Matthew Benham

[NorthamptonBee]

What is with all this panic? The season is not decided in January? Yes we've lost some games, but we won some earlier so it balances out and actually we are mid table. That's ok. Yeah it's a shame that we're not achieving more than last year, but why do so many think we should be in the playoffs? Simply put, we've been in the championship for one and a half seasons and I'm pleasantly surprised we haven't been in a relegation scrap from day one.

Do people actually understand the unbelievable achievement that BFC has accomplished?

With a minute budget in comparison to so many other teams, we are mid table when we should be 3rd from bottom. The way the top people at the club have managed to get us where we are is nothing short of a miracle in my books.
The model being knocked by so many has got us where we are. Thinking differently allows us to compete. Inevitably there will be mistakes, but that's the gamble you take. Don't forgot the absolutely fantastic buys of Andre, Moses, T@rky etc that have brought in millions. And don't forget, this model is proven to be effective as demonstrated by FCM. Unfortunately until LR is up and running, we're not in a position to spend spend spend. That's ok. We can consolidate in the championship until our off-field situation is ready for another push. Just be grateful that we will be in a position to push for the prem, unlike Bolton who are essentially bankrupt.

Of course I wasn't happy when we lost a lot of good players and haven't replaced them, but even if the club aren't saying it, we all know we're not going to make the playoffs this season (and even if we do were not going up). So let's experiment with the players we have, see where we are come May and sort things over the summer. Spending millions is not necessarily always the answer - a huge investment of our total budget would have been spent on Bjelland and with an injury he's out for the entire season.

Our club is being run fantastically well, by some very very clever people. It's not perfect, but without them we would not even be near the championship, let alone complaining of not challenging for the prem.

Rant over.

I love you and love you post but change your name, I have it in my head that you are BO Bee, there are a few about at GP and I always read that when you post, sort it out son.

 

[The Pipe]

What is with all this panic? The season is not decided in January? Yes we've lost some games, but we won some earlier so it balances out and actually we are mid table. That's ok. Yeah it's a shame that we're not achieving more than last year, but why do so many think we should be in the playoffs? Simply put, we've been in the championship for one and a half seasons and I'm pleasantly surprised we haven't been in a relegation scrap from day one.

Do people actually understand the unbelievable achievement that BFC has accomplished?

With a minute budget in comparison to so many other teams, we are mid table when we should be 3rd from bottom. The way the top people at the club have managed to get us where we are is nothing short of a miracle in my books.
The model being knocked by so many has got us where we are. Thinking differently allows us to compete. Inevitably there will be mistakes, but that's the gamble you take. Don't forgot the absolutely fantastic buys of Andre, Moses, T@rky etc that have brought in millions. And don't forget, this model is proven to be effective as demonstrated by FCM. Unfortunately until LR is up and running, we're not in a position to spend spend spend. That's ok. We can consolidate in the championship until our off-field situation is ready for another push. Just be grateful that we will be in a position to push for the prem, unlike Bolton who are essentially bankrupt.

Of course I wasn't happy when we lost a lot of good players and haven't replaced them, but even if the club aren't saying it, we all know we're not going to make the playoffs this season (and even if we do were not going up). So let's experiment with the players we have, see where we are come May and sort things over the summer. Spending millions is not necessarily always the answer - a huge investment of our total budget would have been spent on Bjelland and with an injury he's out for the entire season.

Our club is being run fantastically well, by some very very clever people. It's not perfect, but without them we would not even be near the championship, let alone complaining of not challenging for the prem.

Rant over.

Outstanding post, very jealous that I couldn't put it as well. Need lots of people to read it as it truly encapsulates the situation

 

[BYOBee]

I love you and love you post but change your name, I have it in my head that you are BO Bee, there are a few about at GP and I always read that when you post, sort it out son.

Haha that made me laugh. At least someone reads the posts! Thanks mate, but the name's here to stay, if nothing else but for the mystery

 

[Beezy]

What is with all this panic? The season is not decided in January? Yes we've lost some games, but we won some earlier so it balances out and actually we are mid table. That's ok. Yeah it's a shame that we're not achieving more than last year, but why do so many think we should be in the playoffs? Simply put, we've been in the championship for one and a half seasons and I'm pleasantly surprised we haven't been in a relegation scrap from day one.

Do people actually understand the unbelievable achievement that BFC has accomplished?

With a minute budget in comparison to so many other teams, we are mid table when we should be 3rd from bottom. The way the top people at the club have managed to get us where we are is nothing short of a miracle in my books.
The model being knocked by so many has got us where we are. Thinking differently allows us to compete. Inevitably there will be mistakes, but that's the gamble you take. Don't forgot the absolutely fantastic buys of Andre, Moses, T@rky etc that have brought in millions. And don't forget, this model is proven to be effective as demonstrated by FCM. Unfortunately until LR is up and running, we're not in a position to spend spend spend. That's ok. We can consolidate in the championship until our off-field situation is ready for another push. Just be grateful that we will be in a position to push for the prem, unlike Bolton who are essentially bankrupt.

