Let Us Entertain You.......?

Kevin Keegan used to say "If they score 3, we'll score 4" and it's certainly a thought train that we seem to be running with at the moment. Scoring goals is looking likely all the time based on the opening games of the season but on the same footing, so is conceding them. This to be is a bigger concern than anything we have at this moment in time.

Now before I make the next point I want to make it clear that in terms of ability there is no comparison between the side that we have now and the misfits that we had in August last year but I also remember comments at the time of "Let's not worry we will score goals so conceding them is not a problem" and we have the same attitude at the moment amongst the fan base. I will accept at this point that the likes of Trundle, Thomas and Britton are always likely to score more than the Watkin, Williams and Reids of this world.

However (and there always is a however) I will give you a cast iron guarantee that we will not score a minimum of 3 goals on every game that we play. As much as I would like to see it happen, it won't. I do believe that the side we have will humiliate some sides before the season is out and I would even go as far as to say that at some stage I think we will find the club league record of 8 under threat against someone. That aside though, we do need to tighten up at the back if we really want to build a promotion winning season which is in our grasp even at this early stage.

This is where I come onto my belief that experience is what we need. The reason I plump for that is that experience tends to breed confidence as the five man unit at the back is sure that each and every one of them has the experience to know what they are doing. Go back to the championship season and look at the number of times that we lined up with the same 5 at the back and realise why we were so tight. I don't want us turning into Hollins drab 1-0 side by any means but 3-0 and 4-0 sounds better than 4-2 and 4-3? Well, it's certainly easier on the old ticker anyway that much I do know.

Watching a game like the travelling Jack Army saw at Whaddon Road is a great spectacle for all concerned and one that we can talk about now but I do wonder what the reaction would have been at the moment had we lost 2-4 and 3-4 in our opening two games rather than the opposite. And, to be fair, that could easily have happened. Would we quite be so blasé about our defence on that basis? Somehow, I doubt it.

So it's experience I would turn to. Brian Murphy has a great future ahead of him but at the moment I think we need an old head in goals and turn to Roger. There should be no reason for this to dent Murphy's confidence not if it is handled correctly. I think we need an addition to the back line and again an experienced one. Not an 18 year old from West Ham - that again is one to bring in and nurture - but one that knows what the football league is all about and how to have the opposition 'in his pocket' Put that alongside a Kris O'Leary, Lee Jenkins and Leon Hylton and you have a defence that all of a sudden looks stronger and allows us some confidence that we won't concede many. Then we can go up and score our 1/2/3/4/5 (delete as applicable) goals knowing that if the worst came to the worse then one would quite probably be enough.

What is pleasing is that we don't sit on leads (well we didn't against Bury) and we are looking for more goals and as someone posted on the Message Board earlier we have had more shots on target in the two games (25) than any other side in the Nationwide League. And with a 33% (ish) conversion rate long may that continue. If we can do that and then tighten up the defence the money I have sitting with SportingOdds.com on us to win the title is looking a pretty safe bet at this moment in time!

We've made a very encouraging start to the season and rightly so people are enjoying it but let's keep our feet on the ground and realise where we need to strengthen the side - I'm sure Brian Flynn recognises this?

And for the record - put your money on us scoring 5 on Friday against Boston - I have a feeling on this one!

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