..

Johnny Hartley wrote:

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Warren must change his thinking, and be more flexible in how he uses his squad, by now even he should be able to see constantly putting out the same players in the same formation isn't working consistently any more. In our first half season so far we got 18/30 points, form for around 80 points play off area, then in the last 9 games we have got 10/27 points, form for about 50 points relegation area. So changes in play are clearly needed.

Recently goal scoring is a problem, in our second half of the season we scored 0 or 1 goal in 10 of our last 12 games (our last 9 league games and 3 cup games). That's because as a team we gradually dropped further back, due to confidence, don't have enough players close enough to the opposition goal to score, and dont have enough creative passes to create opportunities.

I believe in our squad, at times earlier this season we played some of the best football of any I've seen in our league, so I know we have potential. So it is a question of moving pieces around for a better fit. A 3 4 3 formation solves problems Warren keeps making, it will score more than his cautious and unsuccessful one up front approach, or two up front, with little or no support from midfield in both layouts. A suggested formation, giving us our 3 highest scorers in attack, solves the problem of uncreative midfielders who have lost their legs, gives us attacking creative players down the wings who can also tackle, a younger, faster team overall, would be

3 Attack Taylor M Ade Stefan

4 Midfield Chi, Antony, Kasim, Aaron

3 Defence Jamie Manny Sam

Keeper Myles

I like Chi, as he is a very intelligent analytical footballer, who is still learning, but his interviews show he thinks a lot about the game. So I was struck by him saying recently in an interview he would like to play in a more attacking role, and that the team could play more to its strengths. I agree, and think the above attacking 3 4 3 formation takes the brakes off our team and get rid of this safety first approach that results show no longer works.

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 So we were playing 5 at the back at that wasn't right and moved to 4, now that's not working we should play 3? I think the only thing that needs changing is about 4 players and the manager. 

Jamison wrote:

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The whole experience going to PVR right now is woeful. The football is absolutely dreadful, there is no excuse for today although I'm sure a few will come out.
Feeney should of gone after the Dartford game, the meet the manager night saved his job.
Then the catering is just as bad, 30 minute wait for a cheese burger that costs £6.50, hearing endless people saying I'm never doing this again and you don't even get what you've paid for.
All this work in the community is absolutely wasted by giving back a day out like that.
I could go on but it just about sums it up.

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 Nothing could be truer.

From walking thru the turnstile into the decrepit ground with rubbish facilities, bad views, 1970's circus tent bar areas, queues to get in, queues for a pint, queues for a grot burger etc it's just a horrible match day experienc.

People who love Welling, people devoted to the club could put up with it to an extent as long as the football is watchable, as long as the team are busting a gut on the park BUT that just isn't the case is it??? The football is as dire as the ground and the match day experience and if the die hards can't or refuse to stomach it then how do the club think the Johnny come latelys and the casual fans are going to stick around for the garbage being served up??

Jamison wrote:

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And this so called crowd of 1006 yesterday. How much of that was all the freebies that were handed out? They certainly won't be back in a hurry after that.

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 And that is exactly the point, to keep the freebies coming back (and there must have been a whole load of them yesterday) , you have to give them something to come back for. 1 league win in 11, playing  "going through the motions" football will not bring them back and start to drive the loyal fan base away. Things have got to change and change fast. 

Treacle wrote:

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Jamo wrote:

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Jamison wrote:

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The whole experience going to PVR right now is woeful. The football is absolutely dreadful, there is no excuse for today although I'm sure a few will come out.
Feeney should of gone after the Dartford game, the meet the manager night saved his job.
Then the catering is just as bad, 30 minute wait for a cheese burger that costs £6.50, hearing endless people saying I'm never doing this again and you don't even get what you've paid for.
All this work in the community is absolutely wasted by giving back a day out like that.
I could go on but it just about sums it up.

---

 Nothing could be truer.

From walking thru the turnstile into the decrepit ground with rubbish facilities, bad views, 1970's circus tent bar areas, queues to get in, queues for a pint, queues for a grot burger etc it's just a horrible match day experienc.

