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I know I've been trying to make sense of it too? The season ends when you've played everyone home and away. Unless it's COVID year and you get lucky like Barrow did. If anything there had been a slight upturn in the last few games. I think some people are trying really hard to give the management team as little credit as possible.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wollat11
Take this board as a sample size and I think those that have said right from the start that they wanted him gone (and are sticking to it for whatever reason) are extremely few indeed. The vast majority questioned the appointment for obvious reasons (me included) but had the grace to give him a chance.Quote:
Originally Posted by tripie
As far as I remember, I kept quiet. I had doubts, but I have had doubts about many managers, and I also felt that Maynard had done a good job with very limited resources at Wealdstone and therefore there must be some potential. It was obvious (not least because several posters here pointed it out) that following Williams would be tough, and that stepping up to a full time post would be tough. When he srrived at Notts, he didn't have behind him the experience of how a squad of full-timers operates - what is the shape of the working week, which changes depending on how many days there are between matches? How much more can you demand of full-timers compared with part-timers?
And any new manager has to get to know and assess twenty to thirty new players, and develop working relationships with many more backroom staff. Maynard also had to get to grips with the likely tactics of teams he had never watched before or met in competition. I wonder how many replays of Notts matches he watched in his first couple of weeks. I think it is very easy to underestimate just how big the step up was, and just how much pressure he was under as soon as there was a disappointing result. He's at the very least shown considerable strength of character by not being totally overwhelmed. And there is still obvious potential, which may or may not be fulfilled this season.
We'll see where we are after 12 games or so. If he achieves nine home games without a loss to match last season's 9 without a win that will be fantastic and I will join in the clamour to see Sir Stu knighted in the New Year's Honours List. From what I have seen so far the team is confident and playing well, which I put down to the coach and having better players to work with.Quote:
Originally Posted by SmiffyPie
These straw man arguments get really tiresome.Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodypie
I think that most fans across the leagues, would be clamoring for the managers head if they'd seen what we did after LW left but, many, perhaps most, were quick to recognise that weaknesses in our playing staff, were amplifying our perceived, management problems. Most teams would struggle when you had a defence which through continued 'howlers', had become a laughing stock but you have to admit that at times, SM's set up and apparent inability to make decisive, tactical changes in games, were puzzling and left him further exposed, it was a perfect storm that would bring any manager down.Quote:
Originally Posted by SmiffyPie
Although there were those who were viciously, vocal after some games (I was sat in the Pavis for a few games where the reaction of some fans embarrassed me), many had written off the season and were prepared to give him a clean slate with what we hoped would be a revamped team the following season. Although there were doubters pre-season, we've got that team now, one which shows potential and all things being equal, I personally think that this team will take us up so unless he starts playing DC at centre half with JJ in goal, let's put last season down as a blip and get behind SM.
Don’t forget even if we lose on Saturday we will still have seen so far a team confident and playing well this season, which I also put down to the coach and having better players to worth with.Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodypie
Tough game, tough looking October but we go into that period with confidence.