rgreig
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Posts posted by rgreig
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1 hour ago, diegomarahenry said:
Taking Mathie at face value would mean that Bangala, From the DRC, who has a French passport and playing in the Slovakian second tier was dreaming of one day playing for Ayr United.
To be fair to Mathie, I think he meant he wanted players who bought into some kind of vision for the club. Not necessarily that they had always dreamed of walking onto Somerset Park but that once they understood the ambition for the club they were excited by it. I am not really convinced that is realistic though unless they are sharing something with prospective players that we fans are not aware of.
I find these interviews frustrating because they dance around the key question - how will we compete against clubs with much higher budgets? How does our budget compare with other clubs in the division? We know from the published accounts that teams like partick are spending far more on their squad. But Mathie must know how we are looking compared with the rest of the division.
He is right though that unless we sell more tickets we cannot expect the squad budget to rise much.
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13 minutes ago, diegomarahenry said:
I am a season ticket holder so In terms of my cash it won’t make a difference to the club but I go to very few away games now but buy the away stream probably 80% of the time.
I am sure there are many people like me who would otherwise put little to no money in away teams pockets over the years if it wasn’t for streaming. I wouldn’t have gone to 2 games in Arbroath and Inverness but I bought all 4 games to stream.
It would be interesting to see how much an average club made on away gates before the pandemic Vs streaming last season when restrictions were lifted for the most part.Yes, I am similar - I attended quite a few away games and streamed the rest. I think I will have paid for almost every game in some way.
Economically clubs must benefit - does anyone here know how much Ayr benefited?
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52 minutes ago, Finlay21 said:
The SPFL need to do something about it , think it’s down to them looking to make money off the streaming rights , totally out of all clubs hands
Is the SPFL not governed by its members? If so can clubs not propose motions for things like this?
I can see advantages in a league-wide service but not if it doesn't actually exist!
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1 hour ago, diegomarahenry said:
Other clubs have managers that can work this out by seeing the players play, then signing players that can provide what they need. Arbroath had none of this and finished miles ahead of us for example.
To me it is a positive step - a way to optimise what we can achieve with our playing squad (irrespective of the level we may think they are at individually). Look at how some sports have been absolutely revolutionised by used of data, a very obvious example being F1.
How many clubs in the championship have this capability already?
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1 hour ago, Superhursy7 said:
That goal against Partick is without a doubt the best I've ever seen in the flesh. I know it looks good on the video but in person it was 10x better with the pace on the ball. Even the Partick fans applauded it.
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4 hours ago, Iain said:
I don't think I've ever seen a team have consistent success with three CBs other than where they also have a significant talent advantage. It's an objectively sub-optimal system.
I was trying to think of a team at our level that had successfully used that formation. Am I right in saying that Tom Hendrie's St Mirren deployed it the year they won the division? I seem to remember they did but it was a while ago now.
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2 hours ago, D'Jaffo said:
It’s probably a good thing that we signed Bangala when we did as he should be available for the league starting although who knows when we’ll actually see him as he’s missed our entire pre season.
I hire quite a lot of people who need visa sponsorship as part of my job and although the circumstances will vary, we are finding the immigration process to be incredibly slow this year - we typically allow 12 weeks for someone to start (and that is paying for the fastest process available). While individual circumstances will clearly impact this, people need to be aware that if Bangala is delayed beyond the start of the season this will absolutely not be the club's fault.
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35 minutes ago, edinburghhonestman said:
Salary bill was £860k in both 19-20 and 20-21.Thanks - so my guess was at least accurate. But if I may ask where did you get the figure?
It would be interesting to compare the salary costs in the Championship. I know that Partick has a much higher bill that we do (since they still publish full accounts).
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4 hours ago, Rugbypark said:
Thought there would be a bit more debate on this. I can understand the potential they see in the dabs, as the current level of support, given the catchment area, is pathetic and open to expansion. Arbroath, not so much.Yes, it makes me think their model doesn't try to factor in the potential for growth in utilisation (i.e. fanbase). I assume they make some broad assumptions based on the capacity of the stadium.
