Thanks Kev - but is a new manager needed?

[Piledriver]

If Kev was to go, AB would be my first choice as his replacement. I did have reservations about another legend, but you’re absolutely right. If it didn’t work out for Barrett, he’d still be an absolute legend of this club.

Supposing COSU sacked Kev tomorrow. If he was at a game in a couple of years time as a guest and was introduced on the pitch before kick off, I’m certain all four corners of the ground would give him a standing ovation. Because he’s an absolute club legend in every sense.

FWIW though, I still want Kev to get rid of some deadwood in the summer, freely recruit with no soft drinks, have a proper pre-season, and put together a squad capable of getting out of this league. And if by Christmas we’re not at the races, there’s a conversation to be had.

I was thinking along these lines , however now think yes to preseason depending on not being a total basket case in the next 18 games.
Now though I'd only give maybe 11 games next season to gauge if it's worth sticking with Kev.

 

[danbowen]

Can we do a new poll?

 

[Holy Joe]

Can we do a new poll?

Why? People can change vote on this one?

 

[* ORM *]

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.

Yea his career was awful, never got promoted, never scored from midfield, never orchestrated games, never got that tackle in v Bristol City and then drove forward to lay the ball onto Wayne Gray. Crab Maher has turned into an urban myth. Lost 2 out of 13 in the league while still trying to build a squad. A half decent February would see us on the fringes of the play offs, again. Think what could be achieved when the transfer shackles are fully off with an entire preseason to bed newbies in. COSU believe in the coaching set up. It’s about time more of the fans did.

 

[The General]

I don’t see us getting out of this league with Kev in charge. Vote change from OTF to Yes.

 

[stewart]

90% of managers are 'failures', that's why they are out of work. How many managers are out there with mostly successful careers?

Us and many other sides aren't going to be able to get a manager with 80% win record.

Not sure about that Dimi would take the job and he got a 100pc record with us

 

[nick12]

We owe Kev big time for sticking by us in the darkest days, legend yes, build a statue yes, name a new stand after him yes but now the reality is I don't think he can take us forward and it's time for fresh blood and a new approach to our football.

I bet there are plenty of decent managers out there who would love a crack at us being one of the big players in non league, our squad, our potential and our support, it doesn't have to be someone unemployed.

 

[southchurch]

Why? People can change vote on this one?

I don't think everyone realised you could change your vote on this one. So to the 606, your vote can be Changed.

 

[southchurch]

We owe Kev big time for sticking by us in the darkest days, legend yes, build a statue yes, name a new stand after him yes but now the reality is I don't think he can take us forward and it's time for fresh blood and a new approach to our football.

I bet there are plenty of decent managers out there who would love a crack at us being one of the big players in non league, our squad, our potential and our support, it doesn't have to be someone unemployed.

100%. There would be plenty of interest I believe. People are saying COSU will not sack Kev. That is probably right for now. I do think this season is now lost no matter who's in charge. The question is do we take a chance on Kev next season or start with some one fresh. Personally I would like to see some one fresh but having read the "give Kev a chance" side. I can see where they are coming from. Good managers can turn things around and that's normally the toughest test. Even great managers have bad spells.

 

[bluesfansince1952]

Was Man U losing 1-0 to us in the League Cup (very much a peripheral competition like the FA Trophy) all those years ago as big a calamity to them as us losing to Sittingbourne on Saturday? Did Fergie lose his job as a result?
Defeat in these circumstances is never a pleasant experience but the awful result did not affect our position in the league.
Time to move on; we still have much to play for and I doubt that changing managers will in any boost our chances of finding our way into the play offs.

 

[danbowen]

Was Man U losing 1-0 to us in the League Cup (very much a peripheral competition like the FA Trophy) all those years ago as big a calamity to them as us losing to Sittingbourne on Saturday? Did Fergie lose his job as a result?
Defeat in these circumstances is never a pleasant experience but the awful result did not affect our position in the league.
Time to move on; we still have much to play for and I doubt that changing managers will in any boost our chances of finding our way into the play offs.

That was a one off result for them - our performances have been sh*t almost all season. They were European champions and top of the league and we were technically one league below them. Sittingbourne are 4(?) leagues below us, part time (probably train twice a week at most). Huge differences in whatever aspect you look at it.

 

[bluesfansince1952]

Your points are well made and taken although I doubt that is how the United management saw it at the time.
The reality is we are still contending for a play off place and results and performances have been better in 2025.
It has always been my contention that in the NL how you finish is more important than how you start the season. It may be that not having the distraction for the FA Trophy might help our chances while Saturday might also have the effect of acting as a wake up call to some of the playing group. Time will tell.
Suffering a 'humiliation' in a cup competition happens to pretty much every club from time to time. Perhaps what makes it worse for us is that for far too long we have been unable to defeat anyone in a knock out format, let alone cause an upset.
I do not like losing and hate losing to a team below us on the pyramid but do not see this as a season defining moment.