Of course I wasn't happy when we lost a lot of good players and haven't replaced them, but even if the club aren't saying it, we all know we're not going to make the playoffs this season (and even if we do were not going up). So let's experiment with the players we have, see where we are come May and sort things over the summer. Spending millions is not necessarily always the answer - a huge investment of our total budget would have been spent on Bjelland and with an injury he's out for the entire season.

Our club is being run fantastically well, by some very very clever people. It's not perfect, but without them we would not even be near the championship, let alone complaining of not challenging for the prem.

Rant over.

This echoes my thoughts. Nice one.

 

[hatfieldbee]

I said this a couple of weeks ago - there is a clear top 30 being established in English football and quite frankly, we'll do exceptionally well to stay in and around that group. Benham is a wealthy man but I doubt he can compete with some of the big hitters who are boosted by TV money. Maybe staying in the Championship, sometimes flirting with promotion, sometimes flirting with relegation is the best we can expect. It seems ridiculous to me that people demand better than that - hope for I can understand.

Your penultimate sentence reflects all those years in League 1 or equivalent, when we didn't have anything like the resources we have now.

 

[maddogging]

Outstanding post, very jealous that I couldn't put it as well. Need lots of people to read it as it truly encapsulates the situation

It is indeed. Could not have put it better myself. Well played BYO

 

[longdistancebee]

What is with all this panic? The season is not decided in January? Yes we've lost some games, but we won some earlier so it balances out and actually we are mid table. That's ok. Yeah it's a shame that we're not achieving more than last year, but why do so many think we should be in the playoffs? Simply put, we've been in the championship for one and a half seasons and I'm pleasantly surprised we haven't been in a relegation scrap from day one.

Do people actually understand the unbelievable achievement that BFC has accomplished?

With a minute budget in comparison to so many other teams, we are mid table when we should be 3rd from bottom. The way the top people at the club have managed to get us where we are is nothing short of a miracle in my books.
The model being knocked by so many has got us where we are. Thinking differently allows us to compete. Inevitably there will be mistakes, but that's the gamble you take. Don't forgot the absolutely fantastic buys of Andre, Moses, T@rky etc that have brought in millions. And don't forget, this model is proven to be effective as demonstrated by FCM. Unfortunately until LR is up and running, we're not in a position to spend spend spend. That's ok. We can consolidate in the championship until our off-field situation is ready for another push. Just be grateful that we will be in a position to push for the prem, unlike Bolton who are essentially bankrupt.

Of course I wasn't happy when we lost a lot of good players and haven't replaced them, but even if the club aren't saying it, we all know we're not going to make the playoffs this season (and even if we do were not going up). So let's experiment with the players we have, see where we are come May and sort things over the summer. Spending millions is not necessarily always the answer - a huge investment of our total budget would have been spent on Bjelland and with an injury he's out for the entire season.

Our club is being run fantastically well, by some very very clever people. It's not perfect, but without them we would not even be near the championship, let alone complaining of not challenging for the prem.

Rant over.

I am not panicking, because I did not expect us to be challenging for promotion - certainly not automatic and not that realistically through the play offs. My point is that I am not as confident as some about our ability to comfortably maintain our Championship status, given the money that seems to be needed to be spent. I am very happy to be mid-table Championship - after going to GP for the best part of 50 years, this is Nirvana for me. But aside from last season's "perfect storm", I am concerned that the buy cheap / sell dear policy is not sufficient to keep us where we are without a struggle. And please believe me, I absolutely do not want to see us like Bolton, Pompey, Luton, etc., and I do understand the financials involved, but you cant make an omelette without breaking an egg!

 

[TadB]

What is with all this panic? The season is not decided in January? Yes we've lost some games, but we won some earlier so it balances out and actually we are mid table. That's ok. Yeah it's a shame that we're not achieving more than last year, but why do so many think we should be in the playoffs? Simply put, we've been in the championship for one and a half seasons and I'm pleasantly surprised we haven't been in a relegation scrap from day one.

Do people actually understand the unbelievable achievement that BFC has accomplished?

With a minute budget in comparison to so many other teams, we are mid table when we should be 3rd from bottom. The way the top people at the club have managed to get us where we are is nothing short of a miracle in my books.
The model being knocked by so many has got us where we are. Thinking differently allows us to compete. Inevitably there will be mistakes, but that's the gamble you take. Don't forgot the absolutely fantastic buys of Andre, Moses, T@rky etc that have brought in millions. And don't forget, this model is proven to be effective as demonstrated by FCM. Unfortunately until LR is up and running, we're not in a position to spend spend spend. That's ok. We can consolidate in the championship until our off-field situation is ready for another push. Just be grateful that we will be in a position to push for the prem, unlike Bolton who are essentially bankrupt.

Of course I wasn't happy when we lost a lot of good players and haven't replaced them, but even if the club aren't saying it, we all know we're not going to make the playoffs this season (and even if we do were not going up). So let's experiment with the players we have, see where we are come May and sort things over the summer. Spending millions is not necessarily always the answer - a huge investment of our total budget would have been spent on Bjelland and with an injury he's out for the entire season.

