Magpies 0 Dorchester 1 SLPS Sat April 2nd 2022

When is enough, enough?

So there we go, another week goes by and another 2 home defeats against very poor sides. Salisbury lost 5-0 at Merthyr today and the Dorchester fans told me that this is their worst side for over 10 years.

Before some of you try to tell me we have the best manager we can possibly have for next season, let’s dispel some of the myths and excuses

I accept that at the start of the season we didn’t have a competitive budget and that didn’t help our cause on the pitch, but the takeover happened in November when we told that the budget was being increased to a level playing field, and we are now in April and results and performances have got WORSE. Over the last 13 games, that’s now 11 losses and 2 draws. Just 2 points from a possible 39 points from a team that are supposed to be fighting for their lives?

And despite releasing some of the weaker players that weren’t good enough and having a slightly smaller squad now, we do have a stronger squad than we had in the first half of the season. Benfield, Bedford, Bartlett, Torniainen, the 3 lads from AFC Bournemouth and recently the very experienced John White are all stronger players than in the team at the beginning of the season.

This should have been a season of celebration, with our new stadium but has turned into a season of misery with match day experiences now being thoroughly unenjoyable for most supporters. It’s not just the number of losses or even the fact that we are going down a league, the standard of football on show is so poor that it is not at all entertaining to watch and fans have already stopped coming.

I am going to once again state that the manager really is inept, and he simply has to take responsibility for this abysmal record. When you look at his demeanour and body language he is completely uninspiring, the tactics have very rarely changed, I mean god forbid we try 2 up front for a game so that the poor tireless Lewis Beale doesn’t have to chase shadows and there is next to no instructions on a tactical level coming on to the pitch from the bench during any game.

So putting all the excuses to one side and without making this personal and telling me to go and support another team just because I care enough not to just turn up and pay my money every week no matter what, can you please answer honestly?

- If the board had deferred the decision on a contract extension until the end of the season, based on the recent results/performances would you still have given James a contract for next season and if so why? What has he shown you that he’s the best man for the job?

- Is your support for James based on the fact that he’s a nice guy, loyal clubman, long serving player who’s given his all, or do you genuinely believe that nobody could be doing a better job with this team?


Have a good rest of the weekend all 😊

Yes well said Gemma. I consider myself a loyal supporter of 30 yras plus but I have never seen a Wimborne team so out of its depth in the league. I am a half glass full bloke. There are good players in there but it certainly seems that the way they are managed is becoming more and more than apparent for failures.

There were over 500 fans at the game today but as estimated a great many were Dorch fans. If you look at what Poole 's attendance was against Yate the club is certainly lucky to have such loyal fans but they are dwindling away fast.

It didnt help at the Tuesday game when there were less fans but I was told some couldnt get into the car park, the local streets were full and I know for a fact some decided to go back home. What was the problem there ?

Incidentally just seen there were 1241 at Taunton when they beat W-S-M 3-2

Gemma… forgive me… suggest you get a real name and not hide behind a woman’s name…..sorry if that’s not PC… I’m sure you will have seen interviews with Stokoe… but get real and come back next year with your negative views… because whilst everyone’s opinion is important on social media sites (if this forum is such).. your record player seems stuck… Let’s build on a team for next year.. from BOD, Management… down… and see this season out for what it’s worth….
As a team.. we have great opportunities for next season… why not put to bed this year and build on what we can expect and achieve next season. Inept for me does not describe James .. our team manager… perhaps you should look at the definition… I’m not holding my breath or expecting you to change your stance… but for you as a true supporter.. maybe there’s another day… Which will always be better.

It’s quite ironic really isn’t it, someone with a forum username telling me to post under my real name which I’m doing! But regardless of that, I’m not sure why you have to make things personal, just because we have strong views that don’t align. There are several people that like my posts, reply in agreement or say the same at the ground so I’m not a lone voice but the one brave enough to post it and take the flak from people like yourself that don’t agree.

I’m quite happy that the definition of inept describes the current manager but if you are finding that difficult then you can try incompetent, out of his depth, doesn’t have a clue.

And yes you are right, maybe I could stop posting when things aren’t going well. I could do the same as others are doing and go to watch other teams, not renew my season ticket, or simply turn up every week and pay my money and never question any decisions that are made, but I had high hopes that the new BOD would be more inclusive and listen to feedback from the fans, and it’s not too late for them to admit that they have made a mistake and start afresh for next season and win back some of the fans that are thoroughly fed up.

