simultaneously curling themselves into a ball and playing dead until the referee has no choice but to stop the game and check if they're still breathing? Or a club that pretends it's run out of footballs because their players have booted it over the stand at every opportunity. You think it's fun playing sides whose goals, even on their home ground, are met with complete silence, save for the players' mums and dads? Or playing Mickey Mouse outfits who celebrate every goal as though it's a Wembley winner? Besides, Hereford took 20,000 to Wembley for a trophy that has less status than a County Cup, which was as many as Grimsby & Halifax combined, on the same day. So yes, it is true about Hereford. Thanks for asking.

Explain the Hereford attendance figures I posted above then without typing a rant which makes no sense.

The fact they took 20,000 to Wembley only proves my point further.

 

[Mr Scooty]

Keep digging in!

If you've done it for 26 years, you'll not stop now. It'll be arduous as times, but it'll make that successful season seem even better when you know you stuck through it all.

As ER says, it'll happen. It always does for the bigger sides eventually, although Wrexham are trying their best to stay down here forever having watched quite a few be relegated and go back up again!

And a couple get promoted and come back down again.

 

[DarkSithLord]

How long do you stick it out for though? I've been watching Tranmere for 26 years and in that time we've won nothing and I'm yet to witness a single promotion. Seasons like the last rope you back in but when the product on the pitch is the worst it's ever been, going to the match feels like a terrible use of time/money.

I have a feeling we'll be in serious trouble if we continue the way we have been this season because there's a lot of people that have stuck it out through thick and thin who are now on the verge of giving up. A mid table finish and I'd be surprised if our attendances don't take a massive hit next season.

It could be worse. You could be Stockport or York.

 

[B2TF]

Explain the Hereford attendance figures I posted above then without typing a rant which makes no sense.

The fact they took 20,000 to Wembley only proves my point further.

I already explained your point in my original post- *BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE CLUB NEEDED THEM MORE THAN EVER* - This is something only a Tin Potter could fail to grasp.

 

[EnglishRed]

Also in 26 years as a Tranmere fan you've seen your team consistently punch above their weight in the championship and make a league cup final. You've seen arguably the best years of your clubs history?

 

[RLC]

Also in 26 years as a Tranmere fan you've seen your team consistently punch above their weight in the championship and make a league cup final. You've seen arguably the best years of your clubs history?

I was going to make exactly the same comment. Anyone that grew up watching us in the nineties and early noughties was extremely fortunate: three appearances in play offs for the Premier League, three FA Cup Quarter Finals, a League Cup semi-final, a League Cup final and an uninterrupted decade at Championship level.

The 'we did not win a promotion' line is meaningless, as for most of that period we were as high in the pyramid as we could realistically ever get, although we did almost manage the improbable and make it to the top flight.

 

[GuiseleySteve]

Absolutely no different to life in general, you take the good with the bad and carry on!

 

[The Terminator]

Our forum has gone into meltdown

One of my mates is so scared he could be supporting a National League South team next season, he stuck up a Facebook status on Saturday calling out one of our fans trust representatives asking him to do something about the situation, which escalated into a full on Facebook internet arguement with over 100 messages. I've not laughed that hard for a while.

But as everyone says, you gotta stick with it. I always expected my club to end up here one day as we've always been shit. So its the norm for me.

One day we will win again!!!!! *shakes fist at clouds*

 

[GuiseleySteve]

Before promotion to the national league we spent five years in the playoff spots in the Conf North. Some fans would rant if we lost one game! We've now had over two years of relegation battle in the National where each win is to be celebrated. I wouldn't want to go back down though each game means more when your the eternal underdog!

 

[DontBringBertie]

I already explained your point in my original post- *BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE CLUB NEEDED THEM MORE THAN EVER* - This is something only a Tin Potter could fail to grasp.

Surely they needed them more than ever before they went bust, not just after they reformed?

 

[Pablosammy]

I was going to make exactly the same comment. Anyone that grew up watching us in the nineties and early noughties was extremely fortunate: three appearances in play offs for the Premier League, three FA Cup Quarter Finals, a League Cup semi-final, a League Cup final and an uninterrupted decade at Championship level.

The 'we did not win a promotion' line is meaningless, as for most of that period we were as high in the pyramid as we could realistically ever get, although we did almost manage the improbable and make it to the top flight.

Therein lies the problem. A sizeable proportion of our support started watching during the Division One days, knocking on the doors of the Premiership, regularly reaching the business end of major cups... many still expect us to punch above our weight. Many still judge us against those standards.

I never saw the days of administration, sub-1000 crowds, decay, charity, near-ruin that preceded the Johnny King era. Neither did many of the faces in our crowd. It's a generation thing.

