As always I try to look at things in a balanced/ pragmatic manner. So what was/ is the target for the new manager - Quite simply, taking into account the size of the club, the ambitions expressed (but not always followed up) of the club and its fans. The only target we can consider for this season is Promotion and considering our many, many failures in big games, Play Off's is not an option - So the managers single target is Automatic Promotion. Everything else is a nice to have.
So I have highlighted the milestones and my perspective up to this stage.
Upon Appointment - I was totally against him because of his previous record as a failure I believed he would most likely fail here.
Building his backroom - A bit slow, but seems to have got there now. Whether they are any good at their jobs will be seen in time, but I hope the set pieces and fitness issues are getting addressed as a key concern.
Preseason - Did nothing spectacular, probably not entirely his fault when looking at key points like Transfers, player contracts and Commercial commitments. Most likely that he has been extremely restricted. Talks a lot and talks a good game, but impossible to tell how he was going to address the issues from his PR offensive, other than seeing him bring in potentially exciting youngsters. He hasn't addressed some key issues like bringing in good experience, so we have to rely on him getting the best out of players that we know all too well. The issue of creating a passing side is an interesting one. We'd all like to see us playing football like Man U in the 2nd half yesterday, but it will take time, he's made some moves to bring in the exciting side of things, but are we in danger of having lots of enthusiasm and little of the new experience/ guile coming in to replace the deadwood. The Ched situation can't have helped.
Friendlies - It eventually took shape and two decent work outs at the end v Donny and Blackpool will have been good, can't really assess the benefits of Malta for anything more than fitness and PR.
1st Game - Team - Simmo, Collins, Doyle, Cresswell are all massive question marks from last season. Its a lot of faith to put in failures from last season, so its obviously a clean slate for all. If you add Monty, Quinn and the french lad into there, then we have existing experience through the spine. What all of that doesn't do is support Wilsons desire to play pretty football. Of all of those, Quinn is the only one with a footballing brain. Looking at the team and only being able to catch the 2nd half, it seemed to be a good blend of youth and experience.
So what does this tell us? Not much. Its just 1 game against a predictably poor opposition. I always say that a team needs at least 10 games before we can make a proper assessment.
Does it change my opinion of Wilson? Not really, it was a decent result, a necessary result and played out in a professional manner (from what I understand). I'm pleased to see him sticking his neck out and potentially go against his philosphy by playing a team of mainly grafters to suit the type of game.
Positives - The result. Wilsons confidence to play the grafters and Youngsters.
Question marks - Were we organised? Did we look better at set pieces at the back and up front? How will the wingers cope against a more physical side? How will we cope if/ when we go a goal down? When will he change and go for the bolder move of playing more youngsters, more exciting players in line with his philosophy. Did he set up in this way because of the oppo or was that his best team?
So in a game of Youth and experience, the goals came from both. Wilson now has to carry this on for every game.
