Taylor unpicks the season (11.05.06)

BY ANY standard, Maidenhead United have had a torrid season, winning just eight games and conceding a whopping 99 goals on their way to demotion.
As a result, the mood at York Road has not been the best, and manager Carl Taylor has come in for some pretty harsh criticism from the terraces.
Nonetheless, Taylor is still adamant he is the man to put things right.
Reviewing the past nine months, he said: “I had a mad first week with a lot of players leaving the club on my first Tuesday.
“But we got a team out on the pitch against Carshalton on the Saturday, and it was a great game.
“Either side could have won it, but what made everyone happy was the fact we had finally won a game.
“Then we had the FA Cup, when we anticipated we’d go out, then we had a 0-0 with Weymouth, and everyone though ‘What a Messiah’.
“But then we had a two-week break for the FA Cup.
“We had two friendlies against lower grade sides and that’s when I started finding weaknesses in players.
“When I pointed them out it became a problem.
“Then we got it back together and beat Dorchester, but then we played Bognor and St Albans the next week and got crucified
“We had a group of players that lacked confidence, and under pressure they struggled to perform.
“And even if you’re a decent coach, when a player’s confidence is gone it takes time to rebuild it.
“When I changed the team in January that was the first time hope looked like becoming reality. We had a good run and I don’t think anyone thought we’d end up going down.
“But from Welling onwards we had problems, internal problems.
“When we lost to Dorchester, Weston, St Albans and Bognor some people just gave up.
“Another couple of reasons for going down were Lee Newman and Stephen Hughes leaving.
“No manager can lose both leading goalscorers and win games as regularly as they were.
“In the last few weeks we rallied a bit but the damage was done, and by the end of the season a few players had thrown in the towel, unfortunately for the club and my reputation.
“It’s down to me. I was the manager and I didn’t spot problems early enough.
“It was a bit of inexperience, but I don’t think I did a major amount wrong.
“When I came in I was taking on a team who hadn’t won. Did I improve them? Yes. Did I bring in stronger players? Yes.
“Should they have stayed up? Yes. Is it my fault we went down? Yes. I was the manager.
“But I’m a very determined winner. I hate failing and failing just spurs me on.
“In summary, I think we flattered to deceive. A few of the boys weren’t man enough, often enough.
“And I think we needed more results early on, then our whole season would have been different.”
Discussing the way ahead, Taylor said: “It was my first season and I learned a lot about my staff and myself.
“My backroom staff will provide a much stronger support mechanism next season, and my playing staff will be as fit as any league side, that’s definite.
“And because I have a reserves side set up, I will have a much better way of bringing players on, rather than just throwing them into the melting pot.
“I’m not going to say we’ll come straight back up. That’s an unknown.
“But I know the way I want my team to play. We’ll be a pass and move team.
“I brought in a lot of young players, and they’ll be decent next year.
“And even when we lose people will say we played well.
“We’re half-way to getting something started, but you have to build a team.
“I’m quite excited about it all.”