Paul's thoughts....

[Uncle Peter]

Paul has asked me to post the following.

"As you all know I love a good football debate, particularly when it involves our team. As always, the forum is interesting. In the wake of our victory over a Colwyn Bay, I do though have the following observations. 


Jonty has a valid point in that I also believe there is some hangover from the Fylde losses. They were huge games and no one was more frustrated than me that we couldn't field our first eleven. However, they are over and it's time to move on. 


So, just a few points to consider. 


With our present points per game total, we would be in the champions league places in the premiership, top of the championship, one point out of the automatic promotion spots in league one, top of league two, top of the conference prem and top of conference south. If it just so happens that Fylde can keep up their torrid pace and end up with 100 points then it will be a remarkable achievement and we will congratulate them.  It is interesting that our position to Fylde is exactly the same as Tamworths position to ourselves, five points behind, having played one game more, and I don't think anyone is sitting with their feet up thinking that we are safe in second, so I doubt anyone at Fylde is seriously thinking they have won anything yet. The weather will probably save them from a difficult trip Guisesly in mid week, but a simple draw there would dramatically alter the picture. 


It is true that Andy Cook has been a tower of strength this year, it's probably the reason Darren signed him. Someone made the comment that we would have been in the soup without him. It is probably more accurate to say we would have been in the soup if we had been without Cook and Wilson. Unfortunately there is not much chance to rest either Jayse or Cooky and so they must soldier on. 


Unfortunately we play in a league where pretty football doesn't occur very often. The games I have attended this year have involved a lot of our opponents time wasting from minute one, booting the ball out of the ground and regularly falling to the ground as if shot. So, just win, and if anyone thinks there is anything wrong with that instruction, then blame me, it's what I tell Darren and he takes it from there. In truth I have never been that entertained by losing, no matter how prettily you do to, in fact I absolutely detest it. 


So, just to end on a positive note. The season is a long journey, it is not two thirds over yet. We have already won two more games than all of last season and with another victory we will surpass last seasons points total. Even if Darren had all the money in the world available, and trust me he does not, that kind of improvement is very difficult to achieve ( please see Harrogate ) . Personally, I am pumped. One thought was that we had to score first otherwise our opponents would really park the bus. Early in the season that was true, go behind, Boston, Gloucester, Bradford, Fylde, and Chorley, Worcester and Runcorn!!! in 

the cups, and we lose. The last two games however , go behind, no problem, just win anyway. That for me is very satisfying and shows progress. On a bleak Tuesday night, it would have been easy to throw in the towel after 86 minutes, we did not. 


We will push Fylde to the end, we will see if they crack. At worst, we will have the playoffs to look forward to, and if the law of averages has anything to do with things, with a fully fit squad, we will be a handful. There are worse places to be. 


Lol, I have just watched Arsenal beat Man City at the Etihad. City, five  points behind in second now, sixteen games left, title race is over, right. "

[barrowfan_chris]

Unfortunately we play in a league where pretty football doesn't occur very often. The games I have attended this year have involved a lot of our opponents time wasting from minute one, booting the ball out of the ground and regularly falling to the ground as if shot. So, just win, and if anyone thinks there is anything wrong with that instruction, then blame me, it's what I tell Darren and he takes it from there. In truth I have never been that entertained by losing, no matter how prettily you do to, in fact I absolutely detest it. 

We could cut out some of the time wasting if we had ball boys/girls.

[Jim]

Just to add a thought of my own, Play offs would be exciting and fun, and it seems that in recent years the play off winners do better than the champs:

Conference North champs and play off winners, positions in following season:

2014 (current) Telford 24th Altrincham 14th
2013 Chester 21st Halifax 5th
2012 Hyde 18th Nuneaton 15th

[boyliegladbach]

I find these posts from the owner a bit embarrassing.

[Suffolk Blue]

I reiterate my comment on the FA Trophy thread and it is touched upon in PLs thoughts.

Despite our vast (and I mean vast) improvement in the last twelve months, we see a team that is ostensibly doing even better despite having what appears at first glance to be an inferior infrastructure. It can sometimes feel like Fylde are spoiling our little adventure and notwithstanding the entirely valid comments that are frequently made about the patchiness of our performances (if not in the main the results themselves), the fact that we are being "outshone" by Fylde I think can colour quite as a bit of the enthusiasm that has accompanied our journey so far and is often reflected in the frustration echoed in the forum.

Fylde are not an overnight phenomenon and have been building a really decent squad now for a number of years despite being in lower leagues. I can recall having a discussion with the then chairman of Fylde, Dai Davies, a couple of years ago when we were still a conference national team and they were rocketing through the Unibond North. This was just after they lifted the FA Vase and dropped the Kirkham & Wesham name. It was clear from that discussion that even at that time the Fylde budget was considerably bigger than our own. They are now simply reaping the rewards not just of their investment but of their persistence.

Even though our current financial circumstances have improved, much of our squad was acquired (or in some cases re-acquired) in the summer. Because of our familiarity with the likes of Cooky and Jase this may have conveyed an impression that reflected glory would mean instant success. Effectively however we are still in the first real season of re-development. The fact that we are competing at a similar level not just to Fylde but to the Guiseleys, Bostons, Hednesfords etc. all of whom were pushing for promotion last year is the real indicator of our level of improvement.