Our club is being run fantastically well, by some very very clever people. It's not perfect, but without them we would not even be near the championship, let alone complaining of not challenging for the prem.

Rant over.

The only one thing about which I disagree with you is the last line. It is not a 'Rant' it is very well said and those that clearly do not understand budgets or recognise just what MB has done for us could do well to read it and to take note of what it says. Well said!

 

[eaglebee]

What is with all this panic? The season is not decided in January? Yes we've lost some games, but we won some earlier so it balances out and actually we are mid table. That's ok. Yeah it's a shame that we're not achieving more than last year, but why do so many think we should be in the playoffs? Simply put, we've been in the championship for one and a half seasons and I'm pleasantly surprised we haven't been in a relegation scrap from day one.

Do people actually understand the unbelievable achievement that BFC has accomplished?

With a minute budget in comparison to so many other teams, we are mid table when we should be 3rd from bottom. The way the top people at the club have managed to get us where we are is nothing short of a miracle in my books.
The model being knocked by so many has got us where we are. Thinking differently allows us to compete. Inevitably there will be mistakes, but that's the gamble you take. Don't forgot the absolutely fantastic buys of Andre, Moses, T@rky etc that have brought in millions. And don't forget, this model is proven to be effective as demonstrated by FCM. Unfortunately until LR is up and running, we're not in a position to spend spend spend. That's ok. We can consolidate in the championship until our off-field situation is ready for another push. Just be grateful that we will be in a position to push for the prem, unlike Bolton who are essentially bankrupt.

Of course I wasn't happy when we lost a lot of good players and haven't replaced them, but even if the club aren't saying it, we all know we're not going to make the playoffs this season (and even if we do were not going up). So let's experiment with the players we have, see where we are come May and sort things over the summer. Spending millions is not necessarily always the answer - a huge investment of our total budget would have been spent on Bjelland and with an injury he's out for the entire season.

Our club is being run fantastically well, by some very very clever people. It's not perfect, but without them we would not even be near the championship, let alone complaining of not challenging for the prem.

Rant over.

Well done, great post and should be read and understood by all, nothing is perfect in this life, this post puts it all in a nutshell without the hysterics and bed wetting.

 

[TadB]

I am not disagreeing with you, mhead, not at all. But what I am saying, is that supposing the plan to "make us sustainable by buying and selling intelligently" is actually not sufficient to keep us in the Championship? What then? Our entire philosophy seems predicated on this model working. If it doesn't, we are, to quote my maiden aunt, Totally fvkced, young man.

What then? I would be interested to hear what your alternative idea would be to "our entire philosophy". If it does not work then no doubt we will be back in Division One. That is not something that I or anyone else wants to see, but as I see it, the alternative is Administration, Points Deduction, and Second Division or lower. MB has said many times that he does not have unlimited money. As I see things the most important project is Lionel Road which means a sustainable future, something that in my 63 years of following the club I have never experienced. I do not wish to see Lionel Road jeopardised by over spending Matthew Benham's money on players for short term success. As I read on here, to date MB has put into the club £100,000,000. After spending a life time supporting a club that frequently had a perilous future and for the most part served up dross football I like most long term supporters have been living a dream for the past two seasons in the English Championship and do not wish it to end. However I want the club to continue for the benefit of those who will follow me and that is why Lionel Road is far more important. Once the new Stadium is built and we are playing there we are safe and can concentrate on the playing side and heaven forbid that anything should happen to MB e.g. illness, helicopter crashes (Matthew Harding), or business difficulties we will survive. Yes Championship football is most helpful in respect of revenue and Premiership even better but serious debt and administration would be then end of the dream.

 

[PJ]

If it is not sufficient enough then we go down. But in the first season we finished fifth and in the second season we are sitting mid table with about 17-20M of transfer cash in the pot and clear of FFP.

Despite what a few posters would have us believe with their constant opening of new threads trying to create a frenzy of panic around relegation, the chances of it happening really are minute. We have all the bottom 7 teams to play and the turn around in form of teams like Charlton who are proper sh*t would need to be miraculous. We are much better then the bottom teams and we need to prove it in the next few weeks.

Why dwell on potential negatives when there is so much positivity to focus on?

17-20m transfer pot?
Not sure how you arrived at that number, a lot of money has been spent on players as well as received, plus pay offs for Marinus & co.
Sure there's a surplus but nothing like those numbers

 

[longdistancebee]

What then? I would be interested to hear what your alternative idea would be to "our entire philosophy". If it does not work then no doubt we will be back in Division One. That is not something that I or anyone else wants to see, but as I see it, the alternative is Administration, Points Deduction, and Second Division or lower. MB has said many times that he does not have unlimited money. As I see things the most important project is Lionel Road which means a sustainable future, something that in my 63 years of following the club I have never experienced. I do not wish to see Lionel Road jeopardised by over spending Matthew Benham's money on players for short term success. As I read on here, to date MB has put into the club £100,000,000. After spending a life time supporting a club that frequently had a perilous future and for the most part served up dross football I like most long term supporters have been living a dream for the past two seasons in the English Championship and do not wish it to end. However I want the club to continue for the benefit of those who will follow me and that is why Lionel Road is far more important. Once the new Stadium is built and we are playing there we are safe and can concentrate on the playing side and heaven forbid that anything should happen to MB e.g. illness, helicopter crashes (Matthew Harding), or business difficulties we will survive. Yes Championship football is most helpful in respect of revenue and Premiership even better but serious debt and administration would be then end of the dream.

