The management team…

[Carlton_Pie]

This, this this.

This thread wasn’t a ‘have a dig at Maynard’ it was an observation on how the dynamics work as, from memory, we’ve not heard from Saunders in press conferences etc…only seen him on club videos of training along side. So it’s interesting that the ‘on the pitch’ stuff is delegated to him and it’s obviously playing to his strength.

Not sure why people are so quick to jump up and down over simple tactical observations. Yes, Maynard looked out of place, for want of a better choice of words during that mini team meeting, but it cuts the other way too. Saunders took total control and obviously the messages got through clearly.

As with everything in football, nobody questions your methods when results are good.

[queenslandpie]

This, this this.

This thread wasn’t a ‘have a dig at Maynard’ it was an observation on how the dynamics work as, from memory, we’ve not heard from Saunders in press conferences etc…only seen him on club videos of training along side. So it’s interesting that the ‘on the pitch’ stuff is delegated to him and it’s obviously playing to his strength.

Not sure why people are so quick to jump up and down over simple tactical observations. Yes, Maynard looked out of place, for want of a better choice of words during that mini team meeting, but it cuts the other way too. Saunders took total control and obviously the messages got through clearly.

I do find it funny that you suggest people are quick to jump up and down when you are the worst person on the entire board for doing it. But if you've changed your tune fair enough. With your quite intense criicism of Mr Maynard in the past it is not hard to see why people including me take it as further intense criticism. Anyway enjoy the season.

[jacobncfc]

Fair comment.

I felt that Maynard desperately needed a strong start to this season otherwise the fan disquiet really would have begun to grow, and a strong start is exactly what he's delivered.

Five games is too small a sample size to start drawing any conclusions, but perhaps the most noticeable thing so far is that we are looking much more solid defensively. In fact, we would be even more solid if we cut out some of the overplaying and unnecessary risk-taking in our own third of the field.

I think it’s clear that the summer and a fresh start has done Maynard loads of good. We were rubbish under him last year, but I think it’s looking increasingly clear that the players we had really struggled to psychologically get over Williams’ departure and never really took on any new ideas.

I don’t think any of them ‘downed tools’ knowingly, but we moved on a lot of big personalities who were all very close to LW in the summer - Baldwin, Cameron, Bostock and JOB in particular. It’s now a squad that is mostly SM’s players (I know he doesn’t sign them per se, but he meets them beforehand and sells his methods etc so it must make a difference and it just seems a much happier camp. A couple of the remaining lads, notably Didzy, are looking completely reinvigorated after a break as well.

[hissingdwarf]

I do find it funny that you suggest people are quick to jump up and down when you are the worst person on the entire board for doing it. But if you've changed your tune fair enough. With your quite intense criicism of Mr Maynard in the past it is not hard to see why people including me take it as further intense criticism. Anyway enjoy the season.

Not totally convinced I’ve been the most critical poster against Maynard, but hey ho.
At the end of the day, new season with his own players (via the recruitment team as that’s what we use) then he deserves a chance to show he’s the man, along with his coaching team. Hence the post.

[queenslandpie]

Not totally convinced I’ve been the most critical poster against Maynard, but hey ho.
At the end of the day, new season with his own players (via the recruitment team as that’s what we use) then he deserves a chance to show he’s the man, along with his coaching team. Hence the post.

We haven't ( in my opinion) actually played anyone we should consider testing yet i.e. Bradford, Doncaster, MK Dons the bigger teams with bigger budgets some of which will surely challenge. So of course it will be best to judge in a few months but a very solid start with some challenging weeks for selections.

[ThaiPie]

2nd in the table won easily without 3 of our best players. And still people look for an angle on Maynard. Idiotic.

Well said QP.

The clue is in the post headline "Management team"

I'd rather have the Head Coach thinking strategically, and his Sergeant Major relaying messages.

[nw6pie]

We haven't ( in my opinion) actually played anyone we should consider testing yet i.e. Bradford, Doncaster, MK Dons the bigger teams with bigger budgets some of which will surely challenge. So of course it will be best to judge in a few months but a very solid start with some challenging weeks for selections.

Good point. We also had a relatively kind start last season, so we had plenty of points already in the bank when we met the likes of Mansfield, Wrexham, etc, and suddenly realised we had zero strength in depth and had a NL defence and goalkeeper.

The difference this season, I think, is we have more strength in depth (McDonald and Ness haven’t even been in the squad yet, and Gordon has barely featured), as shown by our ability to handle the absence of JJ, Dan and AJ on Saturday. Time will tell, of course, but we’ll definitely have a better idea after the next two games away at Bromley (where we’ve never won) and at home to Gillingham.

[Could'vebeenacontender]

Well said QP.

The clue is in the post headline "Management team"

I'd rather have the Head Coach thinking strategically, and his Sergeant Major relaying messages.

There was a video posted by the club not long after they arrived that showed Maynard and his coaches taking a session. The assistant did most of the shouting with Maynard making occasional comments
Some people commented on it at the time
It's not a bad way to work really

[queenslandpie]

Good point. We also had a relatively kind start last season, so we had plenty of points already in the bank when we met the likes of Mansfield, Wrexham, etc, and suddenly realised we had zero strength in depth and had a NL defence and goalkeeper.

The difference this season, I think, is we have more strength in depth (McDonald and Ness haven’t even been in the squad yet, and Gordon has barely featured), as shown by our ability to handle the absence of JJ, Dan and AJ on Saturday. Time will tell, of course, but we’ll definitely have a better idea after the next two games away at Bromley (where we’ve never won) and at home to Gillingham.

I dont think there are any teams that have the kind of budget and pulling power financially that Wrexham and Stockport did last season. MK Dons perhaps next season if the fake sheik is not fake. By comparison we have a much more rounded side than we did last season. I think we will do pretty well this year. As to how well, well let's see how kind injuries and the January transfer window are!

[KCNotts]

I dont think there are any teams that have the kind of budget and pulling power financially that Wrexham and Stockport did last season. MK Dons perhaps next season if the fake sheik is not fake. By comparison we have a much more rounded side than we did last season. I think we will do pretty well this year. As to how well, well let's see how kind injuries and the January transfer window are!

I'm hoping we will be this year's Mansfield. Solid at the back, balanced and with a couple of match winners in the team. In regards to not playing anyone decent yet, I'm not sure about that. I think Tranmere and Fleetwood (for all their issues) will be up there and I think Swindon have the squad to come good.