Sack him, save our season

[Jampie]

I think the part of this thread title that really grinds my goat isn't the "sack him" part, it's the "save our season", as though just ditching the head coach with 11 matches to go and making zero other changes is going to somehow result in auto promotion.

Utter insanity, and I'm glad the owners will take no notice.

[since41]

Crucial point...
Although I wish fans realised that this usually comes with more goals conceded. Fine for me, but some seem genuinely traumatised with each goal against.

This the only clean sheets that concern me are on my bed.

[Lullapie]

Surely we can't know whether he's failed until promotion is no longer possible? I'm not saying we'll make it but it is definitely still possible. If he were to get us promoted, he'd clearly have worked his way through the problems as you put it. Most of the bookies still think it more likely than not...even after Saturday's result.

Was promotion what the owners promised this season (that's not a rhetorical question, I genuinely don't know)? I thought it was more controlled growth that the Brothers were after.

Therefore if promotion wasn't expected from the owners and the club finish in a stronger position financially and higher up the table than last season, then Maynard has been a resounding success.

Many calling for his head are missing the point. They need to look at the fact that he is only the 'Head Coach'. He can't bring in the players he wants, he just has to work with what he's been dealt with.

The beauty of this structure is that if a manager leaves or is sacked, the plan can carry on without a big 'sale' of all of the players he brought in and a new load of players replacing them. That is the heartbreaking situation Notts (and many other clubs) were in for years. I'd say boom and bust, but we didn't get a lot of the 'boom'.

The downside is that if the club goes through a bad patch of results, then the drama queens call for the coach to be sacked whereas realistically there isn't much the Head Coach can do about it.

[PedroTheFisherman66]

The gospel according to Mr Deluded himself!!

Out of interest what is our record like when Maynard has had a fully fit squad to chose from..that would include having his key players available so let's say with JJ , crowley or Mcgoldrick in the team..? ..I would think results and performances would have been pretty favourable. Xx

[Jampie]

Was promotion what the owners promised this season (that's not a rhetorical question, I genuinely don't know)? I thought it was more controlled growth that the Brothers were after.

Therefore if promotion wasn't expected from the owners and the club finish in a stronger position financially and higher up the table than last season, then Maynard has been a resounding success.

Many calling for his head are missing the point. They need to look at the fact that he is only the 'Head Coach'. He can't bring in the players he wants, he just has to work with what he's been dealt with.

The beauty of this structure is that if a manager leaves or is sacked, the plan can carry on without a big 'sale' of all of the players he brought in and a new load of players replacing them. That is the heartbreaking situation Notts (and many other clubs) were in for years. I'd say boom and bust, but we didn't get a lot of the 'boom'.

The downside is that if the club goes through a bad patch of results, then the drama queens call for the coach to be sacked whereas realistically there isn't much the Head Coach can do about it.

I agree with all of this really.

Re: your first line, the owners have never promised promotion in any particular season, and in their first interview clearly stated that you can never guarantee it so they would never set it as an expectation.

[nw6pie]

I agree with all of this really.

Re: your first line, the owners have never promised promotion in any particular season, and in their first interview clearly stated that you can never guarantee it so they would never set it as an expectation.

At the last fans forum, the owners and Montague did talk about gaining promotion this season (maybe it was my imagination, but SM seemed to shift uncomfortably whenever this was stated as a target). However, given that the January transfer window left us weaker without a ready-made replacement for Dan Crowley, it’s also hard to argue that the owners were that serious about promotion.

Arguably the most important thing we need to assess at the end of this season is why we’ve been blighted by so many long-term injuries. Is it impact injuries? Or something more preventable due to conditioning? When we look at our list of injuries where players have been out for at least a month - Didzy, Robertson, Austin, Jones, Ness, Macdonald, Grant, Edwards, Gordon, Macari - you do have to cut the head coach a bit of slack.

[Jampie]

At the last fans forum, the owners and Montague did talk about gaining promotion this season (maybe it was my imagination, but SM seemed to shift uncomfortably whenever this was stated as a target). However, given that the January transfer window left us weaker without a ready-made replacement for Dan Crowley, it’s also hard to argue that the owners were that serious about promotion.

