Thanks Kev - but is a new manager needed?

[Liam AAS]

Forget the supposed run of results and look at the performances, our position in the league, our inability to beat anything other than dross and of late not even that. The form includes three draws and a win against the mighty Brentwood. We may have been second in the form table but the play is abysmal and, as shown, cannot be sustained for any meaningful length of time. When did we win three on the bounce? You speak of realism. Reality is slapping everyone in the face that we are not going to do beggar all with Maherball.

I didn't argue with anything you said about performances, I was talking about league results. The performances have been dull and low-quality.

If I had said to you "forget the supposed recent performances" I'd have been rightly laughed out of town. The form statistics I stated only include league games.

The reality is that we're in the top half of the table with enough time to still make it into the payoffs. Our performances so far do not merit us being in the top 7, improvements need to come quickly and hold until the end of the season.

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

Forget the supposed run of results and look at the performances, our position in the league, our inability to beat anything other than dross and of late not even that. The form includes three draws and a win against the mighty Brentwood. We may have been second in the form table but the play is abysmal and, as shown, cannot be sustained for any meaningful length of time. When did we win three on the bounce? You speak of realism. Reality is slapping everyone in the face that we are not going to do beggar all with Maherball.

Between Boxing Day 2024 and 4th January 2025 (Ebbsfleet United (h), Braintree Town (a), Southport (h)). Of course, that run is largely dismissed given the standard of the opposition.

The last time we won three consecutive league games was between 1st and 13th April 2024 (Boreham Wood (h), Wealdstone (a), AFC Fylde (a)), so what we're seeing is a lack of consistency. Equally we've not lost three matches in a row this season; the last time we did lose three on the spin was almost exactly a year ago (Chesterfield (a), Gateshead (h) and York (h)).

 

[KiwiRob]

Barnet fans said they couldn’t wait to get rid of Currie so no thanks

I think it depends on which Barnet fans you spoke to. Getting Barnet to the play-offs was no mean achievement.

 

[Cricko]

I wish I had the faith of some that think a new pre season and signing other players will make a blind bit of difference to the way Kev wants to play and will be successful. I just don't see it.

 

[Liam AAS]

I wish I had the faith of some that think a new pre season and signing other players will make a blind bit of difference to the way Kev wants to play and will be successful. I just don't see it.

Before this season, did you imagine we'd be in 12th halfway through February?

 

[Thor1]

It's just something we've not really done as a club down the years. Who would have been the last, dare I say Mark Moseley? That said, it might be different under the COSU now.. though can you see them paying to get rid of Kev and his staff and then paying compensation for a new manager and his staff? I personally don't.

I think giving 3 year deals whilst obviously wanting to reward them for their efforts was a bit nieve. I bet they don't go down that road again.

 

[blues exile]

If you look solely at the league, this just isn't true. Maidenhead is third loss in the league since the mid Nov, with the oher two coming against the teams in 1st and 3rd. Going into Saturday's game we were 2nd in the form table averaging 2.4ppg.

I think there is fair criticism to be leveled at players and management but it has to come from a place of realism and not vibes. Especially if you want to talk about head ruling heart!

League results from mid November (16/11 - 0-2 defeat by Altrincham) reads w5, d3, l4. Four of the wins against strugglers, Halifax the exception. Only 13 goals scored in those games, 4 coming in one match, the Ebbsfleet fixture, which underlines the real issue, exacerbated by the departure of Pepple.

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

I wish I had the faith of some that think a new pre season and signing other players will make a blind bit of difference to the way Kev wants to play and will be successful. I just don't see it.

From my perspective, I don't think it will make a difference to the principles of the way we play, although I do feel Maher is far more flexible as a coach than many give him credit for. However, I prefer to look back on the high points on the pitch during the past three-plus seasons and do still believe those principles can be successful, and that at least some of the squad have a high enough ceiling to lift us.

Of course, it's entirely possible that we're unable to reproduce those high points and that the belief I have in the likes of Collin, Morton and Coker to be the beginnings of a new spine within a revitalised squad, with the help of some of the more experienced heads in a more peripheral role, to lift us is misplaced.

 

[Strykr]

So much understandable doom and gloom, which is obviously how I feel too after recent results.
Clutching at straws and trying to find a glimmer of positivity, I hear the new lad Leon is showing a lot of promise in training. Not just his box to box ability but how quick he can change speed. Obviously he's got to adapt to the higher level but if he can bring this to the match team, linking with golding behind him also looking to bring the ball out, then just maybe some balls will get played into hopper or bonnes feet to lay off for walker or kendal to run on to.
I just hope we go back to 3 up top.

Wouldnt it be wonderful to see even just ONE defence splitting pass from a midfielder through to a striker who has a shot and scores.....

Pretty sad that this doesnt ever happen anymore

 

[Chrisb]

I think giving 3 year deals whilst obviously wanting to reward them for their efforts was a bit nieve. I bet they don't go down that road again.

Perhaps they thought, and were fine, that it would take that amount of time to rebuild the team - I don't know. Perhaps they are prepared to wait, in which case nothing will change any time soon, whatever we think or want COSU are the ones paying the wages.

