Thanks Kev - but is a new manager needed?

[RHB]

At the start of this season I didn't think I would feel guilty for supporting Kevin Maher publicly, but I'm certainly starting to feel that way now given the strength of feeling of some on here. The real proof of a good manager is how they go about making things right when they go wrong, and up till now they haven't really gone wrong for Kev as he and the squad have ridden the siege mentality wave. Now he has to stand up and show why Stan Collymore said 'I want to play for him' after his interview.

The man is not stupid and he has previously had his teams playing some lovely attacking football, so it's now time for him to make things right with the players we have. I believe he can do this and he has my support. That support is not open ended, but it's certainly longer than some on here would sign up to.

 

[Dutch Branch]

I don’t think it’s the right time to start thinking about such drastic things. However, Kev has made some very odd decisions at times and we are all extremely frustrated at the moment but the players we have are more than capable of better and some of the blame has to be laid at their feet.

So at this moment in time I’d say don’t panic and stick with Kev and ride this season out.

 

[meerkat54]

I originally voted Kev out , but decided to vote sit on the fence for now.
But if things haven’t improved by January, it will definitely be Kev out.
To be honest I don’t want to see Kev fail, but the consortium need to loosen the budget strings a little. Give the guy a better chance to succeed, isn’t this what we all want.

 

[blues exile]

I don’t think it’s the right time to start thinking about such drastic things. However, Kev has made some very odd decisions at times and we are all extremely frustrated at the moment but the players we have are more than capable of better and some of the blame has to be laid at their feet.

So at this moment in time I’d say don’t panic and stick with Kev and ride this season out.

Things will go from bad to worse because his tenure, like that of every football manager sooner or later, has run its course. The present squad under his regime reached its optimum level last season and the inflexibility and predictability of his methods offer no prospect of improvement which is why change is urgently required before the possibility of NLS becomes a reality.

 

[kentblues]

What a depressing thread. Everything we said when we wanted Ron gone, and with the new owners in, about sustainability, patience, mid table this year fine build for the future, gone. Just like that…

Sad

 

[Benjamin]

What a depressing thread. Everything we said when we wanted Ron gone, and with the new owners in, about sustainability, patience, mid table this year fine build for the future, gone. Just like that…

Sad

Thing is we’re not mid table we’re 3 points of relegation

 

[kentblues]

Yes.

His loyalty to some players makes for some bad team sheets too. Miley… Jeacock…

His substitutions are too late and usually poor.

And how he handles some young players makes me wonder why they would bother staying… Wood & Collin…

I fear we have said we will play Jeacock. He is just a less experienced version of Collin who makes the same mistakes more often. I don’t mind developing other teams players like Bim who is not keeping out one of our own who could do as well- but with regret Jeacock isn’t a Bim..

 

[hlane17]

Thing is we’re not mid table we’re 3 points of relegation

And sliding in the wrong direction too.

 

[USAShrimper]

I was going to leave this post alone. However, I've decided to put my "Two Cents" in. Will be flying over next week and will be at our next 3 games. Will be excited to be at all of them whatever the performance or results are. Have been a loyal supporter since 1969 and it will be great to watch my team amongst a large like-minded crowd. Have enjoyed the years of ups and downs and would have to say Inconsistent should be sown into the fabric of our team badge. The last game I was at was September at home to Eastleigh on a Tuesday night. It was one of the best team performances I've ever seen from the "Shrimpers" I was also at the Altrincham away game last season a dire game we lost on a late penalty. The abuse KM and the players received from some of our fans was shocking. Lowest point of last season? maybe. They then went on a march up the table and just missed out on the play-offs.

KM the coaching staff and the players have my support and confidence that they can turn this around again.
This forum is about passion and emotion. However, look where we've been the last 5 years. I think the most dumbfounded I've ever been reading post on here was when fans started criticizing COSU. They have a sensible plan to stop this ship from sinking and turn it around and sail it in the right direction.

It's understandable that a lot of fans are impatient and want immediate results and improvements. KM should only be judged when he's had access and support to a stable, realistic resourced football club for the duration of a pre-season, transfers and a complete season. No restrictions, fines or legal distractions

Is it old fashioned to urge all Blues fans to get right behind our team for the rest of the season, come what may.?.

 

[Target man]

People will always vote emotionally after a defeat, and for the majority, the concern would be about the threat of relegation. But a couple of quality additions to the squad, and a 3-4 game winning run, can change things quickly. In reality, we were never more than a mid-table shout this season when we lost Cards and Kens. If things are like this early next season, then the shouts for Kevs head may be reasonable, otherwise, unless we really are looking like a relegation side in Jan/Feb, we give him time.

 

[Mr Browns Ghost]

Surely, if there is a decent team in there, the recruitment can’t be bang average….

I voted for Kevin to stay but you cant have your cake and eat I hate to tell you this there’s a very very average to poor team in there and simply nothing else ….
I couldn’t give two ****s about technology and fan murals painted on walls I want some form of upward improvement at the least some might even be proud enough to say success too … what we are seeing here is below terrible it’s an embarrassment to the honour of the 6500 so and so that follow the club every week

 

[Yer Blues]

Walker and Bonne have proven goalscoring records in this division (albeit a fairly long time ago in Bonne’s case).

.If having proven records at this level years ago is the rationale perhaps we should look at trying to sign Matt Tubbs or Danny Kedwell?