If we were unsuccessful this year in re-gaining promotion, I would have every expectation that given a continuation of the development process, we would be better equipped and stronger next season. If I recall when Andy Pillay started heavily investing in Fleetwood it took a couple of seasons before the performances reached their optimum and Fleetwood rocketed forward. This is much better place to be than where we were before.

[blue nige]

Unfortunately there is not much chance to rest either Jayse or Cooky and so they must soldier on


there would have been had we reacted to the second injury instead we have just got by (so lucky cook/walker didn`t get knocks!)


to be honest i think our owner means well but sometimes less is more !

[K-Man]

I find these posts from the owner a bit embarrassing.

Agreed.

The first paragraph regarding if we were in the prem we would be in the champions league etc . . . is nonsense. We're in the Conf North and we should adapt to our league accordingly.

The third paragraph is ridiculous and I don't want our owner endorsing some of the terrible 'football' on show. The money we have spent/ players we have bought we should be able to break the majority of teams down in this league and I know we're obviously going to have our off days. We've beaten Gainsborough all at home (currently 14th) Hyde(22nd) Worcester(12th) Leamington (19th) Lowestoft(15th) Gloucester(20th) Stalybridge (17th) Colwyn Bay (18th)

Chorley (7th) Boston(8th) Hednesford(6th)

We scraped past several of these, as you can see we've played a lot of the bottom half of the table. I can only remember us playing really well or being entertained for 45 mins V Chorley(who were didn't turn up by all accounts) and the last 15 mins against Gloucester when the game was over. Now I can take scrapping past teams in the top 6 and to an extent top 10. But we've served up dross against dross. Majority of these games we've been playing long ball with McMillan/ Grand pumping it long to Cook from the first whistle. I can understand that in the last 10 minutes when we are chasing a game but from the first minute suggests a lack of ideas/ plan b from the management. I've been to most home games and I've listened to the last 2 which sounded painful.

We've been quite poor away from home winning 4 games from 12. Which for a mid table team that would be fine. But we have ambitions for promotion and we've also spent a lot.

It was obvious to most that we would need a replacement for Wilson when he first got injured early in (Octoberish ? ) for some reason we haven't replaced them(I know recently we have upped the search, but it's a couple of months too late) meaning Walker has had no pressure or competition collecting the very large wage he is rumoured to be on, granted he's been injured a couple of times.

Our cup performance have been absolutely dreadful at the time it was brushed over because we were 1st and nobody seemed to give a shit. Now our league position isn't so good people have remembered. Paul we were dreadful at home to Runcorn, words can't sum it up. We were beaten by a team who pay £5 subs a week, in comparison one of our players is apparently paid £700 a week not including bonuses thus missing out on possibly the easiest route to round 3 we will ever get. Worcester we were very poor and seemed to have no fight nor bottle. They did not park any buses.

On a positive note I appreciate we are in a better position than last year. But we have also spent a lot more money than we had last year. Expectations are rightly higher.

Still we are 2nd. It's unlikely that we'll catch Fylde and we should secure a play off spot minimum (I'm glad you're so confident!)

There we have it.

[HenneysKnee]

I domt understand why he mentions Man City, that title race is indeed over!

[Down The Park]

Paul is first and foremost the owner so maintaining some 'distance' from the fans is a good thing it's probably not the best idea getting sucked into making comments on this forum. However it is clear he is also a fan, quite a passionate one by all accounts, so it must be difficult not to chirp in every now and then! Promotion is the short term goal improving the quality out on the pitch the long term it's all about results at the minute.

[Down The Park]

I domt understand why he mentions Man City, that title race is indeed over!

Two horse race but if Chelsea beat City at the end of the month you're likely correct!

[Kieran]

I quite like the fact that Paul chooses to give us his thoughts like this, although don't know why there is a need to do it via Pete as he might as well just register himself.

I don't agree with everything he says but I think its a good thing that he is close enough to the supporters to give his thoughts like this on a regular basis. So what if its not normally the done thing with chairmen and owners elsewhere.

[Safer Driving]

Well done Paul. I think we should read between the lines in what he is trying to say.
1/ He is first and foremost a football fan. Ref. to watching other games (Man City)
2/ He is not throwing money away.
3/ He wants us the so called fans to get behind the team and not slag them off on this forum. It's not good business sense to publicly have a go at your workforce. It makes them feel like Sh-t. Especially after they win and are 2nd from the top.

Would like to add more, but it's off to work I go. Hope you understand what Paul is really trying to say.
A Football fan

[walney rock]

What I dont understand is that before mr casson gained control of the club people moaned that the former lot isolated themselves and were never open with the supporters, now we have an owner who is open and is trying to offer his thoughts & opinion and be open people start moaning and don't like it! Well for me I appreciate it ty Paul BTID

[Wintergreen]

I agree with the previous three posts - have people forgotten the former regime’s wall of silence so quickly? The subterfuge and the inner sanctum which saw their fellow Directors frozen out so what chance did we the faithful have? Whether PC is the owner or an exiled supporter he is entitled to give an opinion on here and very welcome it is too I think.

[spirit of 1990]

I agree with the previous three posts - have people forgotten the former regime’s wall of silence so quickly? The subterfuge and the inner sanctum which saw their fellow Directors frozen out so what chance did we the faithful have? Whether PC is the owner or an exiled supporter he is entitled to give an opinion on here and very welcome it is too I think.

I'm agreeing with this. People slated the previous BoDs for not communicating enough (and rightly so) so I can't see the problem myself.