Aldershot Town 2-2 Braintree Town - Tuesday 14th January 2025 (Match Day Thread)

[Weybourne Shot]

Relegation would be a disaster but maybe, just maybe it might bring about the changes the Club so desperately needs right from the top down. Look at Torquay and their reviival this season. But then again maybe those in power would just be happy to continue to tread water but at a lower level.

[Alex]

My feelings might change, but if we go down I have absolutely no desire at all to watch ATFC play in the NL South!

[Turnkey]

However, for me watching Aldershot is a way of life and I never forget my old Everton supporting Uncle who told me that a true supporter follows their club thought thick and thin (and it Aldershot’s case, “transparent” it seems). I follow this mantra and always will, but that said, ATFC are just clueless at the moment.

Interesting watching a very distant Shahid Azeem by himself at HT just staring out over onto the pitch.

It has been a way of life for far too long for me too, but it was never as expensive in the cost of money and time as it is now. Family and, to a lesser extent, work now have a bigger draw on my time than they used to so I need to justify the expenditure of both and whether me priorities remain the same. Up until 5 years ago I was working 20 hours a week at the club and watching every game home and away, but those days are long gone, I’ve had 4 grandkids since then and they are a bigger draw than watching tedious mind numbing football. Last year was great, the football entertaining so the investment worth it. My ‘me time’ is precious, so wasting it like last night makes me rethink possibilities.

Bottom line, football is more than just turn up whatever and put up with what’s on offer. That is nothing more than habit, sometimes habits (like heroin) are additive but just not good for you.

[Sean Chambers]

My feelings might change, but if we go down I have absolutely no desire at all to watch ATFC play in the NL South!

See you next season then in the NL

[Alex]

My feelings might change, but if we go down I have absolutely no desire at all to watch ATFC play in the NL South!

See you next season then in the NL

Very unlikely at the moment!

[Sean Chambers]

My feelings might change, but if we go down I have absolutely no desire at all to watch ATFC play in the NL South!

See you next season then in the NL

Very unlikely at the moment!

The six teams below us aren't exactly pulling up any trees either, only six wins in the previous 30 games!

[Silasgoldeen]

See you next season then in the NL

Very unlikely at the moment!

The six teams below us aren't exactly pulling up any trees either, only six wins in the previous 30 games!

Problem is that Braintree were one of the bad teams and they missed 2 or 3 sitters.

[chimpster99]

Relegation would be a disaster but maybe, just maybe it might bring about the changes the Club so desperately needs right from the top down. Look at Torquay and their reviival this season. But then again maybe those in power would just be happy to continue to tread water but at a lower level.

I don't think we can draw a parallel with Torquay as they have had a change of ownership that has breathed new life into the club. I think we would be more likely to resemble Chester or Hereford, unable to muster the resources and unity to mount a proper promotion challenge. I doesn't matter what league we are in, for as long as this Board of Directors is in position we will be run on a shoestring and are going nowhere.

As examples of our malaise I give you (in no particular order):

- An inaccurate and worrying Director appointment at Companies House.
- Zero fan engagement with no forums or new initiatives going on.
- Embarrasing comms with insipid media interviews and last week's debacle.
- A failed stadium re-development plan which includes bulldozing the the East Bank.
- A ground that's crumbling through lack of maintenance, with embarrassing facilities for away fans in particular.
- Huge profits from last season not being re-invested.
- Over-priced and often disguting food on offer and poorly stocked bars.
- Incompetence, nepotism and favouritism in the football coaching team.
- Our youth development systems no longer being promoted and celebrated as they were.
- A noticable decline in community and youth engagement projects.
- A concerning number of empty advertising banner 'slots' at the High Street end.
- Community stand usually empty.

I could go on...

[Alex]

See you next season then in the NL

Very unlikely at the moment!

The six teams below us aren't exactly pulling up any trees either, only six wins in the previous 30 games!

Let’s see how Boston and Wealdstone get on tonight.

Some of the teams around us and below us will win a few games, but I have no idea if or when we’ll win again!

[Alex]

poorly stocked bars

Which bar/s?

One thing I’ve never had any issues with, and actually think it’s quite good, is the Eastbank bar.

[Mytshot]

Last season undoubtedly had some highlights but this rot actually started around mid March after which we won only one game until the end of the season. For all the special moments last season we shouldn't forget that we also shipped 5 against Oldham, Eastleigh and Fylde. 4 against Kidderminster (who were relegated), Chesterfield twice (fair enough), Southend and who could forget the debacle at Maidenhead. Oh, and the humiliation at Bishop's Stortford. The signs were there that we were actually quite fragile but massively masked by a few quality individuals in Tolaj, Mnoga and Stokes (pre Bristol City move).

[chimpster99]

poorly stocked bars

Which bar/s?

One thing I’ve never had any issues with, and actually think it’s quite good, is the Eastbank bar.

Eastbank bar is good! JML and South Stand seem to suffer with stocking issues on a reasonably regular basis

[TracoShot]

Let's not kid ourselves Braintree should have won last night. They missed three absolute sitters with the two headers being easier to score than miss. The defensive organisation was a shambles all night with the highlight being leaving Braintrees biggest player totally unmarked in injury time for a free header.

Bar Maidenhead every other team in the bottom 8 has changed their manager. We need to do the same before it is too late. The fans are turning and it could get very very ugly over the next few weeks.

[Alex]

Let's not kid ourselves Braintree should have won last night. They missed three absolute sitters with the two headers being easier to score than miss. The defensive organisation was a shambles all night with the highlight being leaving Braintrees biggest player totally unmarked in injury time for a free header

A couple of their defenders had free headers all night too.
Theo was getting nowhere near their number 18 when attempting to defend corners!

And I’m sorry, Maghoma is an awful ‘senior’ defender!

It continues to be laughable that Maghoma and Theo are two of the first names on the team sheet!

[Sean Chambers]

Very unlikely at the moment!

The six teams below us aren't exactly pulling up any trees either, only six wins in the previous 30 games!

Let’s see how Boston and Wealdstone get on tonight.

Some of the teams around us and below us will win a few games, but I have no idea if or when we’ll win again!

Hopefully both lose