 

[Southend Elvis]

Real dilemma for those in charge...
Do you allow Kev to bring in 4/5 of his players in Jan, or change manager before Jan?
So far Kev has bought in a few this season,
probably not his 1st choice but look at the evidence.
Moncur..looked fantastic when he turned up, shadow of that now.
Bonne...great record, doesn't look interested or good enough
Walker... reasonable but doesn't look like we can rely on him.
Wind...great 1st game, not seen since
Etc.
They could be good players, but Kev doesn't seem to get anything out of them.
Bad/Boring football, losing games, struggling to beat part time teams, keeping out of form players on the pitch, not changing the tactics and many other things not going well.
I think they should keep Kev till Jan, and unless things have improved replace him with DC, its a cheaper option and could be a different outcome with him in charge, then see what happens the rest of the season.

 

[kentblues]

Can’t be having a pop at COSU for lack of investment. I can promise you they’ve settled plenty, much of which has gone unreported as it’s behind the scenes. Transfer budget, loan options and wage bill are highly competitive. Kev and co have turned down certain opportunities with regard to bringing players in. We should not be where we are with this squad and what has been made available to them

First time I’ve heard we have a highly competitive playing budget. Not what we heard previously- suspect it hangs on the definition of “highly competitive”. Top 3, top 5. top 10, top half

 

[Shrimper]

I was going to leave this post alone. However, I've decided to put my "Two Cents" in. Will be flying over next week and will be at our next 3 games. Will be excited to be at all of them whatever the performance or results are. Have been a loyal supporter since 1969 and it will be great to watch my team amongst a large like-minded crowd. Have enjoyed the years of ups and downs and would have to say Inconsistent should be sown into the fabric of our team badge. The last game I was at was September at home to Eastleigh on a Tuesday night. It was one of the best team performances I've ever seen from the "Shrimpers" I was also at the Altrincham away game last season a dire game we lost on a late penalty. The abuse KM and the players received from some of our fans was shocking. Lowest point of last season? maybe. They then went on a march up the table and just missed out on the play-offs.

KM the coaching staff and the players have my support and confidence that they can turn this around again.
This forum is about passion and emotion. However, look where we've been the last 5 years. I think the most dumbfounded I've ever been reading post on here was when fans started criticizing COSU. They have a sensible plan to stop this ship from sinking and turn it around and sail it in the right direction.

It's understandable that a lot of fans are impatient and want immediate results and improvements. KM should only be judged when he's had access and support to a stable, realistic resourced football club for the duration of a pre-season, transfers and a complete season. No restrictions, fines or legal distractions

Is it old fashioned to urge all Blues fans to get right behind our team for the rest of the season, come what may.?.

What if this is the best he'll get from them? Then what? Just keep going with the status quo? He's had plenty of time to make changes and get players in but it's all been very poor. Why are we waiting until January, as some seem to be alluding to, when we need help now?

 

[kentblues]

What if this is the best he'll get from them? Then what? Just keep going with the status quo? He's had plenty of time to make changes and get players in but it's all been very poor. Why are we waiting until January, as some seem to be alluding to, when we need help now?

He hasn’t had plenty of time to bring players in even if he could find “value”- most of the time he has been under an embargo, even in the summer the embargo was lifted after we had reports of many missed signings. Then you have the pick of who’s left, and then if you seek “value” it’s tough. But it’s clearly all Kev’s fault…

 

[Smiffy]

I want to know why every week Kev says we know who we want to bring in, but it’s difficult. Literally cut and paste every week.

We desperately need players in, especially in attacking areas, but what is stopping us. Why has Cardwell not been replaced? Is it a lack of funds from COSU?

Why are we waiting seemingly for January, when we could possibly be in a relegation scrap by then?

Kev clearly isn’t happy and hasn’t been for a while. Is he not being backed properly?

Harsh to call for his head when he still hasn’t had a fair crack in the transfer market. There’s too many 3rd/4th choice targets in this squad and that isn’t Kev’s fault.

He deserves a proper summer and then we see where we are this time next year. My opinion.

 

[Shrimper]

He hasn’t had plenty of time to bring players in even if he could find “value”- most of the time he has been under an embargo, even in the summer the embargo was lifted after we had reports of many missed signings. Then you have the pick of who’s left, and then if you seek “value” it’s tough. But it’s clearly all Kev’s fault…

No-ones denied we've been under embargo a lot. But we've been out of embargo since July 5th. That's effectively a whole summer window if you go by the traditional August end date. It's not a good enough excuse.

 

[Target man]

I voted for Kevin to stay but you cant have your cake and eat I hate to tell you this there’s a very very average to poor team in there and simply nothing else ….
I couldn’t give two ****s about technology and fan murals painted on walls I want some form of upward improvement at the least some might even be proud enough to say success too … what we are seeing here is below terrible it’s an embarrassment to the honour of the 6500 so and so that follow the club every week

I spoke with a very good non league writer and blogger this afternoon and he made a good point that Kev perhaps has a lot in the bank to keep him where he is currently, but many others in his situation wouldn't have that same luxury.

 

[kentblues]

No-ones denied we've been under embargo a lot. But we've been out of embargo since July 5th. That's effectively a whole summer window if you go by the traditional August end date. It's not a good enough excuse.

In the NL players are out of contract end of June (indeed EFL too I think) so not surprisingly a lot of business was done prior. Lower league players no club, no salary, mortgage to pay…

You have players out of contract who couldn’t get a move prior (not a great pool to fish in), or players still under contract that will require a fee and wages at least as competitive as they had currently.