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Still plenty to do on the recruitment front IMO. It's nothing to get excited about at the moment.

I disagree Jonathan, much more experience than last season. As I understand it there will be three further signings the rest of the squad will be made up by duel reg players from three prem sides. I think we will be pushing for top four, Bristol and Ealing are so far ahead due to finance it will be almost impossible to finish above third place

You know a lot, you must be on the board of directors, lol

Quote:

bluegrass
I disagree Jonathan, much more experience than last season. As I understand it there will be three further signings the rest of the squad will be made up by duel reg players from three prem sides. I think we will be pushing for top four, Bristol and Ealing are so far ahead due to finance it will be almost impossible to finish above third place

Very optimistic I'd say looking at the squad so far, I think we are at least 6 signings short and I'd never rely on DR's

We are way off compared to others in the league, very dissapointing, all this substantial change that GI spoke to me about, is a load of old flannel, plus he couldn't convince me to buy a season ticket, so I won't be.

I've been steadily been losing interest in the blues over the last few seasons because of what jW indicated above i.e lack of substantial change - both on and off the pitch. We have a steady 2000+ supporters every game, says a lot really.

Players like lee Dickinson moving to the blues, exciting as it is, coming at the end of a career and a move into coaching.

Would gf great if the club published an up-to-date player list, include those on trial and indication of loan players

Luton Blue, you've been away for a long time, hope all is well with you. Agree, plus will still have Atkinson at the top of this forum, lol

Quote:

Jonathan Wilcox
We are way off compared to others in the league, very dissapointing, all this substantial change that GI spoke to me about, is a load of old flannel, plus he couldn't convince me to buy a season ticket, so I won't be.

jeez, the tsunami of negativity is overwhelming! to post so often suggests you must care JW, and yet you're inclined to lay into the club at every opportunity, suggesting you despise the way the club operates and refuse to see any positives. reading all the stuff about recruitment, you'd think the season was starting any day, not 11 weeks!

Quote:

tomthepom

Quote:

Jonathan Wilcox
We are way off compared to others in the league, very dissapointing, all this substantial change that GI spoke to me about, is a load of old flannel, plus he couldn't convince me to buy a season ticket, so I won't be.

jeez, the tsunami of negativity is overwhelming! to post so often suggests you must care JW, and yet you're inclined to lay into the club at every opportunity, suggesting you despise the way the club operates and refuse to see any positives. reading all the stuff about recruitment, you'd think the season was starting any day, not 11 weeks!

I think for once you'll find a number of people agreeing with JW and sharing his negativity. Pre-season seems to follow the same pattern each year, a rush of signings at the beginning then silence for a number of weeks before Saracens decide which 'A' Team and academy players they are going to allow us to have before announcing it on the eve of the new season. In the meantime MR is trawling through the lower divisions looking for a bargain or two. I fail to see how our competitors with lower gates and revenue seem to have a more comprehensive, open and effective recruitment campaign. I'm not sure how many times I have to bang the drum but what's stopping MR coming across the Seven Bridge and having a look down here, or can't the Blues afford the Toll fee.

JW - I've been lurking around, keeping an eye on what's happening
Still noting the lack of ambition by the club and it's seemingly status as a certain director play thing. No desire to go up and definitely not wanting to be relegated. Easier to keep the status quo of the current inept coaching set up - it needs a shake up! A big one!

Now you see why I haven't commented recently, I'm not one who licks @#$%& or thinks everything is rose tinted! If you accept mediocrity, you'll stay that way!

Also to be honest everytime sometimes criticises the team or management they get talked down! Everybody who pays to see the club should have that right, after all if you buy a car and it doesn't drive right you take it back!!!

Can you really find anything positive about last seasons or in fact the last two really??? That's where the negativity comes from. To be honest I have no time for you who criticise JW supposed negativity! You need to open your eyes and take a bloody good look at the club

Yes it's all nice and cosy and friendly too! A lovely club run by lovely people!

But one that's lack ambition and has supporters happy to accept this and demand nothing more than just having a venue for a @#$%& up every other Saturday afternoon and watch a bit of rugger with their pals!

I think you'll find the most successful clubs have moved away from this frankly 20th century version of the game!

That's fine as long as you acknowledge that and the club does too!

I think also it itirrirates that just down the road is a vastly more ambitious club in ampthill!

Time to get real!
Nothing to do with negativity
I'm a realist

Quote:

Luton_Blue
Can you really find anything positive about last seasons or in fact the last two really??? That's where the negativity comes from. To be honest I have no time for you who criticise JW supposed negativity! You need to open your eyes and take a bloody good look at the club
Yes it's all nice and cosy and friendly too! A lovely club run by lovely people!

But one that's lack ambition and has supporters happy to accept this and demand nothing more than just having a venue for a @#$%& up every other Saturday afternoon and watch a bit of rugger with their pals!

I think you'll find the most successful clubs have moved away from this frankly 20th century version of the game!

That's fine as long as you acknowledge that and the club does too!

I think also it itirrirates that just down the road is a vastly more ambitious club in ampthill!

