Time must be up for Davis

[somersetcrewe]

And in the interest of further balance, it clearly isn't time for Davis to go just yet.
A shout out to some GOOD signings for once (so far anyway).
Kiwomya, Lowe, Daggers ........and now maybe, just maybe, Hollands too!

Call me mad, many do, but I recall being in Exeter in Oct 1988, watching us win 2-1 at St. James Park (Cronin and Fish scored that day). Walking back to the car, I stopped to look in a TV shop window at scores coming through on their tellies - on Grandstand I guess. And they showed the Div.4 table as it stood. We were 3rd on 22pts with 6 wins, 4 draws and 3 losses.
I'll say it here and now that if we match (or better) that in a months time, I'll bet we get automatic, as we did back then.
Just a hunch!

[Furberstreet]

And this squad will keep us up if we do obtain automatic promotion this season? No money to strengthen the squad to League One standard and doubtless a defence once again reliant on Davis and Ray, who have distinguished themselves at League One level - NOT!

The good thing about Crewe remaining in the top half of the table in League Two means I don't have to agonise all season about us fighting a relegation battle for a change. A few positive results, bearing in mind that we have 39 league games to go, does not suddenly mean everything is rosy, but I will take a mid-table finish. It will take more than this season to create a squad capable of staying up in League One whether SD is the manager or not.

[Proggs]

Yesterday was always going to be tough (Exeter had improved) and we, in my opinion, deservedly got 3 pts. I questioned the manager's substitutions - taking off my MotM and the Captain, both of whom could have secured the win - and then we go and score and double the lead at a stage when there simply wasn't enough time for Exeter to get two.
So, Steve Davis was right; we are sitting in 6th place; and we have two eminently winnable - or at least 4 pts - games over the rest of September. That'll do for me.

It has been a welcome two wins, and I am pleased for the fans, the players and the manager, but....

The opposition in L2 are bloody awful! There is a huge gulf between L1 and L2, though I do agree with the Chronicle that we have improved on last season.

Exeter were garbage but we tried our best to go to their level and, had it not been for Dagnall (though was a star) and Grants face, we may have been looking at another lost-lead-draw.

It isn't right yet, but as Somerset says some good signings doing well and the drop down has helped us regroup and play a little. The lack of dominating possession is worrying and the amount of defending is too. But I am pleased and long may this continue, but please let's not pretend its great or against decent, or without errors still.

A better month so far - funny, but we seem to be getting fitter 10 matches in........

[gazan]

I hate my social calendar at the moment. Just missed 2 home matches and I won't be going to Grimsby either. Feeling football starved

[somersetcrewe]

The opposition in L2 are bloody awful! There is a huge gulf between L1 and L2, though I do agree with the Chronicle that we have improved on last season.

Oh Proggs, not that bloody old chestnut again!
The opposition in L2 are not bloody awful, they're just not quite as good as in L1 - clue in 2 and 1
The opposition in the Sunday League football I see around where I live are bloody awful - and as for the U7s - jeez, some of them can't even kick a ball properly!!

....but please let's not pretend its great or against decent, or without errors still.

No pretending here, still VERY early days.
But just rejoicing in a turn of fortune.
If you can't celebrate a win and just moan about losing, no point in following football, let alone Crewe!

A better month so far - funny, but we seem to be getting fitter 10 matches in........

Yeah, it is odd but maybe we have adopted the horse racing principle - "he'll come on for that run!"
They do talk about match fitness. It must be true.
Confidence helps as well though.

[Proggs]

Oh Proggs, not that bloody old chestnut again!
The opposition in L2 are not bloody awful, they're just not quite as good as in L1 - clue in 2 and 1
The opposition in the Sunday League football I see around where I live are bloody awful - and as for the U7s - jeez, some of them can't even kick a ball properly!!


No pretending here, still VERY early days.
But just rejoicing in a turn of fortune.
If you can't celebrate a win and just moan about losing, no point in following football, let alone Crewe!


Yeah, it is odd but maybe we have adopted the horse racing principle - "he'll come on for that run!"
They do talk about match fitness. It must be true.
Confidence helps as well though.

"turn of fortune" lol! Is that after you point out L2 isn't L1.......

Exeter were very poor, the best team by far has been Donny - two good wins and lets hope for a point today.

There are still issues and the jury is still out on Mr D, but September has many games yet.

[somersetcrewe]

"turn of fortune" lol! Is that after you point out L2 isn't L1.......

Crikey Proggs, you're a hard man to please, especially when I try.
Surely even you can see this is an upturn in fortune ....? - winning rather than losing ....?

Question for you - and it is a binary one so no politician-type wriggling - would you rather be bottom of L1 or 3rd in L2?
I know which I prefer.

two good wins and lets hope for a point today.

You see, that's clearly where you and I differ.
I was hoping for - no, expecting - 3 points at Grimsby.
Opinions eh!

There are still issues and the jury is still out on Mr D, but September has many games yet.

But how long before the jury returns?
November, as per my previous prediction?
February, after the next transfer window has closed?
May, when it is all over?

Or is SD being "held in Guanatanamo" where they jury never returns?

Could it be that SD has found his level and even if we do go up this season, we dispense with his services in the same way we did with Artell?
I didn't agree with that one and I wouldn't agree if we did it again.
Trouble is you never get to see what might have been had we taken the other option.

Then again, look at DG from 89 to 91 - he got us up - then he got us down again.
But because he was allowed to try again .......boy! did he get it right second time around. Learned his lessons maybe?
Who's to say SD cannot do the same?

