The Good, The Bad Or The Ugly In January?

Two exits and a hamstring. Not a great few days. I’m indifferent to the bare fact that we are out of the two cups (of course in both cases there are good reasons for wanting to win and progress, but for me the league is paramount). Equally there is damage done. Fans feel more dispirited and/or apathetic after Saturday’s trip to Gillingham, murmurings about Appleton increase, he in turn talks in a downbeat fashion about what is in the dressing room is all we have and points to the January window, and general cynicism is expressed about the chances of our new owners providing the funds to improve the situation.

Let’s remember, however hollow the words may have been before the campaign began it was made clear that the goal was a top six finish (not in my opinion a good objective to state; you aim to be the best team, to get promoted, automatically if possible and if we failed in that via the play-offs). The owners now have a decision to make, made more acute by the Leaburn news. It is clear to all and sundry – and has been for some time - that if we are to make the play-offs we have to improve, beat the teams above us, as a result of either the squad gelling and performing better, those on the fringes getting a shot and doing well, or fresh blood – or a combination of all three. Leaburn’s absence clearly reduces the chances of the first (as do the extended absences of Isted, Taylor and Aneke), from displays in the cup confidence in the second is low, so it does seem to be over to the owners.

Presumably plans for the transfer window are formulated, if not already set in motion. I’d guess the approach will be one of the following three, even if we will only know it by inference from what is actually done: the good (‘we have a group of players capable of continuing to climb the table and nail down a play-off spot if we can add some more quality in key areas, which we are ready to spend to achieve’); the bad (‘we will look to improve the squad in January if the opportunity arises in the context of our long-term plan of steady improvement’), or the ugly (‘this season is effectively a write-off, ruined by injuries, and there’s no point splashing the cash in January; instead we’ll look to the youngsters to provide fresh impetus on a wing and a prayer and to keep fans interested’).

I’d guess right now most people, including myself, are expecting the bad, sitting on the fence (perhaps someone can ask the question which it is to Rodwell and Scott at the upcoming Bromley Addicks Q&A). The third option may be ugly but it would be honest, if that’s how the owners actually feel. And if two things happen in January we can conclude that it is the way they are thinking. First, if Blackett-Taylor is sold. He is out of contract in the summer and nobody could really blame him if he decided then to take an offer from a Championship side. Presumably there have been discussions over a new contract, but if one isn’t going to be taken up and an offer for him is made in January, whether or not it is accepted will be an acid test for this season’s ambitions at least. Second, quite simply if we do not spend cash, real cash, preferably well before the window closes.

I do think it’s premature to write off our promotion chances. We know we have real weapons, also that the squad could use strengthening in all areas, including the defence (we have a worse goals against per game ratio than anyone above us). For sure the focus at present is on at least one more forward, but I hope all areas have been explored and we are ready to move on day one.

Have to start with whether any will be leaving in the window, leaving aside the CBT issue. Kirk managing to find another club would be good news for all concerned, he needs to kick-start his career and we need to save the wages. I’ve no idea whether the loans for Campbell(C) and/or Abankwah have recall options, but if neither could be included in the squad for last night you wonder what they are doing with us – and so must their clubs. I’ve no idea why Campbell in particular can’t get a game, he impressed me in his few cameos, but who knows what happens in training etc. When the manager says after a bad performance that he has to lift the dressing room as what’s in there is pretty much what we have and you’re not in it surely you draw your own conclusions.

As for incomings, clearly with May the only nailed on starter and Tedic, the only other more experienced option, so far failing to make his mark, backed up just by the returning Kanu and emerging Mbick and Casey assuming that Campbell(C) stays unused, to say that we are light without Leaburn and Aneke is obvious. We all of course hope Tedic comes good and/or that the three coming through prove capable of making the step up quickly. But you can’t say it’s a situation that holds out the prospect of pushing us into the top six; rather the temptation is to conclude, albeit prematurely and ahead of fresh signings, that the injuries to Leaburn and Aneke at the start of the campaign set us back (and did for Holden) and their fresh injuries, along with that of Camara, will prevent us from mounting a promotion bid.

This all of course remains to be seen. For the record I missed the Carlisle game as I was en route to London for the International Addicks match against Cheltenham and some convivial glasses with the German, Swedish and Swiss contingents plus others. At half-time on the pitch Watson(L) joined the travellers and shook hands with all, asking where they were from. That prompted the following brief exchange: ‘I’m from Blackheath’; ‘what are you doing here then?’; ‘I live in France’.

Too late for a report for what was in any event a fairly non-descript game, one which we were eventually pleased to just take the points from. But perhaps a few things of note.

First, I was struck by whenever Cheltenham had a set piece and we were loading our box, just about everyone was shouting and pointing at each other. Now the temptation has been to attribute our defensive frailties to a lack of communication, but this looked like a case of too many cooks and nobody actually in charge (or nobody listening to whoever was supposed to be in charge). Perhaps this is the plan but it smacked of chaos. I’ve always assumed that the keeper commands the box and the leader of the defence works with him to give the orders.

Second, and related, it didn’t look to me as though Dobson and McGrandles were comfortable playing together. That’s not a criticism of either, may also just be down to the fact that they haven’t had the time on the pitch to gel (and with McGrandles currently out it may not be an issue).

Third, anyone thinking our club has a good future in this league would only have to look around on a night like that. I often cite a game I went to at home to Rochdale in January 1973, when a few thousand were scattered around the terraces on a freezing day. King Arthur may have scored another to give us the win, but that night we looked like a club on its knees. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, expectations have changed, but there was just a scent in the air as May went about his business.

So here’s hoping the players blow away any cup hangovers with a good performance and victory over Cambridge on Saturday, especially as it will be Spanner Harris’ first one in charge. We can’t move up any places in the table, but both we and the owners need reason to believe that this season remains worth fighting for.