Backpacks off?

[deepdale207]

Having grimaced and sulked my way through the last 7 league games, I am actually now a lot more comfortable about the rest of the season. With our excellent finish last May, optimism had never been higher in all my 41 years of supporting PNE during last summer. With optimism comes expectation and consequent pressure. Especially at home. How can 'promotion-chasing' PNE fail to win at home to 'lowly' Bolton and Reading??!! The loss of 2 key players Maguire and Bodin on the eve of the season has proved catastrophic. The necessary last minute temporary replacements Nmecha and Barker have taken too long to bed in and when you throw in needless suspensions of key midfielders, it should be no surprise where we find ourselves.

I have now realised that I actually like adversity - backs against the wall, up against it, phoenix from the flames, David v Goliath. Now that we are the relegation zone, talk of play-offs has disappeared and we are in a scrap. I feel that the 'heavy backpack' of expectation has been removed from the team and nobody expects us to win games just by turning up anymore. I like the fact that Browne has made a plea to us fans, as it might just gather us in together. This is a big group hug when we most need one. I cannot wait for Maguire and Pearson (our 2 most influential players?) to return over the coming weeks and I strongly believe that this will be our turning point. The Man City boys will eventually bed in, us fans will unite and I can see us going on a mid-season run into the top half (and beyond?)

Let's rally around our club, remain patient and stay positive. And who know, we might even nick a point or 2 over the next few league games.

 

[Strongbow]

Having grimaced and sulked my way through the last 7 league games, I am actually now a lot more comfortable about the rest of the season. With our excellent finish last May, optimism had never been higher in all my 41 years of supporting PNE during last summer. With optimism comes expectation and consequent pressure. Especially at home. How can 'promotion-chasing' PNE fail to win at home to 'lowly' Bolton and Reading??!! The loss of 2 key players Maguire and Bodin on the eve of the season has proved catastrophic. The necessary last minute temporary replacements Nmecha and Barker have taken too long to bed in and when you throw in needless suspensions of key midfielders, it should be no surprise where we find ourselves.

I have now realised that I actually like adversity - backs against the wall, up against it, phoenix from the flames, David v Goliath. Now that we are the relegation zone, talk of play-offs has disappeared and we are in a scrap. I feel that the 'heavy backpack' of expectation has been removed from the team and nobody expects us to win games just by turning up anymore. I like the fact that Browne has made a plea to us fans, as it might just gather us in together. This is a big group hug when we most need one. I cannot wait for Maguire and Pearson (our 2 most influential players?) to return over the coming weeks and I strongly believe that this will be our turning point. The Man City boys will eventually bed in, us fans will unite and I can see us going on a mid-season run into the top half (and beyond?)

Let's rally around our club, remain patient and stay positive. And who know, we might even nick a point or 2 over the next few league games.

Feeling inspired now mate, might dust the Zephyr down and mozzy on over to Bramall lane tomorrow now. :thumbsup:

 

[Dirty Harry]

I'm glad you're liking our current situation, because I'm hating it.

 

[raefil]

I definitely drink the wrong stuff.

Anyone with suggestions, please, this Mango Juice deffo isnt working 🙂

 

[RVW]

Having grimaced and sulked my way through the last 7 league games, I am actually now a lot more comfortable about the rest of the season. With our excellent finish last May, optimism had never been higher in all my 41 years of supporting PNE during last summer. With optimism comes expectation and consequent pressure. Especially at home. How can 'promotion-chasing' PNE fail to win at home to 'lowly' Bolton and Reading??!! The loss of 2 key players Maguire and Bodin on the eve of the season has proved catastrophic. The necessary last minute temporary replacements Nmecha and Barker have taken too long to bed in and when you throw in needless suspensions of key midfielders, it should be no surprise where we find ourselves.

I have now realised that I actually like adversity - backs against the wall, up against it, phoenix from the flames, David v Goliath. Now that we are the relegation zone, talk of play-offs has disappeared and we are in a scrap. I feel that the 'heavy backpack' of expectation has been removed from the team and nobody expects us to win games just by turning up anymore. I like the fact that Browne has made a plea to us fans, as it might just gather us in together. This is a big group hug when we most need one. I cannot wait for Maguire and Pearson (our 2 most influential players?) to return over the coming weeks and I strongly believe that this will be our turning point. The Man City boys will eventually bed in, us fans will unite and I can see us going on a mid-season run into the top half (and beyond?)

