181
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: FGR (a) New Year's Day.
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on: January 01, 2019, 23:40:51 pm
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A bizarre game. I thought we were incredibly poor in the first half, but played some excellent football in the second half. Got back into the game and looked like kicking on and potentially winning it. Then all of a sudden we changed things up and started to sit on the lead.
I'm concerned that none of our players make any effort to stop some of these long shots. Once again, there was no-one anywhere near. At the rate they are flying in the net at the moment it's amazing that there seems to be little urgency in addressing that.
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183
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Plastic Franchise on Saturday.
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on: December 28, 2018, 13:16:48 pm
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We're still due a few dodgy penalties, own goals and deflected shots that worm their way in against MK. That said, I was impressed with them earlier on in the season, so I'd actually take our usual home routine of snatching a draw from the jaws of victory in this one
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184
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Redevelopment Closer Than Ever?
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on: December 28, 2018, 13:03:51 pm
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However you interpret my point is irrelevant. If it comes across as snide, It is certainly not meant to. I'm no stranger to having what I wrote as coming across as patronising, rude, arrogant, take ya pick. I can only apologise that my frustration is getting the better of me.
My point stands. The support needs galvanising. The Trust just happens to be sitting on a lot of money that could be put to good use in doing that. They could and should be canvassing the support to see to what extent they are genuinely fed up with the status quo, or whether in fact there is even any appetite to change the ownership, or look at a supporters led board. Instead of that, they have chosen to become part of the very issue that we are all suffering from. An indifference towards the support. The simple truth is.. WE don't know what the general feeling is. Yes, a few people know the thoughts of the Trust. Equally a few on here agree to an extent. But overall it's as clear as mud. The Trust as an obligation and certainly has the finances to ask us all. I can't think of anything more needed. Lets see a vote of confidence in the board, before we leap to any conclusions. Let's see an active, dynamic Trust.
I have asked where I can read what discussions that have occurred between the council and the Trust. You tell me I can't, that I should have attended a meeting. Yet I know these discussions exist, because I was offered the opportunity to meet a member of the Trust in private to be told. If that doesn't fly right into the face of the Trusts mission statement, and the essence of the very purpose of a Trust, then I'm not too sure what does. Had I taken that offer up, I would have been equally complicit. If the Trust came out and said to its members and the wider support, that it is looking at fan ownership. Or it is in talks with the council to ensure that KT has the supporters concerns at the forefront, how could it face criticism. The problem is, it don't. There is no manifesto for the support. Nothing tangible for me and any other supporters to see, that will show me what our money is being used for. Or indeed what direction the Trust is taking us in. If I am unfair, or snide, or rude for insisting on that as a basic requirement, then so be it.
The idea to canvass the fans I think is a good idea myself. With regards to the offer of a private meeting, I don't really know the details or when this happened. Perhaps it was down to timing, maybe there were specific parts of meetings that were 'off the record', I don't really know. I think at the time the strategy was to stay at the table with the club and the council and work behind the scenes, which I accept is the most frustrating for the supporter. Perhaps that strategy has now changed given that it hasn't really resulted in much visible progress despite the effort. I think this latest paragraph in the latest statement indicates that it may have: "The football club and the council maintain that discussions about the development are encouraging but the Trust asked for a statement of intent to be agreed and published three months ago and nothing has been forthcoming.
"The Trust understands that building work on the stand will only take place pending agreement on the development of other land around the stadium and, with Northampton Borough Council set to be scrapped in 2020 in favour of a new unitary authority, our concern is that wider planning considerations will now be shelved and that the re-development of the stand will not take place for at least another couple of years."For the sake of balance here's the club's response: https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/cobblers-supporters-frustrated-with-east-stand-delays-again-as-sixfields-is-given-protective-status-by-the-council-1-8740932With regards to fan ownership, this post on their website outlines the Trust's current view on it I would say: "The general consensus of the meeting was that the Trust board should explore a fan ownership model, based on a community shares issue, in more detail.
"There is no crisis at Northampton Town but, as one member put it, it is worthy of consideration now as an insurance policy should the club ever encounter difficult times in the future.
"We will now discuss this further at board level and, if there is agreement, we will present our next steps at an EGM of the Trust in the New Year."Full statement here: http://ntfctrust.co.uk/news/article/fan-ownership-discussion-at-sixfields
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185
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Redevelopment Closer Than Ever?
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on: December 27, 2018, 22:48:55 pm
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You are of course correct.....doesn’t mean it’s right though!
Where are the minutes of the AGM?
R.e minutes, contact the Trust. Minutes of AGMs are always signed off at the following AGM, but they may have some draft minutes available for members to see.
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186
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Redevelopment Closer Than Ever?
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on: December 27, 2018, 20:59:13 pm
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This brings to mind Robert DeNiro in Meet The Parents with his circle of trust (no pun intended). If you are in that you get answers, if you are out of it you are fed on scraps. Obviously if you're in the circle and getting answers you probably don't see the problem for those outside it.
