Been an interesting few weeks. Loads of reasons given why we haven't had a great start:
Not the right goalie
No proper left back
Jones's form
Scouse Pilgrim
Injuries to key players
Fitness coach
No funding for the new ground
Dennis Greene's inability as a manager
Quite a few people seem to think that we should have carried on from where we left off last season - but this is football. It's never as simple as that but this is why we love it / hate it / are addicted to it. Look at Chelsea - hovering above the relegation zone. Who saw that coming? Who's fault is it ? The pitchside doctor ? Roberto Martinez for going first at the press conference ? Surely after winning the league last year they should be right up there again ? Or does their plight mirror that of Liverpool's last season when they almost won the league the year before but had a rubbish season after that. Who would have thought Leicester would be second ?
Closer to home, who would have put Telford bottom after nine games ? Or Halifax in the league above having only won one game in nine after having a good season last time around.
The answer probably lies in several of the reasons above but anyone that has played the game to a decent level will know that none of last years squad (including the management team) become bad overnight - and last year we were so close to promotion. I really dislike the all too common solution offered nowadays around getting a new manager - as if that will all of a sudden mean we start winning football matches on a more regular basis. Maybe for a Graham Drury, who was unproven at this level but DG has shown he can guide the team towards the top of the league - and he has brought in some decent players (some rubbish too but that's non league football for you).
Personally, I think this league is about right for us at the moment - taking all things into account - notably the off-field position. Although I'm as frustrated as anyone at our start to the season, I will be keeping the faith and predict we will turn things around (still not doing Gainsborough away again though )
TEP