Do you really believe that if the club goes through a bad patch of results, realistically there isn't much the Head Coach can do about it?
I'd say he's the person you expect to sort it.
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It is a very odd take to say the manager makes no difference. Do they think the team spontaneously adopted a new approach between Warnock being sacked and the night we beat Tranmere 5-0? Would the results after Paul Ince left been the same had they stuck with him instead of bringing in Martin Allen? Would we have won back to back Wembley play off finals under Barnwell? gone up to the top flight under Ronnie Fenton? stayed up and reached the play offs the following season under Sheridan?
Conversely, would we have drifted down the League One table into 20 years of obscurity had Big Sam not walked out when he did.
Nobody knows, but we were in a fantastic position that season to head into the Championship, and Big Sam leaving obviously changed the course of history. I wonder if we?d be a PL fixture now, such as a Fulham, Brighton or a Bournemouth.
Instead we?ve had two decades of dross.
The *rockpool* principle in football fandom has reared its head again this week, in that immediately following a dispiriting defeat, the *bed-wetters* are up in arms, proclaiming the end of the world and there is a flurry of activity. As the week goes on, the *apologists* come out of hiding, ruthlessly crushing any resistance and it all calms down again in advance of the next match. This past couple of days is a perfect example of that principle.
I await the outcome of tomorrow night with interest, because I think fan patience is exhausted and I simply do not think SM is capable of turning it around.
Some really interesting posts on this thread. The current situation reminds me very much of when Keith Curle replaced the popular and charismatic Martin Allen. We are at a moment where there appear to be similar comparisons. Under Curle we were solid away from home and went unbeaten for a year, under SM we are 5th in the table away from home and generally have been doing well. Under Curle at home the criticisms came from playing Hughes up front on his own and the style was more like an away team. At home we are 6th in the form table but it's felt a bit flat lately intensity and pace have dropped and perceptions of entertainment value have lowered.
Under Curle we finished just outside the league one play-offs in 7th in what was the highest placed finished in the pyramid since 95/96 season when we lost to Bradford in the playoffs. We have not reached those levels since and that was 13 years ago at the end of the season.
When Curle was sacked the likes of Bishop spoke out about a few fans on a message board and there was a slump. The club also ended up promoting Chris Kiwomya from within and ultimately we lost him as a coach as well as he was sacked.
Here we are today under SM we are four points off an automatic promotion place with a game in hand and are on course to finish in our highest place in the pyramid since the Nolan 2017/2018 season. This is despite injuries to key players over the season, the loss of two coaches, a head of recruitment gone, four completely new players in January of which three are young and inexperienced to integrate into the squad and one who has not played in England previously. Like last season when SM came in under the gloom of Williams leaving if anything it shows SM is a fighter and resilient.
We are in a dip on the Notts County rollercoaster just now that can't be denied 23rd in the form table. What we don't yet know is when we will come out of it.
To anyone on the outside looking in it looks like complete and utter madness and nonsensical to contemplate sacking the manager at this stage especially if SM has the dressing room.
The return of JJ and Didzy cannot come quick enough and hopefully a couple of positive results with them.
To be fair, it does feel like Maynard is the last man in the building, sweeping up and turning off the lights after everybody else has gone home. Maybe a lot of people are terrified that if Maynard is forced out, the whole edifice will collapse.
I'm really struggling to imagine that Hardy, the Trews - or any other previous owner for that matter - would have been given a free pass had the events of the last 6 weeks or so occurred under their watch, with the man basically running the club walking out the door, two coaches leaving in a fog of rumours and - almost two months later - the coaches still not replaced.
No immediate replacements either we do have a new analyst though.
Seems pretty obvious that they thought they deserved more, and looking at our performances and results since they left it would appear they were right. I personally think the Bros ( owners) are looking to get out, so trying to recoup as much money as possible. No replacements for the coaching staff, no replacement for the Director of football/recruitment, 3 quality players sold for decent money not replaced with any quality.I cant see us gaining another point this season, but they will not sack Maynard as it will cost them and thats not on their agenda, get as much back as possible and get out before we go bankrupt.