Maynard out?

[1955pie]

I also still wonder whether the most effective elements of the management team walked out of the door at the turn of the year leaving an Emperor with few if any clothes. .

They didn?t walk out, they were sacked.

[P_I_STAKER]

Should have asked Jimbo to assist in training and the Dressing room when the brothers went. Still think he could benefit the team even at this late stage of the season

[1955pie]

Should have asked Jimbo to assist in training and the Dressing room when the brothers went. Still think he could benefit the team even at this late stage of the season

Yes, he is probably just the right sort of personality to have around right now.

[jacobncfc]

I continue to strongly, strongly disagree with the idea that this isnt a ?strong squad?.

It has a rebuilt goalkeeper and back line that everyone agrees has been excellent. Two wing backs who won promotion last season. A nominee for the divisions young player of the year in midfield. The second and third leading goalscorers in the league in attack. The divisions player of the year from last season occasionally.

There are very few, possibly no, other squads in League Two this season that can match that amount of proven quality across the pitch. Maybe Port Vale, maybe MK (lol).

[SmiffyPie]

I continue to strongly, strongly disagree with the idea that this isnt a ?strong squad?.

It has a rebuilt goalkeeper and back line that everyone agrees has been excellent. Two wing backs who won promotion last season. A nominee for the divisions young player of the year in midfield. The second and third leading goalscorers in the league in attack. The divisions player of the year from last season occasionally.

There are very few, possibly no, other squads in League Two this season that can match that amount of proven quality across the pitch. Maybe Port Vale, maybe MK (lol).

I agree with you about the players you mention but that is the first team at it's strongest, they are part of the squad, it's those players behind the best starters that is the weakness (especailly with multiple injuries to key players).

[the_anticlough]

I continue to strongly, strongly disagree with the idea that this isnt a ?strong squad?.

It has a rebuilt goalkeeper and back line that everyone agrees has been excellent. Two wing backs who won promotion last season. A nominee for the divisions young player of the year in midfield. The second and third leading goalscorers in the league in attack. The divisions player of the year from last season occasionally.

There are very few, possibly no, other squads in League Two this season that can match that amount of proven quality across the pitch. Maybe Port Vale, maybe MK (lol).

We're coming up for Game 45 now though, so we have all the evidence, and they've had all the chance to prove it.

Like so many of us, I've watched every single second of this season's campaign and the obvious conclusion to reach is that we don't have enough players who can consistently perform at a high level.

We have Bass, Platt, Bedeau, Abbott, Didzy and Jatta (and JJ again, one day hopefully). All the rest are in and out, alternating between 5 and 6 out of 10, just not good enough for a promotion aspiring club.
The wing-backs you mention are a case in point. As others have mentioned, their statistical return has been woeful but it's been the general level of performance too. Very patchy, verging on sub-standard.

We don't have to worry, SM will get what's coming to him. Either a promotion and a crack at the next level or far more likely a continuation of this painful run-in leading to the exit door. But the players have to take their share of responsibility as well and too many haven't been up to snuff.
After 44 games we have about 70 hours of footage on Magpie Player showing how poor many of them have been. We are where we are for a reason, the table doesn't lie, we're a 69pt team with a sub 69pt manager.

Bros have had to make an entirely new team with virtually nothing left from the NL team at all. And the evidence of this season shows they're only half way there.

[SmiffyPie]

Having read through this post just a few points.
1. We do not have a strong squad.
2. We have been ravaged by injuries to key players, crucially, midfield and right side defensive players.
3. Apart from Abbott the midfield has been weak all season.
4. LW was on a poor run when he left. Had he stayed he would undoubtably have got more out of the squad.
5. It is ridiculous to refer to the NL promotion season and compare it to where we are now.
6. SM can only work with what he has been given and has available (but see #4).
7. SM seems to be carrying all the blame when the blame (if that is the right word at this point in time) should be shared equally across the board. (see #6). January window last season and again this season saw us in a strong (ish) league position but obviously about to falter because of inadequacies in specific areas of the pitch. Both occasions nothing immediately effective was done (defence last season, midfield this year (attacking and holding)).
8. The Bros took the gamble with SM and it's not working out. There is a good manager in there but it is a couple of seasons (and more experience) away. He should not have been allowed to throw himself under the NCFC Supporters bus.
9. Recruitment this season has not addressed our short-term needs and I am yet to be convinced of the long-term benefits of any that have come in.
10. This league has been there for the taking and we have failed to take if for the sake of two strong players in the middle and one player able to adequately cover for AJ and DM.
11. DM, AJ, Platt, Bedeau, Abbott, MP (just) and Bass have been the bedrock of this season. The other positions have injured players and players not up to it. To have been where we have been is a credit to that bedrock.

