Now we know we will stay up the Club needs to take a good hard look at what has happened over the last few years and take action to ensure we have the best chance of consolidating our place in League 1 next season. We were all delighted with Mellon's first season - even given that he inherited two players of Championship standard and had one of the biggest budgets in the division the way he turned around the negativity after relegation and the type of football that the team played was remarkable. I do not think I was alone amongst our fans in thinking we would be a comfortable mid-table side this year. Even given that we have stayed up (though we could not even manage to do it ourselves today against a mid-table side with nothing to play for) this season has been a miserable experience from start to finish. The home form in particular has been appalling with a club record of 13 defeats being set today. At almost any other club the fans would have turned on the team and manager after having to watch such rubbish at home all season. Our away form has kept us up but most of the victories have been of the smash and grab backs against the wall variety. We have also seen our biggest single defeats for many years both at home and away. Looking at what Burton, Southend and Bury have done (and the way that we have been played off the pitch for large parts of virtually every game this season) I can only conclude our manager and chief coach are simply not up to the job at this level. At no stage of the season have they known what is their best team or their best formation. Look at the man management problems (Lawrence, Tootle, Demitriou, the disappearance of JLAA) and the awful signings (Vassell, Grandin, Wellens) and the bizarre decision to loan out both Collins AND Barnett if you want to see a masterclass in how not to run a football club. I am not amongst those who think we could not attract better people. Look at Lee Johnson who did so well at Oldham and now at Barnsley or more experienced managers such as Sheridan. We are a financially stable club in a lovely part of the country with decent gates even at League 1 and we could surely attract someone of their calibre. If (as I suspect will happen) we go into next season with the same management and a squad of rag, tag and bobtail players like we have at the moment we will surely go down next year and may not be able to recover any time soon. Over to you Roland.
I'm afraid I have to disagree. Yes, it has been a poor season results wise but we are now in a position to get rid of some of the big wage earners and move on.. Time was up for Collins and Lawrence, neither of whom can get in a League Two starting XI. To let Barnett go was probably a mistake but in the end might prove beneficial if Phil Brown can be persuaded to part with wads of cash for a player he has coveted for some time. Interesting that 2 polls are current on Blue & Amber and Facebook which show overwhelming support for MM. The only thing that worries me is the low production of pros from the youth set up....one a year. That is hardly MM's fault. With the new scouting network this, hopefully, will change.
I'd torn as I am sort of happy for MM to stay but only if there was money for movement of players in and out. The consistency this season is down to a bad summer transfer window and some desperate/bold moves in January. The changing room appeared to have been poisoned around November to Christmas time and he shipped out the problems. During January, although we seem to be getting back Collins and Barnet from loan. Mm does seem to blow hot and cold with some players and has made some odd judgements this season. We sat in the Admiral Benbow pub last night and went through the squad and it was certainly a case of keep him, oh he's on another year's contract, etc. To be honest we've shipped way too many goals and been limp up front. Defensively probably only NKP, Smith and grimmer (I know he's a loanee) I'd want. Brown I'd keep as an option but not sadler. Midfield again has not supported the defense well, so are Black, Ogogo, Wellens, Wesolowski, Whalley good enough? Up front we have had a wide selection of strikers. Mangan is on the books for next season along with Barnett, Collins, Anderson and Jones. Is JLAA out of contract? Hopefully we can either move Collins or find a midfield who play to his strengths. Barnett I quite liked, but for all Vassell's lack of goals he did a better job of holding the ball up. Either way there'll be a big clearout again!
KDS and Matster, I respect both your opinions. I had not seen the interview with MM when I posted and he did seem to hint his future could be in the balance. The problem to me is not the lack of budget but that he has been so wasteful with it. If he is here next season he will get my full support and we can only hope the lessons of this season have been learned. I would also be happy to see Collins back and reunited with Mangan as they were best partnership upfront in the last promotion season.
If Mellon did leave we've then got the hassle of sorting out a new manager. That would take a while to do and would delay any signings that would be made.
