Wed Aug 28, 2013 2:06 pm
Poeple are being overally critical of the players we've brought in, not every single group of players are going to merge and quickly become a promotion threat at this level especially when the players you bring in are pretty much cheap, young lads with a point to prove who may or may not go on to be successful. What Smith has done in my mind is seen that we use a front 4, compiled of 3 attacking midfielders and 1 central striker. I think Smith has brought in Sawyers, Hewitt, Lalkovic and kept Baxo/Hemmings so that in his mind we have plenty of options and a wide variety of skills in each position. For example in Smith's mind, Lalkovic can play wide, as a number 10 or a number 9, Sawyers can play on either wing or in the hole, Hewitt is the central striker, Baxendale can play in the hole or as a winger, Hemmings can play on either wing and Westcarr could play as a number 10 in the hole or a number 9.
Sadly that has up and down sides to it, the up side is that we are versatile and with a small club, small budget players who can play in versatile positions are fantastic to have on the books but on the downside we are left to shoehorn players into different positions here there and everywhere and thus, we don't have out and out proper players in certain positions. We don't have a proper number 9 that can hold play up and poach as Macken, Grigg and Ricketts have done over the years, we have 3 players who should be playing in the hole (Westcarr, Baxendale and Sawyers) and no proper right winger. I think we'd be best using Lalkovic to play wide right, but I get the feeling he came to play upfront under Chelsea's orders and Smith is reluctant to play him elsewhere purely down to the entire 'relationship' building thing with Chelsea's youngsters. I also think Smith feels leaving certain players out may hamper their progress, Baxendale for example - he isn't a right winger by tradition or nature, but from what I've seen this season I'd rather play Sawyers in the hole, Lalkovic wide and leave Westcarr on the bench, but that then means the player we've just forked out a 3 year deal on doesn't start games and wil quickly become uninterested and pissed off.
I still think the future is very bright, we have a very good team who are an addition or 2 away from breaking into a play off place and surprising football fans up and down the country. I think Smith is doing a great job and we have created our own brand of attractive pretty football which, even if not bringing in the best results at times is so much better to watch than the previous 5-6 years of drivel we've seen. The money we have received in the summer has gone some way to boosting coffers and will give us leeway to sign the likes of Lalkovic on loan from top premier league clubs whilst not over-spending and focusing in on producing some quality footballing youth players in the years to come to ensure the future is bright.
Just ask yourself this, if you took a look at our starting 11 2-3 years ago, when we'd hit that wall of lowering attendances, a terrible budget, no connection between club and fans, a never ending spree of ageing journeyman players and literally no hope of anything but a relegation dogfight season after season where would you rather be, there or here?
It's a no brainer.
UTS.