Has the BUBBLE BURST?

[Smudge]

A smoke screen of a post if ever I saw one.Guernsey can pick the best players out of 65,000,whereas Towns like say Croydon population 250.000 cannot.Reason Croydon based players can reach most places in under 2 hrs,Guernsey players can't.So if they are talented they play for Clubs at a higher level,unlike your current crop.GFC have done to the Priaulx what senior Clubs do here,take their best players,which lessens the Standard locally.Why the locals would be moaning about winning 6-0 every game amazes me,for this reason.Get yourself down your local Bookies,and fill your boots.MY TAKE ON IT,is that Guernsey Folk do not like paying the extra £2 entry money.But will you have a ground ready for promotion if you get it,MY GUESS IS NO.

[TRS]

I can relate to what GG is saying as a Wimbledon fan. In our second season in the CCL it did start to get boring winning 6,7 or 8 nil. Not being disrespectful, but you knew when you turned up to a home game particularly that it was just a question of how many. Same thing with the fitness too, if on the odd occasion we went a couple of goals down we always got them back towards the end as the other side tired and we didn't lose a game all season with 42 wins and 4 draws. Having said that the average crowd stayed about the same as the first season, although different circumstances to Guernsey.

 

I enjoyed the CCL seasons (more so the first for the reasons above), but it was once we got to Ryman Premier the competitive stuff began. That was a real slog, as Guernsey may find out in a couple of years!

[Guernsey Guru]

A smoke screen of a post if ever I saw one.Guernsey can pick the best players out of 65,000,whereas Towns like say Croydon population 250.000 cannot.Reason Croydon based players can reach most places in under 2 hrs,Guernsey players can't.So if they are talented they play for Clubs at a higher level,unlike your current crop.GFC have done to the Priaulx what senior Clubs do here,take their best players,which lessens the Standard locally.Why the locals would be moaning about winning 6-0 every game amazes me,for this reason.Get yourself down your local Bookies,and fill your boots.MY TAKE ON IT,is that Guernsey Folk do not like paying the extra £2 entry money.But will you have a ground ready for promotion if you get it,MY GUESS IS NO.

 

It all comes down to finance with you Smudge - people are born with certain levels of talent - therefore it is free and the extra needed can be coached into individuals

 

Fitness is free - no excuses, just hit the road, it is free

 

Comittment is free - no one at GFC gets paid to be committed

 

There is no reason at all why all players at all teams cannot be fit and committed, no excuse

 

I have no idea what you mean by smokescreen of a post we cannot go and attract players from another town and if we had 250,000 to choose from we would be an even better side. We still have players in Guernsey who are more than capable of playing for GFC but choose not too

[danielpjn]

GG - think the issue regarding potential number of players available for selection could be argued both ways. For example if AFC Guernsey were formed offering the same experience for the players,but paid them all £50 a game,how many do you think would move to the new club?

 

Reason I mention this is because although UK based teams have a greater number of players to chose from,there is significant competition for these players from local clubs. In the last couple of seasons we have lost many players to other local sides and have obviously also gained players through this route.

 

Completely agree reference the fitness. I'm also very surprised that CCLP isn't providing more competitive football. I've read on here many times that the gulf in quality between the prem and div 1 is significant. However the results are not backing up thus theory.

 

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

I think you have a point, why woud Guernsey fans come over to Surrey to watch a very one sided match in the pouring rain when many of the supporters couldnt even buy a beer when they got there.

 

The competition is poor the, facilities are poor, and the journey expensive in time and money. ( there are exceptions in the CCL prem)

[Guernsey Guru]

GG - think the issue regarding potential number of players available for selection could be argued both ways. For example if AFC Guernsey were formed offering the same experience for the players,but paid them all £50 a game,how many do you think would move to the new club?

 

Reason I mention this is because although UK based teams have a greater number of players to chose from,there is significant competition for these players from local clubs. In the last couple of seasons we have lost many players to other local sides and have obviously also gained players through this route.

 

Completely agree reference the fitness. I'm also very surprised that CCLP isn't providing more competitive football. I've read on here many times that the gulf in quality between the prem and div 1 is significant. However the results are not backing up thus theory.

