Mark my words the gloves are off

[FootieMan]

From an hotel far far away I am saddened to see the club of which I am a proud Life Member in the position it is.

I refer not just to the position it sits in League Two but many facets of the club. Summing that up in simple terms there appears to be no 'unity' in community.

This is now spreading to supporters who fail to show common decency with fellow fans. All very avoidable, simply by waiting until you have calmed down before posting.

Several months back after the Colchester match I became, even then, somewhat worried about the way things were shaping and despaired of what many were posting. And just by saying, "Oh dear, just oh dear" I was rounded upon as someone just having a dig because of personal reasons.

Right across the club many need to look at themselves and take responsibility for their actions. If they cannot control themselves well they face consequences of their own making. I am not going to beat myself up, from the failing of others.

2017 ends on a major low for a number of reasons and it is interesting to note that the two clubs at the bottom are both managed by a Mark. Both have plenty of experience in playing and managing so it will be interesting to see how each approaches and deals with the player transfer window.

It is also interesting that both of their clubs are operated by an individual with strong business backgrounds and each who make the decisions alone on their respective club.

So the gloves are well and truly now off for both clubs and their respective owners, managers and supporters.

With 2018 about to emerge I have to be honest and say realistically that I cannot be pessimistic nor optimistic at what I am looking at for either Barnet nor FGR. I am too long in the tooth to know I cannot personally change anything but I do know how to show respect and talk in a civil manner to other human beings.

Some need to start the year off by looking at themselves and adopting a far less aggressive approach.

[king giraffe III]

Unity comes through community and a shared identity, shaped by tradition with which all can be proud. It comes from being proud of the way we treat visitors to Forest Green. It comes from having no them and us.

[Tomiswalking]

Unity comes through community and a shared identity with which all can be proud. It comes from being proud of the way we treat visitors to Forest Green. We have none of these at present.

Totally agree. Where Is Dale Vince? Does he even care about our supporters and our neighbourhood? let alone other football fans?Our manager has made it clear he doest give two hoots.

Sustainability is only good if you aim to sustain a good way of life. This club really needs to listen.

[Mothy]

I recall the red flag earlier in the season when the club failed to post any match details, in advance of the day itself but it did manage to post about, let's call it, a non-core business activity.

I remember thinking, how on earth did the club get itself to a position where communicating information on vegan party celebrations and associated goody bags was seen by the hierarchy as more important, for a football club, than publishing it's matchday arrangements?

At the time some people on the forum attempted to play this down as nothing major, merely a one off issue to resolve. To the club's credit the matchday details are now much improved, with a split between posting arrangements and player related information.

However, I wonder now with the benefit of hindsight and additional time whether this is now viewed as an isolated unfortunate incident that has been fixed, so all is well? Or is it considered now to have been just one of a number of indicators, a signpost to the underlying wider problems and weaknesses at the club this season?

[Stewjacksam]

Let's all pontificate a lot - chest beat - and remind everyone how much better it was in the past - or at least we choose to think so!
Really ????? Come on - wake up!
Its a business - the owner will choose to sort (or not as the case may be)
Exactly the Same issues as many other prior seasons just now at one higher level
Hang on and enjoy the ride - after all its meat to be an entertainment business and its certainly been that

[Chrisgump11]

Throughout the last 20-25 years, Rovers have been in worse positions than this. And picking holes is hardly helping unity. Such a surprise to see KG's views expressed so quickly on the theme

As a supporter of some 32-33 years, I have not known the club is such good shape, so well supported and with such good infrastructure. An ageing typical gate of 600-900 has been replaced by a family dominated 2,500+. Not to the liking of a vociferous tiny minority apparently. But then the traditional footballing elite are famous for their far sighted, inclusive attitudes are they not?

