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Post by broomo on Feb 17, 2020 19:11:29 GMT
Was having a chat with a fan whose views on football I really rate and neither of us can understand the drop off in fans.
He talks to other fans more than I do and apparently they are staying away as the football is dire?
Have our fans given up? Are they too far down the road of being anti Clough that they cannot see what I am seeing?
Every season we have at least one player signing for us who I never dreamed we'd see pull on the yellow and black.
55m Darren Bent arguably being the biggest name then players like Luke Murphy, Stephen Quinn for the last season and a half and now Jamie Murphy.
A player who way too good for us, a player that is way too good for this division and someone we would never had signed if it wasn't for Nigel being our manager.
Some of the stuff we play is incredible and I mean incredible to watch. Yes we go through disappointing spells and yes every time we get close we seem to drop off but I say this is the nicest possible way, we ARE only Burton Albion we DO NOT have the resources to compete at this level and what we have achieved already and continue to achieve now is nothing short of sensational.
What do we expect?
Every season I hope and every season I believe we'll see a squad good enough to take us close but can we expect and demand to be competing at the top end of league one or have we, as I believe, lost all sense of perspective and have unrealistic expectations of what we should be doing season in season out?
Is Nigel underperforming and is he genuinely the reason fans no longer go to games?
In my mind that's madness to even consider but....
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2020 19:23:05 GMT
Some genuinely believe it, they are vocal and many follow that lead. The enjoyment they get slagging off everything #bafc is perverse.
I still believe it is a minority, but it is very vocal and it becomes a trend.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2020 19:51:26 GMT
We expect a Rolls Royce for the price of a Mini.
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Post by melymoss on Feb 17, 2020 20:12:43 GMT
If it wasn’t for Nigel Clough we’d still be in the Southern/ Northern Premier league at best.
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Post by NobodyGood on Feb 17, 2020 21:26:08 GMT
I'm not sure if it's expectations so much as a "come down". We've been through a period of extremely exciting times for our fans.
Play offs. Promotion. Promotion. Survival. Championship Near survival, but relegation...
Now we're in this "mid table" phase. It's less exciting.
In the promotion seasons and survival season there was a huge buzz around the club (being happy excited fans, I guess). It felt like we wouldn't lose (most the time). Even in the championship, first time round, we had a chance most games and I'd have backed us at home most games.
Now, perhaps it's just me but my heart doesn't beat as fast when I'm watching us play, I'm less excited. I can't help that, it's a raw uncontrollable emotion. I remember thinking a Burton game was a borderline workout because my heart would race for 90 minutes (think wolves and Norwich tight games).
I guess that, at least in part translates to less fans.
It's a bit like having a diamond ring given to you, and then have it taken off you and replaced with a Sapphire ring. It's still nice, but it's not as nice. If that makes sense.
Anyway, waffle waffle waffle.
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Post by mikeyboy on Feb 17, 2020 22:34:50 GMT
Investment is what we now need I feel. Nigel needs backing.
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Post by 1950brewer on Feb 17, 2020 22:39:52 GMT
Let's not forget Broomo/Ian many of these "fans" are jump-on-the-bandwagon supporters who only came along because we were playing so-called "big" teams, especially in the Championship. The attraction of these opponents was almost as great as the fact that it was Burton Albion who were playing them. I'm aware of many supporters who only came along when we achieved league status, having had no interest in the local football team until that point. Added to the fact that we have experienced almost unparalleled success during the last 10/12 years it comes as no surprise that there is a level of expectation that is difficult to maintain. This is the point at which the genuine fan continues to come along & supports the team whatever is happening on the pitch. Having been a fan since 1950 I have watched the club through thin & thinner & having been to such grand soccer outposts such as Whitwick Colliery, Cradley Heath etc etc I can only ask supporters to be careful what they wish for & appreciate what the current chairman & manager have achieved.
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Post by jackbrewer on Feb 18, 2020 10:38:59 GMT
I know what you are saying 1950 I have watched the Albion from the first match at Wellington Street and I still pinch myself when I think what Nigel has done for the club. I like you have supported the club through highs and lows from Morpeth to Plymouth, but what Nigel has achieved with our budget is amazing. Thanks Nigel long may you reign.
