Message to COSU

[WillMay333]

no one knows why we haven’t signed players. No one knows if it’s COSU or Kev not bringing people in. Give him the FA Trophy run and end of the season and let him walk. Maybe they’re not backing him now because they have given him players he wants and they haven’t performed. Point is, NO ONE KNOWS. The only thing we know is the football and management have to go

 

[danbowen]

I’m just putting a scenario out there to see if he really is unforgivable.

Personally, I think the squad needs a revamp, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, too many are carrying scars from our last couple of seasons. Even players that are performing. EVERYONE was offered new deals for sticking with us, and rightly so, however, we need to move some of those on. Bar Taylor & Ralph, maybe GSM with his goals at a push, no one else has reached the same levels as last season. The players need to look at themselves for me. Too many are letting him down.

I get why questions are being asked, that’s not what I’m asking. If he is sacked tomorrow, and he won’t be, I’d like to think we’d all wish him well like we did with Powell. Be a shame if he was forgiven for it.

Do you not think that this all really started falling apart with the Kensdale situation? Since then the players have completely lost it and look like they aren’t playing for KM. IIRC Maher wanted to find a way of keeping Kensdale and the players weren’t having any of it. The way we are playing certainly seems like the players have downed tools.

 

[BoyWonder2]

Do you not think that this all really started falling apart with the Kensdale situation? Since then the players have completely lost it and look like they aren’t playing for KM. IIRC Maher wanted to find a way of keeping Kensdale and the players weren’t having any of it. The way we are playing certainly seems like the players have downed tools.

That isn’t true, as I said at the time.

 

[danbowen]

That isn’t true, as I said at the time.

So any idea what the reason for this huge change is and why we are incapable of bringing anyone decent in? Numerous ITK posters said we had January signings lined up and we don’t appear to want to do business. Is this COSU shutting up shop for now and not letting us know? If that is the case do you think they should be giving fans an idea of their plan for this season

 

[Rooster79]

I dunno if we need that sort of turnover. Best not to throw the baby out with the bathwater imo.

I actually do think we need a bit of an overhaul.

Feels like some are simply not good enough and some are going through the motions.

We are so negative, today was the first test we’ve had for a few games having had a couple of “easier” fixtures and we failed miserably. But I genuinely think the tactics changing could perhaps turn that round and then maybe that overhaul isn’t so necessary.

 

[BoyWonder2]

So any idea what the reason for this huge change is and why we are incapable of bringing anyone decent in? Numerous ITK posters said we had January signings lined up and we don’t appear to want to do business. Is this COSU shutting up shop for now and not letting us know? If that is the case do you think they should be giving fans an idea of their plan for this season

What was being said has been misconstrued.

What I said was we had identified targets, but it might be easier to do that in January because they’d be able to bring in replacements first. Doesn’t mean there was a queue of players ready to sign on the dotted like on the 1st January.

Kendall happened a bit earlier as Woking were able to bring in a replacement for him in the shape of Effiong.

I’m not putting much out there in that respect. People have got upset by it on here, not the people I speak to. When I post it’s purely as a fan. Sometimes I’ll clear something up before that “rumour” becomes a “SZ fact”. I won’t be hinting at players we are interested in now though.

I think a lot of ITK are feeling the same. It really isn’t worth the hassle when you are trying to share some stuff, and put things out there that can’t come through “official” channels. Shame, but it is what it is.

 

[Rooster79]

That isn’t true, as I said at the time.

I’d love to know why you are so adamant it isn’t true, as I’ve heard otherwise from someone very close to the squad!

 

[Fitz]

Do you not think that this all really started falling apart with the Kensdale situation? Since then the players have completely lost it and look like they aren’t playing for KM. IIRC Maher wanted to find a way of keeping Kensdale and the players weren’t having any of it. The way we are playing certainly seems like the players have downed tools.

I don’t see this. We beat Ebbsfleet and Braintree easily. We simply don’t have the confidence or quality to go toe to toe with the teams at the top. That combined with inept tactics and a lack of signings.

Notice nobody posted on this thread after we had won a couple of games. I am not backing Maher and I am totally on the fence, it is not good enough but the manager has to be backed. We sold Cardwell and lost Kemsdale and now Pepple and have not replaced.

COSU needs to stop messing about with failed North Bank experiments and back their manager or sack him!

 

[WestyReturns]

I don’t see this. We beat Ebbsfleet and Braintree easily. We simply don’t have the confidence or quality to go toe to toe with the teams at the top. That combined with inept tactics and a lack of signings.

Notice nobody posted on this thread after we had won a couple of games. I am not backing Maher and I am totally on the fence, it is not good enough but the manager has to be backed. We sold Cardwell and lost Kemsdale and now Pepple and have not replaced.

COSU needs to stop messing about with failed North Bank experiments and back their manager or sack him!

Totally agree with that. They either think they have the right men in charge then let them improve the squad or change it. Surely they know sticking with what we have right now won't bare well for confidence next season. Is that good business?

 

[IloveShrimp]

As long as we’re winning who gives a monkeys

Me

 

[Holy Joe]

Totally agree with that. They either think they have the right men in charge then let them improve the squad or change it. Surely they know sticking with what we have right now won't bare well for confidence next season. Is that good business?

Maybe they're waiting for their next manager to become available

 

[Che's Left Foot]

Personally, I think the squad needs a revamp, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, too many are carrying scars from our last couple of seasons. Even players that are performing.

No amount of revamping will fix his one- dimensional tactics.