So what have the Romans done for us? Sorry Dale Vince
1 saved the club from imminent financial ruin
2 invested in the entire structure of the club - including female section and academy, back office and admin, stadium improvements, non-football activities, raising the profile of the club by huge amounts, producing multi-award affordable catering
3 achieving EFL 2 football
4 amazing community initiative like the Ambassador programme which has done so much to embed the club in the community
4 tons more but you get my drift

Is there room for improvement? Of course there is and mistakes have been made aplenty. But then, in the 1990s most of the challenges now facing our hamlet club were a far off dream. Clinging on to hard won status while small gates ever in decline is a different world and not one wreaking of success

At my age and length of support, I might be expected to be conservative and reactionary. What do I think about veganism, change of badge, change of shirts and so on?

Well I'm neither vegan nor vegetarian but the point is irrelevant. The food at FGR is good tasty food at sensible prices and I do not begrudge the change. The traditional footballista has always been slow to change but many different sports bodies now recognise the sense of footballers conducting themselves as athletes, with diet an important element. Let alone that we have a population beset by obesity. Is 90 minutes once a fortnight so hard to 'swallow'? Besides non vegan food can be brought to the ground anyway if fans are so desperate for a meat 'n milk fix

The badge and shirt? I am old enough to remember Rovers turning out in a sickly all green, let alone black & white stripes. The black and green looks great to my eye and judging by those who wear the shirts off the field, most supporters too. At Wembley on both occasions, the green and black stood out so well that the Grimsby and Tranny hordes were less conspicuous. And the badge - I prefer the roundel, well designed badge to the insipid Barcelona clone any day. My opinion, I am entitled. But ask our average core of 2000+ supporters and I am sure I'd be in the vast majority

So, if you really believe in unity stop carping and adopt the Phil Mitchell mantra after the Newport defeat. GET BEHIND THE TEAM & THE CLUB

[king giraffe III]

Throughout the last 20-25 years, Rovers have been in worse positions than this. And picking holes is hardly helping unity. Such a surprise to see KG's views expressed so quickly on the theme

As a supporter of some 32-33 years, I have not known the club is such good shape, so well supported and with such good infrastructure. An ageing typical gate of 600-900 has been replaced by a family dominated 2,500+. Not to the liking of a vociferous tiny minority apparently. But then the traditional footballing elite are famous for their far sighted, inclusive attitudes are they not?

So what have the Romans done for us? Sorry Dale Vince
1 saved the club from imminent financial ruin
2 invested in the entire structure of the club - including female section and academy, back office and admin, stadium improvements, non-football activities, raising the profile of the club by huge amounts, producing multi-award affordable catering
3 achieving EFL 2 football
4 amazing community initiative like the Ambassador programme which has done so much to embed the club in the community
4 tons more but you get my drift

Is there room for improvement? Of course there is and mistakes have been made aplenty. But then, in the 1990s most of the challenges now facing our hamlet club were a far off dream. Clinging on to hard won status while small gates ever in decline is a different world and not one wreaking of success

At my age and length of support, I might be expected to be conservative and reactionary. What do I think about veganism, change of badge, change of shirts and so on?

Well I'm neither vegan nor vegetarian but the point is irrelevant. The food at FGR is good tasty food at sensible prices and I do not begrudge the change. The traditional footballista has always been slow to change but many different sports bodies now recognise the sense of footballers conducting themselves as athletes, with diet an important element. Let alone that we have a population beset by obesity. Is 90 minutes once a fortnight so hard to 'swallow'? Besides non vegan food can be brought to the ground anyway if fans are so desperate for a meat 'n milk fix

The badge and shirt? I am old enough to remember Rovers turning out in a sickly all green, let alone black & white stripes. The black and green looks great to my eye and judging by those who wear the shirts off the field, most supporters too. At Wembley on both occasions, the green and black stood out so well that the Grimsby and Tranny hordes were less conspicuous. And the badge - I prefer the roundel, well designed badge to the insipid Barcelona clone any day. My opinion, I am entitled. But ask our average core of 2000+ supporters and I am sure I'd be in the vast majority

So, if you really believe in unity stop carping and adopt the Phil Mitchell mantra after the Newport defeat. GET BEHIND THE TEAM & THE CLUB

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[Phil_mitchell]

Usual suspects hanging out the back of Vince just so they keep there seat in the directors box at away games

[king giraffe III]

Admin... Please do not edit my posts without making it clear you have done so. It is completely disingenuous to the point I'm making. What's more, it puts words into my mouth that YOU have added.

