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Post by jules on May 10, 2019 12:46:32 GMT
There was a 5 year plan. I think (but I'm not sure) that we may be about to embark on year 5. Expectations are high, lets hope folks aren't too disappointed!
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Post by Keithsson on May 10, 2019 13:47:48 GMT
There was a 5 year plan. I think (but I'm not sure) that we may be about to embark on year 5. Expectations are high, lets hope folks aren't too disappointed! If a 5 year plan was devised four years ago then I'm pretty sure the subsequent manager changes and whole pitch/'slumming it at Nyewood Lane' thing would've ripped it up. I am fully prepared to stand to be corrected if that's not the case. Any expectations come from progress in the last two years, well 18 months if truth be told. But expectations can be tempered by buying into the club plan, sustainability and youth development, the latter being a very long term plan. The first four or five minutes of the awards night video I put up earlier on the poll thread shows us where we are now, in a very good position. I agree that youth alone won't be enough, we do need experience and I too really rated Craney. But if you can develop your own and continue the development of the best of the young talent from elsewhere like Jalen Jones and Kwame Poku... all for the price of a Crane then it ticks both the sustainability AND youth development boxes. We're football fans, we want instant gratification, that's natural. But the decisions being made I feel are being made with a bigger picture in mind and unless/until it falls flat on it's face I can put aside my natural fan instinct and sign up to the plan. Boom and bust ultimately leaves us deflated, sustainable growth can keep progression going for longer, not as sexy maybe but longer term it has to be more desirable, surely? What scares me about the plan a bit is the jeopardy of developing great players only to have them poached by clubs further up the pyramid. What would allay that risk, and further cement our commitment to the plan, would be if we made the brave step of giving professional contracts to the very best of the younger players. Pie in the sky you might think but maybe moving on some higher earners (who won't develop further) could free up funds to protect our investment of time/development in youth to reap much higher rewards moving forwards. The process then becomes a virtuous circle. I saw a interview with Edwin Van der Sar which basically admitted that for some time now that has been the Ajax model. We're not Ajax, I haven't taken complete leave of my senses  , but every plan is scaleable. |
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Post by whatters on May 10, 2019 14:17:27 GMT
Younger players will want to play as high up as possible and fans who attend like to see entertaining football and results. The atmosphere this season has been brilliant this year and its been great to watch some of the youngsters flourish but the pressure now is to keep this going and progress. If the team is successful or at least heading in the right direction then players and fans will buy in to this. My concern this season is being able to compete with strong sides when at times it is boys against men but obviously this will be something that will be put right during the summer.
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Post by Keithsson on May 10, 2019 14:27:47 GMT
To add something I meant to put in my post above but that relates directly to your valid point whatters...
...young players only become experienced players, with experience.
Both physically and in terms of decision making the younger players we introduced and stuck by last term will have grown, they will be stronger and better players next season. Incrementally of course, but that increases year on year... if you can keep hold of 'em (hence my point about contracts).
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Post by brendand on May 10, 2019 16:21:05 GMT
Some people’s loyalty on here to the powers that be within the club is admirable, but fairly naive. We have just released a player who made the most appearances for the side... this isn’t about bringing young players in as part of a wider philosophy... this is the club budget cutting because it is struggling financially.
We boast having the highest attendances for our level, yet we are constantly investing in our youth, letting experienced quality players go?
Go back to the first pages on this “Players” thread... we were investing in youth then, none of the named remain at the club....? Never ending cycle if you ask me.
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Post by Keithsson on May 10, 2019 17:20:17 GMT
There's a double edged sword being wielded there, you can't have it both ways. If we are "struggling financially" then by definition we can't afford experienced players either. Ah well, might as well fold the club now  |
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Post by brendand on May 10, 2019 17:24:46 GMT
Double edged indeed. Why would we be struggling given the gates etc?
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Post by Keithsson on May 10, 2019 17:40:28 GMT
I don't for a second believe we are struggling, that's your line. We're just recruiting/retaining to a clearly defined club strategy that's going for the long term gain not the short term one.
