Time to stop the slump
VIEW FROM THE CLAYTON END
ANOTHER week and another defeat, this time around against a team who aren’t all that.
But, if you’ve seen the goals it wouldn’t be ridiculous to say that anyone would have beaten us in the division.
Abysmal at the back for all three conceded and we’re away from Essex with our tail between our legs, just what we didn’t need.
It’s one point from 15 for our beloved boys now and it’s all getting a bit tetchy in mid table. Teams like Southend are finding their feet and we seem to be lagging in comparison as they take over from us and push into a position where they have a touch more breathing space.
Our good start has allowed us a bit of time in fairness. We’re still eight points in front of the drop but with games against Plymouth, Shrewsbury and Bradford arriving in the next two weeks we need to give our heads a wobble and realise the situation could look a lot worse by mid January if it isn’t stopped sharpish.
I have every faith in the team and that we will be fine. But, we’ve been severely spoilt as fans in the last few seasons and we are by no means immune to a relegation scrap, it was probably expected by the realists (or pessimists) in summer and make no mistake, that’s what may just be playing out before us.
So, how does John fix it? I’d start by giving Hall a run of starts in the side. Whenever he’s come off the bench he’s looked strong and sharp, that intensity and movement from the off could really bolster what has been a lackluster show in the past weeks from the goal scorers.
Who do you drop? I’d drop Billy for a bit.
Against Sunderland he came off injured and he looked burnt out. Give him a few weeks off to get his body back to full fitness and he’ll be better for it.
Using him as a secret weapon off the bench could prove successful too. No defender wants to see a fresh Billy Kee coming on with 15 minutes to go after a game of two young attackers running you ragged.
Why not try it? Plan A isn’t working at the minute so I don’t see why we cant shake things up.
I’d also possibly look at the goalkeeper. The last few performances have been substandard from Ripley and we have a keen replacement waiting to take his place on the bench. Give Maxted a run, if only just to calm Connor’s nerves, which seem to be shot right now.
Saturday is now massive for us. Plymouth has never been the happiest hunting ground for the Reds, add that to a strong home support in the mood for some Christmas cheer and I fear we’ll be heading into Boxing Day with an even bigger monkey on our backs. It’s about the size of a gorilla now.
Yes, we struggled before the turn of the year last term but these are better sides and a better standard that we need to hold ourselves to. We can’t keep having a bad two months and just chalking it off to fate hitting us again.
Let’s stop this slump immediately.
Over to you lads, prove me wrong in Devon.