Thanks Kev - but is a new manager needed?

[Shrimper]

Was Man U losing 1-0 to us in the League Cup (very much a peripheral competition like the FA Trophy) all those years ago as big a calamity to them as us losing to Sittingbourne on Saturday? Did Fergie lose his job as a result?
Defeat in these circumstances is never a pleasant experience but the awful result did not affect our position in the league.
Time to move on; we still have much to play for and I doubt that changing managers will in any boost our chances of finding our way into the play offs.

We were not 3 leagues below United and we earnt that win. United didn't sit back and just let us relax like we did v Sittingbourne

 

[blues exile]

My worry is that IF Maher isn't the man for the job and we hold on out of loyalty and give him an unhindered pre-season as most people think he earned last year, we would then be in the same position another year down the line. IF we got rid of Maher now, it would potentially give a new manager time to evaluate the squad and make his own changes.

All managers have bad periods and Maher has not had it easy but that doesn't get away from the fact that he's scared of attacking woeful teams. That does not inspire confidence in your own team, poor man management in my opinion. By insisting on playing negative tactics against some awful teams (Woking second half comes to mind) You're subconsciously telling the whole team that if we attack we won't win. What sort of message is that to your own team?

I was just starting to think maybe I was wrong, the football was improving and we looked exciting to watch minus some poor finishing against Fylde but he's reverted to type by the sounds of it. I don't see it changing unfortunately.

Leopards and spots come to mind. Einstein's definition of madness and various other cliches. All true. How much more evidence is needed that it's time for a change.

 

[Danshrimper]

Dagenham 16th (10 points from last 10 games)
Braintree 18th (were in relegation zone when we played them)
Fylde 22nd (7 points from last 10 games and only won once away all season)
Ebbsfleet 24th (worse team we have played in memory - 1 win all season)

We play worse teams than the above and lose, we get heavily beaten by Barnet. I dont think results against the above teams should be celebrated as we should be convincingly beating these regardless. These results shouldnt paper over the big cracks that are there and any semi decent team are going to beat us at the moment.

But your argument was that our form is not any better in 2025. Yet we are 5th in the form table.

Form isn’t subjective based on the league position of the teams you have played, it’s a fact.

Barnet and York were clearly a lot better than us, and I can’t disagree that we aren’t good enough to compete with them this season.

But your argument that any semi decent side would beat us just isn’t true. These are our results against the rest of the top 7:

Forest Green - Draw
Gateshead - Loss
Oldham - Draw
Halifax - Win
Rochdale - Win

So let’s see how the next few games go before we completely write off the season when we are 3 points away from the play offs.

 

[bluesfansince1952]

Exactly. Place these results in that context for a reality check.

When we lose it is because we are useless, and, should we win it can only be because our opponents are useless.
I find that kind of logic unconvincing. Not that it matters as future results will prove me right or wrong.
As always time will tell.

 

[danbowen]

But your argument was that our form is not any better in 2025. Yet we are 5th in the form table.

Form isn’t subjective based on the league position of the teams you have played, it’s a fact.

Barnet and York were clearly a lot better than us, and I can’t disagree that we aren’t good enough to compete with them this season.

But your argument that any semi decent side would beat us just isn’t true. These are our results against the rest of the top 7:

Forest Green - Draw
Gateshead - Loss
Oldham - Draw
Halifax - Win
Rochdale - Win

So let’s see how the next few games go before we completely write off the season when we are 3 points away from the play offs.

If you look at the table we are three points off the playoffs but these teams have games in hand and that is only one space. Realistically it would be a shock if we got the play offs this season.

 

[tommy tucker]

What fans that want kevin out is .When the take over took place .COSU gave the three amigos new long term contracts .So to replace one or all three would cost a packet in compo . So for the time being i gusee they will stick with that team untill at least the end of the season .

 

[Linda Loan Shark]

We need to give Kev time and a full season with no restrictions.

Grass is not always greener. We could end up with a lot worse.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Let’s be realistic, we are 3 points off the play offs and have won 4 out of the last 5 in the league. Maher does not ‘need’ to go because we get knocked out of the ****ing FA Trophy.

Just take a look at the teams still left in it (or not in it, more to the point) to see how important this competition really is.

The result and performance were not good enough, everyone knows that. But if the reaction to that is we go and win the next few games in the league and find ourselves in the play offs, nobody is going to care that we are no longer in the FA Trophy. So let’s save the judgement until after the next few games in the league.

How about if we don't even make the playoffs this season?

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

The problem is, fans are very impulsive and reactionary and aren't always rational, as football makes us lead with our emotions. COSU won't do that.

How many owners out there are seriously going to sack a manager who has just won 4 out of 5 league games and has us in the top 5 for form in the league? Saturday was an abysmal showing, have no doubt, but that's not going to be the reason for a sacking. The fact is, the form and the performances had taken a positive turn recently, it's what makes Saturday so perplexing. Nonetheless, COSU will look at the form, not a one off match.

