With the Artell out argument I'm on the fence. On the one hand we are playing well and have been hamstrung with injuries to key players all season. It's not like when SD left and you could see that all the way through the club we were desperate to get rid of him. Also you can honestly say that Lowery, Ainley, Kirk, Pickering and Wintle are developing well.
The issue for me is our transfer policy has again been poor. Nolan, Walker, Raynes, Grant and Stubbs have all not performed. The only decent signing we've made has been Porter who seems to dip in and out of form.
The defence has been awful all season. Raynes is great at defending higher up the pitch but is terrible in our box. So many of our goals conceded come from players with way too much room in our box. Walker is a midfielder, no wonder he's not doing well as a centre back. Nolan is just about coping but thats the best you can say about him. We need fresh blood at the back and more than just Ray coming back in.
I find it particularly galling that both our current and previous Managers were defensive warriors but have offered up powder-puff defences with the backbone of a small rodent. That's been run over.
I like Dave - he's got the passion and enthusiasm I want in a Crewe Manager - but his game management is 'developing' shall we say. I also question signing Miller on loan (when we have Bowery, McKirdy and Reilly to see us through) - that money should have been spent on bringing in a commanding goalkeeper. I'm not saying Ben's solely responsible, but he doesn't command his area which puts pressure on the defence to win crucial headers in the 6 yard box. They want a 'keeper to come and punch or pluck them out.
I think we've got enough to survive.....just......but changes are needed in the summer.
Andy who always rings on RS P&G keeps making the same point that its our defence over the last few years which has been letting us down and so the question is why? We bring in some defensive players and we have our own and so is it as simple as saying there were/are too many academy players and expecting too much from them? I feel sorry for the team at the moment as they plus the management and probably the board are feeling the same way but that is at least one good reason why the Chairman comes out to rally the troops and give some direction....Silence is indeed deafening and its not good and as though they too are expecting the worst?
BTW, the GK selection situation seems strange to say the least? Their confidence must be shot too?
Last edited by MikeSB; 29-01-2018 at 02:44 PM.
That makes no sense. Our back 4 is entirely made up of non academy graduates, and neither is our more defensive midfield player. We have 2 academy graduates in our defensive squad, 1 is sorely missed(Ray), 1 has been inconsistent but not terrible.
Completely agree about the keepers situation though. Interesting to note there are only 3 1st choice goalkeepers in League 2 shorter than Ben, and none shorter than Dave. I really do feel there needs to be a change there. Time to accept that Garratt has not progressed as well as hoped.