 

Point taken about the number of players and agree it can be argued both ways, another point is that Guernsey has 7 teams in its Priaulx league and therefore using the 7 clubs there are a maximum of 77 players playing Guernsey first team football. Realistically in my opinion there are a maximum of 40 of them that could be good enough to make the GFC squad, not a start but make the squad. GFC has a team of 20 first team players, some excellent coaches that help the others top up the squad when injuries/work gets in the way. Therefore I reckon that GFC are not that much different to the other teams in the CCL and therefore I dont think that the national team label fits us either. We are just a well run club who want to succeed and that is right from the top to the bottom

[Lettuce]

Last Season GUERNSEY FC were new kids on the block,welcomed by all in the CCL 1 with open arms,Average Away attendance of 183,with 3 games above the 300 mark.Now I know it is early days yet,but the average so far in a Higher Division is 130.Camberley 164,Cove 120,Dorking 107 whilst these are decent crowds for Step 5 level away from home,they are below what I and I think many others expected.Interestingly Camberley I believe,never had their game Streamed live,could this be a factor.They are now top of the pile,so you would expect the Crowds to increase,but will anyone see a 300 crowd again?

 

Smudge

 

I have been following this forum for some time but don't post much but am compelled on this occaision to point out that last season Guernsey's first six games away from home the attendances were:

 

Hartley Wintney - 240

Eversley - 127

Frimley Green - 136

Cobham - 155

CB Hounslow - 9

Spelthorne Sports - 12

 

Average attendance - 141

 

So far this season average gate for first 3 games is 130 however, if the Horley Town game had gone ahead on Monday and the gate had been 240 as it was for the friendly between the 2 teams last season the average attendance for the first 4 games would have been 157.

 

Bubble Burst is yours not Guernsey's!!!

[danielpjn]

I agree that Guernsey are a well run club and have achieved a great amount of success so far. My point wasn't aimed at criticising GFC,it was designed to show the issues other clubs face. Over the two games last season we matched GFC for both skill and fitness. However immediately after the first game we lost our striker and after the second game we lost our centre back, both to higher level clubs.

 

Good luck for the season. Steve,Mark and the rest of the committee all deserve the success for all their hard work.

 

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

Going back to Smudge's original question, it's perfectly possible if a club is taken over by Billy Billionaire.

 

The feel good factor/jumping on the bandwagon would play a huge part. Where there's money/success there is peoples - seemples.

[ormering]

Don't think the bubble's burst as far as GFC's away supporters are concerned. Same faces as last year and bear in mind August holiday absences (these are all authorised in advance by the way. Bear in mind, also, most of us travel 2-3 hours each way for our GFC/CCL fix).

 

GG, introduce yourself to the the Guernsey fans at Crowborough on Saturday as none of us Manelanders can think of anyone who's made every away game. Could be you're a shrinking violet of course, or maybe on the other side of the white line? Anyway, please satisfy our curiosity!

 

Beer seemed to be in plentiful supply at Dorking by the way, but there was a sense of a club not moving in the right direction at this time. The coffee wagon was absolutely fine, and provided value for money (pasty for £1.70) compared to most grounds we visit.

 

Some of us are very aware of what lies in wait in X years', regularly watching the like of Wealdstone, St Albans etc., and we're quite happy with regular thrashings for the time being!

[Egg&Ham]

Having played Guernsey Home and Away now and been beaten twice one in extra time Got to say there Fitness is the key. But i think they should not start thinking that the Winning 6 or 7 nils is going to continue as they have only played a few of the top teams Think Windsor and Hanworth are going to run them close this year and We At Egham have a strong side. Just one other thing why is there a problem with there Ground as i thought it was the best ground Egham have played at in the Combined by a country mile. If Guilford spectrum can get a ground grading im sure my Garden could host step 4 games :D

[Smudge]

I think you have a point, why woud Guernsey fans come over to Surrey to watch a very one sided match in the pouring rain when many of the supporters couldnt even buy a beer when they got there.

 

The competition is poor the, facilities are poor, and the journey expensive in time and money. ( there are exceptions in the CCL prem)

 

Jeff,suprised at your post,never had you down as slagging off your own Club.

[Smudge]

Having played Guernsey Home and Away now and been beaten twice one in extra time Got to say there Fitness is the key. But i think they should not start thinking that the Winning 6 or 7 nils is going to continue as they have only played a few of the top teams Think Windsor and Hanworth are going to run them close this year and We At Egham have a strong side. Just one other thing why is there a problem with there Ground as i thought it was the best ground Egham have played at in the Combined by a country mile. If Guilford spectrum can get a ground grading im sure my Garden could host step 4 games :D

 

Egg&Ham,best ground Egham have played at,enclosed was it NO,Could all and Sundry watch the game FREE OF CHARGE,YES.Egham aint got a hope on what I saw Sunday,2 greedy wingers who do not cross a ball.Why suck up to the BBB Club .Do not get their hopes up,just because you enjoyed a piss up.

