Thanks Kev - but is a new manager needed?

[Yer Blues]

The point is, whilst I was away, the attendance remained relatively consistent & it’s likely more were boycotting/avoiding RH back then than they are now.

As it should be. But are you not concerned it's happening at all now given we are only a year into the new regime?

 

[WillMay333]

I don't know. I'm not angry. I honestly don't enjoy it at the moment. Maybe it's getting older?

I've done the long away journeys, going to reserve games in the afternoons on my lunch breaks. I was even there for the wildly successful silent protest.

I 've been to almost every home game since we were relegated so I know what to expect. I don't think i've a divine right to top quality entertainment every week.

I guess i'd compare it to stopping watching a series you were really into.

In my humble opinion, I am not enjoying the style of football and i'm a bit disappointed with COSU. Of course very grateful as we all are. I just think there are some very basic things being missed considering the wealth of experience within the group.

I don't think i've a divine right to top quality entertainment every week.

I guess i'd compare it to stopping watching a series you were really into.

Think a lot of people need to realise that taking a break from attending games doesnt make you a fake fan. I see so many tweets saying "you only come when we win" and its just b*ll*cks, I for one havent attended the last few simply because I havent enjoyed anything about the performances. I still watch from home, just dont fancy the 50 minute drive each way to get annoyed and angry at an awful performance.

Also have done tonnes of long away days, and absolutely will continue to support and cheer them on but I myself have definately needed a break from going. Completely entitled to not go and watch if youre unhappy with the performances.

 

[Yer Blues]

Or the majority are Kev In or on the fence.....

I'd question the conviction of someone who had the option to say they backed him only to choose on the fence instead.

 

[GBJ]

As it should be. But are you not concerned it's happening at all now given we are only a year into the new regime?

To a degree. I think it’s fair to say there are other factors at play though, and not just the style of football.

We’ve endured 6(?) back-to-back seasons of turmoil, struggle and ****. That’s enough to take it’s toll on most fans.

We all thought we’d finally turned a corner when COSU took over and expectations were - rightly or wrongly - at an all time high. We still haven’t hit those heights yet, and as a result, unfortunately, it will be perceived as yet another crap season in a long list of crap seasons.

Add to that the ongoing state of RH and the matchday problems that some are having, it’s not overly surprising people feel the way they do.

I guess the litmus test will be in a couple of months when the season tickets go on sale for renewal.

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

47% in favour of him staying is the lowest it has been since the poll started and is shrinking by the hour. The momentum has shifted significantly since the Barnet debacle and the Dagenham game becomes of even more significance,

Youre so pressing in seeing Maher's backside outta here, who is your chosen replacement...

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

Youre so pressing in seeing Maher's backside outta here, who is your chosen replacement...

For the record, mine is Steve Morison

 

[PIERS]

Our area was 20 per cent down after half time !

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Do you think that's because they're not given enough time to restructure, change squad members etc etc? Or does it depend on what you define as 'success'?

I think it's a mixture of both. If Maher was to go, there will be plenty of owners who look at him and what he's done and see him as a 'success' and worthy of a job. They will see he worked miracles last season and won manager of the season in ridiculous circumstances. They'll see the culture he's brought to us and the respect of the shirt, which we didn't have before.

In regards to time, this is literally his first 'normal' window. Even then, it isn't, because of all the money COSU have had to spend elsewhere. It's clear the money isn't available and it's also clear that the current squad wouldn't look the way it does if everything was 'normal'.

It's funny because plenty of fans have said on the players thread about letting a lot of the players go, but have then said sack Maher on here. Well if the players aren't good enough, how can he be blamed if he is working with players that aren't quite up to it? There is absolutely no chance Kev would have recruited this current team if things were 'normal'. He surely has to be given time to work in 'normal' conditions.

 

[Napster]

For the record, mine is Steve Morison

Hayden Mullins is doing a decent job at Fulham u21s

 

[blues exile]

For the record, mine is Steve Morison

Wouldn't mind Morison. Maybe Danny Cowley who knows about getting former EFL clubs back where they belong. As a long shot, Adam Murray of Eastbourne Borough. Ian Culverhouse. There are many options and you never know who might fancy it. Definitely not another club 'legend' please. Sentiment should play no part.

 

[hlane17]

Wouldn't mind Morison. Maybe Danny Cowley who knows about getting former EFL clubs back where they belong. As a long shot, Adam Murray of Eastbourne Borough. Ian Culverhouse. There are many options and you never know who might fancy it. Definitely not another club 'legend' please. Sentiment should play no part.

Cowleys can do one especially after joining the Ewes. Steve Morison wouldn't be a bad shout

 

[Jay_SUFC]

Why does it have to be someone out of a job. There are managers in this league, who are doing decent, with small playing budgets that would probably jump at the chance here.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

I'd question the conviction of someone who had the option to say they backed him only to choose on the fence instead.

That works both ways

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

I think it's a mixture of both. If Maher was to go, there will be plenty of owners who look at him and what he's done and see him as a 'success' and worthy of a job. They will see he worked miracles last season and won manager of the season in ridiculous circumstances. They'll see the culture he's brought to us and the respect of the shirt, which we didn't have before.