Apparently we were "more skilful", "well drilled" with a "well marshaled defence" yesterday - not my words.
So perhaps he is getting it right again ....?!!
Here's hoping.
Blackpool will be an interesting test and I'll be there at Adams Park on the following Tuesday to see how much improvement has been made since Cheltenham.

[Proggs]

Crikey Proggs, you're a hard man to please, especially when I try.
Surely even you can see this is an upturn in fortune ....? - winning rather than losing ....?

Question for you - and it is a binary one so no politician-type wriggling - would you rather be bottom of L1 or 3rd in L2?
I know which I prefer.


You see, that's clearly where you and I differ.
I was hoping for - no, expecting - 3 points at Grimsby.
Opinions eh!


But how long before the jury returns?
November, as per my previous prediction?
February, after the next transfer window has closed?
May, when it is all over?

Or is SD being "held in Guanatanamo" where they jury never returns?

Could it be that SD has found his level and even if we do go up this season, we dispense with his services in the same way we did with Artell?
I didn't agree with that one and I wouldn't agree if we did it again.
Trouble is you never get to see what might have been had we taken the other option.

Then again, look at DG from 89 to 91 - he got us up - then he got us down again.
But because he was allowed to try again .......boy! did he get it right second time around. Learned his lessons maybe?
Who's to say SD cannot do the same?

Apparently we were "more skilful", "well drilled" with a "well marshaled defence" yesterday - not my words.
So perhaps he is getting it right again ....?!!
Here's hoping.
Blackpool will be an interesting test and I'll be there at Adams Park on the following Tuesday to see how much improvement has been made since Cheltenham.

Good post and convo Somerset

I am a hard man to please, and mainly because I am still not convinced by us - though we are obviously better than the side last season (or so). Yesterday was a point in case, Grimsby were rubbish, and I mean rubbish - maybe just a bad day for them. But we kept them in the game for as long as possible and that is my worry. We are such a better side than some of these teams and thankfully we are winning but we don't seem to be able to play at our best and mistakes can/do happen. The penalty was a shame, he hit it well and GK saved it well, but we should have been 1 or 2 up anyway. Then we get a new (traditional) offside call that last season would have been a goal. Better rule! Offside is offside!

So I am just concerned if we are reaching our potential or not, and I suppose that paranoia comes from the last three seasons. Good news, or I think, is our club philosophy of football shows we will always be L2 as lowest, some fears put to bed there I think! We are better than a lot of L2 sides due to our ingrained football blood. A success I think.

Hmmmm at this point, bottom of L1. Little point in this and going up - and I want to go up so badly - if we can't cope in L1. So L1 for me and working to finish comfortable. It's a tough question. I like winning but I am aware the standard at times is low. Winning in L1 is an achievement.

For me the jury is still Sept end, and if this or top 7 is maintained then its the season for me. If we are around 12th by Sept end it'll still be the season. He'd need a run of losses and I can't see that in this league.

I hope SD is a better man for this and if he takes us up he keeps us up. But then will HE look elsewhere.....

[somersetcrewe]

I am a hard man to please.....

We agree on something at last!

Good news, or I think, is our club philosophy of football shows we will always be L2 as lowest, some fears put to bed there I think! We are better than a lot of L2 sides due to our ingrained football blood. A success I think

I think it is partly because we are able, through our youth system, to maintain a high level of continuity throughout the club.
Look at the likes of Crawley and Yeovil for example. Like us, they’ve played in the higher leagues but right now they are struggling to maintain their identity. Crawley have made sweeping changes since last season, on and off the field. And Yeovil for the second season in a row have ripped up their squad and started all over again. As a fan, how the hell can you find some affinity with players you have never even heard of. At least at GR we have the luxury of knowing that half the squad have been at the club before they even reach puberty, so even if we don’t know a lot about them, we know they are ours. This really gives us the edge over many other clubs in L2 in my opinion, so as a result I agree, I think L2 is our basement.

Hmmmm at this point, bottom of L1. Little point in this and going up - and I want to go up so badly - if we can't cope in L1. So L1 for me and working to finish comfortable.

I thought you might say that but surely you get more pleasure from our promotion seasons than scrapping at the bottom – season 2004/2005 excepted of course, that was something else!
But to suggest there is little point in going up if we cannot cope at the higher level. I refer again to the 2004/2005 season, New Years Day and we’d just beaten Leeds at Elland Road to go 8th. We all know what happened after that but just supposing we’d kept Deano and we had made the play-offs – and we won at Wembley, the Millenium or wherever the final was that year. Would there have been little point in that? In my opinion there is never a bad time to get promoted. It’s just that, in some cases, you’re not always as well prepared for what is in store as others – but that’s the risk you take! It would have been one helluva ride but it is certain as night follows day that we would have come straight back down! But I’d have taken it!
Yes, L1 for me every time as well – if we are comfortable – but that wasn’t the question!

I hope SD is a better man for this and if he takes us up he keeps us up. But then will HE look elsewhere.....

If he did, I wouldn’t begrudge him that. By that time he would have been here for the best part of 7 years as a minimum. That’s far more than the average shelf life of any manger these days, successful or not. Even someone like Mourinho with the record he has is struggling to match even half that in his last 2 jobs!

Interesting times!
And yes, a good conversation.
Just as well. We seem to be keeping the site active single-handed

[thnhouse]

A board member last year stated they would see how the first 10 games went before making a decision on the manager. Well we are getting there and things do not appear to have changed. I feel that by 10 games gone we could be well down the table and in a relegation fight .

Lets be fair, and I'm a bit anti Davis too, it's not been a bad start has it?

Even the young lads are getting a good crack at the first