Messages

1

The B-Ark / Re: Former players

« on: May 09, 2024, 09:44:10 AM »

Posh really missed the boat last season being 4-0 up on Wendy in the the 1st leg and blowing it in S6.

I saw them 6 weeks or so against Cheaty McFraud's Stevenage and I'd have had them as very strong promotion contenders.

But thats the play offs, they are brutal. I hate them. But, they are here to stay.

2

The B-Ark / Re: well done Jimmy Knowles ... Leagues 3rd highest scorer

« on: May 09, 2024, 09:41:05 AM »

Mick Lyon did OK there.......

If its a role at a University then he'd be a fool to turn it down, chance of a lifetime opportunity.

I spoke with a couple of his family members at Alfreton and they said they were aware of interest from Doncaster Rovers and another EFL club who I forget now.

Players come and go, the club is the one constant 

3

The B-Ark / Re: today......

« on: May 07, 2024, 01:04:28 PM »

I agree Andy. Survival will suit me, and I'd be quite happy to have a season without promotion/relegation hopes/fears after the past two years. Relatively dull will do for me for once.

Not sure you'll get that, but I'll take it!

Interesting summer ahead

4

The B-Ark / Re: today......

« on: May 07, 2024, 12:37:57 PM »

Agreed Andy, the club has to give Cully the ok to get in who he wants. In the main his and the scouts instincts have served us well this season. Get this right and there's no reason we can't flourish in the NL.

Honestly I'd take survival now.

Even a cynic like me needs to cut them some slack next season, its going to be a steep learning curve, I'm sure Christian will tell us how previous play off winners have fared but my guess is around half come straight back down or are back in North/South within 2 seasons. The gap in quality is almost PL-Championship now.

5

The B-Ark / Re: today......

« on: May 07, 2024, 08:28:21 AM »

I don't want to be that one but once we got into the play offs I didn't think we needed to fear anyone.

Alfreton - match their physicality and you're 90% of the way there.

Scunthorpe - best squad in the division but too many who don't fancy a battle.

Brackley - best team in the division but we had to beat them sometime.

Pleased as punch to finally end the curse, the hard work starts now, we don't want to be back in regional football in 12 months time, backing and recruitment needs to be bang on.

6

The B-Ark / Re: well done Jimmy Knowles ... Leagues 3rd highest scorer

« on: May 07, 2024, 08:22:01 AM »

Thinking back to the Denis Greene days and we had a link up of sorts with Sunderland which worked well.

Recently we've had a few from my lot, Sheff Utd and that really would be worth exploring as they've won their U23 league for the 4th year running. Now we're that bit higher we'll possibly get a better quality player sent over for a loan.

Interesting times, I'm expecting at least 75% of the squad to be newbies come August though, it has to be that way.

7

The B-Ark / Re: Play-0ff's & National League.

« on: April 24, 2024, 04:14:33 PM »

Well, your exact words were "For God's sake wake up and properly back your manager" - which suggests you think he hasn't been properly backed. There was an argument being made earlier in the season that maybe we had jumped into a hybrid model too early (in a financial sense), insofar we couldn't build a squad deep enough to compete while also training three times a week. It was obvious from the start the squad was too small, lacked options up front, and was relying too heavily on u23s who weren't ready so the obvious culprit would be a lack of money in the budget. But then we went out and spent money on Jacob Hazel, signed him up for two years, and those arguments faded away - although for all the elation over last night's result we must remember we did only scrape 6th on the last day of the season and were at no point in a title race.

I personally pin that on the management rather than the chairman - the funds for Hazel were there and that they weren't used earlier isn't exactly Newton's fault. We dropped a lot of points earlier in the season that could have seen us hit the playoffs in a more advantageous position. As it is we're off to play a full-time side on Saturday who will have home advantage and the benefit of a week's rest.

Hybrid was a massive crock of sh1t from day one, a cheap approach to going full time, its no wonder we limped into the play offs after the start to the season that actually saw us in the bottom half of the table for a while. I know you can't travel nowadays but if you'd been there last night you'd have seen how much goodwill there is towards the club, goodwill that now needs reciprocating in a serious push for the title next season as I think last night will have taken its toll on semi pro players coming up against full time pro's on Saturday.

what I will say is, if we do somehow go up lets enjoy the ride next season, no one would have expected it and it'll be a steep learning curve but we'll be back where we rightfully belong.

8

The B-Ark / Re: Play-0ff's & National League.

« on: April 24, 2024, 01:23:27 PM »

I've not said he's not backed him, I've said they need to start being a little less conservative and be a bit braver.

we've a management team that knows how to get promoted, back them now and have no regrets next season.

9

The B-Ark / Re: Programmes

« on: April 22, 2024, 07:58:50 AM »

I don't think anything was issued for the last two, I do know the Stamford one is a single sheet issue because I sold a spare on Ebay last year.

I'll have a look and see if I have another but I very much doubt it Doug

10

The B-Ark / Programmes

« on: April 18, 2024, 12:42:58 PM »

As you know I've a few thousand BUFC programmes cluttering up the place.

The time has come to get shut of the spares, I need to reclaim my garage for other projects.

I've spares from the late 60's to probably the mid 2000's, home and away.

If anyone is missing anything from their collection give me a shout before it all goes and you pay a dealer a small fortune.

And any offer for the lot as a whole will be considered.

The collection isn't going BTW, just the spares. 

11

The B-Ark / Re: Where are they now?

« on: April 17, 2024, 11:37:39 AM »

My mate was there!

Newsh must still love the game, he's a credit to himself.

12

The B-Ark / Re: Banbury (a)

« on: April 17, 2024, 11:36:32 AM »

Got the job done - it was not a great game for sure. The pitch was very bobbly which did not help. But we ground out a result through a goal from the MOTM Dylan Hill, he was absolutely superb and ran that game. Fans never stopped singing - it was a brilliant away end to be a part of

How on earth did that ground pass national league regulations?

Ground grading criteria is a funny thing, as long as you've got turnstiles,exit gates and fences in the right place you're halfway there. A few seats, don't have to be covered, and toilets and you are in.

13

The B-Ark / Re: Banbury (a)

« on: April 17, 2024, 08:35:52 AM »

Watched the second half on the stick, terrible game at a ground that sums up why we need to be out of this league at the earliest possible opportunity.

Good support in the corner from Boston.

14

The B-Ark / Re: Banbury (a)

« on: April 15, 2024, 02:43:10 PM »

Shame I can't get due to work really....... new ground, probable win, not too difficult to get to.

Having said that, Saturday would test anyone's commitment to the cause.

15

The B-Ark / Re: Hall Of Fame

« on: April 15, 2024, 08:58:31 AM »

The criteria for a HoF inductee seems to be broader every season.

Howard Wilkinson is an overdue and obvious choice.

Not sure if any of Saturday nights players fall into the legend category, popular yes, but legends......?? I guess with Newsh having a better goals per game ratio than Chris Cook then he's a right to be there.

But you make the mistake TTT of thinking the fans opinion counts at the 'New Boston Utd'.......it only counts if you spend enough these days.