Thanks Kev - but is a new manager needed?

[Blue Yonder]

Yes there are outside influences that affected it. But a sample of those we've brought in last few years, can't remember all so feel free to add:

Kendall - miss
Walker - miss
Waldron - miss
KAF - miss
Wind - 50/50
Crowther - miss
Morton - hit
Gubbins - miss
Mooney - miss
Cardwell - hit
Powell - miss
Fonguck - 50/50
Lomas - miss
Kensdale - hit
Wreh - miss
Dackers - 50/50
Cosgrave - miss
GSM - hit
Taylor - hit
Miley - hit before but declined rapidly
Murphy - miss
Hyde - miss
Arnold - hit
Kabongolo - miss

It's not a great ratio, and we have managed to make a fair few signings between our club issues.

Husin hit
Collin hit
Bridge hit
Moncur miss
Bonne miss
Waldron miss
Wood miss

Maybe We need a data based system !

 

[hlane17]

Risk taking on signings is inevitably greater outside the football league and that risk is amplified by many of the players you've stated not being first-choice targets.

The term 'bargain bin' is a euphemism used by retailers to get rid of end-of-life items. It's not full of bargains, it's full of cheap **** and we have been using it for nearly a decade.

Can't disagree with that.

I would say we've been shopping in the equivalent of the reduced section in the supermarket, but @Billy Bests boot laces knows you can still get some quality out of that before it eventually goes off!

We just get the rotten leftovers.

 

[kentblues]

Risk taking on signings is inevitably greater outside the football league and that risk is amplified by many of the players you've stated not being first-choice targets.

The term 'bargain bin' is a euphemism used by retailers to get rid of end-of-life items. It's not full of bargains, it's full of cheap **** and we have been using it for nearly a decade.

Lots of players who were at an even lower level that we believed could step up. This is going to be hit and miss- we are not buying finished articles proven at our level or above generally. And players are typically at the level they are for a reason. The idea with the data piece is to improve the success rate.

That said FGR, who got knocked out by Oxford City, yesterday paid a tidy sum for a CF “proven” in the same league and he hasn’t scored in months and currently couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo.

Unfortunately it will take time and every year there are, and will be, three or four clubs who throw money at it. And with two promotion places that makes it tough. Regrettably.

Kev will be going nowhere for a good while irrespective of how hard the keyboards get hammered. But we do need to use the wake up call yesterday to drive a significant refresh in the squad. But if that means more than one or two players from the NLS/NLN then it’s wishful thinking to believe we will suddenly be top three material…

 

[kentblues]

I seem to remember this famous whiteboard covered all scenarios. There’s only so much longer we can keep saying this - it’s Kevin’s job to get the best out of what he’s got. What concerns me is that we hear players weren’t listening/following instructions yesterday. Why is what I want to know. We were supposedly only bringing in players with good character, Maher had final say etc.. so he wanted them.

It’s a slight concern isn’t it? Especially when we play like we did against Charlton and almost take them to pens. Many of the same players. Why the inconsistency? I don’t buy that all the players are ****, sorry.

They are largely players who are NL/NLS/NLN level- not a single EFL club appeared interested in any of them this window? Part of the reason they are at the level they are is an inability to maintain high levels of performance (few give a 7/10 every week consistently).

Now the issues with recruitment due fruit drinks etc. have been explained so many times it’s pointless doing so again. But this summer that excuse will have finally disappeared- and the summer will be both a test of our recruitment policy and the clubs ambition.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

They are largely players who are NL/NLS/NLN level- not a single EFL club appeared interested in any of them this window? Part of the reason they are at the level they are is an inability to maintain high levels of performance (few give a 7/10 every week consistently).

Now the issues with recruitment due fruit drinks etc. have been explained so many times it’s pointless doing so again. But this summer that excuse will have finally disappeared- and the summer will be both a test of our recruitment policy and the clubs ambition.

Well yeah I think a lot of the recruitment issues are down to things that happened before COSU arrived also. I’m aware some targets were out of reach.

Maybe it’s that when Kev can field his best 11 and they do play well, they’re decent. But the back ups are not. Kendall though isn’t a back up and wasn’t he tracked for a while? They even ignored the data on him. Hopper, Maher has wanted for ages. Looking forward to seeing this lad from Slough plus Golding back for Maidenhead (a big miss yesterday). Morton has been pretty consistent. Maybe one of our best players now. Many of the squad have played at a higher level. Many don’t seem interested half the time but do the other half.

I know some don’t look good enough (Gubbins, KAF, Waldron) but have they had the game time to get up to speed? Not really. I genuinely believe we have a squad who can still make the play offs, we just veer from awful to ok to decent and it’s frustrating. When Kev is screaming at them but they’re not listening, something isn’t working is it ..

 

[amsemp]

Those who genuinely want Kev out today, who do you want to replace him? And that’s a genuine question, not a rhetorical question.

Please no one say Neil Harris. If you don’t like Kev’s brand of football, you can’t suggest Harris.

 

[thenobster]

Those who genuinely want Kev out today, who do you want to replace him? And that’s a genuine question, not a rhetorical question.

Please no one say Neil Harris. If you don’t like Kev’s brand of football, you can’t suggest Harris.

My finger is not on the pulse with who may be available or interested.. So, maybe have a few pen pictures with a few suggestions (real people please), because, we will find ourselves needing someone one day...

