Well it has been a long hard season and we are now into the home stretch. I normally upload my May issue after the last match of the season, but a couple of factors have made me upload on the first of the month.
Firstly our likely play-off involvement. Admittedly, it is still there for us to grab and hopefully we can pull off another classic Carlisle miracle next weekend and still make it up through the automatic places, because with a second red card today, our defence is weakened now as well as our attack. However, it is no longer only in our own hands. We need other results to go our way now, and that is never a good situation.
So, after being in such a strong position a month ago, what happened? Fatigue, suspension and injuries have been the main factors in our decline during April.
As for signing/loan players, we can never be sure who they were trying to bring in that didn't come for unknown reasons. Ward has been building upon a squad built and shaped by others. The proof will come over the summer, once Ward is in the "free market" and using whatever budget is allocated to him. Let us remember a simple axiom - always give a manager one full season to make their impact. I'll reserve my full judgement of John Ward until the end of the 2008-2009 season.
I still say we have a young and improving squad, underpinned by a good and improving youth system. Both of these factors will aid our position next season, if we go up, and if we can hold onto our best players. We will need a bigger squad next season (whichever tier we are in) and although a few weeks back I thought two or three additional players would suffice, I too now think that we need five or six.
I decided to put up a page for our ill-fated trip to Millwall for the penultimate match of the season.
Seriously though, before we all go off wringing our hands and wailing to the sky, let us just remember our roller coaster ride over the last two decades. In particular, remember the troughs and how low we felt at those times. Be thankful that we still have a club to support, and that we are continuing to finish higher and higher in the pyramid.
At this time, perhaps it is right that we should be reminded of this by the similar potential plights facing other teams, such as Gretna on our own doorstep, and Rotherham United (amongst others) further afield. I recommend looking at these You-Tube listings by Rotherham United fans:
Whilst I am no fan of these other clubs, I wouldn't wish for them to disappear. There is only one club I would be happy to see disappear, and that is MK Dons (Franchise United). I think it was disgusting that this was allowed to happen to the true Wimbledon fans, and it must never be allowed to happen again. I would love to see MK Dons wiped from the footballing map.
There has been much made of the 15 point deduction this season by Leeds United, its fans, employees and the Football League. However, for me it was a relatively simple case. The Football League is in effect a private members club. As such, it is entirely within its rights to decide on whatever penalties and fines it sees fit for its members.
Leeds United claimed that this deduction was agreed to under duress and that their right to trade would have been affected if they had not agreed to it. Sorry, but they could have just as easily traded in Tier 5 (the Conference). Many people have suggested that rather than the 15 point deduction, the League should just have relegated Leeds another tier or two.
It was also commented that it is unfair to punish the "new Leeds United" for the sins of the old one. However, the club did gain advantage this season by wiping the debt slate clear whilst still having in place infrastructure (including players) acquired during the previous years.
When all was said and done (and it has been), the arbitration panel deliberated and decreed that Leeds United should not get any points. In my view, this was the correct decision.
| RIOA Index |
Editorials | Email the webmaster |