Echo News Five talking points from the Shrimpers Trust's AGM this evening

[bluethroughandthrough]

Do you also think if the people of Clacton went to see their local MP to discuss a pro immigration agenda that said mp would ask the question in the commons? At the end of the day, people won’t use their one or two opportunities to ask someone else’s question that they don’t agree with. Add to that one that would cause offence and diminish their own personal relationship or reputation.

I’m a member of the trust but I am not able to get to events such as this. So I am grateful to the people that do go, and feedback the q&a for me - even if they are not always cover all of the questions I would ask.

I am indeed thankful don't get me wrong on that front. Kudos to you that you are involved in the trust

This forum is my opportunity to share my feedback as a customer. The trust should be representative of all customer views not just the view of the people on the trust. The trust should act as a quasi consumer choice bureau keeping the brand I'm check. Failure to do that is not democracy referencing your political example.

To your point of the said MP, yes that's why they are there to represent the views of the people. Not a person perhaps but I am not alone in my view.

As to the view if they don't agree with, it's very likely I wouldn't then vote for said MP.

It shouldn't stop me sharing my view however. If the MP doesn't agree with the view, that's not really the point as that's allowing political bias to cloud.

In the US, the way round that is to "lobby" or use currency to do so. MPs will not have an issue to ask said view points if currency is involved.

For my view to be represented, should we therefore ensure a clear voting democratic approach to trust membership? Or should we be allowed to lobby?

I'm not that bothered to go down that path and the questions I pose are rhetorical. I just want to make my and many other customers feedback views (based on data) have an opportunity to be heard). That's democracy.

 

[bluethroughandthrough]

I thought Medway Blue's post was a perfectly valid viewpoint given our circumstances. But that's just my opinion, please don't let it get in the way of your 'facts'.

Which means your opinion is that mine was not. Fair enough on your opinion
I respect your opinion.

 

[Liam AAS]

With a transfer sub-committee split across many different time zones (US, HK, AUS, UK etc) and using many different layers, it is inevitably going to lead to delay and frustration. With Kev stuck in the middle and probably taking unwarranted flack from fans, when the transfer activity is so slow or non-existent.

We need to be able to move fast in the transfer market, not wait for people with 9 or 10 hours time difference to give the nod. I'm all for data being used, but it needs to be good data or the output is completely worthless.

You see how frustrated Kev is with it all. It's a nonsense at this level.

Are you on email?

 

[bluethroughandthrough]

Are you on email?

Perhaps this is where the leaks were from? !

 

[TUMBO]

Are there any minutes further than what has been added above?

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

The people moaning about data being used make me laugh. These very same people are all over the transfer rumours thread any time a name is mentioned, saying 'x goals in y games, just what we need (not)'.... that's DATA.

Data is and has always been used. If goals per game matter, so does speed over 100m, so does tackles won etc.... Data is just information - i.e. something which informs, which can help our recruitment team understand and differentiate between various players' form, progression, consistency, reliability... you name it. We've always used data. We're just going to use a bit more from now on.

The idea that the scouts are handing in their bus passes and cycling helmets, so they can sit staring at a laptop goggled-eyed by a dizzying series of 0s and 1s is just as nuts. Nobody has used those exact words, but they have come mighty close.

Some folks could maybe do a bit more thinking before they post. If they were to say aloud some of the tripe they type, they wouldn't type it in the first place.

 

[Holy Joe]

I am indeed thankful don't get me wrong on that front. Kudos to you that you are involved in the trust

This forum is my opportunity to share my feedback as a customer. The trust should be representative of all customer views not just the view of the people on the trust. The trust should act as a quasi consumer choice bureau keeping the brand I'm check. Failure to do that is not democracy referencing your political example.

To your point of the said MP, yes that's why they are there to represent the views of the people. Not a person perhaps but I am not alone in my view.

As to the view if they don't agree with, it's very likely I wouldn't then vote for said MP.

It shouldn't stop me sharing my view however. If the MP doesn't agree with the view, that's not really the point as that's allowing political bias to cloud.

In the US, the way round that is to "lobby" or use currency to do so. MPs will not have an issue to ask said view points if currency is involved.

For my view to be represented, should we therefore ensure a clear voting democratic approach to trust membership? Or should we be allowed to lobby?

I'm not that bothered to go down that path and the questions I pose are rhetorical. I just want to make my and many other customers feedback views (based on data) have an opportunity to be heard). That's democracy.

The trust is there to share the views of its members - I don't understand your view that not living in Southend makes it difficult to join the trust - they have members all over the world and you can easily join online.

The q&a was an opportunity for trust members to ask questions

 

[dusterman]

Are you on email?

Simply have to be these days.

 

[Southend Elvis]

No, because that is opinion rather than fact. An opinion which didn't seem to be shared by many, if any, in attendance last night. You could always join the Trust and come along to ask the question yourself?

Slightly worrying if nearly all of the trust think the football is fine and dandy, would hope there would be a few different opinions putting the questions to the top table.

 

[Southend Elvis]

Why can't the trust put up a list of questions on here, and depending on votes cast, ask those question to those in charge. Not everyone can attend these meetings, but this would cover a lot of queries a wide section of the fanbase want to know about.
I would rather know about the football than what goes on behind the scene?

It could also help fans understand why KM makes on field decisions, and may temper their views.

