2015/16 mid-season report

[thesecondjack]

Well we are now into 2016 and I hope it's a good one for you all, and for the club. I thought it'd be a good time to have a look at the first half of the season. Sorry, this is a bit of a long one!


In the league:

Total Games: 21	Home Games: 10	Away Games: 11
Total Won: 7	Home Won: 4	Away Won: 3
Total Draw: 4	Home Draw: 2	Away Draw: 2
Total Lost: 10	Home Lost: 4	Away Lost: 6
Total Points: 25	Home Points: 14	Away Points: 11
Total Goal Difference: -5	Home Goal Difference: +1	Away Goal Difference: -6

Highest League Attendance: 726 Lowest: 307 Average: 583

A season of a few highs, and many lows so far, but there's reason to be positive at the halfway mark.

At the start of the season, bar a few top performances, we were terrible. The summer signings of Rowe, Campion, Nash, Lloyd-Weston and McDonald for whatever reason weren't working, and returning city players were struggling to find form, even after setting themselves some very ambitious goals for the season. None mentioned above are with us now, having moved on to other clubs, Rowe and Campion joined a big club, Elvins nearly followed suit before realising Telford are terrible deciding work commitments would get in the way. Nash duel registered with Banbury, McDonald moved to Corby on loan and Lloyd Weston moved to the newly made Hereford FC.

Keeper James Severn was with us for a short spell before a big move to Ross County came along, he'll probably be remembered for letting in an overhead goal from the opposition keeper at Holbeach (yup, that's been seen nearly a million times)

In came the new recruits, who it has to be said, could be considered old recruits, due to their age. Shaun Harrad, Lee Hughes and Deon Burton all bolstered our attacking force, while the the back line was improved with ex-kiddy player Tom Sharpe and the ever popular 'Tommaldinho' aka Wayne Thomas. Results improved somewhat, and we're starting to move back up the league.

Geddes moved back to Stourbridge after struggling to recreate the brilliant form of last season, a decision which surely seems to have divided opinion among us.

We had another cup run, getting to the first round this time, and a trip to Sheffield United, it was arguably the hardest opposition we could get. The cup fans came out and gave us a huge voice (of sorts), but sadly the dream wasn't to be, suspensions to Geddes and Hughes meant we were lacking creativity going forward, and we lost the game 3-0. The lads didn't disgrace themselves against much higher opposition, and took more fans then most league 1 clubs take to Brammal Lane.


Should we replicate our form from the first 21 games point for point, we'll end up on 50 points, 10 less then last season, but in a position that should keep us in the league.
I think form has improved, and so has the squad, so I'm going to guess we'll get to 57 points, and be a team right in the middle of the league.

My high from the season so far has to be going to Sheffield. We may have lost, and we may have had some unfortunate events go on in our part of the ground, but it's a rare opportunity for our club to do well in the cup, I soaked up every moment of it. Low point was probably Nuneaton at home. I still feel like we were cheated of the game, the ref was clueless. Still, a chance to set the score right in February eh!

What are your highs and lows of the season so far? Perhaps more interestingly, how many points do you think we'll have by the end of the season?

[thatloudbloke]

thanks thesecondjack... great report, i like the time you spent adding the links to this, i have lots of highs so far, going to the pre season games & beating Redditch in the Worcestershire Senior Cup, Holbeach, & Shefield in the FA Cup, Gloucester & Solihull in the league, the latter having a natter with Troy Deeney not the result... lows so far are Tamworth & as you Nuneaton, again i would like to see reversals in future games... my other low is not the team but the lack of support from Worcester people except in the FA Cup & their behaviour also the match officials lack of consistency...
lets start the new year of to a great start & a win tomorrow...

[jonnyred]

Gateshead away was a 'magic trip' and the performance took the hardcore 132 loyal City fans back to the wondrous moments of last seasons run. I'd say that was also the last time we saw Geddes really buzzing in the blue and white stripes and that usually meant the rest of the team would perk up around him..i'll certainly miss him, a part of me hopes the door might be open for a return still (if Danny Glover managed to wangle a return then surely Sean would!!!!!).

[thesecondjack]

Jan 1, 2016 18:22:23 GMT jonnyred said:

Gateshead away was a 'magic trip' and the performance took the hardcore 132 loyal City fans back to the wondrous moments of last seasons run. I'd say that was also the last time we saw Geddes really buzzing in the blue and white stripes and that usually meant the rest of the team would perk up around him..i'll certainly miss him, a part of me hopes the door might be open for a return still (if Danny Glover managed to wangle a return then surely Sean would!!!!!).

I very nearly said Gateshead was my main high, the team played brilliantly, them coming over and celebrating with us was great to see, thought it was particularly funny of Matt Gardiner to do a quick sprint on the athletics track too!! I did find the group of teenagers sat in front of me for the game a bit annoying though, all were busy checking the premier league scores on their phones, not one of them celebrated either of our goals.

