00-01 Vs 04-05 - Which one is better?

By 4two
July 9 2004

How does the 2004-2005 squad compare the Ray Graydon team that bounced back in 2000-2001. You might say we can't judge until we have seen the 04-05 squad in action, but look at things on paper.

 

BEHIND THE SCENES

^{2000-2001 - Graydon and Halsall made up the backrooms staff. Ray and Mick had got us promoted before, and knew the score.  They did the job.} 

^{2004-2005 - Merson is talking a good game. He has been to the top and seen it all. Doubts over his suitability for the job are around. He has what seems to be a good network of coaches with Osborn, Walker and Onura lending a hand.} 

^{Behind the scenes Verdict - 00-01 - Ray is a legend and had the experience.} 

 

GOALKEEPERS

^{2000-2001 - We had Jim Walker who was voted the Divisions best Goalkeeper, there isn't much more to say.} 

^{2004-2005 - has us entering the season with two new goalkeepers who don't have glowing reputations. Then again, did anyone know who Jim Walker was when he first joined the Club?}

^{Goalkeeping Verdict - 00-01 - No Jimmy this time.}

 

FULL BACKS

^{2000-2001 - Aranalde and Brightwell were our full backs . Zigor was new to English Football while Brightwell had seen it all before. Both coped with rigors of Division 2 Football. Both had good relationships with the wingers they played with.}

^{2004-2005 - We start the season off with a more experienced Zigor Aranalde and Darren Bazeley. There is no doubting that Zigor is a better player than he was last time around. Is Darren Bazeley better than Ian Brightwell? Coming forward yes. Defensively no. This squad does have Taylor, Wright and Wrack for cover which makes it stronger than 00-01.} 

^{Full Back Verdict - The 2004-2005 Squad shades it.}

 

CENTRAL DEFENCE

^{2000-2001 - We had Tilson, Barras and Roper. Roper only managed 20 starts, while Tilson and Barras both made over 30. This was an experienced back line who had played all of it's football in the lower divisions. They new every trick in the trade and were built for Lower League Football.}

^{2004-2005 - Roper, Emblen and Bennett are our 3 main Central Defenders for the start of the season. Roper and Emblen are vastly experienced and proved they could cope in Division 1. Bennett is a novice without a First Team Start under his belt. This defence has the quality, but lacks depth and Division 2 know how.}

^{Central Defence Verdict - Dead Heat - 2004-2005 would edge it if they had a proven 3rd man.}

 

OUT WIDE

^{2000-2001 - Wrack, Hall, Matias, Gadsby - all had good games out wide for the Saddlers. Matias and Hall were the main choices. Matias was a revelation down the left proving to be one of our main goal getters. This side oozed quality in wide positions. Hall and Matias gave great service to Leitao, Goodman, Angell and Byfield.}

^{2004-2005 - This side lacks wide men. Apart from the improved Darren Wrack and the inexperienced Mark Wright it doesn't really have anyone who you would say is a natural winger. Daryl Taylor and Ryan Willetts are in reserve, but don't match up to Wrack and Gadsby who were second choice last time.} 

^{Wide Men Verdict - 2000-2001 by a mile.} 

 

CENTRAL MIDFIELD

^{2000-2001 - This  midfield was chopped and changed a great deal. Tom Bennett was the main stay along with Gabor Bukran. They were aided by Dean Keates and Fitzroy Simpson. We had an energetic hard working midfield who used the ball well. They were sometimes lacking on the creative side of things.} 

^{2004-2005 - Osborn, Merson, Corica, Kris Taylor and Michael Standing are fine passers of the ball. We certainly have more depth than we did in 2000-2001, but we still lack variety. This team doesn't have a natural ball winner or blood and guts midfielder. Would this midfield beat the old one in a midfield scrap - maybe not - but they are a different class when it comes to looking at them as "footballers".} 

^{Central Midfield Verdict - 2004-2005 because of strength & depth in that part of the squad.} 

 

UP FRONT

^{2000-2001 - Have we ever had a better stable of strikers? Leitao, Byfield, Angell and Goodman? The first 3 all got in to double figures, while the quality of Goodman gave us that extra edge in the final third. Pace , power   movement , experience and the element of surprise (Jorge Leitao) - This selection of strikers had it all.}

^{2004-2005 - This squad has a selection of unproven strikers. Atieno, Fryatt and Birch - none of these has produced the goods for the first team  Leitao is still around and we should remain hopeful that he can repeat his 21 goal haul again this year. Onura isn't expected to play regulary.}

^{Up Front Verdict - 2000-2001 - On paper anyway. Lets hope 04-05 can make us think again.}

 

So the final score as we see it...

2000-2001	4
2004-2005	3

Do you agree? Which squad was stronger? Is it right to compare? Should we be judging before we have seen them play? Will Merse emulate Graydon?

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