It's an annual general meeting. Members are notified about it by post weeks in advance to invite them to attend. You are literally given the time, date and venue. And put simply if you attend the meeting, you get to ask questions and find out information. If you don't attend, you're much less likely to find out how it went until the minutes come out. That's nothing new, and certainly doesn't apply to the Trust alone.
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187
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Redevelopment Closer Than Ever?
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on: December 27, 2018, 19:36:55 pm
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I agree entirely. I won’t say anything I haven’t said to any of them before. In order to be representative of its members and the wider support, it has to be seen as challenging the club in the public domain. If that risks the wrath of the club, then so be it. To the average supporter, the Trust appears to have rested on its laurels for some years now. All of us want some idea where the club is going, what it intends to do. But to the average supporter, there in no organised body prepared to carry the standard for the fans. Where has the spirit of the Trust gone? It has become nothing more than a paper tiger. Feeding off morsals thrown to it by either the council or the club. It needs to stand up. Start a petition against the owners for answers. Get the support rallied together. Use some f the considerable funds donated by the support, for the support. There you go Fez.. There’s another direct challenge. You must be going from feeling “mentally drained” to totally invigorated You tell the Earls Barton massive, to stop worrying about being liked, and to start working on being respected.... Get the press and the Trust to get us some answers.... My post was merely offering an alternative view on some of the posts I have seen over the years. Some of the comments you raise are valid but are once again let down in the snide way in which you present it. It's exactly the point I was previously making, so thanks for validating my argument.
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188
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Redevelopment Closer Than Ever?
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on: December 27, 2018, 18:33:04 pm
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So what is the point of raising something, if it is swept under the carpet?
I have asked the Trust repeatedly on here to publish the notes and content of the meetings they have had with the council. For the Trust to be representative of its membership, the minimum it should do is be candid with them. The Trusts response, was to offer me a private audience. How is that not contrary to its very own mission statement?
So there you go. Don’t be mentally drained. I have given the Trust clear instruction on what to do... Albeit Wellingtonesque... “Publish and be damned”.
I'm not mentally drained, I don't have to do it any more All I can say is when I went along to the AGM a couple of months ago any questions that were asked r.e meetings with the council and the club seemed to be answered pretty candidly.
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190
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: 5 Weeks till transfer window opens......
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on: December 27, 2018, 14:16:14 pm
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Iaciofano has had an injury recently, which might explain why bigger non-league teams aren't taking a punt on him.
I agree with others that we should be utilising this youth team in the first team squad. From what I've seen, Jay Williams, Camron McWilliams and Morgan Roberts look ready to play minutes at this level, though I appreciate Jon Brady may see it differently!
I don't think losing Ash Taylor would be a blow for the wages he's on, but for me even though Crooks blows hot and cold we create absolutely nothing without him, so losing him would be a disaster, as it would losing van Veen.
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191
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Redevelopment Closer Than Ever?
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on: December 27, 2018, 13:47:41 pm
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I know what you're saying and I'm pretty much in the same boat. The Trust was set up with the best intentions and I actually love the idea of it in principle, I just don't really like what it has ended up as in reality.
This is probably going to sound meaner than it's intended to, but these type of voluntary organisations tend to attract a certain type of person towards them, and it's the same type of person that puts themselves forwards for most committees, focus groups, parish councils etc. I think they are generally well meaning individuals but, paradoxically, I find that the very people who are willing and able to give up their time for these things are at the same time are often the last people that should be doing them. However, the fact that they DO give up their own time makes them think they are on some sort of moral pedestal and any criticism is greeted with howls of outrage and the time honoured response of "if you think you can do any better then you do it".
In such a way, rather than being the voice of the fans, too often the Trust's slightly condescending attitude to the mere mortals amongst us that just pitch up and watch a game every other Saturday and don't want to "get involved" actually serves to create a bit of a "then and us" atmosphere.
And that, I'm afraid, is why I have never and will never want anything to do with the Trust.
This was an interesting post to read as a former board member, and while I can't say I'm hugely flattered to be considered as 'the certain type of person' you described, I take on board some of the comments you make. But I'm going to offer the flip side here, and I hope you take it in the same spirit as I've taken your post. My frustration with virtually all of the critical posts on this board was never that the Trust was above criticism. Scrutiny should always be welcomed because it makes you function better as an organisation. My frustration was that there was never any specific or detailed points raised about what people felt it was doing wrong, and there was rarely any alternative suggestions as to what it should be doing and why. I also took exception to the way some of that criticism was presented. There were plenty of occasions where I felt the the posts were snide in the way they were presented rather than in a constructive manner. I often felt as if these people had an embedded view of the Trust that I was unable to change regardless of what I did. I think this might explain some of the more sensitive responses from Trust people on here over the years. I have to admit it was actually quite mentally draining to log on here and be told that you're not doing something correctly, only for absolutely no other course of action to be suggested for you to take. You just constantly felt like you were never going to get anywhere, and in the end it brews into frustration. For me, the last line of your post above sadly sums up why I felt like I would never get anywhere.