 

People who love Welling, people devoted to the club could put up with it to an extent as long as the football is watchable, as long as the team are busting a gut on the park BUT that just isn't the case is it??? The football is as dire as the ground and the match day experience and if the die hards can't or refuse to stomach it then how do the club think the Johnny come latelys and the casual fans are going to stick around for the garbage being served up??

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 I used to blank it out and assume that all non league grounds were much the same but pretty much every single one I've visited it offers a better experience. Even the likes of Hungerford and Hemel who have never played a level up and have modest budgets, have better facilities. Certainly they don't have concrete with craters that wouldn't be out of place on the moon.  The whole place has just been left to rot and the final straw is not being able to stand behind the goal, but instead suffer that ****ing awful vantage point in the bottom corner by the park. We have probably become immune to it, but the place really is a cesspit now and no wonder the ground couldn't be admitted to the National League. On that subject, is that part of the reason why we seem to have thrown in the towel?  I'd heard that there's no way we could go up even if we won the play offs - not sure if that is true or not?  It would certainly ring true given the complete state of the place. We mock E&B but if it wasn't for that stand, you could be forgiven for feeling like the bloke from Life on Mars that woke up in 1973 when you walk into the ground. 

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Imagine how the lads felt last week who ended up on the floor after the advertising hoarding collapsed due to the forward surge of 5 or 6 people ffs!!! Comical but tragic yet those running the circus are silent.

Somebody asked what's going on with the Park End the other day on here didn't they??? Nothing in response. 

Treacle wrote:

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Jamo wrote:

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Treacle wrote:

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Jamo wrote:

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Jamison wrote:

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The whole experience going to PVR right now is woeful. The football is absolutely dreadful, there is no excuse for today although I'm sure a few will come out.
Feeney should of gone after the Dartford game, the meet the manager night saved his job.
Then the catering is just as bad, 30 minute wait for a cheese burger that costs £6.50, hearing endless people saying I'm never doing this again and you don't even get what you've paid for.
All this work in the community is absolutely wasted by giving back a day out like that.
I could go on but it just about sums it up.

---

 Nothing could be truer.

From walking thru the turnstile into the decrepit ground with rubbish facilities, bad views, 1970's circus tent bar areas, queues to get in, queues for a pint, queues for a grot burger etc it's just a horrible match day experienc.

 

People who love Welling, people devoted to the club could put up with it to an extent as long as the football is watchable, as long as the team are busting a gut on the park BUT that just isn't the case is it??? The football is as dire as the ground and the match day experience and if the die hards can't or refuse to stomach it then how do the club think the Johnny come latelys and the casual fans are going to stick around for the garbage being served up??

---

 I used to blank it out and assume that all non league grounds were much the same but pretty much every single one I've visited it offers a better experience. Even the likes of Hungerford and Hemel who have never played a level up and have modest budgets, have better facilities. Certainly they don't have concrete with craters that wouldn't be out of place on the moon.  The whole place has just been left to rot and the final straw is not being able to stand behind the goal, but instead suffer that ****ing awful vantage point in the bottom corner by the park. We have probably become immune to it, but the place really is a cesspit now and no wonder the ground couldn't be admitted to the National League. On that subject, is that part of the reason why we seem to have thrown in the towel?  I'd heard that there's no way we could go up even if we won the play offs - not sure if that is true or not?  It would certainly ring true given the complete state of the place. We mock E&B but if it wasn't for that stand, you could be forgiven for feeling like the bloke from Life on Mars that woke up in 1973 when you walk into the ground. 

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Imagine how the lads felt last week who ended up on the floor after the advertising hoarding collapsed due to the forward surge of 5 or 6 people ffs!!! Comical but tragic yet those running the circus are silent.

Somebody asked what's going on with the Park End the other day on here didn't they??? Nothing in response. 

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 As I say mate - truly Life on Mars stuff. Most of us fondly remember the FA Cup game at home to Bath where the same thing happened over 30 years ago!  Most teams have invested at least tuppence ha'penny on their ground since then though, or moved altogether. What happened to Mark and his investors?  Or was that just the same bull**** he spoke when he took over Palace and was going to have them in the Champions League with Venables at the helm!

I just hope that the present owner really has the club at heart and does something about the stadium and the manager before we regress even further. I can handle going to Ebbsfleet and them having a better ground than us, but when you're upstaged by the likes of Hemel and Braintree its embarrassing!

