Five games back we were handed an enormous ice cream cone with the almost certain prospect of the addition of a championship chocolate flake. During the games that followed, for all sorts of reasons, we simply couldn't win. We have seen this in the last two seasons but this time, because of the brilliant run in the middle of the season, we were not only NOT in danger of a third successive relegation, we were guaranteed promotion. Yesterday with twenty minutes to go we were going to be champions, with the chocolate flake hovering above the ice-cream. A second goal would have crushed Hartlepool, but it didn't come. Fighting for their lives they brought on a in-form striker and he scored twice. Not one of our players wasn't trying, and I salute them for getting us back into Div One. If you had asked any of us at the start of the season if we would be happy with promotion in third place, what do you think we would have said? I'll take the ice-cream. If Darren Ferguson stays he will use every insight this season has given him to make the team stronger. Looking forward to next season.
posted on 9/5/17
Azza.
I never boo 26 my breath is far to valuable.
I stood off and applauded him off the field at the last home game but draw the line at singing his song.
Not bothered re Grant I dont think he has been 100% at it for a few weeks.
Evina....why did we give him such a long contract then dump him.
Middleton I think I would keep.
Etheridge doesn't even look like a keeper.
Williams although a drama queen I wouldn't be in a rush to get rid of him
Ats...enuf said.
Blair my player of season just infront of Butler .Apart from the obvious choice of course (not 26).
posted on 9/5/17
Oh keegan.....you all know what I thought of him
posted on 9/5/17
Somewhat like I expected, but only watching highlights it is hard for me to judge. The released players seems sensible, but have a few questions on those transfer listed. Evina and Etheridge obvious, but I thought the youngsters would be kept for another season as I assume they are not earning much. Middleton seemed to have some skill, and I just feel a little sorry for Lund because of the strange injury he had. I was not very surprised with Williams, especially after his performance after injury, and I did not think Fergie was a big fan last season. However, he was the leading scorer when he was injured, and would be good in the squad if we had many injuries. My feeling is that Fergie may think he can get some money for him - I'll probably now read he has been given a free transfer!
posted on 10/5/17
Fergie must see what we see in Mason, yet he plays him, so he clearly believes in his potential. I want Grant to succeed, but he doesn't get stuck in enough.
As for the defence, do we need an on-field organiser/leader or just organisation? Rob Jones wasn't the fastest and those around him weren't brilliant, but they were difficult to score against and it was Woods in goal.
posted on 10/5/17
25b from lisbon
posted on 10/5/17
TBF don, they played in a team which was better defensively than our current team, because we regularly played with a back four.
Defenders were defenders first and attackers second.
Ferguson does not have that approach in his teams.
Defenders have to be wing backs for a start.
I wont go into an discussion about Dickov but as poor as we were in an attacking sense, we were better defensively than we are now.
posted on 10/5/17
Correct
posted on 11/5/17
I agree with you Hound re the defence and Saunders lot could score a few goals too. We probably underrated what he developed on a low budget and effectively only from the start of the League 1 campaign.
posted on 12/5/17
Couldn't agree more. The attacking football is terrific but teams don't do well consistently without being able to keep the back door closed.
posted on 12/5/17
You would like to think that someone of DF undoubted ability would learn by their mistakes. Lets hope he does.
Simply if we hadn't dropped butler in our last season in league 1 we would not have been relegated