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Anyone planning to go? I’m wondering which team will show up, we’ve been so mixed.
Though with gale force winds predicted, is this likely to go ahead?
Ebbsfleet away
Having been beaten easily in our last two games against lowly teams and also managerless the players confidence levels must be low. Not sure how long Junior and Umerah are likely to be out but need them back soon as have been missed greatly. Ebbsfleet have only won one game all season but with our problems at the moment this doesn't appear to be anything other than a difficult game.
Just hoping that the team that have played so well in the Fa cup and also against Gateshead in particular turn up and get three points for us!
Just hoping that the team that have played so well in the Fa cup and also against Gateshead in particular turn up and get three points for us!
Not going. I'm totally fed up with it tbh. I know supporters are meant to support and all the rest of it, but the club just lurches from one shitshow to the next. Patience has all but run out. We haven't seen any kind of consistent form or enjoyable football since we lost in the playoffs nearly 8 years ago, and that was one of two decent seasons in the last 13 attempts.
There is absolutely no excuse for a team of full time professionals, many of whom have recent experience at higher levels, to get beat by a succession of part time sides. As a one-off perhaps, but not continually. We have become like the sides we used to dream of knocking out of the cup 20 years ago - complacent and half-arsed.
There's far more wrong here than the manager and successive owners seem incapable of resolving it. Think that's me done with away days and maybe even Tuesday home games until something actually changes.
There is absolutely no excuse for a team of full time professionals, many of whom have recent experience at higher levels, to get beat by a succession of part time sides. As a one-off perhaps, but not continually. We have become like the sides we used to dream of knocking out of the cup 20 years ago - complacent and half-arsed.
There's far more wrong here than the manager and successive owners seem incapable of resolving it. Think that's me done with away days and maybe even Tuesday home games until something actually changes.
Wished we could have played it today like a fair bit of the higher pyramid, waiting with a travel ticket and sometimes even a match ticket days in a advance this time of year could certainly be tempting fate especially how our Camp seems to be so unmotivated, we usually don't do to bad down there but blimey the Fleet must fancy their chances on this one. Even the pub scene aint to hunky dory there unless you feel like navigating around that small one just behind the High Street with half of it berthing a Pool Table? Gravesend good rash but transport a Bank Holiday? Or stay in Pancras Barrel Vault doing Football 606 Shop as only 45 minutes on High Speed? Whatever let's get behind them and try to make a decent day of it!
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Diggerthedog
- Posts: 4082
- Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:08 pm
Exactly this, not even going to bother with Millwall and certainly won’t be renewing next season. Will go to the odd game here and there but mainly to see folk. I stopped buying stuff in the shop and some sponsorship this season, big 6 months ahead for the new owners.Mark wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2024 4:20 pm Not going. I'm totally fed up with it tbh. I know supporters are meant to support and all the rest of it, but the club just lurches from one shitshow to the next. Patience has all but run out. We haven't seen any kind of consistent form or enjoyable football since we lost in the playoffs nearly 8 years ago, and that was one of two decent seasons in the last 13 attempts.
There is absolutely no excuse for a team of full time professionals, many of whom have recent experience at higher levels, to get beat by a succession of part time sides. As a one-off perhaps, but not continually. We have become like the sides we used to dream of knocking out of the cup 20 years ago - complacent and half-arsed.
There's far more wrong here than the manager and successive owners seem incapable of resolving it. Think that's me done with away days and maybe even Tuesday home games until something actually changes.
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Auntie Merge
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2013 3:43 pm
It’s reassuring to read your comments Mark and Digger the Dog. I know every year it feels like i am not going to renew, but now I live further away but still in Essex and have missed so many home games, I do think this is my last year and I will pick and choose games.
I think the thing is I don’t care too much about the club anymore and if we were faced with another Tamplin, i’d probably walk away.
A dramatic change needs to come from within the club off the pitch in order to facilitate changes on the pitch. I don’t feel part of the club and it is that sense of belonging which keeps people going back regardless of success.