I am not offering a solution, I am just making a point. I freely admit I do now know the answer. My original point was simply this: I am not confident that our current policy is going to be sufficient to keep us in the Championship. Much has been said on this and other threads about how we simply cannot / do not want to, be involved in splashing out £10-15m on a group of players, but supposing that was the only way? As Les B said earlier, the Prem clubs plus probably the top 8-10 Championship clubs are able / prepared to, spend much more than BFC. And my point was, will we survive in this environment? I really really hope so, because as you very correctly say, right now there is no alternative.

 

[BURFORD BEE]

I am not offering a solution, I am just making a point. I freely admit I do now know the answer. My original point was simply this: I am not confident that our current policy is going to be sufficient to keep us in the Championship. Much has been said on this and other threads about how we simply cannot / do not want to, be involved in splashing out £10-15m on a group of players, but supposing that was the only way? As Les B said earlier, the Prem clubs plus probably the top 8-10 Championship clubs are able / prepared to, spend much more than BFC. And my point was, will we survive in this environment? I really really hope so, because as you very correctly say, right now there is no alternative.

But MB can't put that sort of money in even if he wants to because of FFP.
There may be money available because of the transfers but MB may have decided to use that to fund the loss this year. Who knows.
We have to stick with the model. It's worked so far believe it or not.
The players we brought in this season have unfortunately not been a total success but lady luck hasn't exactly been on our side either.
We just need to get to the end of this season and let MB and the DOFs rebuild.

 

[westy]

Maybe just maybe cash flow may be tight in MB other businesses leaving us to fend for ourselves this season.
It does seem odd we were bidding big money for Seb Haller at the start of the season and DOFs mentioning we we be active every transfer window.

No we are looking for value and not paying over inflated prices (which I agree with). Maybe cash flow is the key at the moment.

 

[hobbsy]

Maybe just maybe cash flow may be tight in MB other businesses leaving us to fend for ourselves this season.
It does seem odd we were bidding big money for Seb Haller at the start of the season and DOFs mentioning we we be active every transfer window.

No we are looking for value and not paying over inflated prices (which I agree with). Maybe cash flow is the key at the moment.

It's all about getting value for money, MB was willing to spend at the start of season (whilst remaining compliant with FFP) and also January last year as the chances of promotion were in our favour. This January it wasn't and we weren't willing be held to ransom with the anti-January sales.

 

[hanworthbee]

mid table is just fine but it's a miracle we've managed to remain 14 clear of third bottom with our bad run,whats more frustrating is we've given away five points v leeds and derby lately...we've also recruited poorly and seem happy to sleepwalk to (hopefully) safety.......

 

[Mick.C]

As long as MB keeps the passion and enthusiasm he's had for 30 years about Brentford we will be fine.

The strategy on getting the edge is a finely balanced strategy.
Who knew Jota would be such an immediate success, who knew Kerschbaumer would be so ineffective.
Who knew Gray would be so good, when Warbs had Hogan as his number 1 striker taken away from him. Who knew Big Nick P would be a pantomime horse in a team of all stars.
Who knew Pritch would behave himself for 40+ games where he had been brilliant but trouble and accused of not trying by fans of Swindon & Peterboro in previous loans.
Who knew Tarky would play up or Jotas personal circumstances would mean him saying adios.
Who knew Bjelland would play 45 and out on a stupid pitch and Marco would get an injury for two months or Josh six.

We didn't and being truthful neither did Benham. It's the finely balanced gamble. We won the plaudits last year and are palming away the brickbats this.
We did brilliantly in our finds for two years running, same system of scouting but our 8 out of 10 success rate propelled us three steps forward. Our hit rate this season has being our poorest, value in Europe is only value if you get lucky, we haven't.
So maybe the strategy will be tweaked lower leagues jewels to swoop on with one or two foreign try's. But as long as Benham keeps the faith, then the future is rosy, bumpy along the way but if Benham has faith it's not difficult for us to either.

 

[lincbee]

But MB can't put that sort of money in even if he wants to because of FFP.
There may be money available because of the transfers but MB may have decided to use that to fund the loss this year. Who knows.
We have to stick with the model. It's worked so far believe it or not.
The players we brought in this season have unfortunately not been a total success but lady luck hasn't exactly been on our side either.
We just need to get to the end of this season and let MB and the DOFs rebuild.