 

[Hampshire Shrimp]

How far back does the data look?
What I mean is if a player had great stats from earlier in their careers, and has dropped off, not played as much? I`m referring to the likes of Moncur and Bonne? Although data can be used to take into account a number of different attributes, their is nothing like watching players, in matches preforming and watched a few times to get an accurate, eyes on appraisal of a player.
Also injuries are not picked up on data, I agree that it is an aid, but many factors are needed to determine the profile needed to sign a player.
We also need to take our time and not rush and buy who is left after other clubs have finished their business? We should be identifying targets that will form the team that will go into the 25/6 season on a much better stance, on and off the pitch with a non interrupted pre-season and ready for, at least the play-offs push. Kendall was obviously a long term target that we have signed, if past indicated players become available, maybe not now, but the summer, then we should wait to get that player and look at the bigger picture further down the line. This season was always going to be a mid table finish and then go again season 25/6 for more of a push towards the top 7 in the league. Let`s be patient and see how the squad builds over the next 7 months, as this will then be the start of the 25/6 season and see where we are? I`m not a massive fan of Maher, if COSU give him the next season, then so be it, I follow the constant which is Southend United. Managers have come and gone throughout the years, and we praise success and deplore others, but we all want the same outcome which is taking the club back to the EFL, lets see how it plays out?
Up The Blues

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

As to your point of joining the trust I no longer live in Southend which makes it impractical. However I would be happily vocal if I was. If questions like mine were not asked perhaps the trust is not setup to represent the voice of all the fans appropriately. That's an unfortunate bias.

Hi, just picking up on your point re not being local so not being a member of the Trust (hope I haven't taken that point out of context) there is nothing to prevent you joining the Trust wherever you live in the world - many of us live outside of the local area and are members (whether actively involved or not). I agree that being an Exile may make it impractical to attend meetings, but it does not prevent you having a say and a vote in what the Trust does - there have been many member surveys in the past which are used to formulate opinion and the way forward for example.

 

[Tampa Blue]

TRANSFER SUB COMMITTEE

A transfer sub committee has been formed which includes three board members alongside Kevin Maher and John Still.

Goodness, decisions being made by a committee that is 40% Football Professionals and 60% non football professionals.

That's a really strange mix imho.

 

[C'mon you Shrimpers]

This turgid football idea really amuses me. In reply to a question about Bonne Kevin gave out a load of statistics to indicate we were in the top four or five for crosses, shots, forward passes etc. What he did say was we lack finishers apart from Harry, Bim and Gus. The others teams must be more turgid than us. Reminds me of the rather pathetic hoofball criticism under Sturrock.

 

[Tampa Blue]

This turgid football idea really amuses me. In reply to a question about Bonne Kevin gave out a load of statistics to indicate we were in the top four or five for crosses, shots, forward passes etc. What he did say was we lack finishers apart from Harry, Bim and Gus. The others teams must be more turgid than us. Reminds me of the rather pathetic hoofball criticism under Sturrock.

“There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics”

IMHO, the ONLY meaningful statistic that is an undeniable fact and is not based on opinions is our League position.

 

[bazzashrimper]

I am indeed thankful don't get me wrong on that front. Kudos to you that you are involved in the trust

This forum is my opportunity to share my feedback as a customer. The trust should be representative of all customer views not just the view of the people on the trust. The trust should act as a quasi consumer choice bureau keeping the brand I'm check. Failure to do that is not democracy referencing your political example.

To your point of the said MP, yes that's why they are there to represent the views of the people. Not a person perhaps but I am not alone in my view.

As to the view if they don't agree with, it's very likely I wouldn't then vote for said MP.

It shouldn't stop me sharing my view however. If the MP doesn't agree with the view, that's not really the point as that's allowing political bias to cloud.

In the US, the way round that is to "lobby" or use currency to do so. MPs will not have an issue to ask said view points if currency is involved.

For my view to be represented, should we therefore ensure a clear voting democratic approach to trust membership? Or should we be allowed to lobby?

I'm not that bothered to go down that path and the questions I pose are rhetorical. I just want to make my and many other customers feedback views (based on data) have an opportunity to be heard). That's democracy.

Ok. Just to confirm - I’m a trust member by paying a modest sum of money. I’m not a member of the committee. I believe James was voted in by members.

We are way off topic now though!

 

[C'mon you Shrimpers]

“There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics”

IMHO, the ONLY meaningful statistic that is an undeniable fact and is not based on opinions is our League position.

Funnily enough Kevin would agree with you that the 2 most important statistics are how many goals you prevent (we’re pretty good at this) and how many goals we score ( we are trying hard to improve this)

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

That sounds very promising. Especially the £750k uplift in income. That was totally imaginable while the rat was at the helm. I'd like to say a massive thank you to Tom and all the folks around him for pulling that off. They must have gone through some awful times just keeping our beloved club alive, not alone increasing revenue

 

[Fairport]

Certainly some positive notes from this meeting. The issue that still concerns me and I suspect many others is the use of data and who is analysing it. I agree 100% with the use of data concerning any player that interests us. However I strongly believe that it should be looked over and analysed by football people alone. The non football people should obviously be involved in all financial matters relating to the club including transfer fees, loan deals, wages etc. In these areas COSU are doing a great job. I don't know but would suspect that the coaching and scouting staff also have reservations with this new policy.

 

[C'mon you Shrimpers]

Kev said if I remember correctly said the stats were important but so too were the imponderables and these are my words personal opinion, how players might gel, that 5th element as Jimmy Page always talked about with Led Zeppelin. The Derek Spence, Keith Mercer magic that you’ll never prove statistically until the magic happens.