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Far too many flat performances this season. Might offer some explaination as to the drop off in attendances this season. You can excuse the odd game now and again, and the 'nothing to play for' mantra at this point in the season but these performances are far to regular. Completely uninspiring.

I felt sorry for the board at the last home game that they billed for season ticket holders with a decent offer for Non-League Day and then got served up a dready performance. Same again this week, big game (although not as big as Wellingborough would like you to believe), zero response.

Too late with the substitutions yet again.

Rushdenjim wrote: Sun Mar 30, 2025 10:14 am Far too many flat performances this season. Might offer some explaination as to the drop off in attendances this season. You can excuse the odd game now and again, and the 'nothing to play for' mantra at this point in the season but these performances are far to regular. Completely uninspiring.

I felt sorry for the board at the last home game that they billed for season ticket holders with a decent offer for Non-League Day and then got served up a dready performance. Same again this week, big game (although not as big as Wellingborough would like you to believe), zero response.

Too late with the substitutions yet again.

I'd agree with this. The last couple of games have been a tough watch with not enough creativity going forwards, something we've suffered most of the season. I think we have the defensive players to form a decent team next season but midfield and strikers needs a shake up.
We have definitely moved forwards on the pitch compared to the last 2 seasons so more improvement required for next season.

AFCRD_Dan wrote: Sun Mar 30, 2025 9:26 am

sussexdiamond wrote: Sun Mar 30, 2025 7:34 am Was the attendance really 792?
Radio Diamonds were estimating 450 ish.

Definitely looked more than 450 in my opinion.

I'd say 792 was about right. I thought about 800. I'd also say at least 500 of those were supporting us based on the noise (or lack of) when the goal went in.

Great to see loads of faces yesterday I'm sure I haven't seen in years, and great to be back at the D&D.

Couldn't agree more with the last 2 posts. Let me say straight away that at the start of the season I'd have taken our current position very happily, but the football on offer recently has been very flat. Leaving the ground yesterday several of our supporters were critical of our style of play and the poor standard of passing/clearances.

Yes we are safe from relegation and can now start to plan for next year. But we need less Step 5 recruitment and more players with Step 4 experience. The Bugbrooke connection has not worked and we need a different direction player wise - especially in midfield which has been a huge disappointment. I know our budget is smaller than most - much smaller than Wellingborough - but we surely should be able to attract better players.

Yesterday was obviously more important to Wellingborough - as their goal celebrations and post match reaction proved - but that is probably more a reflection on how much respect they have for us - one of their local rivals.

the fa ct that - thanks to our current board and Chris Nunn - we are still here as a club playing Step 4 should not be forgotten. However, the football must improve if we are to attract more people to our home games.

Yesterday saw both teams perform woefully in front of goal but I enjoyed the occasion and just wish we were still playing at The Dog & Duck rather than at the dull and uninspiring Hayden Road.

Yesterday definitely served as a reminder about how much nicer the D&D is than Hayden Road.

but we surely should be able to attract better players

I dont get that assumtion nowdays, with our budget we are down the pecking order in our Area of Northamptonshire at Step 4.
Thats why we pick up Step 5 players as its still a leg up to play for us , a Step 4 player will go for where the Money is at Corby or Welly
but maybe next season if Corby get promoted we could get a couple of released local Step 4 once Welly have had first pick.

I remember the urge for members and Fans to get back to Hayden road, with cries of the fans will flock back once we are Home in Rushden
i think some were suggesting gates of 1000 at the time and the money flowing in.

Well that golden glow has well and truly gone, now its lets get back to the Dog and Duck please.

Biggles wrote: Mon Mar 31, 2025 9:52 am

but we surely should be able to attract better players

I dont get that assumtion nowdays, with our budget we are down the pecking order in our Area of Northamptonshire at Step 4.
Thats why we pick up Step 5 players as its still a leg up to play for us , a Step 4 player will go for where the Money is at Corby or Welly
but maybe next season if Corby get promoted we could get a couple of released local Step 4 once Welly have had first pick.

Not just Step 4, we pay less than some local clubs at Step 5. Our budget isn't *that* bad either, we're just in what I imagine is a slightly unusual part of the footballing world where we seem to be surrounded with vanity projects, boom and busts and clubs genuinely on the up. Bedford, Real Bedford, Harborough, Stamford, K*ttering, Corby, Wellingborough, St. Neots, Daventry, Newport Pagnell. Probably missed some. This makes it really difficult. As a result I can't really see our model changing too much, as difficult as that might be for some to accept. This has generally always been the case though, how many times did Peaksy dip in to the likes of Kempston, Newport Pagnell and Cogenhoe for players? Double figures, easy.

It's about finding the right players. I'd argue that we've done OK at that this year when you take the season as a whole and don't just hone in on the last few months or few weeks. I've probablys said this before but Charlie Green and Aidan Webster came from Step 5. Jarvis came from Step 5. Tarik did. Ryan Inman did. None of them have looked out of place at this level, have they? It's about finding more of them.

Just on the Wellingborough thing - we go for similar players and of course, as you can imagine, they have come in for one or two of ours throughout the course of the season. Whilst I couldn't tell you specifics, I know that they've blown us out the water on more than one occasion so must have quite a substantial budget for the level, despite what their manager would let everyone believe.

They signed at least FOUR from Spalding who won the league last year, earlier this season!

rickthediamond wrote: Sun Mar 30, 2025 8:15 pm Yesterday definitely served as a reminder about how much nicer the D&D is than Hayden Road.

It was definitely great to be back there, but at the same time it felt strange being there as an away fan. I know we played them “away” during our UCL days, but like I said it felt strange on Saturday.

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