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193
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Crewed.
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on: November 09, 2018, 11:41:54 am
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I'm sure Phil Crossley had a lengthy consultation with the 4th official and linesman in making that awful decision to penalise Eric Sabin rather than send off the Mansfield player in the infamous play-off game.
I'd love to ask Curle now whether he remembers Crossley's performance that night as the Mansfield manager. And how much he paid him
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194
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Lincoln City (A) 10/11 (FA Cup R1)
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on: November 09, 2018, 11:35:17 am
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My one abiding memory of Lincoln away, was some chav, walking alongside our coaches, in the slow exit from the ground, arms outstretched and looking at us. As the coaches finally picked up speed, so did he. Straight into a lampost. Cue much laughter from those onboard. And no sympathy whatsoever. That's my abiding memory of Lincoln fans as well!!! I'm so glad someone else remembers it. Must have been more than 15 years ago but I still think of it every time we play them
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195
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Kevin van Veen
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on: November 04, 2018, 11:46:09 am
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The guy is working hard, and pretty much getting a goal or an assist every game. If the price to pay for what we know is a 'complex character' is a five second strop because he wanted a tap-in goal that his performance deserved, then I'm fine with that!
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196
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Crewed.
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on: November 04, 2018, 11:34:31 am
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A pretty comfortable win, a bit like Oldham last week I was never worried .
I think two things that have been more noticeable under Curle is the amount of individual errors from players has significantly reduced. We're not complicating things, if the ball needs to be cleared up the pitch we get on with it rather than risking a pass that's not on or being caught in possession, as their midfielder was for Powell's goal. It's not kick and rush, but we pick and choose the moments when to play the prettier football and more often than not are getting them right.
We are also much more streetwise. I don't particularly like to see teams use the dark arts, but at times over the last 18 months I feel like we've helped the opposition out far more than we needed to. Just little things like KvV sprinting to the other side of the pitch when he was about to be substituted last week, or Cornell bellowing at Turnbull not to fetch the ball when it had gone out behind the North Stand yesterday. They are not match changing, they are not even particularly admirable. But it's about finding any little advantage we can get at the moment and letting the opposition know that we're no longer a pushover, and it gives me every confidence that we have a switched on manager at the helm.
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198
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Hold Em Steady (For the Mods, this is about Northampton v Oldham)
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on: November 01, 2018, 11:21:07 am
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Even if you want to give him a pass for not taking the ample opportunities he had to dive on the ball and smother it while it was sitting between a defenders legs and not moving, about a yard and a half away from him. Surely, allowing a weak toe poke to then go through both his hands, then his legs warrants some degree of blame for the goal?
We all see things differently. I'm not sure I've seen any keeper at our level witness chaos in front of them to that degree and fling themselves over three defenders, all of whom had ample opportunity to clear it. Not to mention I think his view of the ball would have been obstructed. I think everyone knows I'm not his biggest fan, but I didn't even for a second consider him at fault for that goal.
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199
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Are we strong enough to mount a play off challenge from such a lowly position?
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on: October 31, 2018, 13:14:32 pm
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Rob Page - 5 points Justin Ed - 9 points Jimmy - 7 points Deano - 7 points
Kieth - 8 points
From their first five games.
Ask this question in another 5 games!!
Interesting to see JED had an even better start than Curle. Things must have soon started to go downhill under him! I'm more confident than before though that this is more than a new manager bounce. Curle has squeezed some mental strength out of them, we look far more streetwise and he seems to have simplified things, as well as using the squad intelligently. An impressive start, but like you say it's far too early to talk about play-offs. Let's see where we are at the end of 2018.
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200
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: FA Youth Cup 1st Round v King's Lynn Town 30/10/18 @ PTS Academy Stadium
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on: October 31, 2018, 13:03:55 pm
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Enjoyed that.....could have been double figures to be honest!
We've really got some fine young talent on our books.
Jay Williams looked so composed on the ball and is a future 1st team captain in the making. Cam McWilliams is gonna be some player. Just coming back from injury but looks so strong and got real pace and that edge like his brother... Morgan Roberts is a right pest and reminded me of Darren Harmon (just needs to bulk up a bit but a stint out on loan playing mens football will help his development no end) Scott Pollock looked nice and tidy on the ball and can pick a pass Jack Newell looks a fine leggy midfield prospect who was voted MOM Jack Daldy had great movement and looks like a proper striker who will take his chances
All the others looked more than competent and we're well above the standard of the opposition.
Swindon at home in round 2 so hopefully that'll be at the PTS too.
I'd like to add that Harding looked a real handful when he came on. Loads of pace and caused them no end of problems.
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