⚽ Match Thread vs. Chesterfield FC 15.03.25 [EFL L2]

[MAD_MAGPIE]

I agree, it has that feel of the Munto season. With a fully fit squad we should be flying in this league but held back by an inexperienced manager. We hovered around 8th with McParland who was a useless manager and absolutely romped to the top under Cotterill. Don't get me wrong I like Maynard but he's not the man to get us consistancy in results if we're serious about climbing the leagues.

If in the Munto season we had suffered a lengthy injuries to the likes of Davies and Ravenhill/Bishop like JJ and Crowley, and if Hughes had been out for a period like Didzy it's likely results could have suffered.

This season the starting eleven has constantly had to change due to injuries. I can't think of a season before with so many injuries like it. Then in January the starting eleven has evolved with new young players coming in that have had to adapt to the style of play and the league and get to know their teammates so almost like pre-season in the mid-season, and a promotion chasing one at that.

We had none of the injury problems to key players in the Munto or Allardyce promotion winning seasons from memory and we didn't have it in the National League promotion season either. What's not been consistent this season is the starting eleven and for me if we do not get promoted this will be the main reason and that's regardless of who is the head coach.

Then add into the mix two first team coaches leaving and the head of recruitment half way through and it becomes a transitional season much like last season when LW and his assistant RH left and SM, the blueprint brothers and Jatta came in.

What we don't yet know is if the outcome of all of this results in us getting promoted or not.

[Three_Point_One_Four]

That's pretty much the deal for me, Mad_Magpie. There has been multi-layered disruption throughout the season, thus it's difficult to pin any blame on one aspect.

Still many twists and turns to come before the season is out.