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I find it hard to believe some of the hysteria that has followed the defeat at home to Northampton yesterday. Sure, we were beaten, and no-one wants to start the game with a defeat but already, 90 minutes into a new season, the knives are out in some quarters for the manager.
There were things wrong with the performance yesterday there is no doubt with that but this was a side that for periods of the game matched Northampton, much more than we did back in April when we suffered the same scoreline against them at the Vetch. We lacked in midfield, I can never doubt that, but this is what happens when we have four central midfielders along the park and asking two of them to play wing roles. Neither looked comfortable in what they were doing and couple that with one full back playing on the opposite side to which he prefers and you have a few issues that need to be resolved.
However, at the game itself, there were calls within half hour of the start of the season for Jackett to make changes and towards the end of the game there were the first shouts of disgruntlement against him. This is a man that has just worked 90 minutes with the side that he put together and we were playing a side that the bookies had as clear favourites at the start of play yesterday to walk away with the League Two silverware come next May.
What are the reasons behind these shouts? Are they shouts generated by the replacement of the management last March that still seems to rankle so highly with them. Or are they genuine shouts that they do not believe that the management is currently up to the job that they have? It’s hard to tell sometimes but you would hope the latter because five months down the line the former should be forgotten on a ‘what is done is done’ basis.
Looking back 24 hours on yesterday’s game, I can safely say that I am disappointed but I can also try and take positive that we were up against a decent side. Despite comments that Northampton are ‘average’ being labelled from some quarters I think back and wonder when was the last time we saw a side at the Vetch and said ‘they are awesome’ – certainly a visiting side anyway. Northampton have more than enough about them to be playing League One next season based on their strong organisation and always dangerous looking on the break. They were quite happy to give us possession in two thirds of the pitch and soak up any attack we may try to put together. They restricted us to a few long shots at goal and nullified every single set piece that we put in there. That to me, in this division, makes a good side and they did it.
What we cannot afford to do is become despondent and we certainly can not afford to panic. There are 135 points left to play for, approximately half of those will see us gain a play off place. Calling for the managers head now seems a pointless accusation. Of course, there will be people reading this who are thinking hypocrite and yes I admit I was never a Flynn fan but it took to March for me to believe it was time to change the manager despite playing poor football for a period of six months.
We, as a team, are far from the finished article but we are nowhere near as bad as the comments are suggesting. These comments, I believe, are borne from frustration at losing one match. The first game of the season is never one you want to lose because you have been building towards it for three months. The anticipation of football returning has risen to such a level that you almost feel as if nothing can go wrong. We drew an unlucky straw yesterday with the visit of the favourites and, in my book, they justified that tag. Whether they are the best remains to be seen but I think this season the division could be tough as there are several sides that have built teams good enough to challenge – and yes, I believe we are one of them. I don’t see automatic promotion for us – that will go to Yeovil, Oxford and Northampton in my eyes – but I can see us challenging for the play offs.
We have two tough away trips in the next week which will test us. Rochdale are the kind of side that we should be looking to beat and we can do it. We have the likes of Kevin Austin back which will mean the defence plays in the positions that it prefers and I would look for Forbes on the wing and try and worry Rochdale with the pace and height of Connor and Oli.
But what I refuse point blank to do at this stage of the season is to panic. There is time and we need to realise that. I still believe that many fans are living in the shadow of the first ten games of last season that were awesome but at the moment a little bit of luck and this season will be on track before you know it.
Give the boys a chance eh?
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