Following Saturdays
disappointing defeat to Exeter, Adam Murray and his squad will no
doubt have been cursing their luck. Despite dominating the game for
large periods, individual errors and poor finishing cost the Stags
all three points. And yet even though my team had managed to throw
away all three points in the final fifteen minutes of the game, I was
experiencing a peculiar feeling as I trudged through the park back to
the car. That feeling was, for the first time in a long time, coming
away from a Mansfield Town game having enjoyed the product on
display. It surprised me somewhat as Murray was not high on my list
of possible replacements for Paul Cox. I actually felt like I had
observed the League football I recall so vividly from ten years ago.
This raises the
question, how could I enjoy a game that my team had failed to win and
as a result are now one point away from falling into the relegation
zone? Well, I would largely attribute this to the lack of football
played under the previous regime, which has of course been well
publicised and much maligned. I have missed the sight of four at the
back. I have missed the sight of two wingers who are not afraid to
attack the opposition full back. I have missed the team retaining
possession without making it look like the hardest thing in the
world. I have missed playing with two relatively mobile strikers. But
the biggest aspect I missed was the team creating chances. Every time
we went forward on Saturday, we looked like scoring. I overheard one
of the old gents sitting behind me say 'someone is in for a battering
sooner or later'. For what it's worth, I agree with him.
'Halt!' I hear you say.
Entertainment is all well and good, but that isn't going to keep us
up. We could lose every game 4-3 until the end of the season and I am
sure it would be engaging fare, but we would be again plying our
trade down in the league we dare not mention. Quite right, all the
passing and focus on attacking is utterly meaningless if it does not
lead to three points. Under Cox, although nothing is ever guaranteed,
it is my opinion that we would have stayed up, probably somewhere
between fifteenth and eighteenth. We would have done it the Paul Cox
way, playing the percentages, kick it long, three at the back, no
wingers, no flair, no freedom for the players to express themselves.
He may even have prevented the third goal on Saturday, because I
don't think Riley would have attempted to pass that ball back to
Smith with Cox in charge. If it was safe, mid-table football you
were looking for, Cox was your man.
What is clear to see
though since Murray has taken charge is an effort to improve. The
team had gone stale under Cox, there were no signs of enhancement
under his tenure in the Football League. Murray is trying to do
develop a style of play which is clear to see, namely play from the
back, occasionally mix it up, but focus on trying to win rather than
not losing. I think it is only fair to judge him on the last two
games, where he has fielded 'his own team' if you like. Granted, we
have picked up zero points from those games, and the first half at
Burton was largely forgettable, but I think the team has shown us
enough to ability to believe we will not be relegated. As I said in
my match report, if we had taken one fifth of the attempts on goal,
the most we have had in any league game this season I am led to
believe, we would have won the game. One fifth of those chances fell
to Billy Kee, who converted one, but missed at least three clear
chances. His conversion rate can only improve with match fitness. You
only have to look at Liverpool last season to see that a 'we'll score
more than you approach' can work. Also, the five goals conceded in
the last two games were highly preventable (four from set pieces, one
error leading to a penalty). These are problems that can be ironed
out on the training ground. Gaging the reaction of players on social
media, they are, rightly or wrongly, looking up the table rather than
over their shoulder. I can only infer from the players perceptions
that they believe the squad has the capability to turn the situation
around.
Only time will tell
whether the on-field promise will be converted into points on the
board, but for the time being Adam Murray definitely has my backing
as I recognise what he is striving for. I hope at the end of the
season myself and the other people who wanted rid of Paul Cox, whilst
at the same time supporting the appointment of Adam Murray, are not
left tucking into a humble pie on a Gateshead terrace next September.
Comments
Post a Comment