[crosscountrymark]

We had a poor start to season, with the new signings failing to make the impact we needed and the poor discipline which we had around seven players sent off and all the suspension which disrupted the side. Carl and Matt had to act to address the problems in the central defensive area and brought in Tom Sharpe and Wayne Thomas to shore up our defence, up front we had problems scoring and recruited Deon Burton and Lee Hughes and things have improved. We have had good run in the FA cup and the Trophy, with my favourite being the game at Gateshead, a good performance and excellent vocal support from the city faithful and all the players and managers celebrating with the supports. I personally think we have a decent squad and should be moving up the table in the new year, starting with three points tomorrow against Gloucester City. The main positives this season have been new signings Alex Gudger , Sam Minihian, and Tom Sharpe who have all had a impressive start in their first season at the club. The low points are all the sending offs early in the season which cost us when we were already a struggling side, also the lack of support at our home games which must be a worry to our board for the future of the club. Happy New Year to all the City Faithful supporters.

[thesecondjack]

Jan 1, 2016 23:25:24 GMT crosscountrymark said:

the lack of support at our home games which must be a worry to our board for the future of the club.

I thought that too, should the 583 average we've had so far this season be a fair reflection on the season as a whole, it doesn't sound brilliant... BUT, I just had a look, last seasons average attendance was 531 (it was 553 after 10 home games) so we look decent in comparison. Remember we've still got some games with what should have an above average attendance to come, Gloucester, FCUoM, Stockport and a promotion chasing Solihull Moors.

[simples]

Highlight for me was the win over Solihull Moors in the cup replay, cracking game with both teams playing well and it was the Moors first defeat.

I wasn't at Gateshead but followed the game on the radio, the commentary painted a picture of their keeper standing between the City and a convincing win against higher graded opposition and yet it took a fantastic save right at the end to deny the home side a draw - such is football.
As for the Sheffield game I still feel we could have done better, but not to be. United had a bit more time on the ball than perhaps they are used to but that said it was only in the last 10 minutes that they sealed the win. If only we could have converted the chance that flashed across the face of goal.

There we have it a few what ifs and if only's and hopefully we can continue to compete.

[auldreekie]

Happy New Year and lang may yer lum reek!

Thanks for the mid-season report. It must be frustrating for the management team to have spent time trailing players in the close season to try and sign them and then when having done so to see that for whatever reason it does not work out. However, Carl and Matt have recognised the problems early and just dealt with it immediately. The trick – or a better word is “skill” – is knowing when to do that. Carl & Matt have that skill many do not. It is also worth mentioning how the numerous new recruits have quickly fitted into the dressing room and on the pitch. All things considered to be in the current league position in what is effectively the top-level of semi-professional football is a good mid-season position. I reckon City could end up with 60 points – same as last year – given a more settled team in the second half of the season that is capable of having one good run of results. 

The early season suspensions had a big effect on player availability and team selection. It would be interesting to know how many red/yellow cards were given for incidents in the rough and tumble of the game and those for backchat, etc.

[Tim Munslow]

Highlight for me was also the last-gasp win against Solihull Moors: what a humdinger of a match.

The most worrying aspect of our season is the obvious one - lack of goals: only Telford and (ironically!) Gloucester have scored fewer. We need to address that situation. With all their football league experience up front neither Harrad nor Vincent look like scoring to me. We need players with the enthusiasm that Gloucester's young forwards displayed on Saturday last.

[thesecondjack]

Lack of goals is an issue, one we've had for a few years now really. My problem is, I don't really know how we could fix it! A young striker would be good, but they'd probably struggle to get a run of games in a central position ahead of Hughes and Burton.

[crosscountrymark]

Totally agree with the lack of goals for several seasons and its only the defence that is keeping us where are in the league, if not we would in a relegation battle. Both Lee Hughes and Deon Burton do well when they play, but we struggled when Lee Hughes is missing from the team and miss his goals. We have no real support for our two forwards with only Sean Harrod and Ashley Vincent who have shown very little this season and should be moved on to bring in a forward who play in the central role. Our midfield who sit to deep and leaves a big gap between them and the front players and do not contribute to the goal tally. Our main goal threat comes from the flanks from Daniel Nti and Tristian Dunkley, I am not keen on this swopping of wings , which ends up with Nti running down the wing and cannot cross with left foot so has to check back on to right foot. We need to work on our set plays, getting better delivery into the box and getting our two centre backs up in the box, our corners lack variety and cannot remember the last time I have seen a short corner. We have a decent squad and should be doing better than our lowly league position, a poor start to the season caused by some of the new signings not coming off and had to bring in experienced players to address the problems and the discipline problems which are still going on. We cannot afford many slip ups in the league to avoid a relegation battle, I am confident our joint managers will get us back on track after the Gloucester home defeat.