What? Let the DOF's who have done so brilliantly with this season's recruitment do it again? Utter madness. Get shot & get a different structure in, providing of course we are in the championship, I can't see where the next win is coming from with this lot & coupled with Smiths ineptitude, Well. Mr Benham can indeed do what he wants with what is his cash, but surely to God he can see this set up needs changing. If not we are heading one way & it ain't upwards ?

 

[aawharris]

What? Let the DOF's who have done so brilliantly with this season's recruitment do it again? Utter madness. Get shot & get a different structure in, providing of course we are in the championship, I can't see where the next win is coming from with this lot & coupled with Smiths ineptitude, Well. Mr Benham can indeed do what he wants with what is his cash, but surely to God he can see this set up needs changing. If not we are heading one way & it ain't upwards ?

Is this a serious post?
Really?

 

[moribee]

But MB can't put that sort of money in even if he wants to because of FFP.
There may be money available because of the transfers but MB may have decided to use that to fund the loss this year. Who knows.
We have to stick with the model. It's worked so far believe it or not.
The players we brought in this season have unfortunately not been a total success but lady luck hasn't exactly been on our side either.
We just need to get to the end of this season and let MB and the DOFs rebuild.

Let MB and DS rebuild. Hopefully the DOF project will be abandoned. Would like to see more Dev squad players given a chance.

 

[Brentford Bob]

What? Let the DOF's who have done so brilliantly with this season's recruitment do it again? Utter madness. Get shot & get a different structure in, providing of course we are in the championship, I can't see where the next win is coming from with this lot & coupled with Smiths ineptitude, Well. Mr Benham can indeed do what he wants with what is his cash, but surely to God he can see this set up needs changing. If not we are heading one way & it ain't upwards ?

I think they'll get one more chance to put everything right in the summer. If we're struggling at Christmas, expect changes throughout, then.

 

[jlove]

Let MB and DS rebuild. Hopefully the DOF project will be abandoned. Would like to see more Dev squad players given a chance.

It's not a "project", it's a structure that all clubs have nowadays; like it or not, we'll have to live with it. Personally, I don't believe that Smith and his telephone would achieve anything better than build a decent League 1 squad if he's got a team to coach.

 

[MattyBee]

What? Let the DOF's who have done so brilliantly with this season's recruitment do it again? Utter madness. Get shot & get a different structure in, providing of course we are in the championship, I can't see where the next win is coming from with this lot & coupled with Smiths ineptitude, Well. Mr Benham can indeed do what he wants with what is his cash, but surely to God he can see this set up needs changing. If not we are heading one way & it ain't upwards ?

Rubbish

 

[Voice from the Braemar]

Phil Giles had already said the strategy for signing players will change this summer.

excellent....are we buying some good one's then ??? cos if not, we're relegation fodder from the first kick in august.........perhaps id better have a look round for him

 

[The Pipe]

What? Let the DOF's who have done so brilliantly with this season's recruitment do it again? Utter madness. Get shot & get a different structure in, providing of course we are in the championship, I can't see where the next win is coming from with this lot & coupled with Smiths ineptitude, Well. Mr Benham can indeed do what he wants with what is his cash, but surely to God he can see this set up needs changing. If not we are heading one way & it ain't upwards ?

As Mick C so eloquently put it, for the past few seasons our gambles in the transfer market have been pretty successful, last years have yet to produce although injuries have hardly helped matters

We have been told things will be tweaked in the summer so we are not simply looking for value from abroad. Easy to jump up and down at present whilst results are poor and quite frankly some of the posters are making themselves look daft with their over reactions

The system is in place, for the last few years it has worked well so unlikely and unrealistic to expect change just because we are now in choppy waters

 

[Voice from the Braemar]

You are absolutely right. Derby battered us first half yesterday but couldn't score. Second half we came out and upped our game, scored a goal and you saw the confidence disappear, the away fans went quiet and they went to pieces and you could see all the players and fans thinking here we go again, another defeat on the way. The ref handed them a goal and suddenly you saw us start to wobble.

We need to win a game, we are good enough but the sooner we do the sooner we can get back to mid table obscurity and stop all this relegation nonsense.

even if that happens, all this relegation nonsense will pop up again pre-season unless some quality comes in.......and its no given that we can beat anyone in this division currently with the 'quality' of our team at the moment....lets see where we are at 5pm next saturday cos if things dont go well it becomes a bit more worrying....in fact a lot more worrying

 

[moribee]

It's not a "project", it's a structure that all clubs have nowadays; like it or not, we'll have to live with it. Personally, I don't believe that Smith and his telephone would achieve anything better than build a decent League 1 squad if he's got a team to coach.

OK hopefully DOF structure can be restructured so that the indigenous parts of the structure are fit for purpose. Also would like to see some of our youngsters given some progress.

 

[NorthamptonBee]

even if that happens, all this relegation nonsense will pop up again pre-season unless some quality comes in.......and its no given that we can beat anyone in this division currently with the 'quality' of our team at the moment....lets see where we are at 5pm next saturday cos if things dont go well it becomes a bit more worrying....in fact a lot more worrying

The next 3 games are there to be involved in, with all that has gone on our recent run has been more than difficult and mission impossible at times, Derby should murder us with that squad, the next 3 are all teams down on their luck and if we can do what we did at Preston, we're in with a good chance of picking up points, you'll struggle IMO to find a more physical team than Preston in this division, we just played around them and stood up to them when needed, fingers crossed we can do the same in the coming games too.

