Thanks Kev - but is a new manager needed?

[kentblues]

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.

Maybe but the Cowleys are still at Colchester… some owners are more patient than others…but the impatient ones it seems to me are poorer rather than more successful..

 

[Sunnyshrimper]

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

It isn’t the very highest, I’m led to believe that is Forest Green followed by Barnet, then Oldham, Sutton and York. Sutton are 11th, the others are the current top 4. We are there or thereabouts after that. Whatever way you dice it up it’s not good enough for what support is being given by the fans and COSU. The question is do you trust Kev and team to turn this around, including replacing players in squad or do you give a new guy those funds?

• 21 points from 18 games
• 3 points above relegation
• A minus 2 goal difference

 

[bazzashrimper]

I know of one player he's been chasing for a few weeks, would make a huge difference to our side, a leader. Not sure will it will happen though before January, if at all.

This is the problem. A big (and good) lad up front and a big tough centre back. It’s not Maher, we are just missing a few critical positions.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

Maybe but the Cowleys are still at Colchester… some owners are more patient than others…but the impatient ones it seems to me are poorer rather than more successful..

How long would you give Maher?

 

[Dave Smiths Love Child]

It isn’t the very highest, I’m led to believe that is Forest Green followed by Barnet, then Oldham, Sutton and York. Sutton are 11th, the others are the current top 4. We are there or thereabouts after that. Whatever way you dice it up it’s not good enough for what support is being given by the fans and COSU. The question is do you trust Kev and team to turn this around, including replacing players in squad or do you give a new guy those funds?

• 21 points from 18 games
• 3 points above relegation
• A minus 2 goal difference

Or three points from mid table depends on how you look at your glass x

 

[BoyWonder2]

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’m just replying to a poster who claimed the recruitment was poor but we had a decent team, his words not mine.

Surely, if you have a decent team the recruitment just have been decent? Unless the whole team came through the youth teams etc.

 

[rayleigh dan]

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.

This is a fair point. Maher probably would be on the brink of the sack if he’d been recruited this summer. He does have some credit for prior form, and deservedly so IMO, but we have been underachieving, even taking the loss of Cardwell & Kensdale into account.

I’d like to see him backed to bring a new no 9 and central defender in. If results still don’t improve, there’ll be no place to hide.

 

[Sherif H]

I have the upmost respect for differing opinions but why exactly do 45% of people who have voted believe we are on the right course sitting just above relegation spots and should stick with Kev?

I haven't voted just curious

I think it is referred to as cult of personality.

What people are seeing in Kev's tactical decisions which give them confidence anything will change is beyond me, but it is a game of opinions.
Unfortunately we live in a society where your opinion is only respected and not ridiculed if it matches those of the footballing hipsters.

 

[Sherif H]

I went to watch ZB today for Barnet against Daggers today and we discussed Southend after the game, and he made a good point. Said it seems when we're in an Embargo, we're the last team anyone wants to play because our team spirit was so unbreakable. At the moment we seem unrecognisable from that team. I haven't seen the goals yet, but he had, and the look on his face suggested they were shockingly bad. Losing Kens, although it had to happen sadly, has been our biggest hit, and we haven't replaced him with quality. We've never really recovered at the back. The squad needs some serious strengthening and I know Kev is trying to sort that.

Said this ages ago. We've completely lost the one thing that bonded all the players - a siege mentality.
Since the takeover we have looked absolute and utter gash.
Every now and then we flatter to deceive (usually against teams that give us time and space to play - Solihull, Eastleigh etc...), but mostly we play with the same predictable, ineffective, low tempo style which most opponents gobble up for breakfast without getting out of 2nd gear.
I see no end to this anytime soon.

 

[GBJ]

How long would you give Maher?

11-12 months.

He deserves the January “transfer window” (even though it doesn’t apply to us) and the summer to rebuild the squad.

 

[Shrimper]

11-12 months.

He deserves the January “transfer window” (even though it doesn’t apply to us) and the summer to rebuild the squad.

What if we're in the relegation zone and look like going down? Even then?

 

[mark387]

I have the upmost respect for differing opinions but why exactly do 45% of people who have voted believe we are on the right course sitting just above relegation spots and should stick with Kev?

I haven't voted just curious.

