Cod Almighty | Diary

The lull before the lull

19 February 2018

Irregular Diary writes: 797 hardy souls trudged down to Cambridge at the weekend, including my gang, in hope rather than expectation that something, anything would change. The formation changed from 4-4-2 back to 3-5-2, which we'd changed from a loss or so ago because it didn't work.

We started brightly enough and fans were in fine voice, but when I say 'brightly enough', we kept the ball reasonably OK and didn't concede. That is where we are at with this team at the moment: thankful that they keep the ball and don't concede. Except they did and that was it – seasoned professionals done again by one goal, and a poor one at that.

We're in a mess with no easy way of fixing it right now. I went to Cambridge not in the hope of rejuvenation because we don't have a miracle worker at the helm. No – what I expect is all-out determination to not go under like we have in so many games before.

I expect a formation where our wing-backs can cross a ball – but they can't. I expect a formation where we go forward with intent to get a goal with at least two men in the box – but we didn't get it. Hell, I expect seasoned professional defenders who are back in numbers to do basics when the ball comes into the box – you know, like pick up a man or clear the ball – but no.

Some of the goals we've conceded lately are through lack of will or determination to get that ball out at all costs, the sort of grit that one Shaun Pearson had. I genuinely don't believe that players go out to not win and not try their best, but if this is their best then I'm worried. The players seem bereft on how to dig out a result, and that is surely what going back to basics is.

Saturday was my first away game in 2018 and it did nothing for the will to get to Carlisle in a couple of weeks. I came away trying to forget what I'd seen and sighing with relief when I saw the news of late goals going in against relegation rivals.

I can't discuss the weekend without making reference to a couple of alleged incidents with players – I say 'alleged' because I didn't see either of them. I heard the singing towards Vernon and it made me wonder what came first: the singing or the hand gesture. But there is no excuse for it and it just shows how fractured it all is. We all want the same thing – but ultimately everybody's frustration is coming to the surface and it's not pretty. If the alleged Kelly incident happened and I'd seen it, I too would be furious. It would do nothing to show fans who think some of these players don't care that it's anything different.

So what's the solution? We can't really bring any players in unless they are unattached, and I'm not sure that would be the answer. Do we play the younger lads when morale is low with a real possibility of defeat? Is it fair to put that sort of responsibility on them? Do we stick with Wilko, who ultimately was part of the Slade era that should have ended weeks before it did?

The solution, without even looking at the boardroom, isn't an easy one but it has to be led by somebody with no connections as a new manager and we have to support whoever is appointed, whatever our personal thoughts. If we don't and it all goes wrong, well, I can't even begin to think about that.

GTID