Message to COSU

[fbm]

A lot of those players are having a bad season with us, no question. But that still gives >10 spaces to fill with players that should go immediately into the starting XI.

We cannot afford to be recruiting players that can't cut it. We need at least 6 players along the lines of Cardwell, GSM, Kensdale, Andeng-Ndi, Coker, Taylor & Ralph to immediately improve the first team. There is no space for also-rans.

This I guess is why we can't afford to take a punt on someone. Anyone looking at Waldron's record at Rushall Olympic would have said we would be mad not to try and get him but a level up and he hasn't cut it.
Brandon Goodship is another example.

We must be as sure as we can before getting someone in. I really don't think at this stage that we will be able to do what we did with Kensdale, Cardwell, Taylor, Morton and others by bedding them in and coaching them to be better, tolerating the injuries and adjustments as they cope with full time football, for instance. There is too much risk of it not working and an awful lot of patience is required, a commodity sadly not evident in a growing number of fans.

Look at Kensdale when he first came... he was miles away from who he was when he left. We had massively improved him through coaching. Cardwell spent tons of time injured. Morton has improved no end and must be knocking on the door for a starting place and Taylor is one of our best performers week after week.

We don't have the money or clout to compete with EFL signings and so I think the loan market is where we need to be. And that is out of our control really... it depends who we are offered and if they fit our style.

Personally I am happy to be patient and accept this season as a write off but whilst there doesn't appear to be any dissenting voices at the games, the ground was the emptiest I have seen it with 5 minutes to go yesterday and there were boos from those who left. But we have to stick with it in my opinion, we will come good. Changing managers whenever it goes wrong is just a pathway to future turmoil.

 

[BoyWonder2]

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

A number of them certainly weren’t his first pick…

 

[danbowen]

Been saying it all season this team desperately needs experience, pace and warriors. We are too soft, we let teams dominate us, we let our heads drop to name a few things. If the formation isn’t working KM needs to change that and it’s been clear for months it hasn’t been working. Buying non league gems is great if you do it in the right way but you need players good enough to play at the level above if you want to continue being successful and I am sorry but that ain’t gonna happen with a young team of kids.

A few have suggested on social media that we need an overhaul of players and Maher should be given the summer window (this claim keeps being pushed further down the road - earlier in the season it was give him January for example). However these players don’t all become bad overnight. My question is to those fans:

Do you replace the manager with someone who will look for a way for these players to hit the levels they are capable of and doesn’t keep sticking with hugely out of form players or do you replace the whole squad of players to keep the manager?

I do think as a fan base far too many are far too sentimental to certain players (Bridge) and staff (Maher) when this is a results business and we should be more ruthless at times.

 

[MisterStubbs]

A number of them certainly weren’t his first pick…

But surely he'd have had some say in whether or not they came in?

Let's be honest though, if the player Kev himself want are in any way like the he see's football being played, we're better off without them.

 

[Chairman Trigg]

Creativity is killed by possession Maherball . Players abilities and strengths are stlfled to fit a system which kills flair and attacking intent. Which will always never get the best out certain signings.Bonne and Moncur would probably have been successful signings with better management

 

[RHB]

The brilliant thing about ShrimperZone is that all posters can have their say, and I think it's going to be needed as this season continues. I am now convinced that Kev and Co will definitely finish this season as our coaching team, and start the new season. What the new season will bring depends on what happens during close season. Are COSU prepared to continue with Kev and Co? current contracts and lack of ANY rumour allegedly from COSU suggests yes they are. I have no idea what the state of the Club is outside of the playing side, but it must be a real challenge to get the club on an even keel, and it looks like that is what our owners are after achieving, ready for next season. Do I like what I'm seeing on the playing field? nope. Would I like to see changes in our style? yes, if the game demands it. Will I continue to go to games? absolutely yes, and am I prepared to give Kev this season? again, yes. My support is not unconditional, but I think I have the patience to wait and see. Will COSU take any notice of this thread? very doubtful.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

The brilliant thing about ShrimperZone is that all posters can have their say, and I think it's going to be needed as this season continues. I am now convinced that Kev and Co will definitely finish this season as our coaching team, and start the new season. What the new season will bring depends on what happens during close season. Are COSU prepared to continue with Kev and Co? current contracts and lack of ANY rumour allegedly from COSU suggests yes they are. I have no idea what the state of the Club is outside of the playing side, but it must be a real challenge to get the club on an even keel, and it looks like that is what our owners are after achieving, ready for next season. Do I like what I'm seeing on the playing field? nope. Would I like to see changes in our style? yes, if the game demands it. Will I continue to go to games? absolutely yes, and am I prepared to give Kev this season? again, yes. My support is not unconditional, but I think I have the patience to wait and see. Will COSU take any notice of this thread? very doubtful.

Fair play RHB and I respect your opinion, also noted that you aren’t happy with the style of play sometimes. COSU are hardly likely to publicise the fact they aren’t happy with Kev are they. If there’s many more games like yesterday their hand will be forced as the toxicity will increase and fans always seem to influence these things.
They may not read SZ but if any of them were in the West yesterday they’d have got the message.

 

[Cricko]

Harris is a proven manager with experience. Maher isn’t. At this point maybe we need a manager who’s learned the ropes.