I have given SM the benefit of the doubt and hopefully tempered any criticism I may have had by a few of the points above but he can't take us where we want to got as it stands.
The question underlying everything though is where do the Bros want us to go?

Edit:
I do get the sustainability/finance thing and congratulate the Bros. But if we are to accept those constraints then why are we bitching about this season? Everything eventually is down to affordability?

[1955pie]

Having read through this post just a few points.
1. We do not have a strong squad.
2. We have been ravaged by injuries to key players, crucially, midfield and right side defensive players.
3. Apart from Abbott the midfield has been weak all season.
4. LW was on a poor run when he left. Had he stayed he would undoubtably have got more out of the squad.
5. It is ridiculous to refer to the NL promotion season and compare it to where we are now.
6. SM can only work with what he has been given and has available (but see #4).
7. SM seems to be carrying all the blame when the blame (if that is the right word at this point in time) should be shared equally across the board. (see #6). January window last season and again this season saw us in a strong (ish) league position but obviously about to falter because of inadequacies in specific areas of the pitch. Both occasions nothing immediately effective was done (defence last season, midfield this year (attacking and holding)).
8. The Bros took the gamble with SM and it's not working out. There is a good manager in there but it is a couple of seasons (and more experience) away. He should not have been allowed to throw himself under the NCFC Supporters bus.
9. Recruitment this season has not addressed our short-term needs and I am yet to be convinced of the long-term benefits of any that have come in.
10. This league has been there for the taking and we have failed to take if for the sake of two strong players in the middle and one player able to adequately cover for AJ and DM.
11. DM, AJ, Platt, Bedeau, Abbott, MP (just) and Bass have been the bedrock of this season. The other positions have injured players and players not up to it. To have been where we have been is a credit to that bedrock.

I have given SM the benefit of the doubt and hopefully tempered any criticism I may have had by a few of the points above but he can't take us where we want to got as it stands.
The question underlying everything though is where do the Bros want us to go?

Edit:
I do get the sustainability/finance thing and congratulate the Bros. But if we are to accept those constraints then why are we bitching about this season? Everything eventually is down to affordability?

You have put a lot of thought into this post Smiffy.
Points 8 & 9 ought to have in there something about the 2 coaches not being adequately replaced.
It is nice that you are trying to get some balance to the discussion.
As for affordability, is it affordable not to go up? Yes, a replacement for Crowley in January would have cost more than his replacement in the summer. But that saving has probably (but hopefully not) cost us promotion. What would that have been worth?

[Mud Pie]

Having read through this post just a few points.
1. We do not have a strong squad.
2. We have been ravaged by injuries to key players, crucially, midfield and right side defensive players.
3. Apart from Abbott the midfield has been weak all season.
4. LW was on a poor run when he left. Had he stayed he would undoubtably have got more out of the squad.
5. It is ridiculous to refer to the NL promotion season and compare it to where we are now.
6. SM can only work with what he has been given and has available (but see #4).
7. SM seems to be carrying all the blame when the blame (if that is the right word at this point in time) should be shared equally across the board. (see #6). January window last season and again this season saw us in a strong (ish) league position but obviously about to falter because of inadequacies in specific areas of the pitch. Both occasions nothing immediately effective was done (defence last season, midfield this year (attacking and holding)).
8. The Bros took the gamble with SM and it's not working out. There is a good manager in there but it is a couple of seasons (and more experience) away. He should not have been allowed to throw himself under the NCFC Supporters bus.
9. Recruitment this season has not addressed our short-term needs and I am yet to be convinced of the long-term benefits of any that have come in.
10. This league has been there for the taking and we have failed to take if for the sake of two strong players in the middle and one player able to adequately cover for AJ and DM.
11. DM, AJ, Platt, Bedeau, Abbott, MP (just) and Bass have been the bedrock of this season. The other positions have injured players and players not up to it. To have been where we have been is a credit to that bedrock.

I have given SM the benefit of the doubt and hopefully tempered any criticism I may have had by a few of the points above but he can't take us where we want to got as it stands.
The question underlying everything though is where do the Bros want us to go?

Edit:
I do get the sustainability/finance thing and congratulate the Bros. But if we are to accept those constraints then why are we bitching about this season? Everything eventually is down to affordability?

thoughtful post. I'd say if our injury situation had panned out differently (including Palmer who's been a major disappointment for me this season), and SM had been able to develop a consistent style of play, we might have been singing a very different tune. As it is:

8. the smart way to bring on inexperienced managers is usually to pair them with an experienced assistant or DOF - not to sack their assistants and leave him on his Jacks. I keep coming back to that poster, The Pie Man (sorry if incorrect) who said the club basically hung SM out to dry.

[durhampie]

The question being, can the club maintain 10k attendances in this division for too many seasons.???