It is sixteen months since I wrote my last piece at DiggerDagger.com and what a lot has happened in between!
I had not long returned from a mid career break year away and wondered what sort of shape my team would be in when I resumed my seat I the stand. What I found was a young, enthusiastic team with the wonderful characteristic of just keeping going.
That last piece included ponderings on our late late defeat at Stevenage when I felt we looked a little naive – it really did need someone to boot the ball out of the ground or keep it by the corner flag a la Junior. But we didn’t and Boyd scored the winner. What we lacked in that match and throughout the season it seemed to me was a fully functioning midfield in particular someone who could tackle, close down, put his foot on the ball.
I always reckoned this needed to be another Brennan (maybe that’s Vernazza?) but instead enter this year Mr
Rainford (right). Whilst both he and Southam are not the most consistent of performers they give their all and do a good complimentary job. This midfield stability has transformed the team I reckon.
And that’s not to ignore the vast progressions made by other players in the set up. Just to pick out 2 –
Danny Foster (left) and Scott Griffiths, in particular the former. I think Foster’s form and consistency have been a revelation this year. It must be a pleasure to be Robbo behind these and the remainder of the defence.
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