 

[Strykr]

It's probably time for Kev to go. He won't change his approach or tactics, he's only really got one way of playing and it's clearly not working. As for those who believe Kev needs more time, I'm not sure what you expect to change. We desperately need some fresh ideas.

Lets not forget The way kevs system has us playing is supposed to be our blueprint and ethos moving forward for future managers and recruitment.

 

[Hampshire Shrimp]

Perhaps they thought, and were fine, that it would take that amount of time to rebuild the team - I don't know. Perhaps they are prepared to wait, in which case nothing will change any time soon, whatever we think or want COSU are the ones paying the wages.

And the supporters are paying to watch this dross, at the moment!

 

[Strykr]

Perhaps they thought, and were fine, that it would take that amount of time to rebuild the team - I don't know. Perhaps they are prepared to wait, in which case nothing will change any time soon, whatever we think or want COSU are the ones paying the wages.

I firmly believe they bought the club thinking they had the best management and recruitment team in the division so the football side of things were well in hand.

Not quite so as it transpires.

 

[Piledriver]

League results from mid November (16/11 - 0-2 defeat by Altrincham) reads w5, d3, l4. Four of the wins against strugglers, Halifax the exception. Only 13 goals scored in those games, 4 coming in one match, the Ebbsfleet fixture, which underlines the real issue, exacerbated by the departure of Pepple.

Pepple with Gus papered over the cracks which imo could turn into a lack of goals crisis that'll undo any existing stability or potential success in the near future.

 

[BEERMONSTER]

Personally I have held fast to the opinion that Kev should have the opportunity of an unhindered pre-season and the chance to secure 'his' preferred Summer requirements. Yes an opinion with it's foundation set on Loyalty, credit in the bank and a genuine desire for him to succeed, however it has to be said Kev and his coaches have not been able to reach a level of at least a weekly consolidation of a play off postion, which should and is in my opinion obtainable with the squad we have. It may well have required a more flexible approach to tactics and the roles played within them by individuals but the honest assessment is apart from the odd slight tinkering in a few games we have continued with an approach that has produced an under achieved season to date and a league position that has a lot to thank for having a number of other inconsistent performers in the mix.
My real fear is that Kev is unable or unwilling to adapt his approach and it's doesn't give confidence that in reality he is the right man to lead us into next season and it hurts to say that believe me. I haven't changed my No vote yet but I don't think that if we continue with the level of performance over the course of our next 3 games I can continue to endorse Kev's tenure.

 

[bluethroughandthrough]

If you look solely at the league, this just isn't true. Maidenhead is third loss in the league since the mid Nov, with the oher two coming against the teams in 1st and 3rd. Going into Saturday's game we were 2nd in the form table averaging 2.4ppg.

I think there is fair criticism to be leveled at players and management but it has to come from a place of realism and not vibes. Especially if you want to talk about head ruling heart!

This is a valid point but that's the thing about data. Data suggests that we are doing well as you rightly point out.

However when you dive into the data you take a look at who we've played for example. As a mid table NL team we should be beating the teams below us - which is largely what the data is showing.

If our desire is play offs / promotion we also need to be beating the top teams consistently, which we aren't (perhaps a quick dive into the data on wins over teams above us in the league over the last 4 seasons might be an interesting analysis).

This poll is another data point to take note of. Typically you want around 3% of a pool of. People to be statistically relevant. Arguably you have about 8-9%. 56.3% are questioning the product on offer which is relevant. The "yeS" has been consistently increasing too another relevant data point.

Point is to be careful with data, it can show want you want to see if you rely on certain data points to form your argument

 

[nick12]

I think that's the first time I have witnessed my team being booed off away from home and rightly so as yesterday was disgraceful and an insult to each and every one of us 800 loyal supporters who made the journey to watch that utter rubbish.

Can the people who still think Kev can turn this around justify starting with a 5 3 2 defensive formation against a team that have shipped well over 50 goals this season?

Kev's tactics are so often dumbfounding and his substitutions boardering on weird so carry on defending the management team and carry on watching utter dross week after week because he was a hero when our backs were against the wall (and he truly was) but that was then and this is now and enough is enough.

 

[MisterStubbs]

If we have to Id plump for Ryan Lowe

Someone like Des Buckingham perhaps? A young manager who did incredibly with Oxford. Convincing him to drop down to NL could be a challenge though.

 

[LennySUFC]

Someone like Des Buckingham perhaps? A young manager who did incredibly with Oxford. Convincing him to drop down to NL could be a challenge though.

He'll easily get another job back in League One. Think we need to remember we are a midtable NL side these days.

 

[MisterStubbs]

He'll easily get another job back in League One. Think we need to remember we are a midtable NL side these days.

Hench why I said being able to convince him would be a challenge. I would definitely like us to bring in a manager who'll look to have us playing on the front foot. I wonder if Neil Wood, formerly of Salford and before that Man Utd U21's would be more attainable. He came across very well from the "Class of 92'" documentary.