 

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 But "so many exciting things are happening on and off the pitch"!!!

It's all BS mate 

Riverstown wrote:

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IMO the people who are presently running the club are trying to improve things and have plans to improve the facilities. They are at least trying to move the club on. I wont criticise them for that. The process has only just started and I think they should be afforded the time to improve things further. They had no option but to close the park end terrace. It has been condemned as unsafe. At least give them the time to rectify the problem. They didnt cause the problems with the ground. Blame the Hobbins and especially Goldberg for its run down state.

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 The same people on the board now making promises of improvements are the same people telling me I was wrong about Goldberg over the last few years and that things would improve. It was all 'Pie in the Sky' nonsense. 
Over the last decade or more it's been the same old faces blowing smoke up the pipe of whoever they need to whilst the club have been in utter and almost year after year decline. 

Our supporters club chairman has been on the board for 12 years which has coincided with the worst matchday experience in a hovel of a ground that is now so unfit and unsafe that the entire Park End has been closed for safety reasons, the changing rooms and toilets have been closed and condemned and we now use Erith & Belvedere's side of the ground!!!! The temporary permanent scaffolding behind the goal is beyond belief, the toilets at the ground are vile, the club shop is a 40 year old portakabin with no stock apart from home made t shirts, the biggest improvement (sic) is a 1970's tent fit to host a Lidls wedding where you can watch sky sports on a buffering firestick on a small 20 year old TV. If that isn't entertaining enough you can pay £3 to read a rubbish programme full of adverts whilst queuing for a two bob burger. While the clubs run into the ground and the punters are taken for granted I've heard how hard everyones been working and how exciting things are in the pipeline, but I've heard it over and over and the benefit of the doubt has run out for me I'm afraid. I'm sick of inaction, I'm tired of the bull5717 and I've had enough of going with the flow and being an enabler......Welling United deserve better, the supporters deserve better and should demand better.

Riverstown wrote:

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The present board/owners have had their hands on the helm/purse strings for barely a year. As I understand it they eased Goldberg out with him leaving a shed load of debt behind him which they are now servicing. The tent helps reduce the queues in the bar. Its not all perfect I know. But surely even someone as cynical as you can see there is effort to improve the current situation. However I do believe that if things dont continue to move on fairly swiftly (say 3 more seasons) then the club will eventually die. Its was on deaths door under Goldberg and the present board have given CPR. Further treatment is needed now and in the future for it to survive.

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 I'll believe it when I see it buddy, actions speak louder than words but I agree with you that unless things change for the better the club will die. 

There is no excuse for that tent under any circumstances though!! it's an embarrassment....

Jamison wrote:

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I can't disagree with some points but what do you have against the tent?
It's better than standing in the pissing rain, has tvs in, more seating and serves beer rather quickly.

#justice4tents

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 Ain't having that tent at all Jamie, how about putting a hand dryer in the toilet before buying Terry & Junes 1970's tele and tent  !!

Ive been a loyal (home) supporter for +30 years so can well remember the good times. We won the league, regularly had over 1000 supporters, notices around the town advertising the next match etc. But we never had to wait half an hour for an expensive burger, there was as 2nd burger van on the E&B side and E&B opened their own food outlet. There was also no difficulty getting a beer from the Wings bar (or the E&B bar), without the circus tent option. 
So what went wrong? MG has to take a lot of responsibility but not all of it. 
The first priority has to be to get things right on the pitch, WF did well to keep us in the league last season, but hes assembled the current team so he has to start managing and motivating them. Ive heard too often of his past exploits, they may be credit worthy but they are irrelevant to WUFC, it was very disappointing to hear him saying that he was only aspiring to end mid-table, surely we should be aiming higher than that.

Assuming the team can start delivering then the club has to ensure that the fans have an enjoyable experience, proper toilets, accessible food & drink, reasonably priced, and a program that is not all adverts.

Johnny Hartley wrote:

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I watched two successive home matches around 2000, when there were only two decent Welling players - Rutherford and Riviere, and didnt come back again until last season, two matches before Peter Taylor was sacked. The thing that struck me was it was like a frozen moment in time, hardly anything had changed in the 20+ years since I had last visited the ground.

