Where's Richard Blight? Oxford Match Thread - Better Late Than Never

Freathy wrote:

Sensiblegreeny wrote:

And Freathy and others you were absolutely dead wrong this time with your predictions of doom.

We only very narrowly avoided being expelled from the football league (for being too shit). I really don't think we were that far wrong. And I expect more of the same next season.

Go on then. I will bet you next season that we will be in the top half next season. Let's say £100 to a charity of ATD's Mods decision (elected of course ).

Call it Freathy. Yes, or no?

lawnmowerman wrote:

Andy at least you didnt win the other prize a signed match ball donated by the farm

If I had, I would have auctioned it off and donated the proceeds to the Argyle Fans Trust. As it is, a donation to that fine organisation seems appropriate.

Greenjock wrote:

feck it. We're safe. Have a few beers, ciders or a few glasses of wine. Don't call it celebrating it you don't feel it's worth celebrating, but have a few for relief then. Relief that we're not going to Ebbsfleet next season.

It'll still be a season in a shit league, but it could have been a season in a shitter league. That's got to be worth having a drink over?

This.

And to those sanctimonious bores having a pop at 'doubters', one questions: Are you really saying that at no point this season you called into question Argyle's ability to stay in this league? Because if you think you didn't, you're kidding yourselves. Because even though you may have been going around telling everyone 'we will beat the drop' 'keep believing' 'we'll never die' or whatever your chosen mantra was, you, and every one of us has thought at some point this season 'Oh shit, we're heading to the Blue Square.'

Andy_Symons wrote:

Greenjock wrote:

feck it. We're safe. Have a few beers, ciders or a few glasses of wine. Don't call it celebrating it you don't feel it's worth celebrating, but have a few for relief then. Relief that we're not going to Ebbsfleet next season.

It'll still be a season in a shit league, but it could have been a season in a shitter league. That's got to be worth having a drink over?

This.

And to those sanctimonious bores having a pop at 'doubters', one questions: Are you really saying that at no point this season you called into question Argyle's ability to stay in this league? Because if you think you didn't, you're kidding yourselves. Because even though you may have been going around telling everyone 'we will beat the drop' 'keep believing' 'we'll never die' or whatever your chosen mantra was, you, and every one of us has thought at some point this season 'Oh shit, we're heading to the Blue Square.'

And tonight the chants of "Andy's round, Andy's round, Andy's round" is because of your bank balance instead of your waistline boom boom. Feck off Bunney

Freathy, nearly doesn't cut it. The fact is, and it is a fact, that we have NOT been relegated as you predicted and may I add with 2 games to spare. Whatever happens this season from here on in is irrelevant. If Andy had been one number out he would not have money to spend tonight would he. I agree that this season has been a trial of the highest order. Argyle should never have been in this position but it was. Celebrating the fact that it has gotten away with what should have been another relegation is reason enough to celebrate. Give them some credit for the great escape because it is warranted. Also in contadiction to some peoples thoughts on todays game, I actually thought we did quite well against a side who can obviously play and are knocking on the door at the other end of the table. It was a league 2 match so it was hardly ever going to be world class was it. If you are going to have a pop at the standard please remember which division you are popping at. For this division it was a very reasonable performance. In my happy clappy aviva greentinted opinion of course. Yes I've thought this season we were going down but today we aren't and it is confirmed so no reason to be a doubter any longer is there.

There was genuine celebration today from fans and players alike-rightly so,given we nearly went out of business and the out of the football league-this has possibly been our worst season ever in 90 yrs of league football,it's been complete shite being an Argyle supporter for the last three seasons,we are where we are accept it.There should only be one aim next season-PROMOTION!Sorry but if you bracket everyone who celebrated today or continues to do so on these boards as happy to accept the shiteness of it all then Freathy you have got it wrong!

Czarcasm wrote:

Nick wrote:

Very much enjoyed the ATD company (and beer) today. The game itself? Well, not so much, but a better performance that last week at The County Ground. Better in that we played for and created some chances.

We did? I'm glad I was (am) suitably beered up so as not to really notice, one way or the other!

Definitely DEFINITELY more so than the Swindon game. Honest.

Whilst I accept this season has been about survival, there's no way I can jump for fekn joy.

Who gets relegated in October?. Depends on whose spin you wish to listen to.

Fletch had the ability to sign at least a dozen players, most of whom would've been match fit. If the Barnet, Bulls or Maccs had been in similar position we would've been relegated IMO.

Nobody gets relegated in October.

I agree. Whilst it's a relief that we're not playing in the Conference next season I see no pride in escaping from relegation from the FL. It's hardly a proud boast for the trophy cabinet, is it.

Nick Wall wrote:

Freathy wrote:

Sensiblegreeny wrote:

And Freathy and others you were absolutely dead wrong this time with your predictions of doom.