Time to get real!
Nothing to do with negativity
I'm a realist

Well said

Not sure how many trips I'll make across this season to watch the Blues but I know it will be less than last season, I'd rather make the long journey to watch RGC1404, take a look at what they're doing - everything that Bedford arn't

Don't get me wrong though I love the blues! Truly I do! Want them to be successful! I'm also a big rayer fan! But it's time for something different, something to excite!

We all want a successful Bedford Blues!

Quote:

tomthepom

Quote:

Jonathan Wilcox
We are way off compared to others in the league, very dissapointing, all this substantial change that GI spoke to me about, is a load of old flannel, plus he couldn't convince me to buy a season ticket, so I won't be.

jeez, the tsunami of negativity is overwhelming! to post so often suggests you must care JW, and yet you're inclined to lay into the club at every opportunity, suggesting you despise the way the club operates and refuse to see any positives. reading all the stuff about recruitment, you'd think the season was starting any day, not 11 weeks!

Tomthepom, I just say it as I see it. Simply opinions, but I was hoping for substantial change, a big step change from what we've been party to for the last few seasons. It's not happened and would appear that it's not going to happen anytine soon. Therefore I'm not excited about the coming season and lack of ambition. Did we push to have the league increased, knowing that the play off system is out for 17/18? Fewer games potentially, loss of potential revenue etc etc. I'd be interested to know.

Anyway the A's will be well worth the visit that's for sure

Call me fickle but like JW I may give the As a go - £20 is now a lot of money from my budget and competing for my £££s plus travel etc. Watching the blues has become an expensive luxury.

It used to be that I was excited by the close and coming seasons for who we signed etc

I admit the latest signings show promise, will watch and see

I certainly will never stop supporting the blues!

Luton_Blue

Pleased to see you qualified your earlier post somewhat.
However, I do not think you are being a realist.
There is no way we can compete with the megabucks of Bristol and Ealing (45 full time pro's last season!) this coming season. Yes we want to be competitive with the other teams and I believe we will. It is still June. Glad to see Dave Spelman re-signed and await a few more.
JW. Also pleased to see you are not buying a season ticket. You can spend all your time at the A's and their sugar daddy investors (ambition?).

Thanks, but I guess it'll be a 50/50 split, if that's okay with you.

We'd have no chance of a sugar daddy! Our chairman wouldn't allow it!

Quote:

Luton_Blue
'Can you really find anything positive about last seasons or in fact the last two really?'

Yeah, sure - 2015/16 season, we were in the promotion play-offs, beat runaway leaders Bristol twice in that season, including once away, and reached the cup quarter-finals, narrowly missing out on the semis. I don't view that as a particularly unsuccessful season.

Season just ended - well sure, our form up to end of January was inconsistent at best, never got going in the cup and never challenged for the play-offs. But we did finish the season reasonably well, possibly boding well for next season, and according to twitter, have broken even/come closest ever to breaking even for the last two years, which is great news! And in spite of our poor form, esp. at beginning, we comfortably avoided relegation, so that's something.

Based on the signings so far, I am hopeful of us doing better this season, although I agree, we need bolstering in the back row atm.

So far I have us down for 6/7th, which is better than last season, but ofc I would like for us to finish higher so hopefully the final handful of signings address the perceived problems with the squad assembled currently

Quote:

Luton_Blue
We'd have no chance of a sugar daddy! Our chairman wouldn't allow it!

Alternatively, put another way, where is the sugar daddy prepared to take on the debt year on year? Personally I admire GSI for his constant long term support, where would the club be without him?

Ah the finding positive from defeat crew! Yes we lost but we can take positives from this, like? Losing again?

Magoo - agree to a point but have it on good authority and read it on here numerous occasions that other potential investors have walked away because of an overbearing director who has shaped the club in his image.

Maybe we do need to drop down the leaguers or show the sort of @#$%& or bust ambition others seem to be able to do but we can't - ever!

I actually be delighted if we were announced as the buddy club for the saints, wasps or saracens - at least then maybe we'd get year in good signings and loanees? Maybe more investment in the ground or facilities?

Luton Blue, you never know, even a covered terrace lol. Anyway we should have a better season than last.

Now that the glimmer of hope has been extinguished with the end of the playoffs, you will see other clubs trimming their budgets as reality bites. Of course this excludes Ealing, who are financed by an ageing rugby nut with loadsamoney. However, when he goes so will Ealing, as the family are not interested.

Anyone who attended the AGM and talked to the new Directors would have been struck by their enthusiasm for the future. However, throwing stupid sums of money chasing it, was not included. If you want them to do that, then say goodbye to the level of rugby (or any) you watch at GR.

To reach a level of Prem survival with solvency today, Billionaires are needed; not Millionaires.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:06:25:09:10:18 by Blue Fox.

Two months and still a tiny squad, no talk of DR's or year long loaned players, what's going on????

It's concerning to say the least.

M.R.A.D must be holding off on the big announcement, here's hoping

Big Annoucement JW...........we have a new scoreboard.......!

lol

Will the clock stop?