 

[sonofabee]

The next 3 games are there to be involved in, with all that has gone on our recent run has been more than difficult and mission impossible at times, Derby should murder us with that squad, the next 3 are all teams down on their luck and if we can do what we did at Preston, we're in with a good chance of picking up points, you'll struggle IMO to find a more physical team than Preston in this division, we just played around them and stood up to them when needed, fingers crossed we can do the same in the coming games too.

Despite recent form and yesterday's performance I think we'll get a response and forecast at least three points from the next two games.

 

[moribee]

Despite recent form and yesterday's performance I think we'll get a response and forecast at least three points from the next two games.

Which one we going to lose

 

[westy]

Which one we going to lose

Wolves because they are above us!

 

[TadB]

I am not offering a solution, I am just making a point. I freely admit I do now know the answer. My original point was simply this: I am not confident that our current policy is going to be sufficient to keep us in the Championship. Much has been said on this and other threads about how we simply cannot / do not want to, be involved in splashing out £10-15m on a group of players, but supposing that was the only way? As Les B said earlier, the Prem clubs plus probably the top 8-10 Championship clubs are able / prepared to, spend much more than BFC. And my point was, will we survive in this environment? I really really hope so, because as you very correctly say, right now there is no alternative.

Thanks for a reasoned reply. In response I suppose that my point is that I do not believe that there is another way because to splash out on a group of players that we (or rather MB) cannot afford even if it is the only way to keep us in the Championship cannot be the right way. Should we, to use your words, splash out it could put Lionel Road at risk and at worst we could do a Bolton, Portsmouth etc. Indeed should MB pull out, or something unfortunate happen to him we could be left up the creek without a paddle, and in debt to the tune of £100M. Yes, that is extreme and unlikely but cannot be dismissed entirely. Hence my point, Lionel Road is far more important than our Championship place. I do not consider that we are likely to go down this year but am mindful that we still require about 12 points. I do not wish to give the impression that I am one of those who consider that MB can do not wrong, but the overall strategic general philosophy is in my opinion correct, and indeed the only way. Should those who he has appointed to put that philosophy into practice, the tactics, get things wrong then I am sure that Matthew will deal with them and whatever went wrong (Marinious Dykehuszen). I am therefore attempting to be relaxed about things, which means if we do get relegated provided that the Lionel Road project continues we will just have to deal with events as they happen, regroup and seek promotion again. As a long term supporter I am well used to disappointment and crises. I do really buy into the Lionel Road project as the only real way to a sustainable future for Brentford.

 

[sonofabee]

Which one we going to lose

I said at least three and if we drop points I reckon it will be Tuesday.

 

[moribee]

I said at least three and if we drop points I reckon it will be Tuesday.

OK was just pulling your leg.

 

[HertfordBee]

What is with all this panic? The season is not decided in January? Yes we've lost some games, but we won some earlier so it balances out and actually we are mid table. That's ok. Yeah it's a shame that we're not achieving more than last year, but why do so many think we should be in the playoffs? Simply put, we've been in the championship for one and a half seasons and I'm pleasantly surprised we haven't been in a relegation scrap from day one.

Do people actually understand the unbelievable achievement that BFC has accomplished?

With a minute budget in comparison to so many other teams, we are mid table when we should be 3rd from bottom. The way the top people at the club have managed to get us where we are is nothing short of a miracle in my books.
The model being knocked by so many has got us where we are. Thinking differently allows us to compete. Inevitably there will be mistakes, but that's the gamble you take. Don't forgot the absolutely fantastic buys of Andre, Moses, T@rky etc that have brought in millions. And don't forget, this model is proven to be effective as demonstrated by FCM. Unfortunately until LR is up and running, we're not in a position to spend spend spend. That's ok. We can consolidate in the championship until our off-field situation is ready for another push. Just be grateful that we will be in a position to push for the prem, unlike Bolton who are essentially bankrupt.

Of course I wasn't happy when we lost a lot of good players and haven't replaced them, but even if the club aren't saying it, we all know we're not going to make the playoffs this season (and even if we do were not going up). So let's experiment with the players we have, see where we are come May and sort things over the summer. Spending millions is not necessarily always the answer - a huge investment of our total budget would have been spent on Bjelland and with an injury he's out for the entire season.

Our club is being run fantastically well, by some very very clever people. It's not perfect, but without them we would not even be near the championship, let alone complaining of not challenging for the prem.

Rant over.

I couldn't disagree with the majority of your comments and I don't think many others would either.

