CW is bigger progress?

Tennis at Wimbledon each year will carry on without the need for expansion although not too many players like a grass surface for tournament tennis. There one day might be pressure to play all tournaments on a hard artificial surface.

They have to move the tennis into the 21st century to keep up with the times such is progress

Laurence The Lawn tennis association oversees all tennis in Britain. The Tournerment at Church road on grass makes the club millions each year. One of my pre leaving school jobs was ball boy for the club which is a ordinary "Up market tennis club for the well heeled. The club still uses the ex Bank of England club at Roehampton for the qualifying rounds pre "Wimbledon" As an aside The LTA also have a centre of excellence also at Roehampton. As mentioned before the AELTC own a complex on Grand Drive. The plans to build on the old golf course include an 8000 seater stadium, 28 tennis courts and catering facilities. The locals will be able to walk the perimeter around the lake to Wimbledon park.The land grab a few years ago resulted in many ancient oak trees being toppled even before their application to build. The plans build will have little benefit for the local population. Greed ! Nothing but Greed!

Wasn't that when Sir Samuel Turkish-Bath was head of the LTA?

There was a proposal a few years ago to move the tennis to Basingstoke, would be terrible if that happened, too much history in Wimbledon to let that go

Not that it is an argument against football but there are more hours of tennis played at AELTC over the year than hours of football at Plough Lane. Both are places we should be proud of.

Pete - the two week competition is the culmination of what they and the LTA do over the year.

The AELTC also have a huge plot of land in Grand Drive, used for tennis. How much land do they need for a fortnight competition, once per year? Golf, tennis, both elitist sports when played in Wimbledon. Where's the benefit to the community?

Fair enough, I'm definitely in favour, others will be against.

OI, Not the top of my bucket list! We certainly don't need an extension of AELTC. It will be ten years of building work and road closures just for those that can afford champagne and strawberries and cream.

pete - when I was first taken to Wimbledon Park in the mid-fifties I asked to walk round the lake and was told half of it wasn't open to the public. If the AELTC get the go-ahead I may be able to walk round it before I die. So the WPRA, which has now been taken over by the people from the posh side of the tracks, gets zero sympathy from me.

Never thought I'd feel sorry for WPRA, but seeing this [Link] I must say, they may have a point this time.

Probably replacement for another ex Womble, Jason Prior, who must be about 80 now

Dons Outlook-rumour has it Ollie Palmer has been offered a 3 year contract by Dorking Wanderers

Some of the Clubs struggling at the start are teams you'd expect to feature at the top end. Like Reading (8th last season, just missing out), Plymouth (relegated) & Wycombe (lost in PO Semi)

Far too early to see what Orsi is about. Works hard and potentially useful. He did set up Hackford well for the goal against Gillingham.

6$m, agree about Orsi but I haven't seen a lot him

Most of the new signings look positive. Can't comment on McCoy-Splatt as I've not seen him play. Still early days but so far I've been disappointed with Orsi. He just seems to chase shadows and is no better than Kelly, who isn't good enough either. Orsi seemed an odd signing given he was deemed not good enough for relegation fodder Burton.

Yesterday we went for a high press with 5 at times from their goal kicks and were intent on making them go long. They broke the press on a number of occasions, but on the whole we kept them contained. Our structure is going to be the reason we stay up if we do.

The good thing is that we have replaced Tilley and Neufville well with Asiimwe and Seddon. We have also upgraded our attack with the signings of Hackford and Orsi. We are now able to counter attack. Couple that with a decent defence and we look okay.

Excellent stuff from Rob and Bush. Thank you.

Maybe we *are* well organised in comparison to other L1 sides?

First Plough Lane By Numbers blog of the season is out: [Link] A stats-based look at our positive start to the season.

Yeah I think we're good to stay up. Interesting that Barnsley fans credited us for being well-organised. This seems to be based on reputation and not an accurate description of us yesterday. It was an open game where both teams got in behind the other multiple times.