We only very narrowly avoided being expelled from the football league (for being too shit). I really don't think we were that far wrong. And I expect more of the same next season.

Go on then. I will bet you next season that we will be in the top half next season. Let's say £100 to a charity of ATD's Mods decision (elected of course ).

Call it Freathy. Yes, or no?

Make it £50 that if Fletcher is not replaced we'll finish bottom half.

In my view anything other than automatic promotion next season is MAJOR failure. THREE teams go up automatically from this shit hole division FFS!

Some people are simply incapable of seeing the bigger picture.The future, in Div 2, with Fletcher in charge, does not fill me with anticipation.

We are all relieved that a third consecutive relegation has bee narrowly avoided. Thank god for the utter rubbish the likes of Maggots, Bulls n Barnet have been in the last couple of months.

Fletcher's style of football may be alright for getting teams out of a relegation position but I'm not quite so sure that it will be good enough to get us promoted.

oddball wrote:

Fletcher's style of football may be alright for getting teams out of a relegation position but I'm not quite so sure that it will be good enough to get us promoted.

I think what we've had this season is a sort of down-market version of Pulis's style from his time here as manager. It did the job (let's be fair, when he got the manager's gig, it was looking as if we'd need snookers to avoid the drop) but I'm not sure it will get us into the top 3 next season. I reckon Fletch will be manager for the start of the season, and depending on who he brings in and how we start, will tell us what sort of honeymoon period he'll get.

I've changed my mind about Fletcher this season more often than Newell changes his online identity; at the moment I'm thinking 'well done for keeping us up, but we need a change of style and approach next season if we're to get back to where we really should be'. For now, though, a mixture of pleasure and relief that we won't be playing Gravesend next term.

Who is to say that Fletcher won't bring that change of style approach next season?

I agree Andy, I have also changed my opinion more often and more quicker than Newell has switched accounts, at the moment I am just slightly pro Fletcher but if we want to increase the odds of success next season the club will bring in an experienced manager with a track record of promotion from the lower leagues.

Paul Sturrock?

I think whatever the outcome was of this season, Fletcher was always going to be in post at the start of the next campaign, but now safety is assured, it's a no-brainer. He was the cheap option at the time, he'll be the same next year. Who knows, he may turn out to be a promotion winning manager in his first full season, but that would be a surprise for most I would think.

There is no truth in the rumour, however, that PCC have given James Brent £2m to employ a experienced manager next year. They do seem to be quite fond of giving him money, but that was a step too far.

Bigger picture my fecking arse. The reality is that when Fletcher took over his remit was to try to avoid a relegation out of the football league not suddenly become a promotion contender as that option had already flown the coup. He did exactly that and not only just but with games to spare. Now suddenly we are doomed next season when we haven't even finished this one yet. There have been doom merchants on this board for as long as I've posted on here who have written the club or team or manager off continuously. Well they all proved you wrong but instead of acknowledging that it has to be more doom on top of the doom already sung. We have pretty much all doubted at times but some people are making a career out of it now even when Argyle have achieved the almost imposible.

Nobody, not even the Manager whoever that may be, has one flicker of knowledge about who will or won't be in the team next season right now. To be writing Argyle off is just plain daft. As for style of play well who knows what that will be either. If we have played ten and won ten 1 - 0 with 30 points will anyone be worrying about style after the 3 years we have endured? Loads of people have doubts about Fletcher's ability to produce a side to chase promotion but the one fairly certain fact is he is likely to be here next term as manager so how about a bit of credit for the achievement this term and backing for next. The proof will be in the results rather than opinion right now.

Carl Fletcher has kept a poor team up for another season.Thats all.I see nothing from yesterday or indeed all the home games to suggest we are going to be a force to be reckoned with at HP next season.

Question for everyone with doubts right now. Not after season has kicked off but right this minute.

Who will we sign and who will we lose from the squad? Anyone got a clue right now cause I doubt there is anyone from Brent down to the youngest supporter who knows the answer.

There is just simply no way anyone at the moment can judge next season or what will or won't happen. We can all do a prediction of course but it will be based on guess work and nothing more. Some would bound to be right which is the laws of averages as a lot would have polar opposite guesses or somewhere in between.

SG, I would imagine Walton will be gone. There is no way we can or should sustain £3000/week for an overweight lazy player like him. Do I know that for sure? Of course not, but I'd be fairly sure it's a safe bet.

That's one guess then Cerbera but what about the rest of them and the unknown newcomers either signed on contract or loan? As I said there might be some educated guesses about some of it which will prove to be correct but I was talking about the whole squad and the righting off of the season before it has even finished for this one. No doubt there will be plenty of times to have a moan and groan but doing it now in advance?????? Sorry but I just don't wear that one.

There's about 18 contracts that expire this summer.There's bound to be considerable changes.

All I will add is that I rest my case.........