Our fan base is getting older and sadly dying and the things that encourage young fans and families are often one offs and specials, or allowed to deteriorate.
I know i go on about the food in the ground, but that has been exceptionally poor since before covid and now is extraordinary expensive. Kids when they come to football want feeding. It shouldn’t be all about have to bring packed lunch/snacks, but a day out.
over £10 for a burger, chips and drink times a family of 4 plus tickets means a matchday at the daggers is likely to come in at £100 or more. And then people wonder why fewer people use the clubhouse.
I’m rambling here. I should be pleased the club has new owners but until I see real positive changes which will drag the club into the future, I’m not sure the club is for me.
I think the thing is I don’t care too much about the club anymore and if we were faced with another Tamplin, i’d probably walk away.
A dramatic change needs to come from within the club off the pitch in order to facilitate changes on the pitch. I don’t feel part of the club and it is that sense of belonging which keeps people going back regardless of success.
Our fan base is getting older and sadly dying and the things that encourage young fans and families are often one offs and specials, or allowed to deteriorate.
I know i go on about the food in the ground, but that has been exceptionally poor since before covid and now is extraordinary expensive. Kids when they come to football want feeding. It shouldn’t be all about have to bring packed lunch/snacks, but a day out.
over £10 for a burger, chips and drink times a family of 4 plus tickets means a matchday at the daggers is likely to come in at £100 or more. And then people wonder why fewer people use the clubhouse.
I’m rambling here. I should be pleased the club has new owners but until I see real positive changes which will drag the club into the future, I’m not sure the club is for me.
Would have liked to go but after Wealdstone I’m definitely not. I’m a bit annoyed I bought a ticket to the Millwall game straight away too. The team were given my support at the beginning of the season, but keeping it needs to be earned which this lot have failed to do. Hopefully there will be a big shakeup over the coming months but I can’t see it unfortunately as with it always being the case, it’s the dumb leading the blind at this club.
Completely agree with your comments Merge on the match day experience. But I’d save it, falling upon deaf ears as no one of note will know this forum exists. And it’s more likely that the Members on this forum remember to take their medicine on time than bring any negative feedback to the club.
Completely agree with your comments Merge on the match day experience. But I’d save it, falling upon deaf ears as no one of note will know this forum exists. And it’s more likely that the Members on this forum remember to take their medicine on time than bring any negative feedback to the club.
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DI Mike Dashwood
- Posts: 644
- Joined: Thu Nov 28, 2013 7:56 pm
While I don’t disagree with the sentiments, and I put my tin hat on for the replies, is some of this not just the way things are changing and evolving??
I stopped getting an ST about 6 years ago but that was due to playing sport again on Saturdays, and I still go to midweeks and when not playing (which works for me).
While I get things are a bit cr4p at moment, and I was shocked at Wealdstone by how utterly appalling we were, some of this is just the way things pan out??
We as a club were “spoiled” (maybe not best word to use) in many ways between 1999 and 2011. It was a modern day footballing miracle what was achieved and what we saw during that period. We have now just slid into a cycle of mediocrity that probably 90% of clubs at all pro and semi pro levels slide into?? Go on the forums of 90% of clubs around the country and the mood will be the same as on here.
I’m not trying to say that makes it ok and that people shouldn’t voice opinions, but it’s difficult for a club to get out of this. It needs radical thinking and radical changes to rise above the mediocrity again, and with radical changes and ideas comes risk?? Merge understandably says we don’t want to have a certain type of owner and set up, but without that it’s hard for anyone to have the budget and means of trying new things without it being risky.
I honestly think the only way is for a club like ours to take some backwards steps to move forwards again. We need to get local lads from lower levels being given a chance and being given time to progress and rebuild. That though brings with it the risk of the R word which some people will rightly be worried about. What Stilly did (in conjunction with Mr Thompson I may add) took time to implement remember. Those years from 2004 to 2006 were not always easy as people like Benno and Scotty G took time to bed in. Would supporters and the club have the patience and nerve to go through such a process again??