[Fartvs Antiqvvs]

So what is the point you are making Kg 111?

[Timb]

00000000000000000010

[king giraffe III]

So what is the point you are making Kg 111?

Do the work.

[Fartvs Antiqvvs]

Done the work Kg111:

"It is all binary here. Wrongly, you're considered 'with us or against us'.
As far as I'm aware, I wasn't condemning DV, harping on about food, badge or kit. I'm not carping on about how better things were in the past. But it's easier to put your fingers in your ears and scream 'heresy' than do the one thing that is important... Listen".

[Chrisgump11]

Sorry to rely on facts so boringly.

Besides pointing out what they dislike what are the critics proposing to help. Stop time in 1998/99?

As Jack Kennedy said, ask not what 'my club' can do for me, what can I do for 'my club'

[king giraffe III]

Sorry to rely on facts so boringly.

Besides pointing out what they dislike what are the critics proposing to help. Stop time in 1998/99?

As Jack Kennedy said, ask not what 'my club' can do for me, what can I do for 'my club'

I'll PM you if you'll take the time to read and digest what I have to say. It'll have to be later though.

[Timb]

Do it.

[Tomiswalking]

Sorry to rely on facts so boringly.

Besides pointing out what they dislike what are the critics proposing to help. Stop time in 1998/99?

As Jack Kennedy said, ask not what 'my club' can do for me, what can I do for 'my club'

I am critical of some things but I'm also fairly well rounded as are others who post here.

I propose there are clear, transparent and open channels of communication between supporters and officials at the club. I propose that this is illustrated simply on the website.

[Tomiswalking]

I propose that we try and become something better in 2018. I think that some of the fans on here and in the stands who are labeled 'the critics' or the rowdy teenagers are actually the progressives. The good folk, the ones who want a club that treats all people well, the ones who travel home and away talking to other fans with respect and spreading our good reputation.

We are also the ones who are paying for season tickets, the ones who are bringing the friends and families, the ones who are aligned with the green credentials are us.

We are also people who like things to be good and fair. So things like kicking out the young fans is not good. Not providing the radio service we pay for is not fair. treating the away fans badly when they travel is not good. Having a manager who is know for bullying players amd treating our fans with contempt is not good. Not being able to admit you make mistakes is not good.

I think it's probably more healthy that the club listens to us all, works with us to create something new, rather than write us off as critics who want to take us back in time.

We are a small club who have a lot of potential, we aren't a big city club, but we are able to compete alongside them, this is new in football and we have the opportunity to be part of it.

It doesn't matter where we put the stadium, our size and success means home fans will always have to travel to visit our ground. Let's make it good, fair and something modern. A mixture of old and new. Something to be proud of this, I propose this change needs facilitation or a chat (depending what language we like to use).

[Phil_mitchell]

Club are to worried about Vegan **** off athe pitch rather than on it. Now I respect Dale but it's all about on the pitch for me. Couldn't care less aboutvthe chef or the ethics. I want a winning team I want to stay up.

[FootieMan]

Again another considered post hijacked for personal gain. Crikey if the points some think they scored in their posts we would be top of the league!

It has nothing to do with vegans, badges or kit nor what it was like in the past, including financial meltdown. Plus Chris using Phil Mitchell’s name when you see his responses just shows how your post is so far from reality.

Most people who support the club are simple folk and are lost on science so likewise KGIII whilst I might understand your binary post it will be over the top of most people.

I have never criticised players or management but unless it escaped anyone’s attention we are bottom of the division with half the season played. .

I compare ourselves to Barnet on so many fronts and it will be interesting to see how each Mark fares plus their respective owners.

Respect is earned and if we are going to survive we have to be in it together but sadly the evidence is clear that many are pulling in opposite directions.

And bluntly each will be judged on their own actions whatever their role in the club. Time for some to grow up and apply themselves to the task in hand. So if the cap fits, wear it!