Fair play RHB and I respect your opinion, also noted that you aren’t happy with the style of play sometimes. COSU are hardly likely to publicise the fact they aren’t happy with Kev are they. If there’s many more games like yesterday their hand will be forced as the toxicity will increase and fans always seem to influence these things.

I feel the only reason i still attend games ATM is to catch up with all my friends for a chat. If it was just to watch the rubbish the team put out, i would not bother. That is something i have never felt before.

 

[Ian Benjamin]

We have been devoid of pace and creativity for a couple of seasons.

Just remember Gateshead last season at home, everyone of their midfielders could pick up the ball, drive and take on an opponent.

We have no one to do that, Bim did it but he was a one off.

Bridge, doesn't do it and has been pretty terrible this season.

Kev's style of play is defensively minded.

We play with the handbrake on. We had 3 centre backs marking 1 yesterday.

We need a complete overhaul of players.

Will Kev last the season? I'm not sure anymore.

 

[Flinty]

A number of them certainly weren’t his first pick…

So that will be Morton, Wind , KAF and Waldron then !

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

The brilliant thing about ShrimperZone is that all posters can have their say, and I think it's going to be needed as this season continues. I am now convinced that Kev and Co will definitely finish this season as our coaching team, and start the new season. What the new season will bring depends on what happens during close season. Are COSU prepared to continue with Kev and Co? current contracts and lack of ANY rumour allegedly from COSU suggests yes they are. I have no idea what the state of the Club is outside of the playing side, but it must be a real challenge to get the club on an even keel, and it looks like that is what our owners are after achieving, ready for next season. Do I like what I'm seeing on the playing field? nope. Would I like to see changes in our style? yes, if the game demands it. Will I continue to go to games? absolutely yes, and am I prepared to give Kev this season? again, yes. My support is not unconditional, but I think I have the patience to wait and see. Will COSU take any notice of this thread? very doubtful.

I’m pretty much with you on this, I think the factor that could change things though is if the crowd turn on Maher, as happened a little yesterday after he took Kendall off when we were chasing the game. Imagine a 3-0 defeat at Daggers next Saturday and a vocal away end singing “you don’t know what you’re doing”, booing the team or singing “we want Maher out” - that might accelerate things for COSU

 

[CaptainSmudger]

Just change to 442 at least.
Collin GK
Wind Golding Gubbins Ralph
Scott-Morris Moreton Miley Walker
Kendall Waldron.
Subs
The rest on the bench to come on as and when required dependent on events in game.

 

[Napster]

A statement would be nice - back or sack? Matt Gray who let Sutton to promotion a few seasons ago is available.

Of course Im sure the FAB are all over this

 

[kentblues]

Jesus wept, what is this thing about Neil Harris?

I saw Millwall play numerous times during his first and second spells as manager. He loves a 4-5-1 formation with a target man up top. He loves signing journeymen. He is a million times more stubborn than Kev with his methods.

Millwall fans were glad to see the back of him both times he left the club.

Just look at his managerial record and his PPG stats.

View attachment 35349

Those calling for Kev’s head now will be the exact same ones calling for Harris’ head within a few months, bookmark it.

I’d personally say if Harris came in, he wouldn’t finish the season.

It would be a few months, it would be a few games before the keyboards were running hot and words like “turgid” springing forth..

 

[Holy Joe]

A statement would be nice - back or sack? Matt Gray who let Sutton to promotion a few seasons ago is available.

Of course Im sure the FAB are all over this

Thought on pitch matters were out of scope for FAB?

 

[kentblues]

A statement would be nice - back or sack? Matt Gray who let Sutton to promotion a few seasons ago is available.

Of course Im sure the FAB are all over this

I think COSU are quite happy to quietly support Kev and let him take all the flack for now whilst they get dressed. And Kev’s loyalty to the club means he will put up with it.

Another manager would not accept the current situation and that would put pressure on the owners- Kev not doing so makes him less not likely to be going anywhere from their side.

 

[kentblues]

What if? What if? What if? The matter of the fact is we have regressed this season. Yes, football fans have short memories but ultimately it is a results business. It isn’t like we are showing signs of a good side!
We have been shocking all season when it comes to defending corners/set pieces. I appreciate that isn’t all down to the coaching staff but you’d like to think we’d have tightened up in that area by this point.

Personally, I think the squad is top 7 level however, we’ve only looked a good side for around 20% of the season. I understand that we haven’t had a full summer of recruitment so have missed key targets however, the current squad is definitely much better than results/performances suggest.

That is why questions are being asked.

No way is this squad top 7 level. Believing that will only be a barrier to making the necessary changes. It’s tempting to believe if you are an owner…. Oh perhaps all these changes aren’t required, the players we have already can do the job. Attractive though but in reality it will do no more than extend the pain and put the sunny uplands further down the road. Regrettably..

 

[Blue Yonder]

Novice owners learning as they go. When we had a dose of Stan advising we looked like we knew what we were doing for a few months.

 

[Leeboy]

They may not read SZ but if any of them were in the West yesterday they’d have got the message.

Gary Lockett sits in the West every home game - he’s about 20 seats away from me

 

[Napster]

Thought on pitch matters were out of scope for FAB?

That may be but they can still feedback fan views.