 

[Wingnut]

i would wait until next season give him a un restricted close season then see what happens
i cant see the board getting rid i really cant .

 

[Wingnut]

My finger is not on the pulse with who may be available or interested.. So, maybe have a few pen pictures with a few suggestions (real people please), because, we will find ourselves needing someone one day...

would anyone wanna take the job in the first place

 

[Wickford Blue]

would anyone wanna take the job in the first place

Someone who is unemployed ands usually Manages Lower league clubs.......in other words someone who would be no better than Kev! So I would stick with him for a year, so he gets a proper Summer to recruit and proper Pre Season and if this time next year we are still losing to Sittingbourne and playing rubbish then is the time to get rid.

 

[Fairport]

Those who genuinely want Kev out today, who do you want to replace him? And that’s a genuine question, not a rhetorical question.

Please no one say Neil Harris. If you don’t like Kev’s brand of football, you can’t suggest Harris.

Adam Barratt and Tilly.

 

[onceknownasrab]

Someone who is unemployed ands usually Manages Lower league clubs.......in other words someone who would be no better than Kev! So I would stick with him for a year, so he gets a proper Summer to recruit and proper Pre Season and if this time next year we are still losing to Sittingbourne and playing rubbish then is the time to get rid.

Perhaps someone who usually manages non-league clubs might be an upgrade on Maher. Someone who actually knows what it takes in our league and has knowledge, first hand, of the players who can do the business at this level. FWIW I still think our squad is good enough to be doing better than it is. What went on yesterday? Something is amiss and I seriously doubt we are in possession of the facts.

 

[blues exile]

If COSU stick with Maher nothing will change. Yes, there will be the odd good performance or a string of reasonable results but no real progress. His management style mirrors his playing career and won't change. There is no room for sentimentality in football and his time is up.

 

[Holy Joe]

. What went on yesterday? Something is amiss and I seriously doubt we are in possession of the facts.

The shooting is amiss - that is all. We had enough chances to win.

 

[onceknownasrab]

The shooting is amiss - that is all. We had enough chances to win.

We should have had a lot more, clear cut chances but we played disgracefully with slow Maherball. That performance was a bunch of unmotivated players not performing for the fans and not playing for the manager. There is way more amiss than the shooting.

 

[Suffering shrimper]

Don’t think mahers way of playing and his tactics is all the problem it’s more the group of players we’ve got aren’t suited to it look at the last year 75 points and 70 goals scored what let’s Kev down and will probably be the factor of him getting sacked is the lack of change it’s so predictable the last few games 343 then after 60 minutes back to 532 we must be the easiest team to prepare to play against

 

[kentblues]

Adam Barratt and Tilly.

Yes why not build up then knock down another club legend- we’re good at that…

 

[kentblues]

Don’t think mahers way of playing and his tactics is all the problem it’s more the group of players we’ve got aren’t suited to it look at the last year 75 points and 70 goals scored what let’s Kev down and will probably be the factor of him getting sacked is the lack of change it’s so predictable the last few games 343 then after 60 minutes back to 532 we must be the easiest team to prepare to play against

343 is ok for about 50 mins when we’re pressing and the CM are doing the work of three. Then the front three tire, the press drops off, that puts pressure on our tiring CM who are generally up against 3 opposition CM. So Kev adjusts (something some say he doesn’t do but complain when he does) and brings on the extra CM to stop us getting over run.

The only real solution is to be able to replace the front three and maybe both CM after 50 mins to keep up the required energy levels. But we haven’t had the quality in depth to do that and maintain the level of quality/performance. Squad not big enough to be using 16 each game in that way.

If we were to regularly play 343 we need 6 who can play in the top three plus cover for injuries and suspensions- we are a mile off that.

This is the reality- we can address it but will need a squad nearer in size to Barnet than Braintree…and the resulting investment

 

[WestyReturns]

Much like Tilly, an absolute club legend who's achieved miracles both as player and manager.

And just like Tilly, tactically naive.

Thanks for the memories Kev but it's time.

Tilly had his faults as does almost everyone, however he was a tactically genius compared to Kev.

The only similarity is Tilly used 5 defenders (one in deep midfield) against Man Utd and Kev uses it against Sittingbourne.

 

[amsemp]

343 is ok for about 50 mins when we’re pressing and the CM are doing the work of three. Then the front three tire, the press drops off, that puts pressure on our tiring CM who are generally up against 3 opposition CM. So Kev adjusts (something some say he doesn’t do but complain when he does) and brings on the extra CM to stop us getting over run.

The only real solution is to be able to replace the front three and maybe both CM after 50 mins to keep up the required energy levels. But we haven’t had the quality in depth to do that and maintain the level of quality/performance. Squad not big enough to be using 16 each game in that way.

If we were to regularly play 343 we need 6 who can play in the top three plus cover for injuries and suspensions- we are a mile off that.

This is the reality- we can address it but will need a squad nearer in size to Barnet than Braintree…and the resulting investment

Totally agree, and if we kept Wood in and around the squad, we could do:

Walker, Bonne, Kendall
Waldron, Hopper, Wood

Which would also see Wood playing on the right of a front 3 which is arguably his best position and one he’s not really had an opportunity to play.

I would 100% rather see this than see us take a striker off and revert to 3-5-2. It just absolutely kills any sort of impetus and we seem to immediately look like we’re on the back foot.