MATCHDAY THREAD - Gateshead vs ATFC - Sat 16th 3pm KO

[Fuggletim]

I don't recall anyone saying relegation is a certainty.
I think we're in a relegation battle at the moment.

Maybe not, and you certainly didn’t. However, I think there is always seems to be an unhealthy and, dare I say, almost paranoid, obsession with it every year. Yes, it could happen, and indeed it has, but then again it often doesn’t.

Tim if you are in obvious danger of relegation it is VERY FAR from unhealthy to face up to it, fairly and squarely. On the other hand, it is STUPID in the extreme to pretend that it couldn’t happen. It bloody well could all the time we play like we are at the moment. I am completely unimpressed by those who say (on no discernible evidence and with disarming complacency) that there must be four teams worse than us. I have seen quite a bit of the teams below us, and can state with some confidence that most of them are more than capable of overhauling us unless we start to improve pdq.

I am surprised at you OB. You are a sentinel of well reasoned thought but if you are implying I am “stupid” to quote you, then please look at what I have said. I have said quite clearly it is a possibility, but by definition not an inevitability. Below us in the National League tonight are 6 x teams and above us are 6 x teams who with one Shots victory, we will theoretically equal points wise. The comment about teams “stringing together a few results” to overtake us is common on here, but the concept it may actually be us is often, seemingly not considered.

We are in no more “obvious” danger than any of those other teams to be realistic. We may scrutinise our performance and think it is rubbish (and it really has been) but what about those of other teams? You say you have seen some of them, but for context, were all these games involving the Shots as opposition? They are also where they are for a reason.

My view about it being an unhealthy obsession with relegation stems from it goes on every year, and sometimes starts before we even start the season. There are some who seem to take a great pleasure in predicting the worse, and may get some kind of delight in being proved right.

I trust you are not one of those OB, but whatever, I respect you and your views and I trust you respect mine

[Aldershot]

BBC Radio Surrey Commentary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRT5-hzy860

[Old Bob]

Maybe not, and you certainly didn’t. However, I think there is always seems to be an unhealthy and, dare I say, almost paranoid, obsession with it every year. Yes, it could happen, and indeed it has, but then again it often doesn’t.

Tim if you are in obvious danger of relegation it is VERY FAR from unhealthy to face up to it, fairly and squarely. On the other hand, it is STUPID in the extreme to pretend that it couldn’t happen. It bloody well could all the time we play like we are at the moment. I am completely unimpressed by those who say (on no discernible evidence and with disarming complacency) that there must be four teams worse than us. I have seen quite a bit of the teams below us, and can state with some confidence that most of them are more than capable of overhauling us unless we start to improve pdq.

I am surprised at you OB. You are a sentinel of well reasoned thought but if you are implying I am “stupid” to quote you, then please look at what I have said. I have said quite clearly it is a possibility, but by definition not an inevitability. Below us in the National League tonight are 6 x teams and above us are 6 x teams who with one Shots victory, we will theoretically equal points wise. The comment about teams “stringing together a few results” to overtake us is common on here, but the concept it may actually be us is often, seemingly not considered.

We are in no more “obvious” danger than any of those other teams to be realistic. We may scrutinise our performance and think it is rubbish (and it really has been) but what about those of other teams? You say you have seen some of them, but for context, were all these games involving the Shots as opposition? They are also where they are for a reason.

My view about it being an unhealthy obsession with relegation stems from it goes on every year, and sometimes starts before we even start the season. There are some who seem to take a great pleasure in predicting the worse, and may get some kind of delight in being proved right.

I trust you are not one of those OB, but whatever, I respect you and your views and I trust you respect mine

Full respect, Tim. Apologies for expressing myself forcefully. My remarks were aimed less at you personally, more at those among us who insist we will avoid relegation when it's a very realistic danger.
And no, not all the games I've seen involving other serious relegation candidates have been against ATFC.

[Fuggletim]

Thanks OB. I do consider that relegation is a real possibility, but some on here seem to think it is a certainty and predict it as such constantly. It is perhaps equally as irritating as those who blindly believe it will not happen.

In my view, it is all about striking a balance between ourselves and a number of equally dismal sides where anyone from about 10 x clubs could be the ones.

[fredandballou]

Did Gateshead get their problem (re: the lease of the International Stadium) sorted out which denied them a place in last seasons playoffs or are they still banned ?

[Richard Petty]

Did Gateshead get their problem (re: the lease of the International Stadium) sorted out which denied them a place in last seasons playoffs or are they still banned ?

Still unable to gain promotion as far as I am aware for now.

They need the Council deal to go through that hands over the running of the stadium to a private company which is close to happening. So as long as the new operators are happy to have them there and guarantee their tenure for 10 years or more they will probably be eligible by the end of the season.

[Shots91]

Looks like Gateshead are signing documents with the council tomorrow.

[Richard Petty]

Looks like Gateshead are signing documents with the council tomorrow.

Nice to see the BBC read Shotsweb, the question gets raised on here at lunchtime and by the evening they have found out the answer for us and published it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... xr9pwl5k0o