2022/23

[wanderlust]

Could this be the year we finally get back to the Championship?

Who knows, but things are looking up so far. the 2 new signings both look as if they can hack it, the B team id building nicely and we are still solvent.

Desperate for another quality CB and a DM though.

[wanderlust]

So it looks like the transfer business is done with the acquisition of Eoin Toal from Derry City who looks like a good prospect at CB.
No defensive midfielder brought in but young George Thomason has been spending time in the gym and he may well grow into the role over time.
With Bradley on loan from Liverpool after we gave up on doing a deal for Fossey we have the makings of a team with plenty of options, but I have 2 concerns:
1. The signings have been astute given the budget available but whilst some of the younger lads have great potential, I'm not sure they'll be able to perform at the top level required this season. That certainly seems to be the case with the B team signings. It may be the case that we have recruited players who will be good in a year or so - but by then the situation will have changed and it may be too late.
2. The attacking style the Evatt has inculcated into every player is a great watch but last season we left ourselves open to the counterattack and often got caught playing out from the back. Worst of all was that the defenders were unwilling to hoof it clear when under pressure - almost as if they were expected to do something clever with it - and that also cost us goals when a punt into row Z and a chance to regroup would have been the better option. Toal and Iredale may be part of the solution but the defence needs some serious drilling and they need to pick up players much quicker and stop messing about - we need a bit more "no-nonsense" defending as unattractive as that may look. Increasingly, quality experienced players have been recruited by other teams in this league and they will know how to punish us if we don't sort out the defensive side of the game.

The stage is set and we'll get a measure of where we're at when we start the season with a tough away fixture against one of the promotion favourites Ipswich.

[wanderlust]

Pre season done.
A decent home performance against Championship side Huddersfield ended 1 -1 and the only real issue with the preseason was a disastrous performance at Carlisle, other wise some excellent results including winning away at Watford who have just dropped out of the prem.
The side can obviously compete on quality pitches against tough opposition but I suspect that we will suffer when the weather turns and it's a wet Tuesday night against struggling teams again.
But now all attention turns to Ipswich away.
Draw would be a good result TBH.

[wanderlust]

A draw it was but it was a helluva wake up call. Good team Ipswich on that viewing - which you'd expect given the money they've spent.
Back home we beat Wycombe 3 nil which was surprising as they were contenders last season, but were poor this time around.
Second string beat Salford 5 nil in the Mickey Mouse cup, and it was exhibition stuff at times, notably the 31 pass goal, but we won't get it that easy in League 1. Villa at home next round.
So far, we can't complain but there are tougher challenges ahead and I still have a few nagging doubts. We'll see.

[wanderlust]

Evatt made quite a few changes for tonight's game with Morecambe following the debacle at Port Vale.
We are more resilient than last season, but still dependent on an element of luck as we do concede chances despite dominating - and that means trouble sooner or later.
A lot of the doubt could be ameliorated if we were more free scoring but we're not quite good enough - or rather clinical enough.
Seems like we are a contender, but as things stand it looks like we're in for a far from smooth ride.

[wanderlust]

Suicidal performance against Sheff Wednesday yesterday. No doubt the Owls are one of the best teams in this division but to gift them two ridiculous goals in two minutes of madness is unforgiveable.
Bannan turned in a performance of a quality that he never produced when he was with us and was MOTM by a distance.
Sadly for BWFC, schoolboy errors like that will ensure we won't be troubling the scorers come the end of the season. Painful to watch.

[wanderlust]

Another suicidal performance away at Plymouth, mirroring the Sheff Wed game. Familiar old story

[wanderlust]

Boxing Day. We're 5th in the league despite some awful performances.
Difficult matches coming up throughout January so it will be interesting to see if we'll still be in a playoff spot in a month's time.
Struggling to see it TBH.

[wanderlust]

Boxing Day. We're 5th in the league despite some awful performances.
Difficult matches coming up throughout January so it will be interesting to see if we'll still be in a playoff spot in a month's time.
Struggling to see it TBH.

Still 5th but with a couple of teams with games in hand to pvertake us if they win them. After a bit of budget wheeling and dealing in January the squad now looks strong enough to stay in the playoffs although a push for automatic promotion is a bit of a stretch, especially as there are some big spending clubs above us.
I'd be happy with the lottery that is the playoffs, but a lot of work is required to get us there.

[wanderlust]

So the business end of the season is upon us and having just been schooled by Ipswich our situation is becoming a lot clearer.
Unless we completely implode we should probably scrape into the playoffs but not holding out much hope for promotion given our poor record against the better teams in this division who have many more players with experience in higher divisions who have stepped down a level - whereas we're largely trying to get youngsters and lower league players to step up a level.
Reaching the final of the EFL Trophy has been a welcome bonus and I'm looking forward to another day out at Wembley despite our underdog status.
Reaching the playoffs would be a sign of further progress this season and we should be very satisfied with that if we achieve it. Of course we want more but how we resolve the conundrum of recruiting better players to do it whilst remaining financially stable is at the heart of where we are as a club.
Plenty of games to go and I've no doubt it will be an entertaining few weeks ahead. COYWM!