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Post by Andrewlang on Nov 29, 2023 12:08:56 GMT
"No manager (that I can recall) genuinely leaves on their own terms"
For us? Just Tommy Taylor when he left to join Orient, I think.
Oh, Big Ron too.
Jez doesn't really count since he was only ever interim and appointed his own successor.
Andrew
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moosehacker
Youth team substitute
Posts: 604
Favourite CUFC player: Alan Biley
Favourite CUFC match: U's 2 v 1 Exeter City, 1978
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Post by moosehacker on Nov 29, 2023 12:09:15 GMT
Agree with most of the above. Gutted for him and he will go down as a true legend for all he has done for us. However, the timing is right as it seems clear he can't take us any further and, for the second season running, we have dropped like a stone after a decent start.
Please don't put Betsy or Corr in the role, as I feel the coaching staff below him have been part of the problem.
Really do need a decent appointment to get the team performing again.
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Post by stuartk on Nov 29, 2023 12:13:53 GMT
As others have said, it's absolutely the right decision. We couldn't possibly go on like that and it really should have happened after the Boro debacle.
But it's still a very, very sad day.
We all owe Mark a massive debt of gratitude after the way he held the fort during the pandemic and the work he did in the community and the amazing promotion and the result at Newcastle and for helping to rebuild the sense of connection between club and fans. It's easy to forget how damaged that was during the Derry / Calderwood period. I hope Mark goes on to have a great career and I'm sure he'll always be welcomed back here with love.
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Post by HelterSkelter on Nov 29, 2023 12:17:05 GMT
I suspect many will have misunderstood many of my "Bonner Out" posts. However, it shouldn't come as any surprise when I say that Bonner has been an extremely important part of the club. Despite my initial misgivings at his announcement - a feeling of the "cheapest option" once more, he managed to get us out of L2 during a difficult season. Certainly not a season where we'd heavily invested and were in any way favoured for promotion. His first season in L1 was, at time, an absolute joy to watch. Some of the football was amazing and even though we knew we were rather small in that league, it didn't need saying and on the pitch we blooded some noses. There were games none of us will ever forget. There were some hammerings, but we felt the players still gave it their all and even at 3-0 / 4-0 down you felt we could still grab something.
The past couple of seasons have unfortunately shown a weakness and that can only be attributed to inexperience. The problem is, you cannot risk the L1 position of the club learning from that inexperience. A final day save from relegation was mad - but when we saw the squad improved in nearly all positions, I think we all expected a lower middle half finish, where we wouldn't be troubling promotion, but certainly wouldn't be troubling relegation again. But here we are.
Of course it's always sad when someone who has had success at the club leaves. Richard Money was a similar feeling - but you also felt he'd taken things are far as he could. Is this the right decision? In my eyes yes - if we now go on and get relegated I'm sure there will be plenty who will remind me of this (seems a favourite past time of many here - searching the old posts). However, I stick by that. It was the right thing to do. Fresh blood, hopefully someone with experience at L1 who can assess and has a transfer window to play with.
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Post by relay22 on Nov 29, 2023 12:18:40 GMT
Chadwick has no interest in being a manager. This obsession with bringing in ex-players with no or barely any managerial experience (or even interest) is laughable. Who's going to be the first to suggest getting Shaggy back? Fully appreciate what you are saying....it's just to help oversee things for a few weeks and add a bit of extra knowledge to Betsy and Corr...I certainly know he doesn't want it !
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Sandypants
Reserve team star
Posts: 4,060
Favourite CUFC player: Harrison Dunk
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Post by Sandypants on Nov 29, 2023 12:22:05 GMT
Chadwick has no interest in being a manager. This obsession with bringing in ex-players with no or barely any managerial experience (or even interest) is laughable. Who's going to be the first to suggest getting Shaggy back? Fully appreciate what you are saying....it's just to help oversee things for a few weeks and add a bit of extra knowledge to Betsy and Corr...I certainly know he doesn't want it ! But why? If he's got no interest in it, and he's said repeatedly he doesn't, then there are millions of better options.
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Badger
Youth team substitute
Posts: 513
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Post by Badger on Nov 29, 2023 12:27:21 GMT
After my ban from football initiated by those at the club, I had no appetite to ever be associated with United again I got sober, I started watching non-league football, I’d ask mates how United was going and that was the extent of it. Then Mark Bonner happened. The rest is history. I don’t think you’ll ever be able to measure his impact in any tangible metric given the pandemic & everything that happened, and I honestly believe he’s been a major player in the platform the club has now to build on off the pitch as well as on it. I think I’ll probably love the man forever but it was time for the manager to go. I hope when the dust settles that he feels able to come back to support us and in the future we can mark his achievements appropriately. Thanks for giving me something back that I thought I had lost forever, Mark. Stu, you put it so well. When we were all young and were helping paint the NRE under Brabin, there was a real connection to the club. Bonner, really to my mind bought that connection back and whilst football is a brutal business, the love that i will have for Bonner will last the test of time due to his conduct whilst manager and for bringing pure joy. He also sent me a message on not long after the birth of my daughter, which is a measure of the man.
