I've had a couple of days to reflect on Saturday's abysmal performance and so here, for what it's worth, is my reflection on it.
We all know the background to this - the team was in the doldrums, both financially and in terms of morale. We had to get rid of the high earners, but in doing so decimated the squad. Paul Sturrock was appointed on Monday 5th July and the first league game was due to be played on Saturday 7th August. He had to get a squad together in record time in order to start the season - he has done that.
However what sort of players are you going to get at short notice and low wages? The kind that we have ended up with:
- Kids who want a chance of league football - e.g. Ryan Hall, Sean Clohessy, Bilel Mohsni
- Older pros who want a last season or two before retiring e.g. Coughlan, Easton
- Those who you know well and are willing to work with you again, kind of as a mutual favour e.g. Sturrock jr., Gilbert, Zaaboub
What you are not going to end up with, unless you are incredibly lucky, is a team of world-beaters or superstars. So let's wake up and smell the coffee!
After Tilly was sacked there were many, myself included, who thought that we would start this season managed by Ricky Duncan and fielding our youth team and young pros. To end up with the squad we have is nothing short of a miracle! We are fielding a full bench of experienced professionals and have genuine options in most departments.
Sturrock is yet to discover all the strengths and weaknesses of his new squad and whose styles complement each other - however is a wise old manager and I believe he will work it out, but please let's give them all time.
As for his selection on Saturday I don't think he got it too wrong on paper. I think he was concerned about the Vale forwards bully-boy tactics which is why Coughlan played, he may have been tempted to blood Mohsni but with his alleged temperament, this was not the game. Instead he gave Prosser a go - how many times have we seen our ex-players raise their games and have a blinder against us? I think that was a fair call. The full backs and keeper picked themselves as do the central midfield pair, if you're going to play 4-4-2. The positions where I think he could have made a better call are up front - I think Corr was needed from the start - and he needs to pair with him whomever complements his style best..... not sure who that is yet and to be honest we're probably yet to sign him.... which may be why he went with his "B" pair of strikers - Blair and Paterson. Zaaboub needs another month for me, but could be a quality player for us. Soares is the biggest disappointment for me so far, but obviously Luggy and Widdrington see something in him above Hall as they keep starting him.
Let's not panic just yet, eh? Remember the season we were League 1 champions started with just 1 win in the first 6 games - it also included a home defeat to Port Vale in August (and an away win at Bradford in the same month)!
Sorry for all the optimism - you can all go back to your depressing whinging now!