Gemma… glad you’re still supporting Wimborne and not one of your many (although our attendance figures are encouraging within the league)… to leave and watch other teams play … yet our supporters do watch other local teams when WTFC have away games… I don’t mean to be personal.. sorry it’s not my style.. everyone is entitled to their opinion and in sport that’s often the case. But calling someone inept,, incompetent, out of his depth and doesn’t have a clue is.. in my line of work and in my view both personal and insulting…
He’s not ranting, raving, swearing like a previous manager, or indeed those from neighbouring or visiting teams….. thank goodness…
But a restricted low budget, players unavailable, loan players recalled by their clubs… and …. well the rest has been talked about on these pages… But as mentioned before, if you haven’t… why not visit the clubhouse after the match and speak to Stokoe in a constructive manner and share your concerns. Listen directly to his response… you may not agree 🤭.. but maybe, just maybe you might form a more rounded, balanced and informed view of the situation. And of course it’s always healthy to challenge the status quo, not by personal attacks on these pages, but engage in constructive face to face dialogue. That said… let’s enjoy the last few games of this season… And hopefully all regroup and support James and his new squad next season. BTW … Anyone know when season tickets go on sale?😎

It is sad that despite our situation any criticism of the manager still gets met with confrontation and yet realistically we are still waiting for the football reasons as to why his performance hasn't been reviewed and why a contract for the whole of next season has been awarded.
I'm sorry but talk of stability and giving the manager a fair chance just don't cut it. We have had a high turnover in players both ways since that statement so I am not sure where the stability comes in and in regard to the manager being given a fair chance, as I've said numerous times it's a paid job, which had one clear remit, staying up!!!! Which not only has not been fulfilled, we have come miserably short of it, and have been duly relegated with month left of the season.
I'm also not sure where a fair go comes into it especially when this idea of fairness is being paid for by the supporters who are having pay and watch the demise of our team. We have been led to believe we have had half a season of being undefunded and with players not up to the task, and another half where the backing and has supposedly been adequate and we've got worse. But it's apparently not the managers fault, its the players who are rubbish, who despite not being paid adequately for the standard, travel across the south to represent our club with what appears to be insufficient preparation and guidance from the manager. But they are constantly the scapegoats when we lose.

The idea that Mr Merrifield would feel that based on footballing factors and what everyone has seen this season, that its advantageous to offer the manager a contract for next season or there is no one out there that can do better just isn't valid. I would love to have seen the minutes from that meeting when this decision was made.

And for those that feel that we aren't at the level of the southern league, you now have your wish, but if you thinks its going to be rainbows and unicorns in the league below, I really do think you need think long and hard on what basis you think that will be case? Anyone who has been some of the more upwardly mobile local clubs recently would have noticed the complete difference on atmosphere, engagement and excitement from what takes place at our place at the moment and that is something that stems from allowing this situation to continue.

If the master plan is to mask our deficiencies by paying over the odds for players next season, then I see it as a costly mistake that will possibly set us back a few years. A look at the teams in the league below and the teams going into it, would suggest that unless something drastically changes, big budget or not, any notion of consistently winning football at the new stadium next season is optimistic at best,incredibly naive at worst.

As I've said previously the manager may go onto be an all time great somewhere else, but for right here, right now there is no question that he has failed and Mr Merrifield, the old board or whoever is actually in charge has failed by not taking action and lumbering us with another year of below management. It really is sad to see.

That’s a passionate response, often quoted before though… but have you spoken to the manager in the bar after the match and asked why some players wouldn’t/couldn’t join us, weren’t available, the approaches James has made to a variety of players… could answer your concerns… As for minutes of BOD meetings… really think that’s supporters stuff…?
Surely we are supporters, not owners…. Yes vocal, yes we have different opinions, yes we want to be listened to… but there are two sides to every discussion. Why not try the open personal process… I recently heard of the challenges the BOD and James encountered on signing a new player… And the reason had nothing to do with money, our position, our manager … but a very strange personal issue with the player… Via this site one or two suggest the BOD and in particular Stokoe are doing nothing, not capable or don’t know what to do…perhaps not as passionate as paying supporters…. That’s one view…. thankfully so many have a different view… and look to build on next year….. Where I stand in the ground… there are plenty of opinions.. the capability of the manger is not the key discussion point. I’ve heard more about individual players who one week are chastised for their lack of effort, then the following week commended for their input and passion, praised for their goal scoring ability then questioned for the lack of goals. I recall with Toby, some said he was passed it, useless in the air… and now continues to do well and score goals. That’s football for you… that’s why we turn up and watch the game. And don’t forget the officials…. 😱