pharvey wrote: ↑Tue Feb 27, 2024 1:31 am
I guess there's BB and his version of the FA Cup stuffing things up for his club
Of course there is a huge difference - Maidstone are a reasonably well positioned team in National League South. Little money, and their ambition will be reaching the National League. The money they will have made from this competition will mean an awful lot to them. If used wisely, it could turn their fortunes/ambitions right around next season.
If you are trying to compare with a club like Plymouth Argyle, there is a whole world of difference. After being dumped by the Japanese sugar daddy, and Everton's mis-management sent them into administration, they have been gradually pulling themselves out of the mire, and have just pulled themselves back into the 2nd tier of English football after a massive battle over quite a few years. The only similarity is that neither team was going to win the FA Cup this year.
Plymouth have worked wonders in recent years, not by having a sugar daddy finance things, but through sheer hard work and very good management. The have bought and re-vamped their stadium. They have created a massive footprint in the local community, most home games are sold out, and most away games sees the away supporter allocation sold out. This is massive for a club that couldn't field a team of adults a few years back when we played at Oxford United, and when a player threw his shirt into the crowd at Bristol Rovers, club officials had to beg for the shirt back, else they wouldn't have had enough shirts for the next game.
Plymouth don't actually need a cup windfall these days - needing that extra cash is a thing of the past. Yes, it would be a bit of a bonus, but wouldn't change the club's fortunes in the same way as cash could change Maidstone's. They have clawed their way into tier 2, and this is a consolidation season. A few extra quid from a cup competition would not make up what they would lose from cup distraction resulting in relegation to the 3rd tier.
Of course, it would be great if an Arab nation could finance success, or they could sell 40% of the club in the way some tier 1 clubs do, but if I'm honest - that is just free money, and I'm much happier watching hard graft and good management. There is a lot more satisfaction doing it the Plymouth way.
There's proper football and Premiership prima donnas.
As you say though, they've added a few to their own account and given their fans something to smile about along the way. 
caller has the dubious honour of the Wooden Spoon.....
You're a closet wendy. 
