Benjisheps14
Member
With the window now shut, how do us Exewebbers feel the season will play out?
Although to some degree I have some of the same feelings as I did last year at the end of January, I still feel we are in a better place than this time last season. Last year I was really disappointed with our business (Robbie Wilmott as a last minute signing) and firmly believed that it would cost us making the playoffs which it ultimately did.
Last year once the window closed we only really had one forward in Bowman that MT had any faith in. At the time we also had two of our most potent attacking threats in Randall and Williams out injured for a significant amount of time. This and our inability to bring in some additional fire power saw us sadly fade away.
I know we probably would have all liked at least one more signing, and it is easy to be envious and possibly even feel a little flat looking at some of the business our rivals have been able to pull off today. However; I do still feel we have a much better chance of having a decent end to the season than we did last year.
MT acted quickly to bring in Zanzala and then has been extremely unlucky with him picking up an injury which meant we have now had to bring in another attacking option in Phillips to replace him while he is out injured. This probably hindered us being able to bring in any additional reinforcements and ultimately we probably had to offload a senior player on loan in order to make this happen. However; the fact that we have Nombe coming back soon, Phillips is ready to play from the onset, and reading between the lines it seems that the Zanzala injury is not season ending, we should still have a good amount of firepower heading into the run-in.
Added to the fact that we seem to be getting everyone back to full fitness (with Hartridge already back in full training) and the fact that Stubbs is now fit and paying well, as well as the emergence of Diabete the squad certainly seems stronger than it was a couple of months ago.
Although I know some will disagree, I give credit to the club for turning down bids for our players this window which at least gives MT the chance to really attack the 2nd half of the season unlike some seasons past. MJ and Key may have not been at their best in the past few weeks, but hopefully now the window has closed we will see them get back to their earlier season form which will be hugely important.
I still don't think our business has been good enough to make top 3, (hope I am wrong here) especially seeing who other clubs have been able to sign not only today but this window in general. Mansfield are absolutely going for it, as are Tranmere, Port Vale, and to be fair Swindon have pulled off some excellent loan signings as well.
Although they are still outside the playoffs I expect Bradford and Salford to still have a strong finish which means it will be a battle to make the playoffs in my opinion. If we can get and keep fit the important players in our squad I still think we have enough to push to make the playoffs, but I think there will be some tense and nervy moments along the way. I think this window has really shown what we are up against financially when these clubs are able to make the type and amount of signings they have been able to make. However; hopefully our youthful settled squad can really come together and push on, especially with the backing of the fans behind them which they will need from now till the end of the season more than ever.
It's hopefully going to be an exciting 2nd half of the season and fingers crossed MT and the boys are able to deliver!
Although to some degree I have some of the same feelings as I did last year at the end of January, I still feel we are in a better place than this time last season. Last year I was really disappointed with our business (Robbie Wilmott as a last minute signing) and firmly believed that it would cost us making the playoffs which it ultimately did.
Last year once the window closed we only really had one forward in Bowman that MT had any faith in. At the time we also had two of our most potent attacking threats in Randall and Williams out injured for a significant amount of time. This and our inability to bring in some additional fire power saw us sadly fade away.
I know we probably would have all liked at least one more signing, and it is easy to be envious and possibly even feel a little flat looking at some of the business our rivals have been able to pull off today. However; I do still feel we have a much better chance of having a decent end to the season than we did last year.
MT acted quickly to bring in Zanzala and then has been extremely unlucky with him picking up an injury which meant we have now had to bring in another attacking option in Phillips to replace him while he is out injured. This probably hindered us being able to bring in any additional reinforcements and ultimately we probably had to offload a senior player on loan in order to make this happen. However; the fact that we have Nombe coming back soon, Phillips is ready to play from the onset, and reading between the lines it seems that the Zanzala injury is not season ending, we should still have a good amount of firepower heading into the run-in.
Added to the fact that we seem to be getting everyone back to full fitness (with Hartridge already back in full training) and the fact that Stubbs is now fit and paying well, as well as the emergence of Diabete the squad certainly seems stronger than it was a couple of months ago.
Although I know some will disagree, I give credit to the club for turning down bids for our players this window which at least gives MT the chance to really attack the 2nd half of the season unlike some seasons past. MJ and Key may have not been at their best in the past few weeks, but hopefully now the window has closed we will see them get back to their earlier season form which will be hugely important.
I still don't think our business has been good enough to make top 3, (hope I am wrong here) especially seeing who other clubs have been able to sign not only today but this window in general. Mansfield are absolutely going for it, as are Tranmere, Port Vale, and to be fair Swindon have pulled off some excellent loan signings as well.
Although they are still outside the playoffs I expect Bradford and Salford to still have a strong finish which means it will be a battle to make the playoffs in my opinion. If we can get and keep fit the important players in our squad I still think we have enough to push to make the playoffs, but I think there will be some tense and nervy moments along the way. I think this window has really shown what we are up against financially when these clubs are able to make the type and amount of signings they have been able to make. However; hopefully our youthful settled squad can really come together and push on, especially with the backing of the fans behind them which they will need from now till the end of the season more than ever.
It's hopefully going to be an exciting 2nd half of the season and fingers crossed MT and the boys are able to deliver!