Give the manager more time

[BigFatPie]

Brooks did have a run out but his distribution was severely lacking. Mair was definitely the all round better keeper

Brooks reputation has definitely been enhanced by some of the shocking performances of the 3 lads we’ve had in this season. I’ve no idea whether we could have brought him in instead of loaning LAH, but I can’t believe he wouldn’t have been worse and he is our player after all.

It’s probably another cliche, but this season has been such a missed opportunity, regardless of Palmer’s injury we’d easily be in contention for autos if only we’d had a semi competent keeper and defence.

[OP67]

Brooks reputation has definitely been enhanced by some of the shocking performances of the 3 lads we’ve had in this season. I’ve no idea whether we could have brought him in instead of loaning LAH, but I can’t believe he wouldn’t have been worse and he is our player after all.

It’s probably another cliche, but this season has been such a missed opportunity, regardless of Palmer’s injury we’d easily be in contention for autos if only we’d had a semi competent keeper and defence.

I'm sure I read the LAH hadn't kept one clean sheet during his loan at Crawley. It does make me wonder how Montague and the bothers think this is better than any of 3 including Brooks

[slack_pie]

I'm sure I read the LAH hadn't kept one clean sheet during his loan at Crawley. It does make me wonder how Montague and the bothers think this is better than any of 3 including Brooks

I assume we signed him because he's comfortable with the ball at his feet and playing the sweeper-keeper role. Whether he can save shots, command his area, and claim crosses is secondary to that. Same with Stone. It's bonkers really.

[nw6pie]

One thing the possession stats highlight for me is that to play this way, you need a much stronger squad, otherwise players get jaded. In the NL, we could rotate the team for midweek fixtures and not really be any weaker. This season, we’ve had a strong starting XI (especially when Palmer was fit) but a very weak bench. Obviously, we’ve had some bad luck with injuries, but you really do need two good options for each position. That takes times to build, though, which is where the likes of Mansfield are way ahead of us.

[legs77]

isn't it the definition of madness - doing the same thing over and over even though you know it's going to fail.

You mean the method we had for 20 plus years you know the one which saw us sack a manager a season at least, high turnover of players and pretty much get no transfer fees for anyone ?

I think i'll stick with this model thanks its the modern/right way forward.

[Woodypie]

Quarter of a season to go. We can't sign better players. We can't rely on a coach to achieve anything with his "tweaks", can't rely on a coach to make sure players players have discipline and don't show petulance to our supporters. Maybe there might be a an alternative to avoid a flirtation with relegation that doesn't involve tippy tappy football at the back that consistently highlights our deficiencies, resulting in one or two mistakes that end up with the ball in the back of our net. The one thing we can do is look to better defensive system, delivering security - as Maynard himself says - but obviously this old fashioned view is alien to the rose-tinted specs brigade. What worked for one of our seasons in non-league hasn't worked in League 2. We are playing better teams with more nous. Cliche? "Give the manager more time."

[the_anticlough]

Nice debate, but talking about the club's overall approach is just tiptoeing around the issue. It's absolutely fine and given us a clear identity. The issue is what's happening exactly now.

Since we thumped Morecambe 5-0, there's been a middle-order batting collapse, just 5 points from an available 27 - W1 D2 L6

In terms of vibe, I feel like we've been catapulted back to the moment IB walked out, just after the Grimsby loss, to move up in the world to Nailsworth's FGR. And the season we had Ruben, Williams and Maca at the club all at the same time seems like a glorious interlude (like Munto) that interrupted the business of usual thread from Ardley and IB to SM

All the losses, the break down in play, the collapse in confidence, the ill-discipline, the petulance... all points towards a morale problem and they aren't easy to turn around.

[wiseoldmagpie]

Nice debate, but talking about the club's overall approach is just tiptoeing around the issue. It's absolutely fine and given us a clear identity. The issue is what's happening exactly now.

Since we thumped Morecambe 5-0, there's been a middle-order batting collapse, just 5 points from an available 27 - W1 D2 L6

In terms of vibe, I feel like we've been catapulted back to the moment IB walked out, just after the Grimsby loss, to move up in the world to Nailsworth's FGR. And the season we had Ruben, Williams and Maca at the club all at the same time seems like a glorious interlude (like Munto) that interrupted the business of usual thread from Ardley and IB to SM

All the losses, the break down in play, the collapse in confidence, the ill-discipline, the petulance... all points towards a morale problem and they aren't easy to turn around.

I think that this is actually just as big an issue, if not bigger, than our obvious shortcomings in defence. No doubt the whole squad were gutted when Luke left, and SM therefore inherited a downbeat squad and a shortage of decent defenders whilst taking on a club way bigger than the one he left. We don't have an inspirational captain to drive the dressing room, and it seems some of our players are sensitive to fans criticism. All in all that is a potent mix of negative factors to contend with.

Best realistic case might be gradual improvement in performances and results to end mid-table, SM finds his way in the process, the summer sees some successful business and we start next season competitively though without Macca and Jodi. This is the best achievable outcome because we have completely lost momentum and have to fight to get it back.

[slack_pie]

I think that this is actually just as big an issue, if not bigger, than our obvious shortcomings in defence. No doubt the whole squad were gutted when Luke left, and SM therefore inherited a downbeat squad and a shortage of decent defenders whilst taking on a club way bigger than the one he left. We don't have an inspirational captain to drive the dressing room, and it seems some of our players are sensitive to fans criticism. All in all that is a potent mix of negative factors to contend with.

Best realistic case might be gradual improvement in performances and results to end mid-table, SM finds his way in the process, the summer sees some successful business and we start next season competitively though without Macca and Jodi. This is the best achievable outcome because we have completely lost momentum and have to fight to get it back.

There definitely seems to be an attitude problem. It's not that our players collectively have a bad or unprofessional attitude, it's more that they simply don't have the mindset to battle and fight when needed. You can't really teach that.

We have some incredibly gifted players, but the clubs has become a sort of refuge for talented players who have lost their way, and Luke Williams was a big reason why they rediscovered their form and love for the game. We'd do well to mix up that kind of player with battle-hardened warriors who won't crumble when things go wrong, or lash out at fans.

[durhampie]

There definitely seems to be an attitude problem. It's not that our players collectively have a bad or unprofessional attitude, it's more that they simply don't have the mindset to battle and fight when needed. You can't really teach that.

We have some incredibly gifted players, but the clubs has become a sort of refuge for talented players who have lost their way, and Luke Williams was a big reason why they rediscovered their form and love for the game. We'd do well to mix up that kind of player with battle-hardened warriors who won't crumble when things go wrong, or lash out at fans.

They had lost their form way before LW jumped ship. Partly due to his inability to change things, and his insistence of playing square pegs in round holes.. If he had stopped, things would probably have been no better than what they are now....