The clocks go back, can we go forward?
By Ken Hansen
October 26 2023
2am on Sunday and British Summer Time ends. Across this entire period, and writing this before Stockport away on Saturday, why have won 6 games. A summer of discontent perhaps. We've also had two managers in this period, albeit it's not clear how much longer Nigel Adkins will be here. As for the squad players have come and gone but results have continued to be poor. Will it be a long, cold winter?
When the clocks go forward agin we will have 5 league games left. At the minute there are 90 points left to play for. We have to accumulate around about 50 to stay up. That's another 40 points or 13 wins and a draw. To reach the play offs, which usually requires about 75 points, we need to win another 25 games. That's not impossible but looks improbable. As for automatic promotion, you would have to assume it's out of reach. People will point to Bristol Rovers a few seasons back, but that is the exception not the norm.
By common consent this is a weak squad, made weaker by injuries. I am unconvinced by the argument that once players are back we will be better. The current lynchpin of the team is Connor Jennings. At 31 he has been phenomenal, an inspiration to all. However, he is also at the stage of his career where players find it hard to shake off injuries they sustain. There is hope that Apter is developing as a player that could have the same influence as Connor as he gets fitter, but this may, at the moment, be wishful thinking.
I'm also finding it difficult to fathom what has happened to once reliable players. Kieron Morris has suffered a loss of form and has not been unable to make the contributions he used to make before last season's injury. The same is true of Turnbull, once extremely reliable, now concerning. Our defence and midfield have lacked a coherency and shape in recent games. The performance against Morecambe was better than the awful performance against Crewe, but still not good enough.
In hope, rather than conviction, we are waiting for the January transfer window. I can't help thinking that we have talent at the club that could make a contribution before then. Sam Taylor, for one, is a player who offers potential. He seems to no longer be able to make the first team squad. No injuries have been mentioned. It seems a mystery. One of the best definitions of management, in any job, that I have seen is 'maximising the resources available at your disposal'. I can't say the club are doing this.
As supporters we will continue to turn up. The weather will get colder, the nights will draw in, all we can currently hope for is that the last 7 months have been a blip, a stumble on the road to greater things. If not, we will be back in the National League, miss out on money from the new TV deal, and have to start all over again. Let's hope that things will get better and the team and players start performing as we know they can.
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Running any business is tough. A football business even more so. It seems clear to me that some fresh thinking is needed and significant changes made. No, I don’t mean a change of ownership as that isn’t the issue here.
Onwards and Upwards!
Quote:EgoEgoEgo
Much talk, yet again, of the opportunities of the “January window”. Personally I can’t see it making any difference to Tranmere’s situation as the Club seems unable to change the downward direction, a consequence of multiple losses on the pitch. Comments such as those above alluding to the playoffs are simply pie in the sky dreaming when what is obviously needed is a hard nosed look at what is causing year on year poor performances. [b][/b]It’s said that the first sign of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting something to change - exactly what we are doing.[b]
Running any business is tough. A football business even more so. It seems clear to me that some fresh thinking is needed and significant changes made. No, I don’t mean a change of ownership as that isn’t the issue here.
Onwards and Upwards!
Should we stop renewing our season tickets then? 🤷♂️
Onwards and Upwards!
Yes, we do keep coming back for more pain and cling to superficial hope, such as the comfort Ego draws from a marginally less awful performance than that of Friday. Yet few came out of that game with much credit and the persistent failures of this season were still apparent.
I do not think that NA can be blamed for that as he inherited this rag bag squad. Although, I am also at a loss as to why Jolley and Saunders are seen as better options than Taylor.
The concept of an interim manager does not sit comfortably and only adds to the sense of uncertainty around the club. Hopefully, NA is here at least until the end of the season.
We desperately need a win away. Logically it is unlikely to happen on Saturday, and yet it would be so like Rovers to gain 3 points just when it is most unlikely.
There you are. We keep going, despite the pain, in the hope that the unlikely will happen
Quote:hong kong rover
So the clocks are going back one hour tonight...Shame they can't go back a few months or even a year, we might not be in a mess then!
Sod that HKR, make that 30 years so we can relive the proper good times; I’d also be in my prime, have no kids and not be married….what’s not to like!
Quote:Phil65Quote:hong kong rover
So the clocks are going back one hour tonight...Shame they can't go back a few months or even a year, we might not be in a mess then!
Sod that HKR, make that 30 years so we can relive the proper good times; I’d also be in my prime, have no kids and not be married….what’s not to like!
lol
Quote:Phil65Quote:hong kong rover
So the clocks are going back one hour tonight...Shame they can't go back a few months or even a year, we might not be in a mess then!
Sod that HKR, make that 30 years so we can relive the proper good times; I’d also be in my prime, have no kids and not be married….what’s not to like!
Even with a Hot Tub Time Machine you wouldn’t need to go back 30 years. I’d happily settle for watching the team that played under Ray Mathias or Brian Little.
During our trip to the moon the football was amazing, but there have been good teams more recently.
Quote:ZintQuote:Phil65Quote:hong kong rover
So the clocks are going back one hour tonight...Shame they can't go back a few months or even a year, we might not be in a mess then!
Sod that HKR, make that 30 years so we can relive the proper good times; I’d also be in my prime, have no kids and not be married….what’s not to like!
Even with a Hot Tub Time Machine you wouldn’t need to go back 30 years. I’d happily settle for watching the team that played under Ray Mathias or Brian Little.
During our trip to the moon the football was amazing, but there have been good teams more recently.
You are correct, but how will you magic away two of the other things I mention, that began manifesting themselves from 1998, to fully appreciate the platters of goodies we were later served.
As for the third thing, the only prime I have now is next to the Netflix app on the TV.
I am convinced that this team would not be good enough to get us out of the national but it is bad enough to get us there