In regards to time, this is literally his first 'normal' window. Even then, it isn't, because of all the money COSU have had to spend elsewhere. It's clear the money isn't available and it's also clear that the current squad wouldn't look the way it does if everything was 'normal'.

It's funny because plenty of fans have said on the players thread about letting a lot of the players go, but have then said sack Maher on here. Well if the players aren't good enough, how can he be blamed if he is working with players that aren't quite up to it? There is absolutely no chance Kev would have recruited this current team if things were 'normal'. He surely has to be given time to work in 'normal' conditions.

Some players have dropped off performance wise this season, I refuse to accept they’re suddenly bad players. Something’s shifted, you can see it in the body language.

A lot of the spirit and camaraderie that almost took the team into the playoffs offs has evaporated. Maybe that’s solved by a few new faces to freshen things up and a few positive results, maybe it isn’t. Kev needs to rally the troops, before the toxicity really takes hold. A good run would restore faith, get us to summer and then he gets his ‘proper chance’ as some put it. But summer is a long way off.

By the way I’m sure the squad & the other two ‘Amigos’ had some input last season too, they must love reading all this praise of Kev.

 

[Hooly]

There's a lot coming from the Kev out band. ( myself included) I would like to hear more from the 47% that want him to stay. Is it what he's done for Southend or is it another reason.

So I am still in the Maher in faction as I write & don't expect to change in the short term. However I wholly accept that there are issues that are pulling the likes of you in the opposite direction & many give compelling reasons for their view.

My story is that after many, many years as a seaso & travelling all over the country I lapsed around the early 2010's, frustrated with the games we played with HMRC resulting in what I thought at the time were poor teams & entertainment. Work changes also meant my wife & I were paying £700 between us for not many more than 20 games a season combined.

Over the intervening years I'd come to a few games a season but when Kev took over, even under The Rat, I thought we started playing some decent football. My take on it was that the players looked well coached, with a great spirit & it was only the financial issues that again & again were stopping us achieving something. They seemed, even in the times of crisis to play a very tidy passing game in midfield, with a reasonable defence keeping us relatively safe & at times enough of a goal threat to keep us competitive with most of the division. Obviously having Vilhete & Kabongolo up front at times wasn't ideal but we survived & when Justin arrived I started coming to every game again.

Based on that I decided to get a season ticket again this year, helps I'm a senior I guess, & like we all did had hoped that we'd have a good year.
Did I think we'd storm the NL? No
Did I expect us to be around the playoffs? Hell yes
Are we underachieving badly? Not 'alf
Have we got the right players? Definitely not at this stage of the season & unless we can pass better we need some pace in the side
Do I like the syle of play at the moment? Indeed "do I not like that" to coin a phrase but I wasn't a great fan of Captain Crab as a player
Am I frustrated with COSU? I am concerned that the communication seems to have dropped off however I believe but for them we'd have been watching us against Barking not Barnet last Saturday
Is this all Kev's fault? Not all but he is struggling I admit

Why am I still in the Maher in camp then? Partly loyalty as I think it's a rare commodity but mostly I go back to the last couple of seasons when I saw something in the way the team played that I thought was proper football "for the level we are at". Getting the likes of Kanu, Hayes & this year Pepple on loan seemed to suggest we were well thought of as an improvement project & there was some respect in the game for what we were doing but we couldn't make the most of this as we were constantly embargoed.

I know we can't bleat about players that have gone but that has undoubtedly affected the way we play & can play at the moment but I still believe that with a couple of additions in the right places we can get back to that style of game. We didn't have that much pace in the side even the last couple of years but we quite regularly passed it round teams making the ball do the work rather than the players having to be lightning quick. Unfortunately without that passing game we look off the pace & like most the backwards/sideways stuff in our own half frightens the hell out of me on a regular basis.

Sorry that's long but you did ask. As I said I don't expect to come out of the Maher in camp, dons tin hat , BUT something definitely needs to change & personally I am a tad concerned about the silence from COSU. Having said that I'm not sure the dreaded vote of confidence would help anyone much.

 

[PIERS]

Any team that plays a 'passing game'. the player recieving the ball, with any space, makes 2 or 3 quick steps to move it around. at pace. our guys stand still. . players looking to receive the ball move around. ours stand still

 

[Hooly]

Any team that plays a 'passing game'. the player recieving the ball, with any space, makes 2 or 3 quick steps to move it around. at pace. our guys stand still. . players looking to receive the ball move around. ours stand still

I agree we do play like statues now, but my view is that previously we were moving like you are saying so "should" be able to do it again. We were coaching players to pass & move before & I am mystified why we can't pass more than 5 yards now.

 

[Avl1983]

It Doesn’t help we’ve lost some of the more mobile players like Powell and Fonguck, despite the fact they weren’t setting the world alight talent wise their work rate and energy helped us to press, something we’ve seen very little of this season. Then you lose Cardwell and Kensdale and add Bonne and Moncur in and the team (and others) and our high tempo is gone.

It must have been Mahers decision to get rid of Fonguck and Powell, perhaps he believed he could replace them with better players but that now looks to be a mistake. Poor recruitment as well as dire performances. I’d like to be wrong but I can’t see a way we’ll end up successful under Maher at the moment.

 

[Hadleigh-shrimper]

In Maher we trust

 

[Roger The Alien]

In Maher we trust

Only Col Ewes fans can say that …..

We don’t ….