It's hard to know for sure what Ayr's wage bill is since the club is small enough that it doesn't have to file full accounts, but I think we can assume somewhere between 800k and 1m per annum. I happen to know that Lincoln City - a mid table League 1 side - has a wage bill of 3.5m and they have home gates of around 10k. We have seen Ayr bring in players from lower league sides recently but to be able to start looking even at League 1 level players we would need to find ways to reduce that delta. Note that the population of Lincoln is only around 100k.
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1 hour ago, Estragon said:
Came on after reading this in the bbc gossip page this morning - really intriguing. Does anyone have a link to the source data? Or know what the basis of the calculation is?
This link is the best one I have seen so far:
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7 hours ago, southsiderayr said:
https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/20249688.arbroath-named-uks-investable-team/
Interesting wee read! More context below:
https://technosports.co.in/2022/06/13/takeover-prospects-club-investment/
This is quite interesting. I was initially rather surprised that either Arbroath or Ayr would be considered a good investment opportunity because I always thought the relatively low ceiling on gate receipts, fans base etc would be a limiting factor. But reading some of the text, the report authors believe that increases in gate receipts (what they call utilisation) represent a major opportunity. They don't really say why though.
What would represent a realistic crowd target for us? Right now 3000 home fans every week would I am sure be considered fantastic by the board. There is an interesting book called The Roar of the Crowd which contains lots of stats about football attendances in Scotland over the years and that does show that Ayr did not historically have lower gates than similar provincial clubs like our county rivals.
Maybe I am wrong but I don't think that will change rapidly; we are still suffering from the effects of what Bob Crampsie many years ago described as "Ayr on a shoe string".
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4 minutes ago, RedEd said:
To be fair,it was quite an important goal. It was the third last game of the season and we finished one point above relegated Kilmarnock.
Interesting, I had completely forgotten that!! Now that you've jogged my memory I do remember the last day of the season very well with the late goal at Clyde sealing Kilmarnock's fate. For some reason I thought that was the following year.
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1 hour ago, Frosty said:
John Sludden’s goal to make it 2-0 at home to Dunfermline in our first season back in the First Division after the magnificent 87/88 campaign. Made by Henry Templeton with a typical driving run from just outside our box to the edge of theirs and then a slide rule pass for Sludden to take round a defender and the keeper to score.
It may not have meant much for Ayr, but if we interpret the question to mean generally significant goals, I think I would also add Sludden's goal against St Johnstone on the 29th of April 1989, which was the last goal scored in a competitive match at Muirton Park.
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9 minutes ago, AUFC 1910 said:
I need some help troops for a wee project - more information to follow when ready.
I’m looking for important / iconic goals / goalscoring exploits for Ayr
On my list so far I have
Moff at Brechin (play offs)
Geggan against Killie (cup)
Jamie Adams against Raith (league)
Roberts against Hibs (cup)
Smith against St Mirren (cup)
Williams against Killie (cup)
Stevo against Airdrie (play offs)
Sir Lawrence against Dundee Utd (league)
Eddie Anand, penalty against Hibs in the League Cup Semi-Final.
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1 hour ago, kilMARKnock said:
Did look your best player against us last season, will he do a job in the Prem?
I think he has certainly got potential, but I would be surprised if he is in your starting eleven - at least not until he has developed further.
He did very well for us last season but I don't think he was our best midfielder.
Don't get me wrong though - definitely a good signing for you in my opinion in the context of what I assume is a significant overhaul of your squad.
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3 minutes ago, Finlay21 said:
Not 100% sure but I have heard that SPFL are saying games can’t be streamed due to lifting of all covid restrictions, but nothing official has come out yet
That would be a real pity. For many of us with work commitments the streaming services (however variable the quality!) give us an opportunity to watch games live that we otherwise wouldn't have.
I don't understand why the SPFL would do this - surely this just gives an additional revenue stream for clubs? It's not as if any broadcaster is looking to purchase the rights to show matches live on Saturdays. Unless the SPFL is planning to replace the current arrangements with an alternative provider this just seems to be a retrograde step for both fans and clubs.
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19 minutes ago, WATTOO said:
Not in the least bit bothered about Muirhead leaving, Yes he could take a penalty and gave 100% on the pitch, however he was limited and could prove a liability at times as we all know only too well.