An open mind doth not equate to naivety, a closed one can sometimes lead to cynicism.
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Alf Tupper
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"The Tough of the Track"
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Post by Alf Tupper on May 10, 2019 18:21:44 GMT
Completely agree about Crane going. For me he was one of the first names on the team sheet. Can only think he was one of the higher paid players and we must be cutting the wage bill?! Also Kane Wills won Eastbourne Boroughs player of the season another player we shouldn’t of let go! Onwards and upwards. Kane Wills was definitely not ‘let go’. He wanted out as quickly as possible. |
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Post by vertigate on May 10, 2019 22:21:29 GMT
I don't for a second believe we are struggling, that's your line. We're just recruiting/retaining to a clearly defined club strategy that's going for the long term gain not the short term one. An open mind doth not equate to naivety, a closed one can sometimes lead to cynicism. Agree with you Keithsson. With the gates and matchday income, add on the revenue from pitch hire, the club will almost certainly not be struggling financially. The club with Adam as manager first time around (and Corinthian-Casuals for that matter) showed that playing budgets are not the be all and end all. Remember back to when the budget was cut to pretty much zero and only missed out on the play-offs by a single place the same season Hastings were spending thousands per week but only managed to avoid relegation by the same margin. Youth development is the only way forward for clubs at this level and I believe we have the best backroom staff in non-league football to deliver this. Sure the best will move on when the time is right, but at least with most if not all on some sort of nominal contract, transfer fees can be commanded, hence making the model sustainable. The crowds have held up because the entertainment is more often than not good value for money, the atmosphere in the ground is positive and welcoming, there is a good relationship between players, managers, directors and supporters. There are many, many clubs out there who would love to have what we have, yet still some people feel the need to complain. |
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tonyh
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Post by tonyh on May 10, 2019 23:25:57 GMT
Vertigate.....what an excellent post. Compared with where the club was before George, Calvin, Pete and most certainly Adam and his assistants arrived, we are now in dreamland. The philosphy and policy of the club is at the moment spot on. We are as a club making real progess on and off the pitch. I personally find the sniping and moaning from certain quarters both negative and uninformed. Obviously for a small minority the glass is always half empty !!
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Post by Keithsson on May 11, 2019 0:23:14 GMT
Totally, in some cases it's so one dimensional you have to wonder if 'a lover scorned' comes into it somewhere.
All opinions are welcome though, it doesn't have to be a love in they will just stand or fall on the persuasiveness of the points being argued.
So far regards the health of the club and direction of player recruitment I am singularly unpersuaded by the argument that our club is doing things wrong.
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Post by smokeyjoe on May 11, 2019 16:14:07 GMT
When there was a fans get together with the chairman / manager I spoke to Pete stone and asked if the club needed money and was told "no " , very clearly . Now i I agree in the main about various thoughts on the way tthat the club is being run regarding players BUT shouldn't it be about winning ? If you are happy to turn up on a match day and watch a team " take part " then so be it . The fans will just drift away and won't come back . Competitive young players want to win . Players coming to the club " want to win " . Letting our best players go will have an impact on the club as a whole .
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Post by Soul Rebel on May 11, 2019 18:03:10 GMT
Regarding income I am not for one minute saying the club is struggling but it may not be as rich as you think as pitch hire along with bar and food takings do not necessarily belong to WFC. And I am not saying they should just in case anybody thinks so.
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Post by vertigate on May 11, 2019 21:21:18 GMT
Regarding income I am not for one minute saying the club is struggling but it may not be as rich as you think as pitch hire along with bar and food takings do not necessarily belong to WFC. And I am not saying they should just in case anybody thinks so. I agree with you but there are 2 different legal entities in place for a very good reason. If one gets into trouble, the other can carry on without potential creditors being able to make a claim against the other. This is a very common occurrence in business. However, as they are effectively owned by the same people, income from the pitch hire and bar takings could be used as "sponsorship" to help with running costs should the need arise. |
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, but every plan is scaleable. 
