Recipe for success in 2021?

Happy New Year everybody..
There's a pause in the matches, so a chance for us fans to take stock.
For a NL club like ourselves, and one that reached last season's play off final, we're clearly on the wrong track. Losing 36% of our league games makes us look like a side that might scrape into the play-offs, rather than one to grab an all-important top 3 spot (one home game for a play-off final). The team as constituted clearly lacks the resilience needed to avoid getting beaten by pretty ordinary, but well organised and motivated, middling NL teams.
Ardley needs to find a starting 11 that clicks, and clicks fast, and find it within the squad he has now, realistically.
I don't think it's too far away.
I wouldn't want to take anything away from the great professional careers of Doyle and Turner, but for me they are our latest versions of Stead and Smith and the limited level they can reach now has been holding us back.

Can we trust Rawlinson and Reeves? I think so (both have been good), but it isn't as if we've got much choice. This is what I'd like to see...

1) Turner's suspension should mean the end of him ever being a first choice...it clicked when we introduced Lacey last season and it can happen again. Graham is a great back-up.
2) Give Rawlinson the club captain's armband and make Reeves the vice-captain
3) Let's see Reeves and O'Brien given a 5-6 game run in centre midfield. Both can protect the defence, both can support the attack, they can even interchange...(if it doesn't work, we'll probably need to bring in a new player)
4) We don't have a problem with the forwards (apart from needing to add a Dennis-type player to the squad) and in such a compressed season they have to rotate anyway...but Rodrigues is first-choice and must be allowed to finish games.

I was looking forward to Doyle staying on, assuming that at 39 it would be more in a coaching than a playing capacity.
I've been amazed he's been playing every minute of every game. With players peeking at 27-28, carrying on with a player in his 40th year is the equivalent of going backwards to play a 17 year-old every game...Honestly, how is this working for us? The changes I've suggested are pretty modest, but what they would do is change the leadership in the squad at a stroke. I think that's what's needed.

Just my personal preferences of course, from watching the streams like everybody else...
We need things to fall into place pretty quickly, and that's going to take changes I think. Anyone else have a formula that they'd like to see?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by the_anticlough

I wouldn't want to take anything away from the great professional careers of Doyle and Turner, but for me they are our latest versions of Stead and Smith and the limited level they can reach now has been holding us back.

Can we trust Rawlinson and Reeves?

---

I'm always wary of solicitors recommendations but I don't like partnerships, too fragile, so Su Yoo would be a good bet. There are some dodgy names out there which I'd best leave out lest someone gets upset.

We are so blessed at centre half, I would hope Lacey comes in impresses and thoroughly takes his chance like last season where he became undroppable. His partnership formed with Rawlinson was so impressive.

Who's quicker JOB or Doyle?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by laddo

Who's quicker JOB or Doyle?

---

Not sure. They are both slow. But a lack of pace is exposed far more in JOB's game than in Doyle's.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by laddo

We are so blessed at centre half, I would hope Lacey comes in impresses and thoroughly takes his chance like last season where he became undroppable. His partnership formed with Rawlinson was so impressive.

Who's quicker JOB or Doyle?

---

There's can't be much in it, but I think we can get more out of our 33 year-old CM than the 39 year-old. And Reeves will better as the main guy in front of the defence. He'll get on the ball more...

You're right, were OK at centre-half but it looks like we've left ourselves short in centre-mid...too much invested in Doyle

Can we upgrade from OK to good or at least well covered for the centre halves

Rawlinson
Lacey
Turner
Graham

That's a very solid 4 IMO. Doubt there is better at this level.

Doyle is fine with Reeves.

Turner is fine although happy as well with Lacey. There is no problem with the defence.

The problem is up front.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by laddo

Can we upgrade from OK to good or at least well covered for the centre halves

Rawlinson
Lacey
Turner
Graham

That's a very solid 4 IMO. Doubt there is better at this level.

---

Yes it's a strong group of defenders, but as 50% of the way out of non-league goes thru Wembley, let's start picking a pair, plus back-up, that could safely play there...
(Full disclosure - I'm finding it hard to move on from the fact that Rawlinson didn't appear in the play-offs - can't stop cursing about it)

I would like to see both Rodrigues and Reeves as the midfield pairing, with Enzio and Roberts on the wings, We also to sign a proven striker at this level to partner Wootton. The loan players all need sending back, with the exception of Knowles,,, The likes of Doyle and Turner need to be used as bench warmers..

Take your pick, any 2 of the first 3 are good enough, strong group indeed. The backup is good enough for the play offs without a doubt.

It shouldn't be too hard to move on cos if Rawlinson had played we would likely have been better in defence. But Rawlinson nor any one player could make up for how the other 10 performed below par as a group. The phrase well beaten was very apt that day.