Arguably the most important thing we need to assess at the end of this season is why we’ve been blighted by so many long-term injuries. Is it impact injuries? Or something more preventable due to conditioning? When we look at our list of injuries where players have been out for at least a month - Didzy, Robertson, Austin, Jones, Ness, Macdonald, Grant, Edwards, Gordon, Macari - you do have to cut the head coach a bit of slack.

I mean, there's a difference between a promotion goal and an expectation. Agree about injuries. WTH is going on?

[ancientpie]

The situation at the moment is so interesting because it?s pitting what has been the owners main strategy, logical and longer term thinking, against the emotional hunch of the fanbase. And I really dont know what direction its going to go on.

There isnt really a rational case for Maynard to be under any pressure at all. Weve made obvious progress from last season. Absolutely everyone wouldve been happy with the position we find ourselves in before a ball was kicked. Were the second highest goalscorers in the division. The xG data, if anything, suggest we should actually be doing slightly better. Hes done this with constant injuries to his key players, and another one being sold in January (after possibly spending the first half of the season in a sulk).

And yet? pretty much no one is having this version of Notts. And I fully include myself in this. The atmosphere home and away is flat, and has been all season, even when weve been doing particularly well. Crowds are going in the wrong direction, not drastically, but enough to start noticing. Theres very little love towards the manager or the whole group really.

I think theres loads of different reasons for this. His nightmare start is really difficult to shake off. Hes clearly not the most charismatic communicator in interviews. The football is methodical rather than high octane. It?s following a guy who was popular, successful, charismatic and whose football was entertaining to the point of ridicule at times.

So what do they do? All of this stuff matters, and it?s very hard to change a football fans mind once its made up. Even if we went up, we?ll end up in this situation after every bad run. I actually think we were in a similar spot before with Ian Burchnall, but were saved by having to make a decision by Forest Green.

It's been obvious from day one that Maynards appointment has caused a split in the opinions of the fanbase for a reason I cannot understand & it's mainly the people who disliked the appointment who are yet again calling for his head. I believe that some fans think that the queue of experienced, successful applicants for the vacancy stretched well past the Navi, we don't nor ever will know who applied but I suspect the Bros appointed who they saw as the best & probably most experienced man that we could afford & for that reason I think that like it or not he's here to stay for the foreseeable. Whether he is the man for the job fans may argue about ( personally I have my doubts) but I must say that if it was any other clubs fans who were shouting for the managers head when in our position, besides having a horrendous season injury wise, I would call it lunacy & question what sort of message it would send out to future applicants to the job. COYP

[hissingdwarf]

I think Maynard’s role here is being seriously under played.
Does he sign the players, each and every one of them? No. Does he have an input into each signing? Yes.

Plus the main criticism for weeks now has been the lack of tempo, lack of motivation, physicality, style of play (or lack of) and the fact we’ve been ****e!

All of the above are on Maynard. Players should always take personal responsibility, but the man in charge picks the team, coaches the team to a style he wants, tactics, tempo etc..

Most would forgive the ‘obvious lack of personality’ if the results are going well. The comparison between characters of Williams and Maynard are night and day…

But

When results aren’t going well, you look around and need the head coach to be able to do something to change it. Starting the games so poorly and only responding when we’re staring down the barrel each match is down to the HC.

Also choice of captain. If nothing else, this run has shown how poor Palmer is as a captain. I agree with comments that the team needs leaders across the field and modern day captains aren’t the same as years ago, but he’s got the same motivational skills as Maynard.
He is the player who is supposed to set the tempo of the game and as captain, the motivation. He’s shown he doesn’t have either.

Would JJ (on the left…which is another “it’s on Maynard” conversation!) Didzy and a ready made Crowley replacement make a difference in any managers team? Of course, but telling us “they’re all hurting in there and they’ve given their all” week after week when it’s plain to see the lacking motivation…it’s on Maynard.

We probably won’t sack him now as we won’t have an old fashioned fire fighter manager lined up. But I can see him being sacked at the end of the season if we don’t pick up and quickly, regardless of final position.

[Woodypie]

Crucial point...
Although I wish fans realised that this usually comes with more goals conceded. Fine for me, but some seem genuinely traumatised with each goal against.

Personally I am chilled about conceding goals as long as the team scores more. A 4-3 win every game would be fine and dandy.