 

[danbowen]

Since Xmas:
1) we struggled against Braintree and was lucky to hang on (Mahers tactics put us under huge pressure)
2) we struggled to beat Southport (league below)
3) got beat by Barnet and was lucky it wasnt a much bigger scoreline
4) beat a very poor Dagenham team
5) beat Fylde who have won 1 game away all season.
6) lost to a team miles below us in the pyramid.

I wouldnt say our form and results are better in 2025 at all.

 

[RHB]

I don't think everyone realised you could change your vote on this one. So to the 606, your vote can be Changed.

That big blue change button is difficult to see though, isn't it. Your last sentence sounds a bit like someone that lost a big election in 2020.

 

[Jay_SUFC]

100%. There would be plenty of interest I believe. People are saying COSU will not sack Kev. That is probably right for now. I do think this season is now lost no matter who's in charge. The question is do we take a chance on Kev next season or start with some one fresh. Personally I would like to see some one fresh but having read the "give Kev a chance" side. I can see where they are coming from. Good managers can turn things around and that's normally the toughest test. Even great managers have bad spells.

It's not a bad spell though, the football we have played has been dire most of the season.

I know Maher didn't get all his first choices, but that happens anyway, however the squad is definitely better than what we have seen this season.

I admit, we're not a top 3 side, but based on the dross in this league, playoffs should be a formality, and I don't mean just about getting in the playoffs, we should pretty much be in that position all season.

 

[Danshrimper]

Since Xmas:
1) we struggled against Braintree and was lucky to hang on (Mahers tactics put us under huge pressure)
2) we struggled to beat Southport (league below)
3) got beat by Barnet and was lucky it wasnt a much bigger scoreline
4) beat a very poor Dagenham team
5) beat Fylde who have won 1 game away all season.
6) lost to a team miles below us in the pyramid.

I wouldnt say our form and results are better in 2025 at all.

4 wins from the last 5 league games. You can spin those 4 wins however you want to try and argue that they don’t count. But by definition, that isn’t bad form, and is inarguably our best spell of form in the league all season.

 

[southchurch]

That big blue change button is difficult to see though, isn't it. Your last sentence sounds a bit like someone that lost a big election in 2020.

Ha ha. Your probably right. Could be conceived to be clutching at straws.

 

[danbowen]

4 wins from the last 5 league games. You can spin those 4 wins however you want to try and argue that they don’t count. But by definition, that isn’t bad form, and is inarguably our best spell of form in the league all season.

Dagenham 16th (10 points from last 10 games)
Braintree 18th (were in relegation zone when we played them)
Fylde 22nd (7 points from last 10 games and only won once away all season)
Ebbsfleet 24th (worse team we have played in memory - 1 win all season)

We play worse teams than the above and lose, we get heavily beaten by Barnet. I dont think results against the above teams should be celebrated as we should be convincingly beating these regardless. These results shouldnt paper over the big cracks that are there and any semi decent team are going to beat us at the moment.

 

[blues exile]

Dagenham 16th (10 points from last 10 games)
Braintree 18th (were in relegation zone when we played them)
Fylde 22nd (7 points from last 10 games and only won once away all season)
Ebbsfleet 24th (worse team we have played in memory - 1 win all season)

We play worse teams than the above and lose, we get heavily beaten by Barnet. I dont think results against the above teams should be celebrated as we should be convincingly beating these regardless. These results shouldnt paper over the big cracks that are there and any semi decent team are going to beat us at the moment.

Exactly. Place these results in that context for a reality check.

 

[Avl1983]

My worry is that IF Maher isn't the man for the job and we hold on out of loyalty and give him an unhindered pre-season as most people think he earned last year, we would then be in the same position another year down the line. IF we got rid of Maher now, it would potentially give a new manager time to evaluate the squad and make his own changes.

All managers have bad periods and Maher has not had it easy but that doesn't get away from the fact that he's scared of attacking woeful teams. That does not inspire confidence in your own team, poor man management in my opinion. By insisting on playing negative tactics against some awful teams (Woking second half comes to mind) You're subconsciously telling the whole team that if we attack we won't win. What sort of message is that to your own team?

I was just starting to think maybe I was wrong, the football was improving and we looked exciting to watch minus some poor finishing against Fylde but he's reverted to type by the sounds of it. I don't see it changing unfortunately.