I still think Saturday just gone rests with the players. It's now up to Maher to pick them up and get a reaction on Saturday coming, that's where he'll earn his corn. If we get a result on Saturday, it will be playoff talk again. It's how football works.

 

[MisterStubbs]

We need to give Kev time and a full season with no restrictions.

Grass is not always greener. We could end up with a lot worse.

We could also end up with someone a lot better though.. it's hardly a reason as to why just to keep Maher.

 

[bluethroughandthrough]

Re new managers, I wonder if there are any reserve/youth team bosses in the premier/chm that would love the opportunity of their first gig, starting at the bottom. Could argue that we are now a sleeping giant in lower league terms

 

[Holy Joe]

Re new managers, I wonder if there are any reserve/youth team bosses in the premier/chm that would love the opportunity of their first gig, starting at the bottom. Could argue that we are now a sleeping giant in lower league terms

Like Maher and Currie were?

 

[bluethroughandthrough]

Like Maher and Currie were?

I think currie was a manager previously at Wycombe/Barnet?
Maher was a coach for bristol rovers ?

 

[Holy Joe]

I think currie was a manager previously at Wycombe/Barnet?
Maher was a coach for bristol rovers ?

Thought Maher was youth team manager at one of the Bristols?

And Currie was at Sheff U (think youth hence Brunt and Lapota and Neal links)?? But take the point he also had first team manager experience.

Not sure why we'd want another novice manager though??

 

[blues exile]

Thought Maher was youth team manager at one of the Bristols?

And Currie was at Sheff U (think youth hence Brunt and Lapota and Neal links)?? But take the point he also had first team manager experience.

Not sure why we'd want another novice manager though??

We don't want another rookie manager, especially one with a rigid, inflexible and defensive mindset. The ideal profile would be someone who knows his way around this league and preferably the one above, who is pragmatic and not idealogically set in stone as to his methods. Someone who can adapt tactics during a game in a proactive way, who understands the critical role subs can play and someone who can communicate with players and supporters in an engaging and winning manner..

 

[Medway Blue]

We don't want another rookie manager, especially one with a rigid, inflexible and defensive mindset. The ideal profile would be someone who knows his way around this league and preferably the one above, who is pragmatic and not idealogically set in stone as to his methods. Someone who can adapt tactics during a game in a proactive way, who understands the critical role subs can play and someone who can communicate with players and supporters in an engaging and winning manner..

Hope you're on the interview panel.

 

[Dutch Branch]

I didn’t come out of the ground Saturday thinking Maher out because **** happens. I remember us losing to Kingstonian in the FA Cup with their last kick of the game and their end irrupting . Still jaunts me to this day

However, the thing that bothered me about Kev on Saturday is despite calls from the dugout to get forward as mentioned on SZ the players seem to have completely ignored him and that to me is very worrying. Watching Goodliffe batter Bonne too makes you wonder what’s going on behind the scenes.

Anyway, I still think Kev will be around for another season what ever happens but people won’t be to keen to be splashing out £400 ish on a season ticket unless we really do bring in some decent players pre season.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Kev was head coach at Chelmsford City, and interim Manager until the end of a season at Chelmsford. He was first team coach at Bristol Rovers. He was caretaker Manager twice at Bristol Rovers.

Darren Currie was assistant Manager to John Still at D&R. Darren followed John Still to Barnet in 2018, to become his assistant again. When John Still retired, Darren was made the Manager. He did well and guided them up into the play-offs. Darren left Barnet after failing to agree a new contract. He was then appointed joint Manager of Sheffield United's U23 team.

 

[WestyReturns]

We need to give Kev time and a full season with no restrictions.

Grass is not always greener. We could end up with a lot worse.

People were using this argument with Ron too! (Not comparing Kev with Ron by any means)

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

My worry is that IF Maher isn't the man for the job and we hold on out of loyalty and give him an unhindered pre-season as most people think he earned last year, we would then be in the same position another year down the line. IF we got rid of Maher now, it would potentially give a new manager time to evaluate the squad and make his own changes.

All managers have bad periods and Maher has not had it easy but that doesn't get away from the fact that he's scared of attacking woeful teams. That does not inspire confidence in your own team, poor man management in my opinion. By insisting on playing negative tactics against some awful teams (Woking second half comes to mind) You're subconsciously telling the whole team that if we attack we won't win. What sort of message is that to your own team?

I was just starting to think maybe I was wrong, the football was improving and we looked exciting to watch minus some poor finishing against Fylde but he's reverted to type by the sounds of it. I don't see it changing unfortunately.

To be clear, we were down to 10 men in the 2nd half at Woking, it was freezing and i wished i had gone against my ritual of staying to the end of games and made my way to the car after 20mins of the restart. We had started and played very much on the front foot until then.