03-01-2019, 00:50
The problem is, Matt, when you talk about ‘fans` opinions’, which ones are you talking about? If you ask half a dozen fans what their opinions are on any given subject, you`ll very often get a dozen different answers. By definition, any opinion is going to be highly subjective. (But if you really think there should be a fanzine, Matt, then get cracking!)
At the end of the season it will be the total points on the board that count and it won`t matter whether they come from wins or draws or in what proportion. The fact is that if we get more points than the team in 21st place we stay up; if we don`t we go down. Having seen a fair number of those 13 draws, including this last one, I can honestly say that we deserved to win more of them than we deserved to lose; although there were some of the latter, I admit. Solihull are a top-four side and I don`t think there was a lot to choose between the teams in the second half; certainly, we came closer to winning it than they did.
That being so, I`m not as worried as you seem to be – although I am concerned, obviously. I can`t be anything else whilst we`re in the drop zone, but I genuinely think that once we get our players all fit again and if we keep creating chances the way we have started to do this last couple of games we should be okay. My aspirations don`t go as high as the play-offs or even mid-table at the moment; 20th place would be acceptable (although not kind on the nerves).
My biggest concern at the moment is over how long we can keep Alex Kimowya. The difference he made when he came on for the second half on Tuesday was staggering. (Doesn`t his loan period expire in a couple of weeks? I`d love to be able to keep him until the end of the season.)
Whether we give Pembers more time in the job or appoint someone else depends, of course, on who the ‘someone’ is and even if they come with gilt-edged credentials and a proven track-record there`s still no guarantee that they`ll be successful. I thought Martin Allen was supremely qualified on both of those counts, but it still didn`t work out. JP seems to be doing okay, but says he doesn`t want the job long-term so personally I`d stick with him for a while longer – until the end of the season if he can be persuaded - and give ourselves time to look around for another manager if he doesn`t change his mind. The players showed plenty of spirit again on Tuesday and seem to be playing for him, so where`s the panic? Well, apart from the league table, that is.
At the end of the season it will be the total points on the board that count and it won`t matter whether they come from wins or draws or in what proportion. The fact is that if we get more points than the team in 21st place we stay up; if we don`t we go down. Having seen a fair number of those 13 draws, including this last one, I can honestly say that we deserved to win more of them than we deserved to lose; although there were some of the latter, I admit. Solihull are a top-four side and I don`t think there was a lot to choose between the teams in the second half; certainly, we came closer to winning it than they did.
That being so, I`m not as worried as you seem to be – although I am concerned, obviously. I can`t be anything else whilst we`re in the drop zone, but I genuinely think that once we get our players all fit again and if we keep creating chances the way we have started to do this last couple of games we should be okay. My aspirations don`t go as high as the play-offs or even mid-table at the moment; 20th place would be acceptable (although not kind on the nerves).
My biggest concern at the moment is over how long we can keep Alex Kimowya. The difference he made when he came on for the second half on Tuesday was staggering. (Doesn`t his loan period expire in a couple of weeks? I`d love to be able to keep him until the end of the season.)
Whether we give Pembers more time in the job or appoint someone else depends, of course, on who the ‘someone’ is and even if they come with gilt-edged credentials and a proven track-record there`s still no guarantee that they`ll be successful. I thought Martin Allen was supremely qualified on both of those counts, but it still didn`t work out. JP seems to be doing okay, but says he doesn`t want the job long-term so personally I`d stick with him for a while longer – until the end of the season if he can be persuaded - and give ourselves time to look around for another manager if he doesn`t change his mind. The players showed plenty of spirit again on Tuesday and seem to be playing for him, so where`s the panic? Well, apart from the league table, that is.