The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

SouthRushdenJFC wrote:

Brownie wrote:I am prepared to leak the news that Leighton Baines has signed duel registration forms and comes straight into tomorrows squad as a temporary replacement.

He hits a lovely dead ball, but 30 goal a season striker, unlikley

Build from the back DC build from the back. Though I have a feeling any league we find ourselves in other than one which includes visits to North London, Manchester, Merseyside etc will be little more than tinpot

This topic can be debated until the cows come home, but it will always go round in a never ending circle because people's opinion varies.. I can sort of see, well only a fraction of what od2 is saying but other than that I think they are well off the mark.

The league position is strong, I never thought in a million years come Christmas the lads would be second in the table. It was said come the start of this season that the lads from last year should be given the chance to shine and rightly so. The bank shouldn't be broken for anyone at the current time. If the lads can be up there, even in the playoffs at the end then why shouldn't they take promotion, they will have deserved it.. But if it was a case of getting promoted and being way out our depth and being in a dog fight the second half the promoted season I would say no thanks! The only thing I can see that may go against the club is people may lose interest. Our club is made up of 500 on a Saturday, but what proportion of that is floating fans who ain't much better to do on a Saturday than watch a local team? Yes it's money in the bank but if the club sits in this league will they go elsewhere?? (Note that I ain't one of those, I'd be more than happy to settle until the times right)

Oundle Diamond #2 wrote:Personally, I'd be disappointed to see us "settling" in this tinpot league. We have a huge opportunity to gain promotion from it and hopefully never have to endure these dire grounds and standards of football ever again in a league scenario supporting our beloved club.

Why should anyone be disappointed about this league? The first season ain't even over yet? Dire grounds and standards of football, think these are a hell of a lot better than the ucl who some were not much more than a grass park

Oundle Diamond #2 wrote:Personally, I'd be disappointed to see us "settling" in this tinpot league.

I don't think anyone can accuse us of "settling" in this league. Our aim from the start of the season was to make the play-offs, and we are doing that comfortably, with a very good chance of winning the league. Even if we don't go out and make any big signings, I'm still confident we'll make the play-offs at least.

I'd definitely like to see Pinder start at some point, he looks to be the closest to the first team out of all of our academy players.

I agree with vast majority on here, enjoy the success, this isn't a tinpot league, there are some decent/strong sides in this league, a step up from the UCL. We shouldn't break the bank to get a player/striker and go out of our depth.

We 2nd in the table and should be proud of it, vast majority (including myself) have openly said we thought we were/are good enough for the play offs.

Mad Dog wrote:I'm in the middle on this. I do think that the target now is promotion because of position we are in, but not at all costs, although it would not be the end of the world. Peaksey has identified he wants to bring another striker, and tbh I would think whoever gets brought in will be within our budget.

The only drawback I see with staying at Step 4 in the immediate future is that we could end up with a lot of uncertainty each year as to whether we will be shifted North or South due to volatile nature of clubs applying for promotion/failing ground gratings/resigning from the league, causing fluctuations in league placement up until the following season. Whilst there is no guarantee that this wouldn't happen at Step 3 in the future, Step 3 seems to be a bit more stable in this regard.

I think we would stay in the Southern league, because Leicester Nirvana are looking to come up, and Bedworth United and Stamford are both struggling and looks likely to come down. But agree with you that step 3, seems more stable.

updiamonds wrote:

Mad Dog wrote:I'm in the middle on this. I do think that the target now is promotion because of position we are in, but not at all costs, although it would not be the end of the world. Peaksey has identified he wants to bring another striker, and tbh I would think whoever gets brought in will be within our budget.

The only drawback I see with staying at Step 4 in the immediate future is that we could end up with a lot of uncertainty each year as to whether we will be shifted North or South due to volatile nature of clubs applying for promotion/failing ground gratings/resigning from the league, causing fluctuations in league placement up until the following season. Whilst there is no guarantee that this wouldn't happen at Step 3 in the future, Step 3 seems to be a bit more stable in this regard.

I think we would stay in the Southern league, because Leicester Nirvana are looking to come up, and Bedworth United and Stamford are both struggling and looks likely to come down. But agree with you that step 3, seems more stable.

I haven't been to Leicester Nirvana's new ground, but have read from those who have that it's only "slightly better than Dakyn Road", "barely up to step 5 standard" and " the worst step 5 ground I've been too". I would suggest that unless they invest a fortune over the next couple of months in a ground they don't own and have no intention of staying at, they will fail the grading. Anyway I think Kempston, still unbeaten and only 3 points behind, who have also applied, will win the UCL.

James Beil wrote:I know I can be guilty of being wildly optimistic on here, but perhaps one of the Academy boys such as Mr.Pinder could make a permanent step up and we can see if the club is capable of producing players ready for the first team? After all, that's what it's there for, and I imagine it would be a devil of a lot cheaper than forking out for a proven scorer. I honestly don't mind what leagues we spend the next five or ten years in, as long as we're building towards that shiny new stadium we all want for ourselves.

That said, I can understand why a lot of folks would be wary of putting the burden of regular first-team football at the sharp end of the league on a young chap who's barely old enough to shave.

Is Matt Pinder regularly available on Saturday's? Some of his youth teammates have played loads of games for the u21s over the last three years, he has a grand total of 2 .

Sid wrote: I haven't been to Leicester Nirvana's new ground, but have read from those who have that it's only "slightly better than Dakyn Road", "barely up to step 5 standard" and " the worst step 5 ground I've been too".

It will be a real 'eye opener' for the Nirvana players this afternoon against Hereford in the FA Vase at Edgar Street with regard to facilities.

I certainly do not consider this a tinpot league. The Southern League is a highly experienced and prestigious League, maybe not as big as it used to be, but so much has changed over the past 30 years in the League structure.
In our division are some ambitious clubs, such a St Ives and Aylesbury and some very well run community clubs that may not be so keen to rise up the pyramid but nonetheless are doing a good job for youngsters locally.

The Premier Division has some really big name clubs such as Weymouth and K*******g, so we have some exciting seasons to look forward too when we do get promoted, even if it is not this season.