Last week I spent ages reading through this forum, for an idea of what's been going on over the years. From my view, rightly or wrongly, it looks as though Hobbins and Goldberg run this club on the cheap, and it had run down as a result, on and off the pitch. The new owners have inherited a mess, on the pitch of a team that finished bottom two for the past two seasons, maybe as we played cheaper players, off the pitch a team that had lost its place in the community, so relied on a small hard core of loyal fans.

Behind the scenes I can tell the club and fans have done great things to keep the club going through the debt problems, and the covid lockdown and tiny income. Like others here I am out of touch with finances, but I see higher quality players in this season's squad compared to last season, where I rated Chi, Aaron, Max, Olu, Jamie and Dipo, but the rest were not great. This season I think we have miles better squad, just 3 I dont rate (Tom, Medy and James) and assume that's because we spend more on better players. I guess presumably the owners must weigh up spending either on improving facilities, or on players. I watched the England V USA match at the Welling ground, and it was great to see the buzz, and the club creatively generating money. I get the ever increasing positive cycle the club aims for - better players, bigger attendances, more money from bigger attendances, more money for better players etc. Success depends on the pitch as much as off the pitch, Jamison is spot on, we need to play attractive football to bring casual fans in, who may then become long term fans if they like what they see, rather than them thinking, "well, that was a load of crap" and not bothering to come back.

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To be fair for all their faults the Hobbin's genuinely loved our club and it was much better run under them than under anyone else since and the Welling side featuring Ruthers and Riviere would wipe the floor with this current lot.

Last seasons team & squad were undoubtedly the worst Welling United for at least 30 years the current lot haven't got high to aim to be better than that but get real here, we are paying out decent dough to be 13th in the National League South with one win in 11 or whatever and it's not good enough, this squad is sub standard, nowhere near whether in ability, desire or both. 
 

Jamo wrote:

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Riverstown wrote:

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IMO the people who are presently running the club are trying to improve things and have plans to improve the facilities. They are at least trying to move the club on. I wont criticise them for that. The process has only just started and I think they should be afforded the time to improve things further. They had no option but to close the park end terrace. It has been condemned as unsafe. At least give them the time to rectify the problem. They didnt cause the problems with the ground. Blame the Hobbins and especially Goldberg for its run down state.

---

 The same people on the board now making promises of improvements are the same people telling me I was wrong about Goldberg over the last few years and that things would improve. It was all 'Pie in the Sky' nonsense. 
Over the last decade or more it's been the same old faces blowing smoke up the pipe of whoever they need to whilst the club have been in utter and almost year after year decline. 

Our supporters club chairman has been on the board for 12 years which has coincided with the worst matchday experience in a hovel of a ground that is now so unfit and unsafe that the entire Park End has been closed for safety reasons, the changing rooms and toilets have been closed and condemned and we now use Erith & Belvedere's side of the ground!!!! The temporary permanent scaffolding behind the goal is beyond belief, the toilets at the ground are vile, the club shop is a 40 year old portakabin with no stock apart from home made t shirts, the biggest improvement (sic) is a 1970's tent fit to host a Lidls wedding where you can watch sky sports on a buffering firestick on a small 20 year old TV. If that isn't entertaining enough you can pay £3 to read a rubbish programme full of adverts whilst queuing for a two bob burger. While the clubs run into the ground and the punters are taken for granted I've heard how hard everyones been working and how exciting things are in the pipeline, but I've heard it over and over and the benefit of the doubt has run out for me I'm afraid. I'm sick of inaction, I'm tired of the bull5717 and I've had enough of going with the flow and being an enabler......Welling United deserve better, the supporters deserve better and should demand better.

 

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 I take umbrage about stock in the club shop. Yes we are currently without replica shirts that have been on order for months. Regret I dont have a magic wand as much as I wish I did , and I cannot get kit if Adidas dont deliver. I am given dates that pass told it wont be much longer then I just wait and wait. Im cheesed off as well as the fans who have ordered stock. As far as homemade T Shirts go I assure you I dont sit at home with a sewing machine making stuff for the shop. Everything, apart from the price signs are professionally made using decent quality materials and hopefully reasonably priced.