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Post by flouncingarburyboy on Nov 29, 2023 12:34:30 GMT
Genuinely saddened and surprised. I almost have a sense of mourning posting this. We all know that the last few months haven't been great on the pitch but that doesn't take away from what this man has achieved for the club over a much longer time and against all expectations. Moreover, in his press conferences he has engaged me, made me laugh, made me smile, made me think and taught me an awful lot about humanity, motivation and football...usually in one answer!
Mark, you often talked about making memories for us, the fans. Well you've given me some of the best footballing memories I will ever have. Thank you.
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jwills61
Youth team star
Up The U's
Posts: 1,635
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Post by jwills61 on Nov 29, 2023 12:41:02 GMT
I'm genuinely shocked.
And just absolutely gutted.
I've never felt as connected to this football club as I have in the past few years. And almost certainly never will again. That's the impact Mark made.
It's truly unique to have a fan and local lad climb his way up your football club and then lead it, and lead it well. I hope that hasn't been taken for granted. He rebuilt this club in so many ways. A class act that represented this football club perfectly. We are massively in his debt. An absolute legend.
I think it's the wrong call and I think over time we'll live to regret it.
Just have a terrible feeling that this is the start of three years of progress starting to unravel. Hopefully I'm wrong.
Thanks for everything, Bonz.
So many fantastic memories. You left this club much better than you found it.
You never know, maybe there's another chapter to this story.
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habbinboy
Youth team star
Posts: 1,903
Favourite CUFC player: Number 11 Courtney Pitt
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Post by habbinboy on Nov 29, 2023 12:44:14 GMT
Sad day, but inevitable. The club is the most important thing.
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Post by kentishu on Nov 29, 2023 12:45:12 GMT
I have never been Bonner's biggest fan, but football is a results business, and Bonner produced results. He will go down as one of our most successful managers of all time.
Hard to believe how quickly it all ended, we got off to an excellent start this season, it's still only November and now he has gone. Just a few games really.
I really don't know what the future holds for him. Some time away from the game might be advisable. I think he may struggle to achieve anything like the success he has had here with another club.
Kentish
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eenyc
On trial
Posts: 278
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Post by eenyc on Nov 29, 2023 12:48:26 GMT
Definitely a sad day, probably the right decision.
I think MB himself could maybe do with stepping away for a breather, but he's set down his marker as a manager and it will be intriguing to see what path he takes from here.
As another Cambridge lad might have said, "so long Mark, and thanks for all the fish."
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soulhalshall
Youth team star
Posts: 1,460
Favourite CUFC player: Courtney Pitt
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Post by soulhalshall on Nov 29, 2023 12:52:45 GMT
Some time away from the game might be advisable. Our loss is the Sawston amateur dramatics scene's gain.
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Post by richardg on Nov 29, 2023 12:54:24 GMT
I feel very sad, he has given us so many highs, and that covid season I really looked forward to logging on to Ifollow to watch games with friends it helped me though some bad times. He conducts himself with dignity and is just a good guy, nobody can feel happy today. I prefer this now, rather than fans shouting for his head, we didn’t quite get to that point, but clearly it would come.
He can leave feeling proud of what he has done, and to manage a team you once supported is something very special that you can remember for the rest of his life. good luck Mark I hope you come back soon in some capacity.
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malotru
Youth team star
Posts: 1,389
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Post by malotru on Nov 29, 2023 12:54:25 GMT
Bloody work getting in the way and finding out about this 2 hours after the news broke!!!
Absolutely gutted for Mark as a person and feeling more emotional than I expected to be. Slightly surprised it was this swift but I think it’s the best time with the window a month away and a weekend cup game next up.
Although a very successful businessman used to making tough decisions, I bet that was one of the hardest phone calls, Paul Barry had to make. Albeit, deep down I think it was necessary.
Thanks for the 3.5 years Mark with the highs far outgunning the lows. We’ll beat Posh again, we probably won’t win away at Newcastle again. And you left us in a much better position than when you took over which is pretty much most manager’s would call a brilliant job. You’ll always be welcome back at CUFC for life and maybe get your name on some shiny part of the new Habbin (hopefully not the toilets) and they let you keep your new black plastic re usable CUFC mug that you’ve had for the pre match pressers.
Up the U’s
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