Let's rally around our club, remain patient and stay positive. And who know, we might even nick a point or 2 over the next few league games.

If memory serves correctly, PNE's average national league position over our history is somewhere between 30th and 36th. And of course the vast majority of those years would be before the introduction of the premier league and all that is negative about that institution, including not least the ridiculous reward for failure in that division, ie all the many millions of pounds handed over called "parachute payments", which is a phrase that may as well be described as "bad financial management".

So for me, any finishing position in the Championship between 10th and 16th is more than acceptable. We have spent many seasons in much worse situations.

With the eventual return to the team of Pearson, Ledson, and hopefully soon Maguire and eventually Bodin, combined with some sensible team selection, 🙄 I think we are capable of achieving our historic "average" position.


If you are a PNE supporter, adversity comes with the territory 🙁

 

[likeableclown]

Since when has Bodin been a 'key player'? He has shown a few flashes of skill, but I'd hardly see him as a key player just yet. Clutching at straws there a little bit.

 

[paddysr]

I think it became evident during pre-season that he was being groomed as a key player for us.

 

[Joanpne]

If memory serves correctly, PNE's average national league position over our history is somewhere between 30th and 36th. And of course the vast majority of those years would be before the introduction of the premier league and all that is negative about that institution, including not least the ridiculous reward for failure in that division, ie all the many millions of pounds handed over called "parachute payments", which is a phrase that may as well be described as "bad financial management".

So for me, any finishing position in the Championship between 10th and 16th is more than acceptable. We have spent many seasons in much worse situations.

With the eventual return to the team of Pearson, Ledson, and hopefully soon Maguire and eventually Bodin, combined with some sensible team selection, 🙄 I think we are capable of achieving our historic "average" position.


If you are a PNE supporter, adversity comes with the territory 🙁

That is just settling for. That’s why the gates never improve, because we expect little and it’s exactly what we get season on season. Hardly an inspiration to the younger people, no wonder there are so many other clubs shirts around. Why bother entering a competition year on year and being very happy with an also ran every one of them! Why bother, it’s too expensive these days to just settle for, the competition is lost before it began.

 

[MrHodgeheg123]

Having grimaced and sulked my way through the last 7 league games, I am actually now a lot more comfortable about the rest of the season. With our excellent finish last May, optimism had never been higher in all my 41 years of supporting PNE during last summer. With optimism comes expectation and consequent pressure. Especially at home. How can 'promotion-chasing' PNE fail to win at home to 'lowly' Bolton and Reading??!! The loss of 2 key players Maguire and Bodin on the eve of the season has proved catastrophic. The necessary last minute temporary replacements Nmecha and Barker have taken too long to bed in and when you throw in needless suspensions of key midfielders, it should be no surprise where we find ourselves.

I have now realised that I actually like adversity - backs against the wall, up against it, phoenix from the flames, David v Goliath. Now that we are the relegation zone, talk of play-offs has disappeared and we are in a scrap. I feel that the 'heavy backpack' of expectation has been removed from the team and nobody expects us to win games just by turning up anymore. I like the fact that Browne has made a plea to us fans, as it might just gather us in together. This is a big group hug when we most need one. I cannot wait for Maguire and Pearson (our 2 most influential players?) to return over the coming weeks and I strongly believe that this will be our turning point. The Man City boys will eventually bed in, us fans will unite and I can see us going on a mid-season run into the top half (and beyond?)

Let's rally around our club, remain patient and stay positive. And who know, we might even nick a point or 2 over the next few league games.

We shall fight on the beaches, we will fight them on the landing grounds,we shall fight in the fields and in the streets , we shall fight in the hills;we shall never surrender.

 

[Nobber]

That is just settling for. That’s why the gates never improve, because we expect little and it’s exactly what we get season on season. Hardly an inspiration to the younger people, no wonder there are so many other clubs shirts around. Why bother entering a competition year on year and being very happy with an also ran every one of them! Why bother, it’s too expensive these days to just settle for, the competition is lost before it began.

Well said Joan. The club will eventually die if mediocrity is acceptable.

