“Fair point, Isambard.

Didn't mean to make it sound it wouldn't work, just trying to make clear that the Board have tried to do something different instead of taking the same line with appointments all the time.”

“Lincoln are poo, discuss.”

“Luke, a well written post, however, I've always wondered why people are categorised in such a way. Just because one individual "who knows the division" (alledgedly) doesn't work out, shouldn't be the reason to move to another category.

Like with England, we hear that "we've tried foriegn managers"...no, we've tried Svena and Fabio.

Others (Jose or Arsene for example) would be the same i.e foreign but different people and they might work.

It's about the individual.

Up the Imps”

“Look 'Pops' clearly we are going to have to agree to disagree. My Chesterfield comment was based on the assumption that should we fail to win then the usual bile will be spouted on here by people who are not at the game. I will grant you the fact it isn't cheap to support the Imps and if I didn't do the job I did there I wouldn't make as many games as I do. I never said not going to games means you are less of a fan, I suggested not going to games leaves you in a slightly less informed position to comment on performance - a la Hykeham Imp.

I don't think 'fans' of the club are graded by how many games they attend a season, but the weight of their evaluation of performances does. Does Hykeham Imp go to games? Probably not. Does he then come on here to try and get a rise out of fans with ill informed comments? Yes he does. Does it work? 31 comments later suggests it probably does.

I am angry at the moment, bordering on seething with the attitude of several sections of City fans, and frankly Pops I don't know whether you fall into that catergory or not. As I said in Mondays Echo too many people expect a quick fix, instant results and that doesn't happen. As a season ticket holder of 17 years, how many times have we progressed further than the first couple of rounds in the JPT? Once? Twice? Yet not progressing during the Keith era never did us any harm did it? The key competition is the League, pure and simple. Therefore my 'pointless' comments were aimed at the insane ramblings of posters who feel a JPT defeat with five first teamers out is in some way detrimental to our clubs progress overall.

The players hear the rumblings of discontent in the stands, in my opinion premature rumblings by the same old faces. Sincil Bank needs to be a place of noise, of unending support for the boys. Even if we are losing or playing badly the fans have an important role to play and this is a point I am trying to get across. I'm sorry if my support and passion for the club is pointless, and if my ability to see beyond one or two results at the start of a long campaign is somehow obtuse but thats the way it is. I am a fan, not judged on the number of games I go to or how long I've been going, but judged on the fact I actually get behind the team.”

“Pops, that is a fair post but I don't mind people being negative, if it is rational. The only reason I have said Hykeham is a Grimsby fan is that previously he was unheard of and strangely Mark Budgen, Mariner and Mike Cycott have all vanished who espoused similar views to get people wound up. It worked and even gets people arguing over their existence.”

“This is my last comment on this subject I think). My view is that when anyone puts a negative view on the same people come back stating that the negative posters are not true fans don't actually go to the match or are Boston or Grimsby fan. This happens everytime. Not that it matters but I'm a season ticket holder and have been for the last 17yrs. This does not make me a better fan than the man who decides to pop down one week out of 4. Its not cheap to follow the Imps and anyone who does should be applauded. As for my argument about Gary he proves my point with his comments like 'Will you be going to Chesterfield on Saturday' does that matter? And the answer is NO I won't,I'm a 39 yr old married man with 2 kids I can not justify going to every away game. Does this make me less of a fan obviously in Gary's eyes it does!!!”

“I agree with you Gary with regard to people banning each other but think it was in jest. Think Npton Imp had it spot on, all this banning such and such has little to do with the story.
As for the story itself, I am not too concerned with us going out. Would have been nice to go to Wembley but yet again we have been beaten by a good team with Billy Big Timer still playing for them and scoring against us again. No great shame in the loss, and as I was saying to my Bournemouth mate last night there will be no shame in losing to Chesterfield away on Saturday. Will see what happens. As Luke says, we have tried plenty of things that simply haven't worked out. It was a stat that always made my mates at uni chortle that we had a chairman who had brought in something like ten managers in ten seasons at Sincil bank. Perhaps if the fans were in charge it would be 30 managers in 5 years!
Gary, always good to see you on here, but us tooing and frooing sounds like a euphemism for something :)”

“Alright Jonathan, long time no banter! I never actually 'started' on Pops it was his attack on me which has prompted my retorts. I simply pointed out that Hykeham Imp is / was a muppet and at that point was told my comments were pointless. I'm happy to argue points with anyone who has respect for other peoples opinions IF they are based on some form of substance. I haven't any recollection of Pops previous comments, but in wanting to ban people who post positive and well constructed arguments on here (which I believe I do and I believe Hykeham Imp does not) surely he opens himself up to a retort from me? Anyway Mr Ricketts, what are your feelings on the subject? I always enjoyed our too-ing and fro-ing of previous seasons.”

“Luke your post would be up there as my nomination for post of the year. Not just because it follows roughly what I think, but it is well supported by facts. Put into words what I have been think for a while.
Lay off Pops Gary, he's not a bad un. Least he is a genuine poster unlike some on here just out to get a rise. Which answers your question on Hykeham Imp, no he won't because he is probably off to watch Grimsby get stuffed again.”

“Quick question to Pops and Hykeham Imp as well: Will you be going to Chesterfield on Saturday or will we have to put up with your opinions after they've been formed by listening to Steve Thompson and Jeff Stelling from the comfort of your sofa?”