I stopped getting an ST about 6 years ago but that was due to playing sport again on Saturdays, and I still go to midweeks and when not playing (which works for me).
While I get things are a bit cr4p at moment, and I was shocked at Wealdstone by how utterly appalling we were, some of this is just the way things pan out??
We as a club were “spoiled” (maybe not best word to use) in many ways between 1999 and 2011. It was a modern day footballing miracle what was achieved and what we saw during that period. We have now just slid into a cycle of mediocrity that probably 90% of clubs at all pro and semi pro levels slide into?? Go on the forums of 90% of clubs around the country and the mood will be the same as on here.
I’m not trying to say that makes it ok and that people shouldn’t voice opinions, but it’s difficult for a club to get out of this. It needs radical thinking and radical changes to rise above the mediocrity again, and with radical changes and ideas comes risk?? Merge understandably says we don’t want to have a certain type of owner and set up, but without that it’s hard for anyone to have the budget and means of trying new things without it being risky.
I honestly think the only way is for a club like ours to take some backwards steps to move forwards again. We need to get local lads from lower levels being given a chance and being given time to progress and rebuild. That though brings with it the risk of the R word which some people will rightly be worried about. What Stilly did (in conjunction with Mr Thompson I may add) took time to implement remember. Those years from 2004 to 2006 were not always easy as people like Benno and Scotty G took time to bed in. Would supporters and the club have the patience and nerve to go through such a process again??
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Diggerthedog
- Posts: 4082
- Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:08 pm
The match day experience is a big problem, the SDS stand or whatever it’s called are the only real facilities a modern day football fan expects and it’s the most expensive stand in the ground and also given to away fans like next month vs Southend. Facilities need updating like the sieve being raised to the ground a modern day terrace put in, new toilets, food and pretty much everything else, you won’t attract people with current standards at that price point.
I think this sort of disillusionment is common place amongst supporters,it
is not just isolated to our club but many in our division going right up the pyramid going into the Premier League. The chances of being successful can only be for very few, as in our division for example we have twenty four teams and only two can be promoted.
The exception to this of course, is if you support either Rangers or Celtic in Scotland and then your chances of success are pretty good.
I have been supporting the Daggers for more than sixty years and in that time they have been relegated a number of times, been promoted a few, seen them lose at Wembley a number of times and also won at Wembley so a very mixed bag with far far more unsuccessful times than good.
Despite all the above, what keeps me going each season is that the club are in my blood and just the hope that things will be reasonably successful.
Also in my time I have seen many non league clubs go to the wall and despite our problems over the years particularly with changes of ownership in recent times we still have a club to go to, so will keep going as long as possible.
These are some thoughts that some would say were very weird and perhaps not for the very nervous to adopt, however, I thought I would share these with you because my therapist told me it is best to sometimes to write things down and open up to people. I will let you know if it works!
is not just isolated to our club but many in our division going right up the pyramid going into the Premier League. The chances of being successful can only be for very few, as in our division for example we have twenty four teams and only two can be promoted.
The exception to this of course, is if you support either Rangers or Celtic in Scotland and then your chances of success are pretty good.
I have been supporting the Daggers for more than sixty years and in that time they have been relegated a number of times, been promoted a few, seen them lose at Wembley a number of times and also won at Wembley so a very mixed bag with far far more unsuccessful times than good.
Despite all the above, what keeps me going each season is that the club are in my blood and just the hope that things will be reasonably successful.
Also in my time I have seen many non league clubs go to the wall and despite our problems over the years particularly with changes of ownership in recent times we still have a club to go to, so will keep going as long as possible.
These are some thoughts that some would say were very weird and perhaps not for the very nervous to adopt, however, I thought I would share these with you because my therapist told me it is best to sometimes to write things down and open up to people. I will let you know if it works!
