The summer is well and truly over and transfer window's have closed. Hence Wilson's squad building is pretty much finished, other than a few loans. We have had a dream start and already my mid table prediction is looking dubious. Still it is early days yet and it is a long hard season.
The team has not really changed that much since my last post, but the main news is that few have left. Still, I think I'll sign this off with my assessment of the squad.
The squad
We have a strong first team and on current form you would have to say that if we kept everyone fit then we would be in contention for promotion. We have not played any of the big sides, but have swept aside fancied sides such as Bury and Brentford.
Keeper: this is still a big concern for me and this has been amplified by the Huddersfield game. After Wycombe SS has suddenly had a good few games and only conceded 1 goal. However he has been mainly pedestrian and there has been little pressure on him. I was just thinking at the weekend ‘What happens if he makes a mistake, the pressure starts or he gets injured?’. He seems to go to pot after making a mistake and loses all confidence. He gets nervous and puts the wind up all the players around him. Long looks a decent prospect, but is not ready for the step up.
Defence: the back 4 has been a revelation so far (apart from last night) and long may it continue. However we are frighteningly short. We have seen that an injury or suspension (in this case) and we are struggling immediately and only some fast nippy movement in the loan market meant we had a left back. If something happens to Collins or Maguire then we are in big trouble. Equally if either of them have a dip in form then we have no other options. With Parrino offering cover for Lowton at right back and now Williams offering cover for Lescinel (or vice versa) then we just need another centre back. Waiting for Morgs or Ertl to return is a very risky business and I would feel much more comfortable with someone coming in (even if it has to be a short term loan).
Midfield: our strongest area. Centre mid is very strong and we have some healthy competition for places. Willo, McAllister and McDonald all have creativity and Monty, Doyle and (potentially) Harriot can do the holding role. We still look a bit thin out wide and don’t really have much width. Quinn does not offer a lot of width (he seems caught between centre id and left wing) but more than makes up for it with creativity, commitment and effort. Mendez-Laing has shown sparks, but all too often looks like a headless chicken and Flynn has shown nothing. Hopefully he can come good but he seems more like a teenager playing in a mens team. Tonne will be a useful squad/impact player and offers something different, whether playing out swide or supporting the striker(s).
Up front: I don’t think we are too bad up front and think that the strikers have been getting some unnecessary flack. That said, is this strike force good enough to fire us out of this league? I am not sure. Cresswell will get us goals and does a reasonable job leading the line. He struggles against big, strong defenders when we play it long, but he works very hard. He offers a lot as the first line of defence and has a knack of getting in the right place at the right time. He has take some criticism in recent games, but people have been quick to forget it was his bravery and determination that ensured we picked up points at Yeovil and Scunthorpe. For me he is limited, but not the issue. The issue seems to be Porter and him are too similar and should not play together. They are too stationary. Porter has been really disappointing by all accounts. His work rate is questionable and he has been ineffective. Is this down to a lack of fitness? We’ll see. But can he score goals against the likes of Colchester, Yeovil, Exeter, Stevenage and Leyton Orient? I believe so.
If Porter and Cressy cannot play together then that means either Ched or Tonne should play with them. It seems that Philiskirk is not ready, but may play some role later on. Evans should be able to get goals at this level. We’ve seen from 60 minutes of football he will get chances and score some (and miss some). Tonne has ability and I would be hoping that he gets used more. I t would be interesting to see how he fairs if given a starting role supporting Cresswell, Evans or Porter.
Really we lack pace up top and this means this is something that needs addressing. There’s no substitute for pace and we’ve seen our forwards look stationary at times. It has not been an issue with midfielders bombing forward, full backs supporting the attack and creativity coming from all over the pitch. However, I feel having someone quick would really help. Last night we needed to mix it up and the two big lads might have struggled against a more athletic, nippy forward.
Ollessendro’s final thoughts
I said a few months ago (just before the start of the season) we were 3 or 4 players away from challenging and it seemed like I might have misjudged things. However, I feel that we are still 3 or 4 players away from being good enough to get automatic promotion. That is not to say we cannot. If we keep everyone fit and get a bit of luck then we may do. I think our first 11 is reasonably strong, but that we may struggle when the chips are down or when we need to vary things up. Pace is obviously missing and at times we seem stationary.
I think we need:
• Goalkeeper: Simmonsen is a liability and cannot keep costing us points. His mistakes probably lead to us getting relegated last year and this season he seems intent on giving the oppostion a head start.
• A CB: at least short term (until the new year) until Morgs and/or Ertl is available
• A striker: someone with pace that can stretch defenders.
• Width: Despite Wilson brining in wingers we don’t have much width. Only Mendez-Laing has ran at his man (not enough though) and we seem a bit narrow.
If Wilson can address the above then I think we have a chance of automatic promotion. If he does not address the first 3 (or at least 2 of those) then I think we may see our promotion hopes fade fast. I said before the season started that we would be mid table, but I have been thoroughly unimpressed by the division (other than Huddersfield). I think we will be there or there abouts (top 8) but need to see how we fare against Charlton, Wednesday and MK Dons before I can assess whether we will be at the top end of that.
One positive thing is that (unlike last season) there are no stand out candidates (with the exception of Huddersfield). I think the Terriers were unlucky not to go up last year (two excellent footballing sides and a freak play off final result denied them) and then it will be a case of either Charlton, us, MK Dons and AN other to go with them. Of those mentioned I have not been blown away by any.
