Managerial search is ‘close’ to being completed

[redintheface]

To be fair to the 'bell end', the target is not new, at least he has been consistent.

To be quite honest, the fans baying for blood was quite right. There were a lot of rumours around that Fletcher had fallen out with the staff and the players, and it seemed that transcended the whole club. Eliot defended Fletcher after he said 'he'd take a point' in the 1-1 against Carlisle, did nothing else after that.

Where would we be if the fans got behind Fletcher and he was still here? The rot would have continued due to the in-fighting, none of which is the fans fault.

The FA Cup defeat was the watershed. I am undecided on Ross getting the job, but if hypothetically another Maldon happened this week that would be enough for me to want a new man ASAP.

Fletcher could have been given some videos in match previews, a meet-the-manager night, an appearance on O's show or podcasts to try and win the fans over, it just seemed that the club closed ranks around him and stubbed him out like a fag end. This wasn't as easy to discern at the time.

In hindsight, Fletcher was on a hiding to nothing from the outset. The Board did not take on board the views of many fans who felt a more seasoned candidate was needed and this led to pretty much universal dismay at his appointment. Add to that, the shocking downturn in form and results - culminating in the Maldon & Tiptree shambles - quickly left CF with zero credibility. With the player/ coaching staff discontent behind the scenes, the club had little option but to pull the trigger I’m afraid. What has emerged subsequently in respect of Fletcher’s concerns about the capabilities of some players and general fitness levels within the squad being a fundamental cause of the discontent is however troubling because quite clearly he had a point!

[gshaw]

The way it looks is that club is very short on cash and can't afford to pay another manager, pay off backroom staff and bring in all the players a new man would want. I predict a couple of sales in January and one or two loans with us struggling along on the bare bones until end of the season.

Can't afford to pay and not wanting to pay are two very different things.

Indeed they are, however having paid compensation to get Fletcher plus paying him off must eat up a fair chunk of budget.

In effect you're right, they don't want to pay but I reckon that's as much of a budgetary reason (RE will retain the squad without major changes, will take whatever lack of signings Ling provides etc.) as it is a sentimental one.

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

To be fair a lot of our fans were baying for blood and wanted the head coach ousted from their position. As soon as Fletcher went some of those just found a new target to want to hound for whatever reasons they had. So their stance on Fletcher has softened now that he is no longer part of the club and now these people have a new target.

Interesting analysis but personally I don’t think many people have switched to a “ new target” as you put it, since Fletcher was dismissed. I think some of the stuff that came out after he was let go in respect of player/ staff engagement indicates that Fletcher felt that there were issues with squad fitness levels and quality and honestly I think that many fans would share that view.

Agree. You took the words from my mouth. No, it wasn't the case of switching to a new target after Fletcher. Fans have simply realised since, that he was hounded out by the 'cosy little club' from within. In the main, nothing to do with new targets.

There certainly has been a baying for blood - I don't think that can be doubted. Almost as if the solution to every problem is to get rid of someone. As for Fletcher...think back to what fans thought of his interviewing technique (or lack of) - you can't say things like that are a byproduct of being hounded out by not being made to feel welcome. People are hanging onto a few comments and giving them far too much importance because it fits their own confirmation biases.

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

The way it looks is that club is very short on cash and can't afford to pay another manager, pay off backroom staff and bring in all the players a new man would want. I predict a couple of sales in January and one or two loans with us struggling along on the bare bones until end of the season.

Can't afford to pay and not wanting to pay are two very different things.

Indeed they are, however having paid compensation to get Fletcher plus paying him off must eat up a fair chunk of budget.

In effect you're right, they don't want to pay but I reckon that's as much of a budgetary reason (RE will retain the squad without major changes, will take whatever lack of signings Ling provides etc.) as it is a sentimental one.

How much compensation was Fletcher paid though when he left? We don't know what compensation clauses were included in his contract. I take your point about whath (little or large or if at all) we paid to Bournemouth but getting a new unattached manager in would mean no further compensation payments due so it's not purely down to money. I fear the board are being too loyal to the backroom staff and that is the biggest issue at present...though loyalty is not necessarily a bad thing.

[Max B Gold]

Can't afford to pay and not wanting to pay are two very different things.

Indeed they are, however having paid compensation to get Fletcher plus paying him off must eat up a fair chunk of budget.

In effect you're right, they don't want to pay but I reckon that's as much of a budgetary reason (RE will retain the squad without major changes, will take whatever lack of signings Ling provides etc.) as it is a sentimental one.

