Why We Should Absolutely Adore Buckle...

[Fonda]

Surely the fact we only went down on goal difference shows that we did have a rather realistic chance of staying up?

It shows me that had we invested at all, we probably would have stayed up. It was a minor miracle Leroy got as close as he did to keeping us up.

As for there being more money if attendances had risen - are we treating that as gospel then? We had some pretty decent away followings that season, so i'd be amazed if attendances didn't go up. And if we had a team on the pitch capable of competing, perhaps they'd have gone up further? Maybe people got tired of seeing us get turned over?

The point is, Leroy lost a lot of games that season, but win percentages are dependant on many things. Investing in the squad in order that it can compete being one of them.

[Fonda]

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[yellow]

Comparisons of different managers under different regimes with different budgets playing in different leagues (and 2 years non-league in PB s case) seems somewhat pointless to me.

There is no doubt that our position relative to our crowds and budget is ahead of expectations. PB must take great credit for that.

He will never engage or entertain like Leroy did, but these are different times.....

As for the guy who reckons that our defence was weak under Leroy I would suggest that he is seriously underestimating the combined talents of Van Heusden, the Glinch, Craig Taylor, Steve Woods, Lee Cannonville, Reuben Hazell and Liam Rosenior.

As for the notion that the current team is better than the promotion team - it is nothing short of pure fantasy.... :no:

[Fletch]

It shows me that had we invested at all, we probably would have stayed up. It was a minor miracle Leroy got as close as he did to keeping us up.

As for there being more money if attendances had risen - are we treating that as gospel then? We had some pretty decent away followings that season, so i'd be amazed if attendances didn't go up. And if we had a team on the pitch capable of competing, perhaps they'd have gone up further? Maybe people got tired of seeing us get turned over?

The point is, Leroy lost a lot of games that season, but win percentages are dependant on many things. Investing in the squad in order that it can compete being one of them.

Try looking at the Football League site web site. Theres a bit on there for stats from previous seasons(including average attendances).

As Dave rightly pointed out, Leroy made our record signing that season (after checking him out on loan). Hardly a case of

had we invested at all, we probably would have stayed up

[Fonda]

So i'll say it again, perhaps if people thought we had a realistic chance of winning games, there would have been more through the turnstiles. If attandances did remain about the same - with increased away followings, our own support actually diminished. Doesn't sound much like a club riding the crest of a wave after promotion.

As for the signing of Constantine - that was a lot of money spent, and whoever's decision it was, it proved flawed. It was a desperate attempt to compensate for the loss of David Graham, and i'm afraid the difference in quality of those two players is quite stark. The team in League 1 was weaker than that which won promotion - and was never destined to be successful.

[Fletch]

As for the guy who reckons that our defence was weak under Leroy I would suggest that he is seriously underestimating the combined talents of Van Heusden, the Glinch, Craig Taylor, Steve Woods, Lee Cannonville, Reuben Hazell and Liam Rosenior.

You mean my post?

Read it again if so

Leroys big failing (according to a couple of players from that time) was that whilst he was excellent on tactics and training routines for the strikers and attacking midfielders, he was very naïve when it came to the defence side of things.

I dont think anyone can look at our results, and have watched us, in Div 2 (as was) and not say our defensive tactics were somewhat lacking. Outscoring the opposition may work for a while but usually comes unstuck...

And i think you will find Reuben H (stil a regular at Oldham) and Rosenior Jnr left during the summer

[Fletch]

I honestly think that the team we have now is considerably better than the one in league one, bar the obvious (russell, akinfenwa, fowler when fit and mcglinchey).

Am i the only one who thought that Constantine looked good when we first got him on loan?

I thought he looked a natural goalscorer as well. Once he signed though he seemed to lose his touch mostly (apart from a top notch display at Brentford on a freezing boxing day). Strange how he went on to score nigh-on 1 every other game when at Vale

[Scott Brehaut]

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This is the first time I have ever agreed with anything you have said Shane....

[Bomber]

I thought he looked a natural goalscorer as well. Once he signed though he seemed to lose his touch mostly (apart from a top notch display at Brentford on a freezing boxing day). Strange how he went on to score nigh-on 1 every other game when at Vale

Probably a confidence thing, he was also the top scorer in Division Three when he was at Southend in the season we got promoted so he had some pedigree.

Had Graham not been sold, the money wouldn't have been available to Leroy.

It would be an interesting contest if that 2004 team played the current team and an entertaining one at that.

If Paul Buckle can lead us to promotion and keep us in League One then that would put him in the same category of manager as the likes of Eddie Howe, Paul Tisdale and Keith Hill, who get linked to bigger jobs or in the case of Howe actually get one.

If the current had been at the helm at Plainmoor in 2004 then that team would have provided with a foundation for eight or nine years.

A lot is made about the sale of Graham after we won promotio, but one thing that is almost as criminal was the fact that Reuben Hazell was allowed to leave as he is still playing at League One level to this day.