The question is should Maher go not do we think he is doing a bang up job and nothing needs to change. I fully understand why others think he should go but I also recognise he is and we are capable of much better as shown last season and think he has earnt the right to try turn this around. Though with all that said I'm very quickly leaning further toward "go" with each passing stubborn loss using the same tactics and out of form players.

 

[GBJ]

Said this ages ago. We've completely lost the one thing that bonded all the players - a siege mentality.
Since the takeover we have looked absolute and utter gash.
Every now and then we flatter to deceive (usually against teams that give us time and space to play - Solihull, Eastleigh etc...), but mostly we play with the same predictable, ineffective, low tempo style which most opponents gobble up for breakfast without getting out of 2nd gear.
I see no end to this anytime soon.

We play the same style as we’ve played for the last few years. That hasn’t changed. The personnel has.

The current mob simply aren’t good enough.

Let’s say we change manager tonight. Tell me which individuals improve, and how they suddenly change our fortunes?

 

[rayleigh dan]

I’m just replying to a poster who claimed the recruitment was poor but we had a decent team, his words not mine.

Surely, if you have a decent team the recruitment just have been decent? Unless the whole team came through the youth teams etc.

This is fair, I think overall recruitment has improved since the current management team came in, but since last Jan it’s declined in quality dramatically. Not including loans, we’ve signed Crowther, Morton, Waldron, Gubbins, Walker, Wind, Bonne and Appiah-Forson.

Some may come good, but none have been a roaring success. I personally think Morton and Wind in time could be to be fair.

 

[Grayson]

I think it is referred to as cult of personality.

What people are seeing in Kev's tactical decisions which give them confidence anything will change is beyond me, but it is a game of opinions.
Unfortunately we live in a society where your opinion is only respected and not ridiculed if it matches those of the footballing hipsters.

Your view is matched by almost half the people who voted in the poll. Why are you making out you are some victimised minority? It is really strange.

 

[GBJ]

What if we're in the relegation zone and look like going down? Even then?

We’re not though, so it’s not a discussion. Same as, if we were at the top of the table, this conversation wouldn’t be occurring.

If the relegation scenario becomes a reality, then it’s a discussion point. Until then, it’s a (potentially costly) coin flip.

And trust me when I say, we don’t have money to p*** away. Otherwise we wouldn’t be drafting in new consortium members. Piece it together

 

[Sherif H]

We play the same style as we’ve played for the last few years. That hasn’t changed. The personnel has.

The current mob simply aren’t good enough.

Let’s say we change manager tonight. Tell me which individuals improve, and how they suddenly change our fortunes?

The current mob is basically the same as the previous couple of seasons with the exception of Cardwell and Kensdale.

We don't play the same style as before - one key thing is missing...the intensity of press.
We used to press teams so aggressively from the first whistle that they didn't know what had hit them.
That has all but disappeared, and we are now left with this tactical husk which sees us pick up 70% possession in most games without doing a ****ing thing with the ball in dangerous areas. It is slow, ponderous and grimly predictable.
Teams don't even have to break a sweat to put goals past us now.

 

[Target man]

The question is should Maher go not do we think he is doing a bang up job and nothing needs to change. I fully understand why others think he should go but I also recognise he is and we are capable of much better as shown last season and think he has earnt the right to try turn this around. Though with all that said I'm very quickly leaning further toward "go" with each passing stubborn loss using the same tactics and out of form players.

I would understand resting GSM who's been blowing out of his backside for weeks, and giving Wind a go who is eager for games. Instead though it's Coker and Morton dropped who for me, helped us in the recent 4 clean sheets unbeaten run prior to Charlton, with Coker chipping in with goals, in place of off form Miley and Moncur. That I don't get ...

 

[Sherif H]

We’re not though, so it’s not a discussion. Same as, if we were at the top of the table, this convert wouldn’t be occurring.

If the relegation scenario becomes a reality, then it’s a discussion point. Until then, it’s a (potentially costly) coin flip.

And trust me when I say, we don’t have money to p*** away. Otherwise we wouldn’t be drafting in new consortium members. Piece it together

If it becomes a reality? We are 3 points off the zone and almost halfway through the season...

 

[Sherif H]

Your view is matched by almost half the people who voted in the poll. Why are you making out you are some victimised minority? It is really strange.

Is it strange? The loudest voices appear to be from those who support the status quo and will defend Kev's position so vehemently that nothing you can say which exposes our tactical naivety and ineffectiveness across every part of the pitch registers in any way.