In the cold light of day, it really doesn’t feel any better, for us for sure and you suspect the players. December has been a disaster for our season. It wasn’t that we went into the month thinking that all was well, that we were good enough to get up to a top-six spot. Rather it was the feeling that we were capable of improving, had a series of games many of which on paper looked winnable, and that this could see us close the gap and that this would in turn pave the way for some decent acquisitions in January, to give us renewed impetus – and on that basis to have realistic play-off hopes.
Instead we’ve gone backwards, really since the night of the International Addicks game against Cheltenham. We didn’t play particularly well, but we won, May scored his 16th and 17th goals of the season. But we won at a cost as Leaburn limped off, with the later news that he would effectively be out for the season. Since then we have drawn three (of which one could be considered creditable and a couple affected by refereeing decisions) and lost one. Without credible options to give some a rest, we’ve looked increasingly jaded and frustrated, unable to create a winning combination. The mood has shifted from how we might strengthen in the window to whether or not two key players will depart.
Now I really hope neither Blackett-Taylor or Dobson are sold. They are both among the best players in this league (criticism of CBT for not always delivering the end-product seems to me crazy, he isn’t perfect but he’s actually one of the few players who the opposition are terrified of and who make them change the way they play). Equally, it surely can’t be helping the mood in the dressing room if the skipper and the star player (no offence Alfie, you’ve been the bright spark this season) are not signing new contracts and reportedly considering their options. You can’t blame either for that, now that the chances of our season ending in triumph and their playing in the Championship with us have if not entirely disappeared been severely reduced. If that’s the case, it surely has to rub off on other players.
In that context, if the club believes that both will walk in the summer and offers come in, fair enough if they are taken. Again, it isn’t what I’d want to see, but if it’s a choice between disruption now and in the summer I’d rather we have it now, even if the money isn’t spent straight away.
You can break our season to date into three parts – arguably four if you stop after the first game, which resulted in our best league placing so far. First, the five games of Holden, which featured four successive defeats after that first win. Three points from five games and a points per game ratio of 0.6. Second, Appleton comes in and including the first post-Holden game under Pearce we had a run of four wins and three draws, 15 points from seven games, or 2.1 points per game. That spell, featuring players coming back from injury and the thought that Appleton might be applying a little more nous, gave real cause for optimism. Third, since then we have had 10 games and managed two wins and five draws, a points per game ratio of 1.1, obviously nowhere near good enough. If we had sustained the points per game ratio seen in the second period through the third we would have an extra 10 points in the bag and sit in eighth place on 39, four points behind Stevenage in sixth with two games in hand. What a different picture it would have been.
Of course ‘would have/could have/should have’ count for nothing, even if you can point to errors by the officials costing us points. So what went wrong? It is simplistic to say that injuries have ruined our season, but they have been a major factor. They ended Holden’s reign and of late have scuppered thoughts of progress under Appleton. Losing Leaburn has hurt us, especially as Tedic has so far not taken his opportunities and Kanu is understandably finding it difficult when it comes to starting rather than cameos off the bench. Not having McGrandles or Taylor available has meant that, even though Campbell(C) has been brought into the fold, Dobson, Fraser and Watson(L) have been required all the time of late to fill two spots, with Anderson having featured little. There has been no realistic option to freshen up the team, especially with some losing form.
Added to this you have to say the opposition has learnt how to deal with us. Most teams now double up on Blackett-Taylor (and again Orient were particularly astute with Pratley just blocking off the cut inside). With our attack’s right side not really functioning of late, with Campbell(T) looking short of confidence and nobody else comfortable in the position, and an inability to score from set pieces (Jones’ header against Burton notwithstanding), teams in the bottom third of the division know that if they get men behind the ball and don’t allow space, especially for CBT, we become pretty toothless. In that respect it’s perhaps not surprising that our better performances of late have been playing away at teams around the top (Portsmouth and Barnsley), which have felt obliged to play a more open game.
So what do we do? First, let’s accept that now we really have nothing to lose. Being dragged into a relegation struggle is a very remote threat and not one to worry about at this stage. So just forget the pressure. We all want to see a determined and committed side wearing the colours, but it would also be good to see them play with a smile. The mood among us Addicks may be pretty low, but the risk of the atmosphere at The Valley turning really toxic isn’t high, the response is more likely to be apathy than howls for Appleton to be replaced.
Second, the CBT and Dobson situation needs resolving, quickly. If the club is ready to accept offers for them and if they want to go, invite bids for them – and don’t hold on to the final day of the window to try to squeeze out a few more quid. If this also means leaving them out of the matchday squad, so be it. That’s no slur on their commitment, just an acceptance under this scenario that we need to move on.
Third, make some changes to the team and possibly with this the formation. Without CBT and with Campbell(T) struggling, perhaps 4-4-2 is not the best option but rather 3-5-1, using Edun and Watson(T)/Asiimwe as wing-backs. We do have a third centre-back option with Thomas, Ness and Elerewe. I still haven’t given up on Tedic, more in hope than expectation, and feel he could use a run of games. So try him with May in the hole or alongside him in that formation.
I wouldn’t advocate just throwing in the youngsters, whatever we expect from the rest of this season, because they are ‘the future’. Asiimwe, Elerewe, Chin, Mitchell, Henry, Anderson, Rylah, Kanu, Mbick, Casey, even Ness and Campbell(T), even Leaburn, have to be nurtured, not asked to do the impossible. For sure if you’re good enough you’re old enough, but not all emerging youngsters are like Bowyer or Shelvey and demand inclusion from an early stage and grab their chance. Parker had to go out on loan to assist in his development. I would advocate throwing in the loan players for a run of games, that is if they’re not returning to their clubs. Tedic hasn’t done enough to merit a run, but perhaps that’s what he needs to show us what he is capable of.
Which does leave the now apparent question, do we, yet again, change the manager? We all know it wouldn’t make the slightest difference. It doesn’t even really matter if he’s lost the dressing room, given the prospect of player changes in January and in the summer. And it’s not as if Appleton is really in charge of which players we target, now and in the summer. Appleton was chosen by the new regime for certain qualities and attributes, including I assume bringing a tougher edge to the team. I still feel Holden was harshly dealt with but that’s history now. I can’t see how any change of manager/coach will improve our situation and outlook – unless the owners really want to turn to a club legend or two.
So that’s it for 2023, another year which will go down as one of disappointment, straddling two failed campaigns. I’m flying off to Porto to welcome 2024, so this time it’s Happy New Year to all and sundry. May 2024 bring you all that you wish for.
No comments:
Post a Comment