Opposing views: Bury
The four Bury fans we interview are certainly pleased with the capture of Port Vale striker Tom Pope but wary of the club’s finances…
These are the views of four members of the gigglane.com website
Best player last season?
Nathan Cameron was the most consistent all season and an absolute rock at the back for us…
BarryStrange – Both best and most improved player is clearly Nathan Cameron. He would have been released last summer if he hadn’t been signed on a two-year deal and turned into the utter rock at the back on which promotion was built. Strong, brave and a surprisingly accomplished finisher at the other end, he raised his game when his original centre half partners couldn’t. He’s still at Bury, they’re not.
Myrabury – Nathan Cameron.
Jessy98 – Nathan Cameron was the most consistent all season and an absolute rock at the back for us. He was closely followed by Danny Mayor who had moments of absolute magic but often faded out of games.
shaker in excile – Nathan Cameron, who went from being an also ran to leader and consistent week after week.
Highlight(s) of last season on the pitch?
Portsmouth at home was probably the best overall performance, Tranmere away was the most exciting day…
BarryStrange – Portsmouth at home was probably the best overall performance, Tranmere away was the most exciting day (started the last game outside the promotion spot, ended it in the promotion spot). Although for the first three months of the season at home and the last three away we were brutally professional in repeatedly winning, usually without conceding.
Myrabury – Victory at home over Shrewsbury in the run-up to promotion.
Jessy98 – The highlight on the pitch was undoubtedly the moment that the Sir Tom Soares effort went in at Tranmere, complete bedlam in the Cow Shed end!
shaker in excile – Promotion on the last game at Tranmere
Worst moment(s) of the season on the pitch?
BarryStrange – The pasting at Shrewsbury was awful, but it was simply the nadir of a terrible run up to Christmas that saw us disappear out of the play-offs and sign endless attempts at a quick fix, none of which worked. To be honest I gave up on automatic for four days after we lost to Southend.
Myrabury – Defeat to Shrewsbury away in October 2014.
Jessy98 – Worst moment was when we got humiliated by Shrewsbury at their place, losing 5-0.
shaker in excile – Southend water polo (always felt we had them that Saturday and that win would have saved my blood pressure !)
Sum up the season in a sentence or two?
A fantastic second-half to the season that saw the progression of a great team spirit as well as points on the board…
BarryStrange – I thought we would challenge for a promotion spot, expected play-offs and we went up. So I am happy with how it all turned out. Particularly since we were ten points or so back at some point. I don’t really see how anyone can not be when we set the club’s record points total of 85. Some have, unfairly, complained we didn’t “walk the league”, which rather overlooks the fact that Burton got 94 points which is genuinely phenomenal.
Myrabury – A fantastic second-half to the season that saw the progression of a great team spirit as well as points on the board. The club delivered on promotion expectations at the beginning of the 2014/15 campaign.
Jessy98 – The season started off very well with us thinking we’d romp the league but we faded out and had a sticky patch but we came good at completely the right time.
shaker in excile – Started like world beaters, then Shrewsbury blew our balloon apart, it took too long to get back on track, but all came good.
Your view on off-field affairs this season?
Nobody knows where the money coming into the club came from, how much the club owes and what the plan is to pay it off and this causes a lot of us to worry…
BarryStrange – Nobody knows. We are undoubtedly finally looking like a professional business, growing links to anchor the club in the community and showing some ambition for Bury. However, nobody knows where the money coming into the club came from, how much the club owes and what the plan is to pay it off and this causes a lot of us to worry. There may well be some serious gambles being taken behind the scenes.
Myrabury – Still needs some work on off the field revenue raising.
Jessy98 – Stewart Day seems to have the club on the up, despite what the doubters suggest.
shaker in excile – We are a different club under the current chairman and team and run like a professional club.
What are your expectations for next season?
BarryStrange – I genuinely think we will survive fairly comfortably, although a play-off place may be pushing it. It feels like an enjoyable season that will end as a contest a bit early for me.
Myrabury – Ideally and realistically, a mid-table finish.
Jessy98 – Next season I’d ideally want us to push for the play-offs and cause some excitement but realistically I’d be happy with a comfortable mid-table finish with no fear of relegation.
shaker in excile – Play offs, if we can make Gigg Lane a fortress, one can dream for more
Where do the club need to strengthen on the pitch?
We need to sign a goalkeeper ASAP – hopefully Nick Pope comes back on a season-long loan…
BarryStrange – In goal. We only have a back-up keeper signed up in my view. Also we are stuffed creatively if Danny Mayor leaves, which surely he will. Having 78 forwards is all well and good but if you have nobody to create chances, which without him we don’t, their impact will be limited.
Myrabury – Have more or less done this already over the last couple of weeks with the recruitment of experienced midfielders, a strong target man and (hopefully though not officially confirmed as yet) keeper.
Jessy98 – We need to sign a goalkeeper ASAP – hopefully Nick Pope comes back on a season-long loan.
shaker in excile – A goalie for sure.
If you could take one Port Vale player for next season who would it be?
BarryStrange – Sorry mate but we’ve already done that in Tom Pope.
Myrabury – Given that we didn’t have a prolific individual goalscorer last season, Tom Pope!
Jessy98 – Freddie Veseli simply because of how he did for us the previous season. Although Joe Riley is more than good enough for us.
shaker in excile – Got the one I wanted in Tom Pope.
What do the club need to do off-field to improve?
A little more openness and honesty would placate most of the fanbase…
BarryStrange – A little more openness and honesty would placate most of the fanbase. Most of us realise that the club should not be run entirely open book – it is a business which conducts commercial transactions in a competitive environment. At the moment the relative silence on how the club is being funded is only feeding the rather bitter feud between those convinced the club is about to explode in a financial fireball and those who seem to think taking the club over when it was on its knees renders the owners immune from any criticism.
Myrabury – We have already secured top flight training facilities at Carrington so this should continue to make a difference.
Jessy98 – Off-field we need to make sure our projects actually come off such as the planned BL9 Weekender which was postponed, so we can have more non-footballing revenue. This can be used to improve the stadium.
shaker in excile – We need to get the crowd as one, too many doubters about the manager and ownership.
If you were granted one wish for next season, what would it be?
BarryStrange – Promotion, ideally via finally turning up in a game against Rochdale and returning the relegation favour to Oldham.
Myrabury – Club survival, simple as. Good luck with your campaign next season – except when we play you that is…
Jessy98 – Not to get relegated is the most sensible wish. See you next season!
shaker in excile – The wish would be simple, win every game and be promoted, but I also wished for a Guinness that never became empty!