But the point you don't make, through choice or otherwise, is that no-one asked the Sporting Director(s) to talk about 'Premiership football in three years', 'being better than last year' etc. The reality is that we probably all knew that last season was as good as it was going to get, under the present circumstances, set-up and restraints but people inevitably get sucked in by the comments and predictions of those supposedly in the driving seats. They were foolish comments in the extreme and simply add to my belief that whatever the pluses and minuses of this season, we have two part-time Sporting Directors who weren't ready for the challenge they faced.

 

[Voice from the Braemar]

The next 3 games are there to be involved in, with all that has gone on our recent run has been more than difficult and mission impossible at times, Derby should murder us with that squad, the next 3 are all teams down on their luck and if we can do what we did at Preston, we're in with a good chance of picking up points, you'll struggle IMO to find a more physical team than Preston in this division, we just played around them and stood up to them when needed, fingers crossed we can do the same in the coming games too.

i hope so chief.......the trouble is some of our players on yesterdays performance looked like theyd get blown over by a gusty breeze.......vibe being the main culprit, built like a proper footballer but has no bottle whatsover for a battle.....you can include josh, swift, o connell and KK in that group too.....all too weak, not interested in winning anything more than a 80/20 in their favour........we are so weak physically in most positions that its crying out for a barton sort of player.......i really hope they come out and try and prove me wrong on tues but im not holding my breath

 

[NorthamptonBee]

i hope so chief.......the trouble is some of our players on yesterdays performance looked like theyd get blown over by a gusty breeze.......vibe being the main culprit, built like a proper footballer but has no bottle whatsover for a battle.....you can include josh, swift, o connell and KK in that group too.....all too weak, not interested in winning anything more than a 80/20 in their favour........we are so weak physically in most positions that its crying out for a barton sort of player.......i really hope they come out and try and prove me wrong on tues but im not holding my breath

Vibe is not good enough, I told anyone that would listen before Josh had played for us that he's as weak as sh!te, that performance at Preston and v Leeds at home convinced me that he's got something special about him but since then he's been a bit sh*t and that double save from Button was IMO down to him losing another 80/20 in his favour and leaving us exposed, any player than is that fearful of tackling will never tackle IMO, KK is really worrying, we all know that but he was got on by our own fans from the first whistle yesterday and that ironic cheer when he finally touched the ball was sh*t IMO, just what we don't need at the moment, I did shout out at Vibe in that first half and asked him to hold the fecking ball up for a fecking change and sadly I have given up on him donks ago, even more sadly he's our best option up front, Marco comes on and runs about and you think he's on it today but he never gets near the ball and the few times he does his control is breath taking, not in a good way, we will stay up and you will look a right div for your thread yesterday, I'm looking forward to feeling under pressure about our next few games, it keeps you alive, I hope.

 

[mhead bee]

....and its no given that we can beat anyone in this division currently with the 'quality' of our team at the moment....lets see where we are at 5pm next saturday cos if things dont go well it becomes a bit more worrying....in fact a lot more worrying

I have been saying for 2 days that we have lost to the top teams recently but when faced with a team below them beat them. We need to play the bottom teams before we can decide that they are better then us. All your posts are scaremongering that they are better then us even though we haven't played one for ages. It's a positive step in the right direction that you now accept this to

 

[North London Bee]

The system in place is the only one that' can possibly sustain us or allow us to remain in the Championship.

As Mark Warburton would have said next season we simply need to execute plan A better by getting it right in the transfer market.

It's as simple as that. Recruit well and we will consolidate. Recruit badly and out Championship place will be in doubt.

 

[mhead bee]

The system in place is the only one that' can possibly sustain us or allow us to remain in the Championship.

As Mark Warburton would have said next season we simply need to execute plan A better by getting it right in the transfer market.

It's as simple as that. Recruit well and we will consolidate. Recruit badly and out Championship place will be in doubt.

Its worked well for a few years. Got us promoted for the first time in 20 years, got us into the play offs in the championship and then kept us comfortably up this season (yes we are and will be) and with money to spend in the summer to go again.

We have bought average championship players it seems but have sold far too many too quickly, maybe couldn't be helped but that is the real issue.

 

[moribee]

I had no idea RA and PG were here last year.

 

[ruislip bee]

I had no idea RA and PG were here last year.

Keep up and read the GPG.

 

[Herbert]

Phil Giles had already said the strategy for signing players will change this summer.

It won't change in we won't be spending millions and millions all over the place. We will still be looking to mainly get in players with potential that will gain profit for the a Club.

 

[BYOBee]

I couldn't disagree with the majority of your comments and I don't think many others would either.

But the point you don't make, through choice or otherwise, is that no-one asked the Sporting Director(s) to talk about 'Premiership football in three years', 'being better than last year' etc. The reality is that we probably all knew that last season was as good as it was going to get, under the present circumstances, set-up and restraints but people inevitably get sucked in by the comments and predictions of those supposedly in the driving seats. They were foolish comments in the extreme and simply add to my belief that whatever the pluses and minuses of this season, we have two part-time Sporting Directors who weren't ready for the challenge they faced.

