Peterborough

[Lady Whistledown]

What's going on there then?

They played great football last year but seem to have utterly imploded this season. I had no idea they'd let George Boyd go on loan to Forest until I saw him on the FL Show last night. They've looked to loan out Craig Mackail Smith and Aaron McLean too, fallen out with one manager and sacked another after something like thirteen games. Oh and the chairman wrote a newspaper article slagging pretty much the whole staff off.

I suspect their scary attack masked their crap defence last season (didn't we manage to score against them?), but I was still surprised to see just how lame they've been this season.

They're completely doomed to relegation now, so assuming we manage to stay up, we can at least look forward to a trip to one of our favourite away grounds next year

How wide...is Barry Fry

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

The Chairman is an utter numpty.

Why sack Ferguson? He claimed he was talking to 4 other clubs but had no proof. He then said thats not the reason they sacked him that was because he was after unrealistic players.

 

[Notters]

You say one of your favourite away grounds (mine too) but don't forget they have to get rid of their terraces now they've been in the championship. The law is an ass!

 

[jordanseagull]

They don't have to get rid of them if they get relegated in the first year do they?

 

[Simon Morgan]

What's going on there then?

They played great football last year but seem to have utterly imploded this season. I had no idea they'd let George Boyd go on loan to Forest until I saw him on the FL Show last night. They've looked to loan out Craig Mackail Smith and Aaron McLean too, fallen out with one manager and sacked another after something like thirteen games. Oh and the chairman wrote a newspaper article slagging pretty much the whole staff off.

I suspect their scary attack masked their crap defence last season (didn't we manage to score against them?), but I was still surprised to see just how lame they've been this season.

They're completely doomed to relegation now, so assuming we manage to stay up, we can at least look forward to a trip to one of our favourite away grounds next year

How wide...is Barry Fry

I think they're demise is quite similar to ours in 02-03. Using the same players after 1 promotion is quite obviously doable, but after 2 in 2 seasons you have no chance. Don't necessarily think they were wrong to sack Ferguson, but you have to question whether Cooper was the right man to come in with the team floundering at the bottom. Boyd was always going to leave, wouldn't be surprised if he ends up in the Prem next season. Gannon had an impossible task when appointed but he has steadied the ship ever so slightly (2 wins already isn't it?). Relying on Liam Dickinson as their main striker when you have McLean and Mackail-Smith is quite frankly bizarre, but Gannon seems to have his head screwed on. Rejected the poisoned chalice here after all

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Either way, they're not going to stick seats on the terrace by next season, are they?

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Other random FL observations from last night's programme?

-Got to feel a bit sorry for Darlington, utterly doomed to non-league, a mere 16 points from safety and rattling around in that 26,000 seat stadium in front of 1800 fans.

-Equally will be chuffed to bits for Rochdale this season, assuming they don't blow their lead at the top of League 2. I seem to recall they've spent longer in the same division than any other club in the FL, so fair play to their fans, they must be well excited at the prospect of promotion at last.

-Sorry to be mean, but thank GOD it looks like Grimsby are finally going to make the drop. Every year they're crap, and every year they survive by the skin of their teeth. Ugly town, one of the worst grounds in the league, it's about time they did their time in the BSP.

 

[Notters]

Either way, they're not going to stick seats on the terrace by next season, are they?

well, quite possibly... They may need to get one end done over the summer.

 

[Lincoln Imp]

Well I'd be very sad if Grimsby went down. The club has been around for 130 years and although Grimsby isn't pretty at least it's a proper place unlike, say, Dagenham. They had a real struggle to get a new ground a few years ago I recall but, unlike us, they failed. There but for the grace of God...

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Well I'd be very sad if Grimsby went down. The club has been around for 130 years and although Grimsby isn't pretty at least it's a proper place unlike, say, Dagenham. They had a real struggle to get a new ground a few years ago I recall but, unlike us, they failed. There but for the grace of God...

Fair enough...from your name I'm reading you as a Lincoln fan...that being the case, what brings you here?

My only issue with Grimsby is that they've been dodging the bullet for so many years, and just escaping every time. They're not making any progress whatsoever, nor are they likely to. I actually think it might do them good if it finally happens. They'd have to deal with the reality, start afresh, and might come back stronger like various clubs have over the years. As it is, they just have the same old struggle, year after year, but always seem to get away with it because each season, another club has an even bigger crisis going on (Luton, Darlington, Boston etc).

 

[gjh1971]

Well I'd be very sad if Grimsby went down. The club has been around for 130 years and although Grimsby isn't pretty at least it's a proper place unlike, say, Dagenham. They had a real struggle to get a new ground a few years ago I recall but, unlike us, they failed. There but for the grace of God...

