Little Shrimp wrote:However, I don't really see at this point what long term good a managerial change would do. There are two options: letting Derek make the additions he wants this January (I think a trusted DM would help massively), hoping for a miracle turnaround, then letting Derek continue to build the squad he wants for whatever division we're in. Or changing manager, probably having no money for January additions after paying Derek off, hoping for a miracle turnaround and then having to go through another bloody rebuild in the summer.
Either way, we're hoping for a miracle in the second half of the season, but I'd rather let Derek keep making the squad how he wants it than get done by another big squad turnover, which has ultimately been our undoing in these past couple of seasons.
I think the third option may be the one that transpires. Keep Derek for the rest of the season, then decide if his League Two management ability makes him worth keeping on for next season, or, he walks away at the end of his contract. Spending money we've not got, paying him off, but leaving any new manager with an almost impossible job isn't worth it. If we lose two of the next three, we're down, no matter what. Win the next three, and Derek will begin to look like the right man to try and keep us up anyway.
If I was considering buying the club, I'd be waiting to see which league we're in next season before making any bid. Even if someone came in now and gave Derek a million quid to spend in January, I am not sure we'd be able to stay up.
As for now, and the players we have, I'd like to see a simple 4-4-2.
Cooney/Love...Bedeau...Rawson/Delaney/O'Connor...Gibson/Melbourne
Connolly/Taylor....Weir/Watts...Shaw (slightly more deep)...Mayor
..............Phillips...Stockton................
Connolly's end product (or lack of) would be a concern, but pace & energy and perhaps a run of starts would help. Phillips feeding off Stockton rather than them being isolated when on their own. Watts & Mayor offering trickery and creativity. And leave the defence to do the defending. Shaw would offer a bit of 'bite' and defensive support from midfield, but he's got quality generally.