[Egg&Ham]

Behave Smudge when was your last vist to Guernsey mate. Wot you saw on Sunday. REALLY You said that you thought Ref had good Game lol he was Dreadful!!! Fact! Wot grounds in the ccl do you think are better than Guernsey. Not Sucking up to anyone mate but you should at least go there before slaging it off

[Smudge]

Windsor,Croydon,South Park,Epsom and Ewell,Hanworth Villa,Molesey,Camberley,Cove,Ash, Bedfont Sports,Warlingham,Knaphill,Staines Lammas,Westfield,CobhamSheerwater,Dorking,Raynes Park,Colliers Wood,Cove,Sandhurst,Badshot Lea,Farleigh Rovers,Mole Valley,Horley Town,Chessington and Hook,Banstead,Hartley Wintney now have I forgot anyone?Reason you have to pay to watch,Ground enclosed,Most importantly you can buy a drink on the Premises.Why would I waste £200 going to a ground where I cannot buy a drink,and others can watch for FREE.

Edited August 29, 2012 by Smudge

[newby marvel]

I have been following this thread and the Premier Division table thread and have make a couple of points. Firstly GFCs 6-0 result against Dorking. GFC were OK on the day, god knows what the score would have been if Ross Allen had played, but they were OK, not amazing but OK. But they still completely over ran Dorking, individually talent wise, fitness wise and just were a more together unit. We seem to be hearing more and more grumbles in the Guernsey media about these types of results. 6-0 here 8-0 there and believe it or not it is not doing our side any good. There are people in Guernsey who are no longer going to GFC games because they are not competitive enough, in fact there are some people in Guernsey who would prefer to see Guernsey struggling, even losing, but playing in games where they are tested.

 

Before you all start calling me disrespectful or 'big headed' I am only stating a very strange undercurrent that could be the more likely reason for attendances dropping rather than GFCTV. As I have said before I attend all games home and away and am fully committed to GFC but I seem to see more of these types of comments in the media and talking to the community when at home.

 

As pointed out we may be a 'national' side in this league but our side is still picked from our population of approx 65,000 and therefore I would expect teams like Windsor, Guildford etc to have as many or if not more players to choose from and in fact all of the other clubs in the CCL have the opportunity to attract players, including financial incentives, from other parts/teams of the CCL area where as Guernsey just has its 65,000 and no one, as yet, receives a penny.

 

Fitness is my other bug bear. GFC are miles fitter than nearly all of the teams that we have faced in the CCL and in my opinion there is absolutely no reason why this should be the case. I can accept that we do have some talented players but other parts of being a footballer, including fitness, personal dietry and committment should be the same for every player at every club at this level. I mention this because I spoke to an individual last year in CCL1 in the UK after a GFC game and he stated 'I will be pleased when GFC get promoted so that we can go back to relaxing and playing our football without so much pressure, a game of football and a few beers afterwards, without taking it so serious thats what I miss'

 

That basically said it all for me, I will not stop supporting GFC and realise that eventually we are going to struggle but these 6-0s are doing us more damage than actually losing!

there isnt one team in guildford one team in windsor one team in bedfont every county, village or town has alot more clubs in it vying for footballers to play at any standard theres no way 65000 or even close to that figure to choose from in our vacinity theres us bedfont sports next door feltham 15 minutes drive cb hounslow 10 minutes drive ashford town middlx 15 minutes drive staines town , chertsey town, egham town, an i could go on an on (ariston)

fitness wise ive been told guernsey train 5 times a week this may be wrong i dont know but at best we train twice therefore your fitness will be head an shoulders above every other team regarding the comment on the div 1 player it was frustrating for me as we at bedfont would of won the league had you not been in it an on a personal note i would of won it with another team that said im not complaining ive said all along your a breath of fresh air!!! regarding sponsors is the same scenario about players!!!

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

Jeff,suprised at your post,never had you down as slagging off your own Club.

 

just saying why guernsey people might not travel, no criticism of Dorking fc, but you wouldnt make a massive journey to go back there.

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

just saying why guernsey people might not travel, no criticism of Dorking fc, but you wouldnt make a massive journey to go back there.

 

Do NOT let Big JR see this!

[Wattsy]

I'm amazed the Cove crowd was 120 - I was there and i would have guessed 75 tops.

Agree! Sounds like Cove exaggerating

[Matt123]

For the amount of money egham are paying there players I would expect them to be a better team!

 

Its about players attitude and guernsey players have the right attitude! Badshot and molesey unbeaten I will need to see more of them to judge them!