How much compensation was Fletcher paid though when he left? We don't know what compensation clauses were included in his contract. I take your point about whath (little or large or if at all) we paid to Bournemouth but getting a new unattached manager in would mean no further compensation payments due so it's not purely down to money. I fear the board are being too loyal to the backroom staff and that is the biggest issue at present...though loyalty is not necessarily a bad thing.

It is when they're not delivering.

[redintheface]

Indeed they are, however having paid compensation to get Fletcher plus paying him off must eat up a fair chunk of budget.

In effect you're right, they don't want to pay but I reckon that's as much of a budgetary reason (RE will retain the squad without major changes, will take whatever lack of signings Ling provides etc.) as it is a sentimental one.

How much compensation was Fletcher paid though when he left? We don't know what compensation clauses were included in his contract. I take your point about whath (little or large or if at all) we paid to Bournemouth but getting a new unattached manager in would mean no further compensation payments due so it's not purely down to money. I fear the board are being too loyal to the backroom staff and that is the biggest issue at present...though loyalty is not necessarily a bad thing.

It is when they're not delivering.

Careful! Your “ confirmation bias” is showing!

[Max B Gold]

How much compensation was Fletcher paid though when he left? We don't know what compensation clauses were included in his contract. I take your point about whath (little or large or if at all) we paid to Bournemouth but getting a new unattached manager in would mean no further compensation payments due so it's not purely down to money. I fear the board are being too loyal to the backroom staff and that is the biggest issue at present...though loyalty is not necessarily a bad thing.

It is when they're not delivering.

Careful! Your “ confirmation bias” is showing!

I know. But I am so frustrated by the mess the owners have made of this season.

[Chief crazy horse]

Interesting analysis but personally I don’t think many people have switched to a “ new target” as you put it, since Fletcher was dismissed. I think some of the stuff that came out after he was let go in respect of player/ staff engagement indicates that Fletcher felt that there were issues with squad fitness levels and quality and honestly I think that many fans would share that view.

Agree. You took the words from my mouth. No, it wasn't the case of switching to a new target after Fletcher. Fans have simply realised since, that he was hounded out by the 'cosy little club' from within. In the main, nothing to do with new targets.

There certainly has been a baying for blood - I don't think that can be doubted. Almost as if the solution to every problem is to get rid of someone. As for Fletcher...think back to what fans thought of his interviewing technique (or lack of) - you can't say things like that are a byproduct of being hounded out by not being made to feel welcome. People are hanging onto a few comments and giving them far too much importance because it fits their own confirmation biases.

Heh, I think it's you that's hanging on.. You are just wrong. It's a nonsense to say fans switched to a new target after Fletcher was sacked.His interviews were terrible and he was quite rightly criticised for it at the time. Sounds like you want to make something out of nothing.

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

Indeed they are, however having paid compensation to get Fletcher plus paying him off must eat up a fair chunk of budget.

In effect you're right, they don't want to pay but I reckon that's as much of a budgetary reason (RE will retain the squad without major changes, will take whatever lack of signings Ling provides etc.) as it is a sentimental one.

How much compensation was Fletcher paid though when he left? We don't know what compensation clauses were included in his contract. I take your point about whath (little or large or if at all) we paid to Bournemouth but getting a new unattached manager in would mean no further compensation payments due so it's not purely down to money. I fear the board are being too loyal to the backroom staff and that is the biggest issue at present...though loyalty is not necessarily a bad thing.

It is when they're not delivering.

Agreed. Hence why I said that I feel that is the biggest issue at present. Loyalty in a big business is different to within the football side of a football club.

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

How much compensation was Fletcher paid though when he left? We don't know what compensation clauses were included in his contract. I take your point about whath (little or large or if at all) we paid to Bournemouth but getting a new unattached manager in would mean no further compensation payments due so it's not purely down to money. I fear the board are being too loyal to the backroom staff and that is the biggest issue at present...though loyalty is not necessarily a bad thing.

It is when they're not delivering.

Careful! Your “ confirmation bias” is showing!

That's not confirmation bias though. Sorry for introducing concepts to the discussion that you don't understand.

[Max B Gold]

How much compensation was Fletcher paid though when he left? We don't know what compensation clauses were included in his contract. I take your point about whath (little or large or if at all) we paid to Bournemouth but getting a new unattached manager in would mean no further compensation payments due so it's not purely down to money. I fear the board are being too loyal to the backroom staff and that is the biggest issue at present...though loyalty is not necessarily a bad thing.

It is when they're not delivering.