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Diggerthedog
- Posts: 4082
- Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:08 pm
Nobody on here is saying we have to be promoted far from it, most just want us to have a least one good season now and again. Merge was right in saying our fan base is a dying breed, I try my upmost to keep by lad who is 10 engaged but nowadays he’s happy to miss games just the 3 home games for him this season so far. He prefers away games at new grounds for him.
We’re burning owners like managers, some have provided the money but the same person is always at the wheel, no coincidence. Only last week ST said to my face Ben is only struggling due to injuries and won’t be going anywhere, turns out the new owners are not now listening to him as Ben is gone which makes me wonder what’s he paid for? Throwing the captain under the bus financially but keeping ST in a job is pathetic from the new owners. It’s a shambles yet again at board level and boring, same old.
Tons of noise from within about huge budget cuts, well if that’s the case perhaps we will get relegated but let’s not believe we will be anywhere good enough on the league below to come back up anytime soon. Problem the new owners have is the 5th level of Italy is basically an amateur league and they’ve been completely surprised by what’s required here and I reckon they might already be regretting the purchase.
What happened to that Todd Johnson chap.
We’re burning owners like managers, some have provided the money but the same person is always at the wheel, no coincidence. Only last week ST said to my face Ben is only struggling due to injuries and won’t be going anywhere, turns out the new owners are not now listening to him as Ben is gone which makes me wonder what’s he paid for? Throwing the captain under the bus financially but keeping ST in a job is pathetic from the new owners. It’s a shambles yet again at board level and boring, same old.
Tons of noise from within about huge budget cuts, well if that’s the case perhaps we will get relegated but let’s not believe we will be anywhere good enough on the league below to come back up anytime soon. Problem the new owners have is the 5th level of Italy is basically an amateur league and they’ve been completely surprised by what’s required here and I reckon they might already be regretting the purchase.
What happened to that Todd Johnson chap.
Plenty of good points made above and I firmly find myself in the disillusioned camp. Even with a season ticket I find myself debating whether to come to a game or not. The match day experience (not just the football side) is terrible, and certainly not good value for money if you are paying on the gate. It is only emblematic of the whole feeling around the club though - the life and joy has been completely sucked out of the club and has been over many, many seasons now. The Clubhouse used to be a thriving, jolly place, win lose or draw - now it is largely dead as a dodo and flat as a pancake. There is no excitement or anything to look forward to when you arrive in the ground either. I know many people that used to come regularly to matches and now just don't as they can either find something else to do, or in some cases just can't be bothered as it's not worth it for them.
This has been happening over many years and successive owners have failed to turn the tide. Part of me does wonder if the decrease in (if not elimination of) the Members share and voice in the club is part and parcel of this, but then the club rarely seeks new members and hence suffers from the same staleness/stagnancy too.
As for expectation of our fans: yes, some of our fans (especially the newer ones) do have perhaps inflated expectations. But is that surprising when owner after owner has come in and repeated season after season that the minimum expectation is the playoffs, and indeed stated aspirations for League 1 football again?
All I do know if that it used to be fun supporting the Daggers, even in the days when we were struggling - being a Dagger had nothing to do with expectation of success every season. It isn't that way now.
This has been happening over many years and successive owners have failed to turn the tide. Part of me does wonder if the decrease in (if not elimination of) the Members share and voice in the club is part and parcel of this, but then the club rarely seeks new members and hence suffers from the same staleness/stagnancy too.
As for expectation of our fans: yes, some of our fans (especially the newer ones) do have perhaps inflated expectations. But is that surprising when owner after owner has come in and repeated season after season that the minimum expectation is the playoffs, and indeed stated aspirations for League 1 football again?
All I do know if that it used to be fun supporting the Daggers, even in the days when we were struggling - being a Dagger had nothing to do with expectation of success every season. It isn't that way now.
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Auntie Merge
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2013 3:43 pm
Sadly Todd Johnson has bought Woking FC. I was really sad to see him depart from us.