I'd wish him well but won't be losing any sleep over him going.
I think his versatility was his strength but I agree that generally I think we should be aiming for better. But it would be interesting to know whether we offered him a deal that reflected the fact that he would like not be a regular starter, or whether he was actually someone that Bullen was expecting to keep and to start. That would give us a clearer view of our ambitions for next season.
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48 minutes ago, D'Jaffo said:
Aye I don’t think either team are going to pose any immediate threat but given time they could overtake us if we don’t get it right.
I don't know about Queen's Park, but the Cove chairman gave an interview on BBC Radio Scotland after they secured promotion saying that the playing side of the club had improved more rapidly than they expected and that they would be remaining hybrid next season while they complete infrastructure projects. So I don't think they will be spending to create a promotion winning team yet. But it sounds like they have a multi-year plan and it may be that when we are also in a position to make that promotion push they will be formidable rivals.
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1 hour ago, jm86 said:
Did we not then go 2 up playing with 10, before imploding and losing 3 goals in the last 8 minutes. A day of infamy.
Yes but my most vivid recollection was that complete waste of space Innes Cameron missing from approximately 3 yards out which would have put us 3-0 up, only for Morton to score their first almost immediately afterwards. We were excellent in the first half but that game shattered the confidence of both the players and Mark Kerr and I don't recall us ever recovering the form of those first 45 minutes.
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5 hours ago, D'Jaffo said:
How do you rate Moffat since we came back to the Championship?I don't think CF has been the position where his contribution to the team is strongest.
For Ashford, maybe he can contribute more in a wider position (I haven't been at the games where he has been played in that position so I don't have a view on that either way) but my point is that I don't think we should be looking at him as a centre forward for next season based on what I have seen and his goals return. I have seen him getting into very good positions but his finishing for whatever reason hasn't been good enough. I think we have seen enough of Tomi to know that he will easily score more than last season in a Bullen team, so the task is to find another CF who can get into double figures and we will be looking up rather than down.
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6 hours ago, ryanayr1987 said:
I think that’s harsh tbh. He isn’t an out and out finisher but he is a good support striker as he makes good runs, makes space for others and creates opportunities for others. I do prefer him wide but wouldn’t call him abysmal just he isn’t a clinical finisher
I rate centre forwards on their goal scoring ability. One goal every 500 minutes might be OK for a midfielder (e.g. Maxwell has that stat) but for me I expect a lot better from someone playing in the CF position.
That's not to say he can't do a job for the team in another position but for me I just don't see him as a good choice at centre forward.
Clearly he'll bang in 20 goals next season for us now!!
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10 hours ago, itzdrk said:
Hopefully Ashford is used more as a wide player cause his finishing is up there with Martyn Campbell but he's quite effective out wide.
I can only hope this is the case too since as I have said before Ashford is abysmal as a centre forward. I am looking forward to seeing who they have lined up to play alongside Tomi.
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2 hours ago, RedEd said:
We already knew that Muirhead and Baird were offered terms. The club issued a statement the other day.
https://ayrunitedfc.co.uk/squad-update-end-of-season-2021-22
I was surprised at how many players we have offered new contracts to, but what isn't clear is how many of them are likely to be second choice in their position. We know that Albinson will be obviously, but how many of the rest? If he is planning on bringing in 4 or 5 players who are expected to be starters then that puts quite a different slant on it.
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55 minutes ago, WATTOO said:
It's a new licence for employers following Brexit.
https://www.gov.uk/uk-visa-sponsorship-employers/apply-for-your-licence
Ahh, thanks. I had not realised it was the UK visa sponsorship licence that was being referred to here.
I guess not many clubs in the Championship would expect to bring players in from outside the UK, so although it isn't expensive I agree it must mean we have at least a couple of players we are looking at. Did Hamilton have any track record of bringing in overseas players?
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The Ultimate Super Ayr Thread
in Scottish Championship General Chatter
Posted
I don't think any reasonable person could disagree that our squad is currently weaker than last season.
The variable I don't know is how much wages have changed year on year in football? Are we able to assemble a decent squad with the budget we have? If it is true that we have lost out on several targets is that because we were naive or was it that competition increased wages more rapidly than we expected?