Actually if you look back through my posts on the subject you will see that I did appeal to people to stop criticising Mr Drury, as I also did with Lee/Canoville and Lee and I dare say every other manager through the last 10 years I've been posting on here. I'm pretty consistent on that in general, even if I'm not a particular fan of the manager. I've always respected you Woad_Pilgrim and in general agree with the vast majority of your posts. I'm not trying to subdue anybody's right to free speech either. I'm simply trying to appeal to people to at least give the manager a chance before we start tearing him apart as we have done with the last three management teams.
The point I was trying to make was that its totally counter-productive in the aim of making this club succesful, which I assume is what we all want. I'm sorry if that upsets anybody, but thats MY opinion which I am also allowed to have so I will not stop posting. Where I see over negativity I simply try to provide some balance.
As for Howmanynamestopick and Chris47, I hope nothing I've posted has offended you. The reason I posted was because when I saw all the negativity, it made my heart sink and I too thought my plans to buy a season ticket this year might have to be reviewed. I also feel depressed that this forum spends most of its time devoted to getting at whoever happens to be the manager at the time, rather than talking about football matters.
To perfectly honest Maxross you got caught in the crossfire. I was frustrated with some of the players retained and the double standards on here of people, if it'd been other managers they'd have been slaughtered for who was kept. Let's just put it down to me having a bad day. If I hadn't have said something publicly on here as a protest I probably would have protested by not going next season, and as someone who has missed less than 20 games home and away in the last 10 seasons I don't think the club need to be losing that type of fan. I just felt the need to vent my frustration.
I do still have serious doubts but I've done that to death so won't say any more (about the manager, but will players signed) until Dennis has had a chance to sign some players and we've seen them play a few competitive games. Nobody knows the future, perhaps this is the club were Dennis will make his mark, perhaps Stainsfield and Ward will progress beyond all recognition, I sincerely hope so.
Edit: Meant to say wasn't telling you to stop posting on here, yours is one of the most balanced views more often than not backed up by facts, we need more like you.
No harm done, we all have bad days and thank you for your kind comments, along with Tash. I'm glad you vented yout frustrations here rather than not going next season, as I always enjoy reading your opinions and match reports. I do take on board some of your comments about the manager. I also remember feeling similar irritation when Jason Lee left and some of those who never gave him a chance, appealed hard for Drury to be given a chance. Personally I think once appointed, we should give all managers our support. I believe true success is built on continuity, so I really don't like seeing managers being fired every few months.
I'm definitly going to purchase a season ticket this year, in great part thanks to the club bringing back the kids deal which is a real plus for me having three football mad boys. I'd already told them, so I've got no chance of going back on it now!
I do think the debate on keeping Stainsfield and Ward is an interesting one. I personally really like Stainsfield as a player, I take peoples points, his distribution is poor and he's never going to be a classy centre back who can play it out from the back. However he is very strong in the air provides a major physical presence and is a true battler, the sort of guy you'd want in the trenches with you. I think you need a few players with those qualities in this league, especially against the sides with a pair of hoof monster at the back and a giant battering ram up front. He's also weighed in with a few goals, providing an aerial threat at set pieces, and played in some of our big wins. I think if you put him alongside an experienced centre back for a season he'd come on leaps and bounds. He also proved he could do a job as a holding midfielder. I think he's worth keeping as a squad player at least, especially if he's not on big money.
In the case of Ward, he hasn't stood out as much for me this season as last and perhaps a loan spell would be good for him to get his confidence back. In both cases I think you could argue that we've asked a lot of them this season throwing two young centre backs with very little experience together and expecting them to perform like pro's week in week out. I think its the sort of position in a side where you really do need some experience. You can't make mistakes back there without being punished. Time will tell I guess.
