Two years ago we embarked on one of the most disappointing periods in the history of our club. After the surprise, excitement and euphoria of the appointment of Chris Powell and victories in his first four games of his stewardship, we went on a run of horrific proportions. It was the manner of the defeat against Dagenham and Redbridge that Powell realised the state his squad was in. So, he formulated a plan. A plan that would see a whole new playing squad and a focus on the youth set up. Over the summer he assembled a squad that consisted of hungry players, many with a point to prove. He created an ethos and spirit that compensated for occasional lapses in quality. We comfortably won anadmittedly poor league. But we didn't set the world alight by playing beautiful football. In essence it was a bit of a slog.
Looking back at the posts in the summer the majority of people on here would have settled for staying up this season. A period of consolidation. We all hoped for some investment. Maybe four of five players that would provide the moments of quality it takes to win matches and succeed in this league. Unfortunately our summer recruits included a utility player from D and R; a lad who was deemed surplus to requirements at Sunderland and Salim Kerkar who impressed on trial when we were in Spain pre season.
We started the season well. The opening game at Birmingham saw us play expansive and exciting football and we were undone by a curse that would strike us throughout the season, the late goal conceded. Against Leicester we went into an early two goal lead before the opposition pulled one back but we clung on. It was in the second half of this game that the quality of football in this league was demonstrated. We were huffing and puffing to keep up with the likes of Nugent, King, De Laet, Dyer etc.
Now we find ourselves stick,with a host of other clubs in mid table. Not far from safety but too near to the drop to be comfortable. We cannot win at home. We cannot score at home. The crowd are frustrated and growing more and more angry.and I think it is these inconsistencies this season that have made us, as fans, similar in our attitude. Lets look at some of the things said on here.
Hamer is a Prem keeper who could be another Dean Kiely
Hamer is shit and needs to be dropped and stop going on twitter
Wiggins is a Prem class player who we will struggle to keep
Wiggins is crap and got given the runaround by Zaha, Thank god he got injured
Wilson is rubbish. He brings nothing to the team. Why are we spending money on a league one player?
Wilson is the first name in the team sheet. Him and Solly are great together. Such a good attitude.
Jackson has no pace. All he does is take our set pieces. No right foot
Jackson is priceless. Has a great left foot and scores crucial goals. Leads by example
Haynes is a liability. He can't finish. Gets injured too easily. All he has is pace.
Haynes would be in the prem with better hamstrings, a class player. Has to start every game.
I could go on. And on and on and on. The point is this. We have a squad of players that has very little individual quality in regards to the level they are playing at. We have some players who are capable of an outstanding moment or two. But not consistently. Look at the squads some have in this league. Leicester,Cardiif, Hull, Watford, Forest. Even Blackburn and Brighton. They have excellent squads and possess quality players at this level. And they have cash. And managers with experience.
Chris Powell has this squad of players a few wins from safety. With very little investment. He has a team who are going through it at the moment.this is fairly typical in sport. So, yes he is desperate and trying to find the solution. Unfortunately he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't regarding team selection, tactics and substitutions. It will always be wrong when it ends in defeat. Wen he wins he is lauded as a tactical genius. To me he is somewhere between the two. He is learning and will get better.
Our current position is true to our quality, maybe even exceeding that. We are above the other two promoted teams who came up with us. We are within touching distance of teams with more money, more experienced managers and better players. Yep, at the moment it's crap. And four wins at home is ludicrous. But we'll be OK I think.
Ad the best man for the job is the man we currently have.
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Agree with most of it. Working out what is going wrong / right is part of the entertainment of the game, though. I have paid my season ticket money. It helps me to cope when things are not going well.
(although I assume you meant to say 'utility player from stevenage'?)
:-)
So many on here came out with things like 'mid table is fine' but then don't seem to get their head around the fact that a mid table position involves losing about as many games as you win.
Well done sir.
Some don't want to hear the plain facts, others bury their heads collectively in the sand ( currently helping to level our pitch!) whilst the minority will always argue that the grass on the other side is...well, actual grass !
Those of us who love our Club and support it unconditionally through the good times as well as the bad , recognise the current limitations that our manager has at his disposal. That is not to acknowledge and laud the brilliant achievements of last season and the great bunch of players who made them happen. They haven't changed neither has their desire to do their utmost for the Club. But the Championship is totally different gravy...with largely the fat rising to the top and thence to the Promised Land. We have to recognise that we are not the fat - well, not at the moment. Hard work, endeavour, bravery & a great team spirit will only get us so far but with the right "chef " and the addition of a few more specially selected ingredients , we too, in time can make the step up to the A la Carte menu..
We have the Chef in place- one who continues to practise and learn his craft with a laudable degree of success.
All he needs is the backing of our owners, our players, our supporters and some modest investment for him to utilise with his proven expertise and he'll produce the goods.
Onwards & upwards with SCP !
And the away performance have illustrated both on the whole thus far.