Review of the 2007/08 Season Part 1 (B)
By Mikey B
January 3 2008
With 2007 gone and the Season now at it's halfway point, today Total Tranmere will be bringing you two different reviews of the first half of this 2007/08 Season so far from two different Site Reporters. Next up is Mikey B's Review of the season so far....................
Ronnie Moore started the season by making a few changes to the squad. In come Danny Coyne, Ben Chorley, Antony Kay and Adnan Ahmed, while Gavin Ward, Kevin Ellison and Jason McAteer were let go, after their contracts ran out.
August
After a good pre-season, with Rovers picking up many wins, they started the season at home to Leeds United, who were starting the season on -15 points.
Rovers were beaten by Leeds 2-1, after taking the lead from Chris Greenacre in the first half. Rovers where then knocked out of the League cup days later, losing 1-0 to Stockport. But they then bounced back with two 2-0 victories, at home to Brighton, followed by the away trip made to Gillingham.
September
On the opening day of September, a 93rd minute free kick from Steve Davies ensured Rovers went three games unbeaten, managing a 1-1 draw away to Yeovil.
Tranmere then suffered another defeat, but this time it was in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, losing 1-0 at home to Morecambe whom Rovers had earlier beaten in a pre-season friendly.
Following that, Tranmere faced a difficult trip up the motorway, away to Carlisle. Rovers outplayed high flying Carlisle though, winning 1-0 thanks to a volley from young striker Craig Curran. This was followed by a victory against another team who had just been relegated to League One.
This time Rovers defeated Luton Town at Prenton Park 2-1. After winning the two tougher games on paper, Rovers next two opponents, Cheltenham away, and Northampton at home, were expected to bring another 6 points to Rovers tally.
However, two draws ensured Rovers did not get their six points, but despite that, they were still well in the mix for the top spot. That was not the worst news though.
During Rovers game against Northampton, star winger Steve Davies suffered a cruciate ligament injury to his knee, meaning the Rovers winger would be out for the majority of the season.
October
Tranmere started October on a cold Tuesday night at home to local rivals Crewe, still sitting in a very respectable position in the League table. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Chris Shuker pulling Tranmere back after being behind.
After a run of three draws, not many expected Rovers to bounce back straight away, with their away trip to Southend. Not only where they missing key players such as Coyne and Davies, but there recent form wasn't great.
However, Tranmere overcome Southend, with a 2-1 victory. A volley by Ben Chorley and a header by striker Gareth Taylor took Rovers back to the top of the table. It started to show that not only was Rovers away form much better than at home, but they seemed to be doing better against the teams that were closer to them in the League.
Now nine games unbeaten, a confident Tranmere team faced newly promoted Walsall at home. A 1-1 draw was the outcome; again Rovers struggled to overcome their opponents at home.
Rovers' run soon came to an end away to Swindon though. Unsurprisingly it happened when both of Rovers wingers were out due to injury. They were defeated by one late undeserved goal.
Next up was a poor Huddersfield side. Although Rovers had lost their two key creative players, Ronnie Moore did manage to find a loanee. Kevin Cooper went straight in on the left wing for this game, in which Rovers won 3-0 thanks to goals from Paul McLaren, Shane Sherriff and Gareth Taylor. However, Kevin Cooper did not make a great start, although he was unfit.
November
November brought a tough run of games and an FA Cup tie. First up, was an away tie to Nottingham Forest, in which Rovers lost 1-0. This was followed by a 2-0 home defeat by local rivals Oldham Athletic, a game in which there was no effort from Tranmere.
There was a distraction for Tranmere though, a first round FA Cup game away to Chesterfield. The game that Tranmere put on free coaches, meaning a following of 1200 fans cheering Rovers on to a 2-1 victory, after going behind.
Goals from Antony Kay and a penalty from Chris Greenacre sealed the win. Danny Coyne also saved a penalty, while young striker Craig Curran was sent off.
Two more tough games came up for Rovers. Firstly, away to Doncaster, were Tranmere ground out a draw. And then a home defeat to Swansea, Rovers losing 1-0. Not a great month in all for Rovers, but it did mean a second round FA Cup tie away to Bradford.
December
December started with Rovers 2nd Round away FA cup tie to Bradford. With 34 free coaches making the trip, Rovers easily overcome Bradford, winning the tie 3-0 thanks to goals from Steve Jennings, and a brace from Chris Greenacre.
Days later Rovers faced a trip to the east coast, playing Hartlepool on a cold and wet windy night. It was never going to be easy for Tranmere, and an awful performance meant a 3-1 defeat, despite Shane Sherrff's superb free kick.
It was back to Prenton Park at the weekend, as Rovers took on Bournemouth. There were fears the game would be called off, due to the heavy rain throughout the week. But the game went ahead, although it looked as if it was being played on a marsh. Rovers ran out 3-1 winners, with goals from Calvin Zola, Steven Jennings and a Chris Greenacre penalty.