I see what you're saying and I can't defend what the DOFs have said in the past, as I'm not fully aware of all the facts at the time they said it. It may well be/have been the aim to get us to the premiership in 3 years. Maybe this season was always expected to be average to save some money, then we can go big in the summer. The comments from PG & RA may have been made in good faith, but with all the ridiculous injuries, managerial uncertainty and pitch disaster, it's all been scuppered. Equally, it could all be made up BS - the club have not handled comms well at all recently in my opinion so I wouldn't be too surprised. They may just be putting the message out there that we are soon to be premier league, so we appear more attractive to potential new signings? Who knows.

Or maybe we'll go up next year and they'll be proved right? Who knows.

No matter what the chat is on the GPG, no one knows what's really going on behind the scenes except for the chosen few who won't be on the forums everyday messing their pants about a couple of loses.

My point was simply that there really are too many emotional drama queens on here and that the grass isn't always greener. All of what you hear on the forums are just opinions and speculation. All of what you hear from the club will be biased. They have a specific message they want to get across and I'm sure they have their reasons. My post was just to say that I'm not worried at all about this season, next season or the one after that or the rest of my lifetime (probably!). We have a plan, it's not going to be instant success, but BFC are safe for the long term. Take it or leave it, but it will take a lot more than a poor run against some very good teams to change my mind that we're not a club on the up.

 

[maddogging]

I see what you're saying and I can't defend what the DOFs have said in the past, as I'm not fully aware of all the facts at the time they said it. It may well be/have been the aim to get us to the premiership in 3 years. Maybe this season was always expected to be average to save some money, then we can go big in the summer. The comments from PG & RA may have been made in good faith, but with all the ridiculous injuries, managerial uncertainty and pitch disaster, it's all been scuppered. Equally, it could all be made up BS - the club have not handled comms well at all recently in my opinion so I wouldn't be too surprised. They may just be putting the message out there that we are soon to be premier league, so we appear more attractive to potential new signings? Who knows.

Or maybe we'll go up next year and they'll be proved right? Who knows.

No matter what the chat is on the GPG, no one knows what's really going on behind the scenes except for the chosen few who won't be on the forums everyday messing their pants about a couple of loses.

My point was simply that there really are too many emotional drama queens on here and that the grass isn't always greener. All of what you hear on the forums are just opinions and speculation. All of what you hear from the club will be biased. They have a specific message they want to get across and I'm sure they have their reasons. My post was just to say that I'm not worried at all about this season, next season or the one after that or the rest of my lifetime (probably!). We have a plan, it's not going to be instant success, but BFC are safe for the long term. Take it or leave it, but it will take a lot more than a poor run against some very good teams to change my mind that we're not a club on the up.

You are fast becoming my favourite poster

 

[NorthamptonBee]

You are fast becoming my favourite poster

I prefer reading his posts than a face to face with him, his armpits are rank.

The points he makes are sound, I've been lucky enough to talk to a few important people at the club over the years and one thing that has always stuck out to me is that I cautiously approach the subject of crisis after a few losses and they reply in a calm and assured way that makes me feel a moron, I suppose that's why they are very successful people and a lot of us aren't, they see the bigger picture and don't start hurling insults around, insist that everyone involved in the club is rotten, tell people to cut their ponytails off and feck off back to that Lego making country.

 

[Billy Hunt]

My point was simply that there really are too many emotional drama queens on here

Ain't that the truth? :no:

Jolly good posting, today, BYOBee.

 

[brentfordfc4ever]

I see what you're saying and I can't defend what the DOFs have said in the past, as I'm not fully aware of all the facts at the time they said it. It may well be/have been the aim to get us to the premiership in 3 years. Maybe this season was always expected to be average to save some money, then we can go big in the summer. The comments from PG & RA may have been made in good faith, but with all the ridiculous injuries, managerial uncertainty and pitch disaster, it's all been scuppered. Equally, it could all be made up BS - the club have not handled comms well at all recently in my opinion so I wouldn't be too surprised. They may just be putting the message out there that we are soon to be premier league, so we appear more attractive to potential new signings? Who knows.

Or maybe we'll go up next year and they'll be proved right? Who knows.

No matter what the chat is on the GPG, no one knows what's really going on behind the scenes except for the chosen few who won't be on the forums everyday messing their pants about a couple of loses.

My point was simply that there really are too many emotional drama queens on here and that the grass isn't always greener. All of what you hear on the forums are just opinions and speculation. All of what you hear from the club will be biased. They have a specific message they want to get across and I'm sure they have their reasons. My post was just to say that I'm not worried at all about this season, next season or the one after that or the rest of my lifetime (probably!). We have a plan, it's not going to be instant success, but BFC are safe for the long term. Take it or leave it, but it will take a lot more than a poor run against some very good teams to change my mind that we're not a club on the up.

Ban this guy please. Rational, well spoken and his posts are all true.

Lol

 

[NorthamptonBee]

Ban this guy please. Rational, well spoken and his posts are all true.

Lol

He has two logins and two usernames, the other one he uses is slatts.

 

[BYOBee]

Thanks guys. Funnily enough I did shout at one of the Derby players yesterday to get a f-ing hair cut, but I can assure you it was justified.