Pre season I was concerned by 2 or 3 signings, namely Joachim, Stones and Fairclough.
Joachim from the get go looked unfit, lacking that pace that made him the player he was and a couple of games in Jason and Lee recognised the mistake they'd made and got rid.
Fairclough after a couple of shaky games in friendlies has steadily improved and I have no problem saying so far has turned out better than I thought.
Stones is playing 2 or 3 leagues higher than he should be. Having said that it's not his fault he doesn't pick himself and to be fair to the lad he gives 100% and in most of the games he has been made a scapegoat by the boo boys when in most of those games he has not been the worst player on the pitch. Despite thinking he isn't quite good enough for this level if he could get a couple of goals and some confidence who knows, but at 27 is it worth the wait and risk?
As for the managers I personally think so far they're showing exactly what they are, rookie managers. Yes so far they've made mistakes, but what makes me hopeful for the future they have spotted their mistakes and put them right, Joachim is a good example of that, as is the current tinkering with the attacking players to try to sort the lack of goals. I'm sure they'll make more mistakes but if they continue to hold their hands up and put them right the club will keep going in the right direction.
As for the rest of the players, Holsgrove going I think will turn out to be good for us in the long run and is another good call from the management (assuming the managers let him go). On his day he was quality but he had far too many off days and never released the ball quick enough. This in turn has released Chris Hall to play in his more natural position where he looks far more effective.
Harry Deane again was the correct decision, I personally think young Ogden in the reserves is a much better prospect. Another signing I was dubious about was Alan White but again has been proved a great bit of business, Tom Ward has been a revelation since his arrival and now looks to be fulfilling the potential that he showed in pre-season.
Up front we now seem to have a good mix, Newsh is the predator who can pinch us a goal with his legendary tap-ins. Ben Fairclough will give us the pace we have be so sorely missing, Suarez has the height to win a good % of headers and Stones gives us a physical presence and is good to bring on for the last 30 mins. Burrow will bring youthful exuberance and has scored goals at every level he plays.
As far as tactics are concerned I think we've looked best offensively when we play 4-3-3, with this formation we seem to get the ball down and try to pass teams off the park, most notably against Histon, in this formation though don't think Chris Hall is right for the defensive midfield role. This is much better suited to Milly who has been really unlucky so far as he's been our best midfielder in every game he's played and is yet to play with Danny Sleath, if not then I think this is one position we need fill although I still think AM has the potential to fill the shoes of Church.
4-4-2 we look sounder defensively but lose something going forward and tend to go route one, which so far has been largely ineffective.
The formation/style of play is the biggest issue the management has to sort along with strikers which is being addressed.As has been said it is a work in progress but in interviews etc. Jason and particularly Canners talk a lot of sense and now where the problems lie so I trust that they'll get it right and once they do we'll start to move up the table. Having said that we haven't really played well and are still only 1 point off the play-offs. Added to that none of our opponents have so far been very good IMO although we are yet to play any of the top 5, if we do get it right in front of goal there is no reason we can't make the play-offs.
