Terrace Trash - October Editorial
If we thought this league would be full of shack like stands,
ploughed pitches, missing or silent fans and mediocre football we were wrong.
Although it sloped like the face of Snowdon the pitch at Blakenall was not a bad
surface, and Bedworth had at least three blokes attempting a couple of chants.
We weren't that wrong though. We're down to our hardest of hardcore diehard
fans, yet at most of these places a murmur from the crowd causes looks of
bemusement. Meadow Park being covered on three sides must cause absolute awe in
some visiting teams.
On the plus side, we're comfortably in the top half and, David
Seal apart, we've seen nothing on or off the pitch so far should shake our
belief that we could go up. After last season scoring goals is still an exciting
novelty not to be taken for granted - we've yet to fail score, not bad. Back in
the cold harsh world of reality though we have to face up to the facts. Despite
coming through against Evesham in the Cup we've lost against the only one of the
division's top sides we've played so far in league competition. We've also
already dropped a legion of sloppy points. On the other hand only the most
partisan can expect us to bounce straight up without any problems after last
season's trauma. The quality is there, but the level of expectation isn't quite
fair. We have to expect this to be a two season job - while all the time hoping
we might just edge in ahead of schedule.
A few games in and the side has already has a pretty settled
look about it, although that doesn't mean all the problems are sorted or that
there isn't competition for places. The defence is still a major cause for
concern though, with a lot of goals going past us and too many late goals having
cost us points. Cally seems to have decided not to tinker with his wingbacks
system, perhaps a surprise given our weakness at centre-back and the options
available to fill a four man midfield. Grantley Dicks looks good and shouts
well, but needs someone young and sharp to cover for him at times. Even with
three at the back we look exposed to both pace and high balls. Richard Moore has
decent ball skills, but having spent most of his career in midfield he looks
uncomfortable under pressure. His first game against Gresley saw too many
attempts to play football on the edge of the area when an old-fashioned welly
would have served better, his challenge to concede a penalty against Sutton
Coldfield can't be discussed before the watershed. Danny Hunt looks twice the
player he did last season, but if we could bring in any single player to the
squad a commanding mobile centre back would be top of my list.
The last line of defence has seen a change, with the much
lambasted Gannas finally making way for Ally Hines who has looked highly
competent. Ally will have bigger challenges to come though, but he was highly
rated at the Gas and should be up to it. It's difficult not to feel sorry for
Gannas. He's a nice bloke and never meant to miss the ball - at times it has
been like watching a Shakespearean tragedy as the man's flaws caused him to
unravel in front of you. He could still be a good keeper but looks to be in need
of a good rest cure to rebuild his cracked confidence.
City look sorted in midfield, with a good blend of the
combative and the efficient in Chennas and Bungle in midfield. Although both can
put in good passes it would be nice to see a little more creativity, so the
continuing progress of Tucks on his way back from injury is a really good sign.
We'll need a lot from him this season if we're going to be more than
thereabouts. The great thing with the midfield is that we've also got depth for
those positions with Griff, Jenkins, Gary Marshall and Kwesi Cairns all able to
cover. Out wide on the right Kacey Johnstone has proved me totally wrong and has
been a revelation, looking like he can get past defenders and provide width
without leaving us too exposed down the flank. The wide left position is still
perplexing me, with both Griff and Cairns asked to scamper back and defend in a
position in which neither looks comfortable. Kwesi looked good there against Odd
Down, but then he only had to go back and defend once! Griff at left back looked
about as comfortable as an MP in a brothel during a police raid. He would be
more use to the side with twenty minutes as a sub in midfield than all ninety at
leftback having his inexperienced head messed with by the sight of attackers
streaming past him on his weak foot. It's not as if we don't have options there
either, with Wayne Thorne, Will Steadman and Grantley Dicks all having played
there with some success. It's not something we've got right yet, but Brian
Godfrey has a successful past record of converting player's positions so maybe
Kwesi will yet flower in unfamiliar soil and I'll be proved wrong for the
umpteenth time.
Another position not causing us too many sleepless nights is
up front. Baylo is quite simply in a different class at this level. Cox is not
the finished product, but his pace and direct running is going to create chances
for himself and others. The real enigma is Matt Rawlins, flashes of great
ability but already City fans are getting frustrated by his at times pedestrian
approach to the game. Once Cally figures out how to fire him up without
overdoing the temperature we'll be at the top of the table (yes, he is that
good). Problem is manager after manager has had trouble bringing him to the boil
and keeping him at a simmer. If Cally can do it he'll earn himself a well
deserved manager's award at the end of the year.
t-towel
September 2000
