Derbies

[Fletch]

fletch.

You can rip as many holes in my opinions ..........snip.........

How do we learn if not from mistakes made in the past? That is why we can not ignore what happened the last few times.
As far as I know, no one on the board is having kittens at the thought of promotion.
There may be some who have concerns about the financial aspects, but they would not be carrying out their brief as directors if they didnt consider it.

[Fonda]

Blimey, we have come a long way if we've reached a point where we feel justified in deciding whether we want promotion or not. Winning trophies and gaining promotions is the very reason the game is played. I really hope those in charge of the club, and i include the manager and players in that don't get wind of this idea that the fans of TUFC don't even want promotion. I imagine that would come as something of a disappointment to them. 'Yeah, thanks for your efforts, but we don't want to go up anyway, so if you could ease of a little now it'd be appreciated'.

I understand Nick's point. If we fail to get promotion this season it would hardly be a catastrophe. There will be plenty of local games next season which will provide great consolation. But the club won't be harmed in any way by going up. We'll have more chance of keeping the loanee's that have had such an effect, the manager will likely be with us for that much longer. And we'll have some pretty big sides (and their support) visiting. If we aren't strong enough and come back down, how are we worse off? We just go again the year after.

We are in a great position this season. We are involved in a promotion battle, that has benefits to missing out as well as being successful. But we have to try and get up. To somehow 'opt' not to go up would be criminal. The idea we could ' voluntarily postpone' our promotion this season, in order that the club can 'grow' some more in the summer - putting us in a stronger position next season is so presumptious as to almost court failure. These chances have to be grasped when they present themselves.

Perhaps the team as it stands isn't strong enough for League 1 - so if we go up the obvious answer would be to improve it wouldn't it? Failing to do so was the mistake we made last time, so let's not repeat it. Of course it's not that simple, but if we're serious about progressing, these things have to be addressed. If the club is to develop, we have to see this as an opportunity, not something to be feared. I doubt there is another set of supporters in the country that in our position would hope their club didn't get promoted. That mindset needs to change, because we'll not get anywhere thinking that way.

[Fletch]

Of course I do but I think that getting to the play-offs with one game to go and listing the highlights of staying down isn't! Also i have a feeling that next year it may be more difficult to get promoted than this year given Crawley and a few decent tems coming down. Also i reckon Wimbledon/Luton would have a crack at automatic.

Just saying- don't take offence!

None taken tommy. I dont think that saying "By all means aim for promotion each season but dont take not getting promoted as a body blow" is being unambitious. Its realism. Nor is it unambitious to point out that if we dont go up, there will be more local(ish!) matches...

[HRG]

Fonda, I haven't read anywhere someone hoping we don't get promotion, just saying that looking at the incomers to League Two it wouldn't be the end of the world. If we miss out on the Play offs or get there and fail to go up it will be disappointing. But when we get over that disappointment we'll see a southern based division that could be financially rewarding. Hopefully enough so to bring in that one player who will help push us that bit further.

[Fonda]

It certainly wouldn't be the end of the world. There will be lots of Southern teams in League 2 next season, so the local interest would be high. It's the suggestion we're in some way 'not ready' to go up that i don't understand? What is likely to change between this summer and next to make us 'ready'? If we're waiting until we're loaded and playing in front of huge crowds, we'll be waiting forever. And who knows what's around the corner? No time like the present.

[Trojan 67]

Been out of circulation for a while but am now back. This thread appears to be the hot thread of the moment .

Derbies ? It's Plymouth and/or Exeter. What is for sure next season (if Argyle avoid liquidation) is it's EITHER Plymouth OR Exeter.

Bristol Rovers/Yeovil/Bournemouth/Swindon/Oxford and some others are not "local derbies", they are reasonably short distances (in comparison to treks oop north) against southern/west based rivals.

There are other threads I need to read and post on. I'll be back. :devil:

[Fletch]

Been out of circulation for a while but am now back. This thread appears to be the hot thread of the moment .

As long as you made it back in time for the TORBAY elections this week :na:

[Trojan 67]

As long as you made it back in time for the TORBAY elections this week :na:

[A J]

Would love to see us beat Argyle for once and finish above them in the league, its about time we did them over

But of course I wouldnt turn down League One next season and a trip to City, and we owe them as well.........after that 4-1!

[Trojan 67]

In reply to the mass debate about affording promotion, I've heard this before in the '60s when we were bang on favourites to reach Division 2 (now the Championship).

Regular attendances of 9000+ and more for "Westcountry" derbies (13000+) soon dwindled down to the level they have been for 35 years or more. Learn the lesson and don't ever say "can't afford to go up".

For me, ready or not, it's promotion everytime as and when the opportunity presents itself, otherwise the club risks losing fairweather fans/core support.