A third successive win at Stevenage on Easter Monday has propelled
City into the top half of the table and left even the most realistic and pessimistic
of fans wondering what might have been. I
personally don’t think it’s as simple as that and will explain more in my end
of season review, but no-one can deny that the last dozen games has been an
enjoyable and productive run of results, the like of which we’ve not had in
more than five years.
With two games to go it would be great for the likes of Bobby
Reid, Joe Bryan, Liam Kelly and Wes Burns to be given their chance to shine in
a positive, confident team, ahead of perhaps the likes of Barnett for instance
who I can’t imagine is a viable option in the summer, or even Wade Elliott who
has surely done enough to prove himself worth a deal, whilst Stephen Pearson
has already talked of the importance for his future of the next 180 minutes.
Yet another relegation contender (how huge would all these games
had been without this run of results?!) arrive at Ashton Gate on Saturday
desperate for at least a point to help their cause and with Crewe Alexandra,
you can at least be assured you’re likely to get a decent game of football to
watch.
Stu Radnedge caught up with journalism student Nat Holland, to get
the low-down on the Railwaymen’s battle against the drop:
You’re
just a single point above the bottom four with games to come away at City and
home against Preston. How difficult could these final two games be?
The possible relegation is definitely
looming close, but we have that one point to keep us above and you're right
Bristol City and Preston are two very difficult games in this league, but I
think every game is a tough one this year.
How difficult a challenge do you believe
it will be obtaining a win in Bristol, bearing in mind we’ve only lost one in
ten and it’s our final home game of the season?
Our away form recently has been quite
good with wins at Gillingham, Crawley and Shrewsbury, as well as the Walsall
draw, so it will put us in good preparation for the trip to Ashton Gate.
However it will still be a tough game even although City have nothing to play
for. Three points will be priority but I
believe the other teams around us will continue to slip up so maybe a draw will
be alright on the day.
How would you describe Crewe’s season in
three words, with an explanation for each answer?
Frustrating - With all the problems from pre-season seemingly settled in November,
it’s frustrating that, with the players we have, we haven't put a run of good
form together and secured safety earlier in the season.
Transitional - We have lost some big
players in recent years, (Ashley Westwood, Nick Powell, Luke Murphy) and Steve
Davis signed a lot of players, who haven't learned their trade with the club. It
was always going to take time for the signings to settle, but many of them haven’t
settled at all.
Lee Molyneux and Thierry
Audel are big examples of this, going out on loan to Accrington and Lincoln
respectively. Saying that, after a shaky start, Anthony Grant has turned into a
contender for player of the season.
Tense - We have been blessed with two
great seasons prior to this campaign but we never do anything the easy way, so
a tense finish to the season keeps the fans interested (if not worried) at
least.
If you beat the drop, can you see major
changes to ensure survival next season? If so, what changes are required?
No, I don't think major changes are needed.
Steve Davis is still a top class manager
and we do have a very competitive squad on their day, but maybe it’s time for a
few players to move on. If we can keep
Matt Tootle and tempt Chuks Aneke to stay, then nurture the talents of Liam
Nolan, Billy Waters, Jon Guthrie, Ben Garratt and Ryan Colclough, then I think
we can aim to finish mid-table next year.
City's transformation has been somewhat
miraculous since Cotterill took over – as an outsider, do you have any views on
why this is?
I don't really know. Some managers just work well with certain
clubs. I have always liked Cotterill, he has managed some good sides at all
levels and he knows and understands the lower leagues. If he can get City
promoted back to the Championship next season, he will write himself into the
history books.
A lot of City fans were clearly impressed
by Luke Freeman's performance for Stevenage on Easter Monday – which opposition
players have you seen whom you would like to see Crewe gaffer Steve Davis sign
in the summer?
There are a lot of good players in League
One this season. We have missed a goal scorer this year so Sam Baldock would
have been great in South Cheshire this year!
Rotherham's Kieran Agard and
Freddie Sears have both caught my eye, Agard due to his tenacity and finishing,
whilst Sears' was head and shoulders above the rest of the Colchester side on
Monday. Orient's Moses Odubajo is a
tricky winger as well and would look very at home at Gresty Road.
What do
you predict the score will be on Saturday?
Ideally a
win would be amazing so my heart is saying a 3-1 win with Grant, Ellis and
Pogba all scoring. However, taking in form and league position, I suspect City
may just pinch it 1-0.
My thanks to Stu and to Nat for taking time out of his
revision for the answers.
COYR!
The Exiled Robin
Follow me on Twitter ---'Like' me on Facebook
http://exiledrobin.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/theciderdiaries --- www.twitter.com/theciderdiaries
www.facebook.com/theciderdiaries --- www.twitter.com/theciderdiaries
Comments
Post a Comment