Look...

[Woodypie]

So, I very rarely get the chance to see Notts live, because of serious health issues. The Gillingham game was my first this season. I have to say the obvious - it was crap. And if I judged the team, I would say an average point tally would be 4. But, the manager would be a 1 - poor tactics and team selection, use of subs etc. He reminds me too much of Ardley, and if there is one former manager I would not choose to prevent our disastrous fall down the table it would be him. Three games isn't enough to judge him, but I have a feeling this isn't going to end well for Maynard

[slack_pie]

So, I very rarely get the chance to see Notts live, because of serious health issues. The Gillingham game was my first this season. I have to say the obvious - it was crap. And if I judged the team, I would say an average point tally would be 4. But, the manager would be a 1 - poor tactics and team selection, use of subs etc. He reminds me too much of Ardley, and if there is one former manager I would not choose to prevent our disastrous fall down the table it would be him. Three games isn't enough to judge him, but I have a feeling this isn't going to end well for Maynard

How exactly does he remind you of Ardley? Tactically I can't see many similarities.

[magpie_mania]

How exactly does he remind you of Ardley? Tactically I can't see many similarities.

Me neither. Can't see how he is worth a 1, partly based on team selection.

It's beginning to appear to me that there are some who aren't willing to give Maynard any time and have already decided that he is going to fail.

Posts about Williams returning are way off, let's be thankful for him, but now get behind Maynard and the owners, because ultimately the criticism is of them.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

It's beginning to appear to me that there are some who aren't willing to give Maynard any time and have already decided that he is going to fail.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. I'd imagine as soon as Maynard was appointed some people made their minds up and wrote him off.

He's the manager of Notts County so I'm going to give him a chance.

[upthemaggies]

How exactly does he remind you of Ardley? Tactically I can't see many similarities.

The accent and general demeanour perhaps, but background wise he's more in the Burchnall mode with no FL experience.

Ardley and Williams had managed at a higher level. It's up for debate whether or not the Swedish league is much better than tier 5, some of the teams in there certainly will be, others probably not, but Maynard is without doubt the least qualified of all Reedtz bros managers and he's come in at the point where we're at our highest position under them.

As useless as Ardley was, he finished higher and got closer in the play offs than Burchnall did, yet somehow, according to many, Burch 'improved us' by falling further short of the target on both counts. I'm getting Burch vibes from this new guy in that respect.

I don't wish to character assassinate the guy, he says the right things, he conducts himself competently enough, but with his background I'd be looking for something extra in his personality that has that pumped up clenched fist attitude, or some sort of quirkyness, arrogance, whatever, but I'm not getting anything but bland so far.

As difficult as these next two games are, they do provide an opportunity for him to lay down a marker. A win at either would grant him a lot of credit.

[slack_pie]

Your getting 'Birch vibes' from Maynard in what respect? Because Birchnall failed in the playoffs? Maynard has been in charge for three games. And having a similar accent to Ardley says absolutely **** all about his ability to coach this team to success.

How about we stop looking for reasons that he's not going to make it and support him instead. The truth is it's too early to tell what Maynard will or will not achieve as Notts' head coach. We'll know more by the end of the season. But one thing is absolutely certain - getting on his back and creating a negative atmosphere will only make things worse.

[upthemaggies]

Your getting 'Birch vibes' from Maynard in what respect? Because Birchnall failed in the playoffs? .

That's my gut instinct, that he'll do enough to stick around but ultimately fall further short each time, just like Burch.

Fans are emotionally involved in this game, it wouldn't be the game we love otherwise, but that means people react emotionally rather than rationally a lot of the time and it's results that fuel those emotions. The onus is on him to give the fans something to get behind, he's the manager, supposedly.

[JoePass]

Your getting 'Birch vibes' from Maynard in what respect? Because Birchnall failed in the playoffs? Maynard has been in charge for three games. And having a similar accent to Ardley says absolutely **** all about his ability to coach this team to success.

How about we stop looking for reasons that he's not going to make it and support him instead. The truth is it's too early to tell what Maynard will or will not achieve as Notts' head coach. We'll know more by the end of the season. But one thing is absolutely certain - getting on his back and creating a negative atmosphere will only make things worse.

This ^^^

[Big_Bad_Bob]

Your getting 'Birch vibes' from Maynard in what respect? Because Birchnall failed in the playoffs? Maynard has been in charge for three games. And having a similar accent to Ardley says absolutely **** all about his ability to coach this team to success.

How about we stop looking for reasons that he's not going to make it and support him instead. The truth is it's too early to tell what Maynard will or will not achieve as Notts' head coach. We'll know more by the end of the season. But one thing is absolutely certain - getting on his back and creating a negative atmosphere will only make things worse.

Bit of overall context on our season in general, and Maynard’s contribution to date would be useful here as well I think.

Think I’m right in saying that we had what can now be recognised as a very soft start in playing none of the current Top 8 until 14th October.

Yes, we made the most of it and it was a thrilling couple of months, but as soon that easier run came to an end, against Mansfield, we got battered.

From that point on, I make it that we’ve played 9 games against the current Top 8, and have won precisely none of them. Williams was responsible for the first 6, Maynard only the last 3.

In fact, Gillingham away is the only game we’ve won all season against a side now sitting above us in the table.

Of course, we can also point to Palmer’s injury as being potentially a crucial factor in some of the above, but to pretend Maynard is underperforming having had so little opportunity to make his mark, and producing a sequence of results that is merely a continuation of what came before is a little unfair.

I have my concerns about whether he’s going to be the man to turn this round too, but it’s too early to judge, and one thing we’ll never know is whether Williams would have been capable of it either.

For now, Maynard has my complete support.