So why is Dagenham not a 'proper place'?

 

[Geriatric Seagull]

Peterborough yesterday

They looked like a team who know they're going down. Went a goal down thanks to some appalling defending and although they hit the bar, never really looked like scoring. It was only when Mackail-Smith came on for Mclean that they posed any sort of threat. Dickinson did what he does for us - huffed and puffed but not much else. The crowd were not impressed when he stayed on and Mclean came off! Coventry were nothing special - they did what they had to do but certainly didn't look promotion material. Carl Baker (ex-Stockport - got a hat-trick against us) played right-midfield - looked good. Ten thousand crowd - very good atmosphere throughout. Two lessons for us - 98 page programme for £3 was a very good read and my ticket(over60's not 65) was £14 with no charge for online booking.

 

[Lincoln Imp]

I'm sure some people find Dagenham a lovely place to live and I respect them for that but in fairness it is now a London suburb of little obvious beauty. Like Norwood but less pretty.

I'm not a Lincoln fan but 40 years an Albion one. Born in Buckingham Road, Brighton. Every single one of my ancestors lived their lives in Lincolnshire though and for me it's the second-best county in England, frequently beautiful, little known - and that butcher in Navenby sells the world's best pork pies.

 

[seagullsoverlincoln]

I'm sure some people find Dagenham a lovely place to live and I respect them for that but in fairness it is now a London suburb of little obvious beauty. Like Norwood but less pretty.

I'm not a Lincoln fan but 40 years an Albion one. Born in Buckingham Road, Brighton. Every single one of my ancestors lived their lives in Lincolnshire though and for me it's the second-best county in England, frequently beautiful, little known - and that butcher in Navenby sells the world's best pork pies.

God! another Albion fan in Lincoln! From a selfish point of view,i suppose,
Grimsby's a good fixture for us,as is Peterborough.

 

[Daddies_Sauce]

From Todays Observer/Sport section:

Fans view: On-loan forward Liam Dickinson doesn't look interested - No change there then.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I actually think it might do them good if it finally happens. They'd have to deal with the reality, start afresh, and might come back stronger like various clubs have over the years. As it is, they just have the same old struggle, year after year, but always seem to get away with it because each season, another club has an even bigger crisis going on (Luton, Darlington, Boston etc).

Going down the Conference/BlueSquarethingy/whateveritscalledthesedaysforgodssakewhatwaswrongwiththenorthernandsouthernpremierleagues doesn't always work. The same thing happened to Chester City and they have virtually ceased to exist after being kicked out of the Conference last week.

Chester City FC: As the dust settles on City Conference expulsion, The Chronicle asks what happens next - Chester Chronicle

The "new beginnng" can be the final ending.

 

[Lincolnshire Seagull]

God! another Albion fan in Lincoln! From a selfish point of view,i suppose,
Grimsby's a good fixture for us,as is Peterborough.

Yes, for us Lincolnshire-based fans Peterborough's relegation will provide a welcome chance to see an extra game - and visit Bert Murray's pub (unless we win all our games and sneak up of course!) - but I don't see us playing Grimsby again any time soon.

 

[King Kong]

Victims of their own success. Look forward to London Road again next year.

 

[Diatribe]

From Todays Observer/Sport section:

Fans view: On-loan forward Liam Dickinson doesn't look interested - No change there then.

please don't let him come back

Davies is falling down the pecking order at vale as well, what are the odds we'll be stuck with the chuckle brothers still next season?

 

[Boroseagull]

What's going on there then?

They played great football last year but seem to have utterly imploded this season. I had no idea they'd let George Boyd go on loan to Forest until I saw him on the FL Show last night. They've looked to loan out Craig Mackail Smith and Aaron McLean too, fallen out with one manager and sacked another after something like thirteen games. Oh and the chairman wrote a newspaper article slagging pretty much the whole staff off.

I suspect their scary attack masked their crap defence last season (didn't we manage to score against them?), but I was still surprised to see just how lame they've been this season.

They're completely doomed to relegation now, so assuming we manage to stay up, we can at least look forward to a trip to one of our favourite away grounds next year

How wide...is Barry Fry

Barry Fry has loaned George Boyd out to Forest for a sizeable fee until the end of the season. They are then looking for a % reduced transfer to make it permanent. It is being done this way as Stevenage Boro have a 40% sell on clause. Fry doesn't think it applies to the 'loan fee'. Boro & Boro are due due discussions on this next week!