Two away games were next for Rovers. Firstly the Super White Army made the trip to Port Vale, where Tranmere secured another point, while next up was Luton, where Rovers slipped to a 1-0 defeat, due to goalkeeper Danny Coyne dropping the ball at the feet of Luton striker Dave Edwards.
To end the month, Rovers first hosted Carlisle on Boxing Day and won what had appeared on paper to be a difficult game, by two goals to nil thanks to an own goal from David Raven and a stunner from Antony Kay.
They followed that game just three days later with a 1-0 win over Cheltenham at Prenton Park thanks to a second half goal from Calvin Zola that never really looked like happening for Rovers for most of the game.
Summary
So a positive start to the season was made, Ronnie Moore and his squad went on an unbeaten run of ten games. OK, half of them may have been draws (which isn't too bad) but our away from was our best start to a season since 1990.
However, while we were reaching top spot a couple of times, some fans wanted Moore sacked then just because of our home form. Swap the home results with the away ones; we'd be in the same position wouldn't we? So why did people want him sacked? I guess there's only one answer for that, and that is because some people are just never happy!
Ironically, our ten game unbeaten run came to an end just as we lost our two best players, Chris Shuker and Steve Davies. It is no surprise that we never won.
Every team may have their injuries, but how many lose their two best players at once? OK Forest lost Commons and Tyson at once, but they have enough money to have two very good players for each position on the pitch, something we do not have!
After the defeat to Luton, it appeared that more fans wanted Ronnie Moore sacked immediately than letting him stay till at least the end of the season, when his contract runs out.
Not only is it not Ronnie's fault that we have lost games, some fans, in my opinion, do not appear to understand the idea of continuity needed at any club. To sack Ronnie Moore and bring in a new coach will cost a lot of money, as it also means paying off and bringing in new backroom staff.
Then you have the issue that the new manager might not like the players here, they might not suit his style. This means we, as fans will have to endure another summer of eleven new signings. A good first season, then again, (and this will happen whoever we get!) we will hit a run of bad form, perhaps not winning for ten games or so.
That would therefore mean you'd want the manager sacked again, meaning rebuilding AGAIN. This has been happening for a decade now at Tranmere, and for us to progress this cannot carry on. We are going through a cycle, but some fans cannot see the next step.
They are too impatient to stick with a manager through a tough period, and that is why, whoever is in charge at Tranmere, until we clear our debt and get a financial backer, we will not progress!
READ MARK RIDGWAY'S HALF-SEASON REPORT HERE!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008:01:03:18:31:45 by Deadly Submarine.
I particularly like you're summary of the overall situation at the end Mikey - nice one!
Thanks to both Mark and Mikey for these Reviews!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008:01:03:18:33:28 by Deadly Submarine.
For every good patch we have we have two bad ones.
Of course its not ronnie fault about getting results it was the stewards!!! and mine and myles!!
Ronnie is the master of contridicting himself, as shown after the carlise comments, " I know i have better players in my dressing room", if thats the case why are carlise 5 points ahead and have two games in hand.
yes we have had some gd games this season ( bradford, chesterfield, southend, etc.. but people make out like are squad is relegation strugglers! even with the injuries we have had recently we can still produce good 16 players for the matches.
You make out like i want ronnie do to@#$%&i want him to prove me wrong, because i want best for the club whom i love and surport.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:01:03:22:21:49 by nathan_trfc.
im not asking for brazillian football, the cheltenham game last saturday was a perfect example of what you need to do, but they need to do it more often!!
every game is crucial at this stage now, and you might say there is a long way to go, which there is, but it goes so quickly, we seem incapable of going on winning runs and thats what im worried about because the position were in and how tight it is, you need winning runs to cement your place in there!
The only blow is Shuker, I really can't see us making the play-offs without him AND Davo (And that won't be Ronnies fault!).
For those who went to Crewe, will understand that the strikers are getting back to the best. Unforunately, and hopefully it was for just the one game, the defence finally looked rubbish (first time this season?)
yes it is going to be harder to get in pos, with are two best attacking threats out, but i belive are team still has enough quality to challange for the playoofs!!
This is an improtant month for Rm because he has to replace two wingers and maybe a striker. if taylor goes!
yes the defence was poor on tuesday but i belive are defence is one of the best parts of our team!, and also the strikers are getting back to the best, especiialy zola!
lets hope this carrys on.
They may be higher in the League at the moment but that doesn't make them a better team than us - especially if they don't end up finishing ahead of us which could easily happen!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:01:03:23:26:35 by Deadly Submarine.
Sub you are also right, I actually thought Carlisle were one of the worst teams I've seen this year!