As for Halifax fans 'sticking it out', they didn't, did they? When they've been successful in recentish years, they've (once at least) averaged over 3k. When unsuccessful, they've averaged close to 800. When they dropped into the conference in '94, their attendance more than halved! Admittedly I don't know what the background to the figures is, but they don't paint a picture of "supporting through thick and thin" to me.

Tranmere fans have been remarkably resilient in comparison in recent years, but I really don't know how long it's going to last. Not everyone lives and breathes football, and people will eventually reach the end of their individual tethers.

 

[B2TF]

Therein lies the problem. A sizeable proportion of our support started watching during the Division One days, knocking on the doors of the Premiership, regularly reaching the business end of major cups... many still expect us to punch above our weight. Many still judge us against those standards.

I never saw the days of administration, sub-1000 crowds, decay, charity, near-ruin that preceded the Johnny King era. Neither did many of the faces in our crowd. It's a generation thing.

As for Halifax fans 'sticking it out', they didn't, did they? When they've been successful in recentish years, they've (once at least) averaged over 3k. When unsuccessful, they've averaged close to 800. When they dropped into the conference in '94, their attendance more than halved! Admittedly I don't know what the background to the figures is, but they don't paint a picture of "supporting through thick and thin" to me.

Tranmere fans have been remarkably resilient in comparison in recent years, but I really don't know how long it's going to last. Not everyone lives and breathes football, and people will eventually reach the end of their individual tethers.

I wouldn't - more a case of through thin and thin. As for the rest of your post. this may help- our gates have been remarkably consistent across 35 years of mostly abject failure and modest achievement. Once settled into the Conference and lower leagues, they have plateaued out at around 1500 at each level, more or less the same as in the eighties in the Football League. The drop into the Unibond league in 2008 saw a fall from 1300 to 1100, which is pretty much accounted for by the loss of away supporters in those league. Also, gates have risen in relegation seasons and fallen in promotion years- the connection between gates and on field performance is not so straightforward as you suggest. It's also amusing how ready you are to dismiss my claims while presenting your own club as a special case. Tranmere's attendances "rocketed" when the money came in, in the late 80's and 90's, going from 1500 in 1985 to over 7 & 8000 five years later. Perhaps were both playing the same game here.

 

[B2TF]

Here's Tranmere over the same period:

 

[localhero]

You think that's fun? You think it's fun watching one sided matches against teams whose only tactic is to keep the ball out of play for as long as they can, even if it means 1, 2 or more players simultaneously curling themselves into a ball and playing dead until the referee has no choice but to stop the game and check if they're still breathing? Or a club that pretends it's run out of footballs because their players have booted it over the stand at every opportunity. You think it's fun playing sides whose goals, even on their home ground, are met with complete silence, save for the players' mums and dads? Or playing Mickey Mouse outfits who celebrate every goal as though it's a Wembley winner? Besides, Hereford took 20,000 to Wembley for a trophy that has less status than a County Cup, which was as many as Grimsby & Halifax combined, on the same day. So yes, it is true about Hereford. Thanks for asking.

That sounds like a description of a fair few of the teams in this league.

I was going to make exactly the same comment. Anyone that grew up watching us in the nineties and early noughties was extremely fortunate: three appearances in play offs for the Premier League, three FA Cup Quarter Finals, a League Cup semi-final, a League Cup final and an uninterrupted decade at Championship level.

The 'we did not win a promotion' line is meaningless, as for most of that period we were as high in the pyramid as we could realistically ever get, although we did almost manage the improbable and make it to the top flight.

I was six in 1993 when we made their first of three consecutive playoff appearances. As a six/seven/eight year old it's difficult to appreciate that we were a small club punching massively above their weight, all you see is the crippling disappointment after losing in the semi finals. It's easy to put the "not winning" part to one side when you can look back at the promotions that got us there, but when you look back at the last 26 league campaigns (particularly since we dropped down to League One) and not a single one ends in promotion, you can see why people are considering giving up.

 

[RLC]

Here's Tranmere over the same period:
View attachment 7332

A misleading snapshot, as our attendances for sixty years prior to the late seventies were at similar levels to today, if not higher.

 

[RLC]

That sounds like a description of a fair few of the teams in this league.



I was six in 1993 when we made their first of three consecutive playoff appearances. As a six/seven/eight year old it's difficult to appreciate that we were a small club punching massively above their weight, all you see is the crippling disappointment after losing in the semi finals. It's easy to put the "not winning" part to one side when you can look back at the promotions that got us there, but when you look back at the last 26 league campaigns (particularly since we dropped down to League One) and not a single one ends in promotion, you can see why people are considering giving up.

Fair enough, but I would still argue that only the last eight years since the appointment of John Barnes have been really dire. Under Mathias, Little and Ronnie (first spell) we were still performing better than for most of our history.