What i will add is...

Just before the poor run (Not winning) started the Manager announced a top half finish would be great, Now far be it from me to have a pop. But if you have staff you dont let them know that a performance level way lower than they are currently acheiving will be acceptable. I did say that irt was a bad move and looks like complacency has set in.  Still Ade is doing well in his first full season and hopefully he will learn to demand more from his players. His only big mistake of the season i think. "Well done guys joint top just before xmas. Finish in the top 11 and weve done well!"

Come on Adie crack the whip and tell them you WANT the play offs from them.

I have to say it was a pretty poor match overall - Chalmers was quite right and by the end that figure had more than doubled!

Couldn't understand the tactics in the first half - we seemed to want to stay in our third and we all too often looked like spectators.  2nd half a bit better at least we looked a bit more lively.  Jamie Turner made 2 important saves in the first half and another in the second and was for me Man of the Match.  It was pleasing to see Sutton fans complimenting him at the end of the match.

We need to take Tuesday's match at Thurrock by the throat and hopefully put an end to the run of consecutive draws (5).

Glad you enjoyed your visit to PVR even if we didn't manage to put a few into the net.  I think our true potential will come to the fore in the very near future and we will be back in real contention for a National place.

Glad Jamie didn't let you down, he's really coming on.

stafford wrote:

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Following on from JGFCs point, you'd have to say they might be being stunningly inept at being stunningly inept, if that is the intention. If you want to throw it, play well, boost the crowds (more money), get to the play off final (two more games - more money) then throw it so you don't get promoted. Anyone can have an off day. Or is that a bit too risky. You cannot say 'We'll have a go next year' as you don't know what the opposition will be like. If AFC Wimbledon were promoted and someone else 'did a Grays/Weymouth' you'd be stuffed anyway in all likelihood. Thought we might have learned that from Reynolds first season.   Happy New Year.

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I dont think they could get the players to throw it. I do not in the slightest believe the players and Manager are involved in the "lets not get promoted scheme". I believe through the owners actions and control of the purse strings and targets for ade and they players are controlling the club. If the Weymouth owner said right we are 8 points clear but i would be delighted if we made the play off this season or in the next few seasons, and had 6 players injured and brought no one in, watch the level of performance drop. Ive read we drew 5 on the spin, AND are still up there. With our form earlier in the seaon it is not beyond the realms of possibilities that we would be clear in second place if we had been POSITIVE, Sadly i believe the club have had their perfect season, cup runs, nice crowds, good profit now lets take the foot off the gas and pacify the fans with the next year we go for it line. I dont dpoubt some seasons they have made hardly any profit but that isnt a reason to sit on the great profits when they arrive. Their budget includes their wages. Gates and gold bond cover this so cup runs are free money. Investing that free money will help bring success. (Money doesnt bring success??? ask Chelsea, Grays and Weymouth!!)

I am 110% behind the Players and Adrian and Phil, sadly on their running of the club i have (at the moment) very little faith in the running of the club. I hope that will change and live in hope that the Brothers either raise money buy selling a percentage to outsiders and forming a strong board of directors (Officially and properly through people like Steve Pain, Steve Holly, Alan Robinson and others) Or spend some of the over budgeted earnings and act positively.

Please lets not turn this into a personal slanging match but if any of the WSU or other fans that are lurking have any views feel free to comment and have an adult discussion. EVEN if anyone from the club would like to put thie point accross. MAYBE I HAVE IT COMPLETELY WRONG AND THERE IS SOMETHING I DO NOT KNOW?

Having recently met Barrie and Graham I have to say that I believe THERE IS AMBITION in the PVR camp and that nothing would please the brothers more than to return to the pinnacle of non league football, the National Conference.  Without letting any cats out of bags ground grading is being applied for and the obvious issue of turnstiles is being addressed.  JGFC and Stafford raising speculation about throwing it because it would be much cosier to stay in the Conference South is to say the least unhelpful.

I was made very welcome at PVR, as I always have been, and had a lengthy frank and open discussion with Graham about Welling, present and future.

The issue of a reserve side is an old chestnut and is a question of priorities and funding.  The best analogy I can think of is I want to buy a nice house but have limited funds, I have a choice,  I can sit where I am until I have the necessary funds (which may never happen) or buy a house that needs a bit of work doing on it and make improvements as funds permit.  I would suggest that Welling are taking the latter course of action, sorting out the first team squad was/still is the priority and reserves will follow.

As far as training goes when we gain National status, be that next season or not, a commitment has been made to increase training to 3 times a week.  (source: Graham Hobbins at the Meet the Manager night in October.)

We have picked up several very promising youngsters this season but there has to be a balance of youth and experience.  I personally think that Ade has got the balance right though I would like to see Matt Bodkin given a run of league match starts rather than being limited to cameo appearances.

“Top half and I’ll take that” is presumably a reference to Ade’s public statements on what would constitute a successful season.  That does not mean that he has no ambition it was a realistic target for a man new to management taking over a team whose recent history was pretty dismal despite money having been spent, particularly in the Parker era.  IMHO Ade is a man on a mission and he his achievements to date do not suggest otherwise – 2 manager of the month awards within your first 9 months as a manager equates to qualifying with distinction in my book.  None of us know, nor do we need to know, what goes on behind closed doors at PVR, either with the team or the brothers, but if Ade wasn’t getting the support he needs to maintain the magnificent start he has made to his managerial career I’m sure something would have leaked out by now.  I’m equally sure Ade is not telling the players that 11th place is good enough in fact he has always stated that we want to win all the matches we play (conveniently forgotten?)  Would players like Daisy, Jamie T, Leon, Luke Howell, Keds, and Bodders be satisfied with ending up 11th after such a good first half season?  Sorry you experienced lads I’m not doubting your commitment its just that the youngsters have far more to potentially gain or lose.

There comes a point where reality determines that ambition is achieved.  My view is that achieving and maintaining National Conference is that point.  We are not Yeovil with its massive unchallenged catchment area to draw support.  We are on the outskirts of the Capital with its many Premiership and League sides within easy reach.  A Division 2 side entrance charge is comparatively high when compared with the more senior sides and I don’t believe that we could achieve the necessary gates to save the club from bankruptcy.  This isn’t Roy of the Rovers but the real world.  Not second guessing the brothers but what is wrong with the height of ambition being a local team at the highest level of non league football?

In short, I believe that the ambition is there to do all that it is safely possible to do to achieve and maintain National Conference status and that is enough to keep me coming through the turnstiles.

Stafford

Without wishing to labour the point, I personally would not have expanded on JGFC's comment by giving a such graphic example of 'throwing it' if the Club wanted to.  I still believe that that was unhelpful but fully respect your right to express your opinions in whatever way you wish within the confines of legality, non abusive content etc. 

I ain't gonna fall out with you over it and trust that this is reciprocated.