Agreed. Hence why I said that I feel that is the biggest issue at present. Loyalty in a big business is different to within the football side of a football club.

In what way?

[gshaw]

Can't afford to pay and not wanting to pay are two very different things.

Indeed they are, however having paid compensation to get Fletcher plus paying him off must eat up a fair chunk of budget.

In effect you're right, they don't want to pay but I reckon that's as much of a budgetary reason (RE will retain the squad without major changes, will take whatever lack of signings Ling provides etc.) as it is a sentimental one.

How much compensation was Fletcher paid though when he left? We don't know what compensation clauses were included in his contract. I take your point about whath (little or large or if at all) we paid to Bournemouth but getting a new unattached manager in would mean no further compensation payments due so it's not purely down to money. I fear the board are being too loyal to the backroom staff and that is the biggest issue at present...though loyalty is not necessarily a bad thing.

As per much of recent events the club have been a somewhat vague with their wording. I read somewhere about Travis saying we'd "honour his contract", which you could take as paying up in full but bear in mind Porter talked about "break clauses" so perhaps it wasn't the full 18 months' worth? Fletcher has also gone very quiet so may be under NDA, part of the settlement?

Ling is just repeating the same message about how good RE is over and over again hoping that everyone will accept it as truth. Yes he's coached for a long time but Ling has suddenly gone back on his opinion that It's a different game taking on the manager role, all very strange.

The whole process has been so weird it makes you wonder if the whole thing was a ruse all along to give Embleton the belief he could do a better job than Fletcher and the players a kick up the backside too. Crazy, yes but very little of this process makes any sense so who knows

[redintheface]

It is when they're not delivering.

Careful! Your “ confirmation bias” is showing!

That's not confirmation bias though. Sorry for introducing concepts to the discussion that you don't understand.

Apology accepted

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

It is when they're not delivering.

Agreed. Hence why I said that I feel that is the biggest issue at present. Loyalty in a big business is different to within the football side of a football club.

In what way?

Scale for one. You can hide someone away in a big business. You can be loyal to someone while limiting the influence they have on others. In a football club that's not so for a core member of the first team coaching staff. In a business you can be loyal to someone and even something as limited as course correction is an effective way of improving performance - not so in football. There is less direct importance of the manager on someone as reports are more accountable for their own performance. More too, but no need for me to go on.

[Redcard]

I never wanted fletcher in the first place, and paying compensation to a premier league club for their loan manager was nonsense on stilts. I couldn’t care two hoots about his interview technique, my only concern is results , and unfortunately he failed on that score. I have every sympathy for him though after it clearly emerged that he was being frustrated by the rest of the staff, and I wholeheartedly agree with his conclusion that a great number of the players need replacing. I also think the club , especially ling have behaved disgracefully in bad mouthing him the way they have.
I don’t think Embleton is the right man to take us forward , he doesn’t seem to be able to motivate the players and spends much of the game with his back to play in discussion with the coaching staff, but if he is appointed I hope he proves me wrong.

[OyinbO]

There's no way Embleton should be near the job, and you all know it. The only reason everyone is pussyfooting around it is because this whole grief/mourning thing has grown up around him, as our fanbase turns JE into a some sort of martyr. The whole club, from Teague down (somehow, I think that Travis is a bit more level-headed about all of this) needs to give its head a wobble, unless it is happy for us to trundle around mediocrely in the nether regions of League Two for the next five years while Embleton painfully slowly learns his trade.

You'd think that people would eventually lose patience, but after everything we've seen with Corbyn and the Labour Party over the past four years, and the weird spectacle of middle-aged men creating shrines for for someone they didn't even know personally, and venerating Embleton as the chief disciple of the departed Messiah... I doubt it

Merry Christmas everyone

[OyinbO]

Agreed. The whole club is in mourning, understandably so. But I feel the need to defend the players, who often get the most stick when things go wrong - as lots of the fans only seem to be able to engage with what's right in front of them, no deeper. And Teague, in his charming eagerness to get close to the fanbase, can often have his own perspective warped by this.

It's frustrating, as had JE lived, I reckon he could have got this exact same squad into the top seven. I've long since accepted that this season will be a missed opportunity, and perhaps we all need a bit of a break after the last few years. But Embleton is almost being held hostage by the fans, much like Corbyn is by his chums - he knows his limitations, but he doesn't want to let the chaps down. Noble, but maybe the most noble thing is to recognise that we'd all be better served by appointing a proper manager sooner rather than later.

[Thor]

Good post oyinbo