The tendency to focus exclusively on a single or limited goal or point of view. That being because we were top of the league and at one point I believe about seven points clear, even with two games in hand over Port Vale at one stage, everyone was focusing on the promises to 'Smash League One' and believing MadDog can do no wrong and that we are going to walk out of this league. Well as the Nation witnessed tonight we were brought down to earth with a massive embarrassing bump. The reality is we will not be smashing League Two at this rate let alone League One. As I said at the very time, careless words and one's that could come back to haunt us. I made my opinions felt about Essam, Jackman, Payne just to name a few. I kept my opinions very quiet on recent incoming transfers during the last window, because I know people do not like to hear it but MA's tinkering is costing us. bristol407, followed a formula I gave him recently that showed if we continued how we are, we will end up in the playoffs, I hope I'm wrong, I do really hope I am wrong. But now maybe people will see the issues that lay ahead and unless the warnings are heeded then we will be playing the lotteries, forget about being Champions, we just need to focus on autos and securing our own fate. The only positive I can draw from all this at the moment is we have nine points on our nearest auto rivals, surely we cannot blow that! Some difficult games ahead and already getting prepared for the next mood swings, as we look now to MadDog for his next performance trick...
As has been so frequently mentioned on this forum brb..."hindsight is a wonderful thing". what makes me laugh is that we have done this to balance the books, when our finances are meant to be a lot more rosie now ???...well the fact our finances are are keeping scally and co happy, could well mean we miss out on promotion...same old story and back to not wanting to pay for success, like our championship years..."I hope it's worth it mr scally" !
On this occasion I do not think there is a hindsight issue. There were plenty of people saying back in November that the results were not reflecting team performances (in the sense that Gills were being completely outplayed in games they were winning. There was a continuous lobby for Jackman to be selected and there was a good debate about whether Montrose or Payne should be playing with views evenly divided. Nobody for a moment imagined all three of them would be allowed to leave without equivalent replacements. Last night took things to a new level with Nelson rightly awarded man of the match because he single handedly prevented an embarrassing landslide of goals. He has had little to do all season because the back four have been strong. Last night individually and collectively they were poor. Never before have we seen an away side slice through the middle of the defence at will. Any excuse? Well only that they had little support from midfield. Up front, the three hardly had a kick and seemed slow and lethargic. Any excuse? Well only that they had little support from midfield. As for midfield, the less said the better. How could the midfield that dominated opposition for the first three months have been transformed into what was on display last night? All is not lost. Away form may still be concealed somewhere. MA appears to have made some disastrous recruitment and departure decisions but he can cut his losses. His dilemma is whether to hope Gregory and Robinson can come good or whether he goes back to what has worked before. He now has few options and has to stick with one but if it goes wrong he needs to look in a mirror. These next two away games are a real crunch and less than three points looks like the continuation of the slide into playoffs or worse.
I don't believe we will make an automatic promotion place. There's been a steady decline for the last three months or so since the middle of November. It will take a massive effort to turn this around now. We will end up in the play offs and fail against a form team that has worked its way up the table while we are on the slide.
I think Bristols comments are an accurate reflection of how it is. I am amazed at the decisions made with regards to the midfield players. with no Montrose Payne and Jackman ( in my view all quality players and better than what we now have) the team is now fragile and vulnerable. I said long before half time Gregory is going to cost us the game he was dreadful so why did he stay on and Weston come off. The mind boggles tbh. I remain faithful and believe in MA but do wonder if a certain amount of luck has finally run out and that we have been found out by the rest of league 2. I think we may make the playoffs but not without some changes that would see Payne return to save our season.