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Post by trevor1946 on Feb 18, 2020 11:00:22 GMT
I do not watch non-league football, i do not watch much premier league, any team of interest to me is in the E_F_L, having come to the end of playing years ago. The only club i watch live is Burton Albion.and the reason is no big crowds easy access and a good view with a bar. Going back to my youth the Pirelli reminds me of the Midland league shallow standing with no big cop, and the only part that is modern is the Main Stand. I feel the club has pulled off a magnificent achievement getting into the Football League, and for Clough to take on the challenge of coming back when they were top of league 1, was unbelievable the result could only mean failure, Taking this club with Ben Robinson on a wonderful journey must have had a real impact on his life. Automatic promotion two seasons in the Championship, and now a second season in league 1, relegation seems highly . I have watched and been part of a chapter in this clubs history, that no one would have thought possible. Reality for me was just over two thousand fans attending a Championship fixture, This was a insult to the Chairman and Manager and told them just how far this club could go, Right now we are still climbing mountains most weeks and 2-000 gates only take you in one direction, With Clough and Robinson the inevitable will be delayed.and Championship football way beyond this club again, The few who attended those days will have lasting memory's. I now will appreciate our struggle to maintain league 1 status,and look at much bigger clubs in non-league, wishing they had our status
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Post by cbh1 on Feb 18, 2020 12:50:38 GMT
The ones saying that the current style of football is dire are probably the same ones who fawned over how great and exciting the football was under JFH and Gary Rowett before him.
It is all a myth. Those two played 'winning', pragmatic football. Nigel admitted after he arrived that he took the shackles off the players and allowed them to be a bit more expressive and attacking. We were hard to beat under GR and JFH but we definitely weren't exciting to watch.
Some of our fans have been swept away on the tidalwave of success that we have had over the last few years and now that we have plateaued having dropped back into League One their expectations of a return to the Championship and expecting us to compete with many larger clubs than ourselves have blinkered them to the reality of what this club is about.
Some of them, indeed are old enough, and have been following the club for long enough, to know better than to criticise where we are now as they have seen for themselves the immense progress that we have made as a club. It is only down to the shrewd management of BR and NC that we continue to punch above out weight in this division.
Nigel always used to say that players play at their current level for a reason and most of the time it is down to consistency, or a lack of it. If our players could maintain their best form week in and week out then they would be in the Premier League or Championship. Our players, like all others, are not perfect, they make a few more mistakes than those playing at higher levels and that is why they are playing in League One and not the two divisions above.
Do I get frustrated and annoyed when we don't play well? Hell yes I do but I look at the bigger picture of where we are and what we are up against. Too many seem to be taking the 'easy' way out and not turning up having had their fill of short term success.
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mick
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Post by mick on Feb 18, 2020 12:56:57 GMT
Having supported the club since the 60’s I am firmly in the pinch me category and delighted we are holding our own against well known names - they are under achieving as we are over achieving. My fear us that when the inevitable happens and Ben / Nigel move on the decline may set in. I only wish my Dad was hear to see what they have achieved.
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Post by bennyboy on Feb 18, 2020 13:43:09 GMT
Having supported the club since the 60’s I am firmly in the pinch me category and delighted we are holding our own against well known names - they are under achieving as we are over achieving. My fear us that when the inevitable happens and Ben / Nigel move on the decline may set in. I only wish my Dad was hear to see what they have achieved. This is my fear too, what if Ben retires and NC moves on?
NC has said in that recent podcast yes he is always going to be looking to move elsewhere if the situation arises (or words to that effect) and it's only a matter of time that may come true. It must be very frustrating knowing he could do a similar job elsewhere but maybe with a larger spending pot, bigger crowds to fund that etc etc. I admire his staying power but the question is what's next for this lovely club, as Mikeyboy says we need some investment, from where who knows?
Some fans expect more, well I call them fans, they are the ones missing that moan the loudest. We can all have a moan, maybe to our mates but in reality we can't do much more than we have done without some injection of money, getting it is the big problem. It shocks me to see the advertising boards empty around the ground now, 2/3 seasons ago I bet companies were fighting to advertise at our ground so it's not just the lack of fans through the turnstiles.
I always remember a mate, a work mate and a fan of BAFC would be so proud of his team right now. His lasting wish and memory I hold was him telling the DCFC fans of which there were many we encountered over the years, he said I can't wait until we play you when we are in the same league as you, we'll show you how to play football.. They all took the mick out of him, lots of friendly banter though. Sadly he never got to witness that time in the clubs history, I feel privileged I did.
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Post by trevor1946 on Feb 18, 2020 14:53:36 GMT
Gary Rowett took us to the playoffs but actually never achieved promotion moving onto Birmingham==Derby==Stoke,and now managing a small London club millwall Millwall still bring in attendances of 13=931 this means a revenue of over 11 million a year more than the Brewers, times that by 3 so over a 3 year period 33 million So a big gulf even with a small London club. J+F+H had a good year with the Brewers won promotion from League 2, then even though top of league 1 , left to manage Championship Q+P+R so decided the Championship and a bigger club attendances 13=831, but still small by championship attendances was a good move giving him about the same 33 million over 3 years more than the Brewers. He was sacked after less than a year, moved on to Northampton town again after less than one year he was dismissed, after 3 big clubs since leaving Burton , Rowett still has not won any thing, and J+F+H is still out of club management Figures show that even small clubs with 14-000 gates over a 3 year period leave the brewers short by many-many millions. Since taking up a poisoned chalice , Clough has achieved promotion kept Burton Albion in the Championship for two seasons, and they now are consolidated has a League 1 club, a task the previous 2 managers did not want to take on, They knew it was a losing battle, but for Clough, it was his baby, and Robinson was his favourite uncle. Well done you have shown how well a football club can be run
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Post by trevor1946 on Feb 18, 2020 15:00:39 GMT
I feel broomo has set me up, i have never pressed so many like buttons, it shows so many posters realise how difficult it is to be in a uphill battle, fighting the odds constantly,
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Post by bobgauden on Feb 18, 2020 17:16:41 GMT
(NC has said in that recent podcast yes he is always going to be looking to move elsewhere if the situation arises (or words to that effect) and it's only a matter of time that may come true. It must be very frustrating knowing he could do a similar job elsewhere but maybe with a larger spending pot, bigger crowds to fund that etc etc.)
