Statement from Board

[jackal2]

After 10 years of permanent panic and the revolving managerial door of the previous 2 owners, which brought us incrementally downward from L1 through the trapdoor into non league and a hair’s breath from bankruptcy, I’m happy to go with cool heads and metrics.

Yeah. Taken on the whole it's certainly worked better so far than the approach of several previous owners/boards!

I think in terms of choice of words the board have made better statements in the past - I'm not sure 'metrics' is going to connect with the average fan in the pub - but on the flip side you could say they're not being condescending by dumbing down the message - it assumes a decent level of intelligence in the reader (wisely or not!).

The underlying message for me is unchanged from the club's basic position for the past three years. There are no silly five year plans, there is no panic in the pursuit of success, we won't be breaking the bank or making any knee-jerk decisions (on Head Coaches or anything else) just because we have a bad or indeed a good run of results. The aim is basically very steady, calm, incremental improvement, whilst acknowledging that there are ups and downs and variables in football that you can never completely control (which is why five year plans were always nonsense).

The first aim this season was always to consolidate and we've achieved that. They acknowledge it would have been nice to achieve more, like reaching the play-offs again, and they're disappointed it isn't to be, but there's no panic because we haven't. We simply take what we can out of this season and try to learn from and build upon it.

The football fan mentality isn't necessarily interested in 'sustainability' (until a club spends itself to the brink of bankruptcy and then fans cry on the pitch and blame the chairman for the financial mess!) but that's precisely why football club owners shouldn't think like fans or become too obsessed with being liked by fans all the time - that's where Trew and Hardy's egos overtook them and led to bad decisions. Sometimes you have to accept that fans won't always be happy with the short-term situation, but that doesn't mean its right to abandon an overall strategy.

If I have a disagreement with an aspect of the statement it's regarding the defending. I actually think the number of goals we've conceded is mainly down to the lack of natural and good quality defensive players, both in defence itself and in midfield, and if that isn't the focus of our major upgrade work in the summer then we could have problems. We're a soft touch when we're not in possession - far too 'nice' to play against. Currently we have an imbalance: too many creators and not enough destroyers, so I'll be interested to see who we bring in during the summer. I want to see a lot more bite and snarl in the team next season, and some more players who are proper defenders. If we don't conceded as many goals next season, we'll definitely be on an upward trajectory, because we've certainly got attacking talent.

[BJPIE]

I'm a little surprised st the timing of the statement which really just tells us Maynard is going to be here next season. Will that really be the case if we were to lose the next 5 games??????
I do think the statement has been released in response to fan discontent and is clearly trying to calm the waters and minimise any loss of ST sales
However I dont think the content will resonate with many fans. It is written dispassionately as we have come to expect and talks about metrics and luck not being with us.
I can accept some of that, but what Im really hoping is that reading between the lines the Bros are saying, we've been **** at the back and we'll address it.
Radar needs to add a few extra metrics into its defensive analysis as they appear to have been missing last summer and again in the January window

Heart
Awareness
Emotional maturity
Physicality
Desire

Required:
One proper shot stopping, box commanding, communicative goalkeeper.
Two strong determined physical centre halves, (one who can lead a team)

Then I dont think luck would come into it. We would win more than we lose.

Having seen many crisis through 55 years of watching Notts, I greatly appreciate the stability The Bros have brought to the club but I'd really like to see some evidence in the summer window that they know whats missing and address it.

[Togtastic]

If, as the owners allude, the results have been down to luck, I don't remember them telling us how 'lucky' we had been in January and that it was imperative we addressed the evident defensive issues. No, at that time despite the total defensive ****show week after week, they only brought in Warner who has proven to be somewhat fragile, admittedly a little less fragile than Brindley.
Just as the defensive issues were evident the lack of physicality was also apparent. this was partially addressed by the arrival of Robertson who has made his mark, not by goals or assists but by winning 50/50 challenges and being strong enough to not be bullied off the ball.
We need more in the Robertson mould, certainly in the defensive areas. Then luck doesn't come into it.

[The Dug Out]

Quite surprised that our owners have put out a statement, but ok that they have and what they have said.If you take out the lucky & good luck analogies it seems a pretty fair assesment of where NCFC is at.

For years we have been wanting NCFC to be run in a proper manner by people that know what they are doing, we now have it laid bare, the reality of a 2nd division club with owners that will not let it go bust. It's a steady onward pursuit of climbing the higher divisions whilst keeping a tight reign on the money, nothing at all wrong with that.

As a throwback line from many years ago "these brothers are not for turning" you might say.

I cannot read through any of the lines anywhere that says ambition and promotion are not wanted or desired by the owners, quite the opposite but in a calculated manner.
Just another take on it when some people are upset about it.

[BigFatPie]

Quite surprised that our owners have put out a statement, but ok that they have and what they have said.If you take out the lucky & good luck analogies it seems a pretty fair assesment of where NCFC is at.

For years we have been wanting NCFC to be run in a proper manner by people that know what they are doing, we now have it laid bare, the reality of a 2nd division club with owners that will not let it go bust. It's a steady onward pursuit of climbing the higher divisions whilst keeping a tight reign on the money, nothing at all wrong with that.

As a throwback line from many years ago "these brothers are not for turning" you might say.

I cannot read through any of the lines anywhere that says ambition and promotion are not wanted or desired by the owners, quite the opposite but in a calculated manner.
Just another take on it when some people are upset about it.

That’s a good take and if sustainability was all they talked about it would be fair enough. It’s the arguing that night is day when it comes to what we’ve seen on the pitch that I think most people are objecting to.

Every team we’ve left to face has something to play for, if we lose all 5 or similar then the statement will be seen even less favourably.

[M0ufMk3]

That’s a good take and if sustainability was all they talked about it would be fair enough. It’s the arguing that night is day when it comes to what we’ve seen on the pitch that I think most people are objecting to.

Every team we’ve left to face has something to play for, if we lose all 5 or similar then the statement will be seen even less favourably.

Exactly this. We all should know deep down that we have pretty damned good owners, but what was concerning about the release is how they appeared to have watched different games. Of course we have been lucky/unlucky and results are unarguable, what fands have seen with their eyes, repeated ad infinitum has been a catalogue of errors.

[midshipman]

The statement was what I expected yes as Notts supporters and all supporters of other teams want to be successful now not tomorrow. But our owner are not on an ego trip promising us the world but are building strong foundations at Notts so in future Notts can progress up the leagues. They keep their word and stated when S M was made manager they said if Notts did not finish in the top 7 He wouldn't be judged on results alone which what they have done. They ask all supporters to be patient and make a judgement on the new defenders they hope to sign, I have supported Notts through thick and thin could have been the end of Notts before they took over and we are in a much better place now just give them more time. COYP.

[Woodypie]

Load of *******s. Board have ****ed up. It isn't analysis of stats that counts it's league position. Big mistakes have been made. Put out more flags.

[Woodypie]

Sounds ok to me - sensible comments that unfortunately won’t satisfy everyone.

No, it's sod you, we know what we're doing. Which I am not convinced at all at the moment.

[ancientpie]

Not a very inspiring statement was it? whilst I'm glad they are taking a calm & measured approach I do think that they should acknowledge that mistakes have been made in recruitment this season & given reassurances that these would be learned from & acted upon. To even suggest that the many goals we've conceded isn't down to a crap defence & lack of a commanding keeper & that LW was just luckier than Maynard is ridiculous imo & although metrics may have a part to play in todays game I would rather believe my own eyes. Obviously I will stay fully behind the team & manager but as I say not very inspiring. COYP