 

[MrHodgeheg123]

Well said Joan. The club will eventually die if mediocrity is acceptable.

We've been mediocre for 60 years and here we are in the second tier. This we will die stuff is completely OTT.
The only chance of us dying is if Trevor decided he wanted out with no other buyer for the club in sight.Amazingly, a large minority of posters seem happy for Hemmings to do one.

 

[Tino]

Since when has Bodin been a 'key player'? He has shown a few flashes of skill, but I'd hardly see him as a key player just yet. Clutching at straws there a little bit.

He played 17 games from January to May and I think it was obvious he’d have been a regular this season.

 

[proton]

That is just settling for. That’s why the gates never improve, because we expect little and it’s exactly what we get season on season. Hardly an inspiration to the younger people, no wonder there are so many other clubs shirts around. Why bother entering a competition year on year and being very happy with an also ran every one of them! Why bother, it’s too expensive these days to just settle for, the competition is lost before it began.

Well said Joan but really you're far too ambitious for our club. Acceptance of second best is a much better fit and if you don't mind me saying so that needs to be accompanied by a large dose of servantile gratitude for such a position.

 

[Joanpne]

We've been mediocre for 60 years and here we are in the second tier. This we will die stuff is completely OTT.
The only chance of us dying is if Trevor decided he wanted out with no other buyer for the club in sight.Amazingly, a large minority of posters seem happy for Hemmings to do one.

What a very selfish attitude. We have been mediocre for 60 years and that’s ok? Well it maybe for you but I doubt it’s much of an inspiration for the younger generation. Amazingly, you haven’t realised Mr Hemmings is 83 so your “I’m happy right now so stuff the future” is going to be quite short lived in any event!

 

[Dirty Harry]

He played 17 games from January to May and I think it was obvious he’d have been a regular this season.

For me, Bodin's absence being used to explain our current plight is ridiculous. He's average, and most of us know it. Suggesting that his return will suddenly get us out of this situation really is clutching at straws.

 

[tcinders]

For me, Bodin's absence being used to explain our current plight is ridiculous. He's average, and most of us know it. Suggesting that his return will suddenly get us out of this situation really is clutching at straws.

I agree Bodin is a good player but needs to settle more yet, wouldn’t say he is key.
It was / is the same with McGuire great player when on form but injuries now a worry for me.
As fans we have this habit of saying when we lose” it’s because X wasn’t playing”. We are bottom because it’s about where we deserve to be at the moment. We were anticipating better but the honest truth is we have a weaker 1st eleven than previous seasons.

 

[Dirty Harry]

I agree Bodin is a good player but needs to settle more yet, wouldn’t say he is key.
It was / is the same with McGuire great player when on form but injuries now a worry for me.
As fans we have this habit of saying when we lose” it’s because X wasn’t playing”. We are bottom because it’s about where we deserve to be at the moment. We were anticipating better but the honest truth is we have a weaker 1st eleven than previous seasons.

Correct. It's easy to say we are struggling because so and so is out. I'm also not convinced that even Maguire will return and help us move up the table. Simply on a hunch that it is very rare for a striker to repeat a run of, what was it, ten goals in 12 games, one season after another. How often does that happen?
Hope I'm wrong, of course.

 

[mapping]

We shall fight on the beaches, we will fight them on the landing grounds,we shall fight in the fields and in the streets , we shall fight in the hills;we shall never surrender.

Love it !! might just get the full extended speech up on youtube before we kick off.

 

[Joanpne]

Well said Joan but really you're far too ambitious for our club. Acceptance of second best is a much better fit and if you don't mind me saying so that needs to be accompanied by a large dose of servantile gratitude for such a position.

I honestly think people lose sight of it being a sport and the need to be competitive. Like our mums used to tell us “it’s not the winning it’s the taking part”. That’s fine when you are a kid but it’s nowhere near acceptable when you are paying and getting close to nothing for it. The importance of paying that money pretty soon comes a long way down the list of priorities even in a budget for social events.

 

[Joanpne]

Love it !! might just get the full extended speech up on youtube before we kick off.

Hey you two would be no good at that, you would surrender arms immediately, consoling yourselves that you thought about trying but no point really you’re happy being second.