Kev is surrounded by some very talented minds. We were told the three amigos would bring fresh ideas to draw upon. Yet all we see are the the same stubborn tactics, week in week out.

Are Bentley and Currie afraid to speak up? Has groupthink mentality set in?

Something has to change.

Squad revamps won't solve the core problem.

 

[WestyReturns]

Maybe they're waiting for their next manager to become available

You could be right

 

[sufc4life21]

Since COSU have taken over we lost our best centre back and striker and replaced them with loans and free agents who no 1 wants, I'll give them little bit of leeway as the takeover was completed at the end of July so our previous targets were snapped up by other clubs last summer but now we are in January transfer window with our only recruit being emergency loan goal keeper. What have our so called recruitment team been doing in the last 5 months or so? surely by now we would have full list of targets with couple signings in the door by now instead we continue to limp along with squad 18 senior pros. I'm not Maher biggest fan but you can't exactly say he been backed sufficiently in the transfer market, he surviving off scraps. I suspect will try get couple loans to see us through the season. My hope is COSU have used this season as learning curve into how the football industry works as its not like any other business. We seriously need busy summer interms of player incomings and some out. This fanbase who continue to back this club in big numbers home and away deserve to see it's football club thrive and prosper not struggling in the bottom half watching boring predictable defensive football. We can't be in same situation again in 12 months time.

 

[danbowen]

What was being said has been misconstrued.

What I said was we had identified targets, but it might be easier to do that in January because they’d be able to bring in replacements first. Doesn’t mean there was a queue of players ready to sign on the dotted like on the 1st January.

Kendall happened a bit earlier as Woking were able to bring in a replacement for him in the shape of Effiong.

I’m not putting much out there in that respect. People have got upset by it on here, not the people I speak to. When I post it’s purely as a fan. Sometimes I’ll clear something up before that “rumour” becomes a “SZ fact”. I won’t be hinting at players we are interested in now though.

I think a lot of ITK are feeling the same. It really isn’t worth the hassle when you are trying to share some stuff, and put things out there that can’t come through “official” channels. Shame, but it is what it is.

It is a shame as I think the vast majority of posters actually really appreciated the little hints etc. however on the other hand with no positivity on that front, extremely **** performances, negative tactics etc it feels more like the days under Ron and we arguably have gone miles backwards on the pitch. We are stuck in this league for the long haul at this current trajectory and either COSU need to invest heavily in the team and tell Maher he needs to mix it up a bit or change manager. We can’t carry on like this and it isn’t something that has been going on for a couple of weeks - we have been terrible all season and nothing is changing on the pitch - if anything it’s still getting worse. It’s so frustrating.

 

[bazzashrimper]

I’m in the Maher in camp and still think he deserves a summer and his own players. Actually - it’s encouraging that he’s waiting for his targets and thinking long term as this mentality brings us more chance of success than quick fixes. The main issue we have is quality of player.

I can see why others disagree. The football is turgid, but personally I think this is the quality of players we have rather than anything more. It was fun last season and the system was of course the same.

One fundamental problem though, and the thing that does make me question the whether he should go, is the rigid nature of the system. He will change it within the formation - bridge for gubbins today was an attacking change. But today he didn’t try enough. A half time switch to a 4-3-3 would have given Barnet something much more different to see if they could deal with. As it was, he left it to be too easy for them.

 

[stewart]

Also struggling to get my head around toxicity and turning on each other.



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And this:

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We’re worthy of toxicity. I don't give a monkeys what division it was in. What we were seeing then was way worse than it is now. It was a shambles and an embarrassment. The club was falling
Do you think the players are playing for him ?losing 3 nill at home to anyone in this league is a sackable offence don’t see how he can stay

We also lost 3-0 at home to Sutton as well.

 

[stewart]

I`d rather someone else be given the chance. Maher will never get us promoted with his brand of football, whoever you sign. If COSU think that he is the man to deliver, they must do as they gave him an extended contract, then it`s their train set and can do what they want. He gets found out tactically coming up against better teams, it has to be a moveable feast, if your setting up to play a certain way, and it isn`t working, then try something else? It`s as if he is clutching at straws and throwing players on to change a game, but it doesn`t change anything. It seems that he doesn`t know his best 11 week to week. How bad must it get for COSU to re-think their strategy. Maybe they are happy to run a mid table NL club, and that the fans have a club to support. If they keep serving up this dross, numbers will drop off, and sustainability will be further away than they wanted.

If it keeps up as is the club will go back to the mid 80s and only having 1 or 2 thousand supporters in the stands.

 

[AustScullyPriorPowell]

To be fair, there are probably members of the consortium that want to invest on new players or maybe change direction with the football department where others are hardcoded on Kev and don't or can't spend the £.

I sense all the cooks will not be on the same page and there is friction with this current situation.

 

[MisterStubbs]

I’m in the Maher in camp and still think he deserves a summer and his own players. Actually - it’s encouraging that he’s waiting for his targets and thinking long term as this mentality brings us more chance of success than quick fixes. The main issue we have is quality of player.

I can see why others disagree. The football is turgid, but personally I think this is the quality of players we have rather than anything more. It was fun last season and the system was of course the same.

One fundamental problem though, and the thing that does make me question the whether he should go, is the rigid nature of the system. He will change it within the formation - bridge for gubbins today was an attacking change. But today he didn’t try enough. A half time switch to a 4-3-3 would have given Barnet something much more different to see if they could deal with. As it was, he left it to be too easy for them.

Are you suggesting that every player signed since Maher took charge hasn't been a player he particularly wanted?