Half – Term Report 2006/2007 season

Here we are, half way through the season, sitting in second place in the league. Is there anyone out there who, hand on heart, is disappointed with the situation? Yes, we all are because we want to be top of the league, we want to be crowned Champions and we want to play (o.k. support) at a higher level. If our home record was as good as Bristol City’s we would be 8 points clear at the top. If Andy Keoghs chip had gone in off the post on the opening day etc… etc… We want to win every game and, at the moment, we do believe before each and every game that we will win. However, at the start of the season we would have accepted second place at the mid-way point.

So, how did we get to where we are?

Saturday, August 5th. Away to Bristol City. A new season, bringing with it a lot of excitement. At last a new goalkeeper, a highly talented full-back (more of that later!) and the return of a fit-again Lee Ridley. Many followers did not expect a win at Ashton Gate, but wanted a good performance against a team tipped for promotion. That’s exactly what we got.

After 5 games we had lost away twice and drawn at home 3 times. We were 20th in the table. Laws Out was the chant from many. Was it going to be a struggle all season?

8 games later we were 3rd in the table after 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. This run culminated in a superb performance, live on Sky, with a 4-0 win at Forest.

Following a dismal performance at home to Brighton a lot of discussion took place as to whether or not the wheels had come off. However, we bounced back with 5 wins and 2 draws during the disruption of “will he, won’t he” with BL & Sheffield Wednesday, including a draw in Nigel Adkins first game in charge at Cheltenham in the cup. This was followed by The Irons best performance of the season at Yeovil, a magnificent 2-0 win.

We then lost at home again, this time to Blackpool. Was this the start of our usual festive demise? Not on this occasion, as we won our next 2 games despite not performing well.

So, here we are at the end of December with one last game to be played in 2006, at home to Bournemouth. We are second, with the best away record and the best goal difference in the division.

Are we going up? I hope so, and deep down I think it might be our year.

What I do find interesting is the differing opinions of supporters as to how we got here and how we maintain it until the end of the season. There has not been one single player who has escaped criticism this season.

The arrival of a new goalkeeper was welcomed by all. Personally, I think he has been a revelation and has improved the defence, not only with his shot stopping but also with the confidence he gives them by knowing they can rely on him if they are under pressure. However, a few fans believe he is susceptible to crosses, and have voiced their opinions too.

Lee Ridley was welcomed back with open arms by many who saw him as someone who could help shore up our leaky defence. Likewise, the signing of Mulligan. Both have had chances but have not taken them. Williams has performed fairly consistently, but views on his capabilities are extreme – premiership player or first division midfielder, or even winger!!

Crosby & Foster have both been imperious on occasion, but have made glaring errors, and been pulled up for it. Byrne causes long discussions whatever he does, but no-one can doubt his commitment to the cause – and should he play at centre-back? Andy Butler, the fans favourite. Where is he? Can he fight his way back in. We all hope so, but it is not looking too promising at the moment.

Richard Hinds has played almost everywhere. For me, he has been the man of the season so far, although he has been a little off colour the last couple of weeks. I would pick out his performance against Yeovil as the best individual performance since Beagrie at Exeter in a 4-0 win in 2002.

Clevelend – probably the most talked about player in the squad. Would he be more effective with better service or not. The debate goes on. Bara is struggling to keep consistency with so many games. Is he a year too old or is it the lack of support around him? Matt Sparrow has made a few people eat their words with his performances to date, although a spell on the left wing never did him any good. Hurry back. Jim Goodwin got injured in the first game of the season and hasn’t done much since his return to convince us he has a long-term future. And with Hinds and/or Mulligan playing in midfield quite regularly it looks as if the management don’t believe we have strength in depth either.

Up front causes the most vocal outbursts. Despite his goalscoring achievements Billy Sharp still gets abuse for being lazy/not interested. Please Mr Wharton, don’t take any money off Watford/West Brom/Man City/Sheff Wed in January. Andy Keogh stirs up so much emotion. He has more skill than anyone else in the club by miles, BUT he has not performed that well this season. He still makes a few goals and scores every now and then, but he has so much more to offer. Let’s hope it all come out in the second half of the season (if he’s still with us). Torps is ….Torps. He has been a great servant to the club and continues to try, but is he still good enough – a debate for another time maybe? Ian Morris looks like he will take over the Torpey mantle, he engenders such variant opinions. I think the jury is still out. It looks like he has it in him, but can he get it out!! Then there is Robbie Foy. We haven’t seen much on which to base an opinion, but again the camps are miles apart. I would like to see him get a run and think he will as the season progresses because of the number of games and future suspensions. Finally Ramon Calliste – hopefully as good as we think he might be. Again, hurry back.

The important thing is that we all support Scunthorpe United, and we should all get behind the team. Yes, we all have our favourite players and yes, we can all pick a better team than the manager – well, some of us think we can. However, at the end of the season, when we get promoted, we will all be delirious. So whether it is achieved away at Northampton (may be pushing it a bit here as there are 4 games after this one) or the last game of the season at home to Carlisle, support the lads. Whoever they are.

I have followed SUFC for over 30 years and this is the best I have ever seen. I have got 3 teenage children who expect their team to win. 1961-62 is history. The Old Show Ground has gone. BL is no more. Other clubs have had success, and now, hopefully, it is our turn. There may not be many of us, but we are loyal and we care. The next 4 months are extremely important. We will succeed & we will be there!!

UP THE IRON