If the above is true then I personally dont care if we’re playing at Arsenal or Aylesbury... Thanks for the memories and ta-ra. It’s one thing thinking it and another thing saying it. Yeah it’s great being honest but how many people can walk into work with that attitude and expect to stay in a job?
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Post by sleepless on Feb 18, 2020 17:36:06 GMT
Small club and small gates and small investment. It's frustrating for the fans. Think then how much more frustrating it is for Nigel.
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Post by colstoncrawford on Feb 18, 2020 17:38:30 GMT
(NC has said in that recent podcast yes he is always going to be looking to move elsewhere if the situation arises (or words to that effect) and it's only a matter of time that may come true. It must be very frustrating knowing he could do a similar job elsewhere but maybe with a larger spending pot, bigger crowds to fund that etc etc.) If the above is true then I personally dont care if we’re playing at Arsenal or Aylesbury... Thanks for the memories and ta-ra. It’s one thing thinking it and another thing saying it. Yeah it’s great being honest but how many people can walk into work with that attitude and expect to stay in a job? Most of us, frankly. I work for the Burton Mail and Derby Telegraph. I wouldn't be being disloyal and I won't try any less hard for my employers if I admit quite openly that if a national football magazine, newspaper or website offered to double my wages I'd take it. That's not going to happen to me at my age. Nigel Clough has put his heart and soul into this club while he's been here because the basic honesty instilled in him by his dad stops him from doing anything else. If you think we would have got as far as we have without the unique partnership Clough and Robinson have brought to this club, you are deluded almost beyond belief. There is only one other club who have come close to doing what Burton have done without a massive injection of cash and they are Accrington Stanley. They haven't yet reached as high as us.
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Post by bobgauden on Feb 18, 2020 17:58:07 GMT
(NC has said in that recent podcast yes he is always going to be looking to move elsewhere if the situation arises (or words to that effect) and it's only a matter of time that may come true. It must be very frustrating knowing he could do a similar job elsewhere but maybe with a larger spending pot, bigger crowds to fund that etc etc.) If the above is true then I personally dont care if we’re playing at Arsenal or Aylesbury... Thanks for the memories and ta-ra. It’s one thing thinking it and another thing saying it. Yeah it’s great being honest but how many people can walk into work with that attitude and expect to stay in a job? Most of us, frankly. I work for the Burton Mail and Derby Telegraph. I wouldn't be being disloyal and I won't try any less hard for my employers if I admit quite openly that if a national football magazine, newspaper or website offered to double my wages I'd take it. That's not going to happen to me at my age. Nigel Clough has put his heart and soul into this club while he's been here because the basic honesty instilled in him by his dad stops him from doing anything else. If you think we would have got as far as we have without the unique partnership Clough and Robinson have brought to this club, you are deluded almost beyond belief. There is only one other club who have come close to doing what Burton have done without a massive injection of cash and they are Accrington Stanley. They haven't yet reached as high as us. Point being this is a football club, A manager shouldn’t really be saying those things openly especially if people are already put off from spending their hard earned on a cold Tuesday night. Think about the implications saying things like this has on morale? If you’re willing to be open enough to say those things( however true) then don’t be surprised that it transmits through.
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Post by colstoncrawford on Feb 18, 2020 18:16:00 GMT
I just disagree. You've listened to it. He simply said he remained ambitious and that the chairman has never stood in his way (the fact that this club and this chairman works that way is a long established fact). Elsewhere in the podcast he says the chairman advised him about the Derby job: "You have to take it."
The manager is damned if he gives an honest answer to a question and has frequently been damned if he has avoided answering one. Some people only want to damn others. Why, I cannot fathom.
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Post by bobgauden on Feb 18, 2020 18:53:31 GMT
I just disagree. You've listened to it. He simply said he remained ambitious and that the chairman has never stood in his way (the fact that this club and this chairman works that way is a long established fact). Elsewhere in the podcast he says the chairman advised him about the Derby job: "You have to take it." The manager is damned if he gives an honest answer to a question and has frequently been damned if he has avoided answering one. Some people only want to damn others. Why, I cannot fathom. He shouldn’t say it, end of story. I’m not sure he’d get away with it at the level he believes he should be operating.
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