I have to hold my hands up and admit, I really underestimated the lads this season. After our stunning 4-1 away victory to Wigan Athletic made it two wins in a row, it really got me thinking about how wrong we can sometimes be as football fans.
Considering we’d finished fifth in League One and hadn’t made the signings I personally would have made in the summer, I remember starting the season with my only expectation being avoiding the drop. Maybe it was just negative thinking, but the desperation to just stay clear of that horrid division was definitely a reason behind why I would have just been happy with staying up.
The lack of Championship experience, the still unproven nature of a large part of the squad and the lack of depth in certain areas were all major concerns I had when beginning this season, and were all part of the reason I was unsure how we’d cope with the Championship and its step-up in quality. In particular, there were a number of players I wasn’t sure would cut it in the second tier.
As much as I love the attitude and devotion to the club shown by Luke O’Nien and Lynden Gooch over recent years, I have to admit I’d not even considered them as options for potential first-team regulars in the Championship before this campaign began; considering they’d both played a massive part of our promotion-winning season, it was probably quite unfair of me to assume they shouldn’t play a big part this season.
As much as Gooch still shows signs of defensive inconsistency at full-back, his energy and link-up play going forward from defence has proven to be a real asset this season. Competition from someone more proven at this level, or from the likes of Hume or Huggins who haven’t had much of a chance to show their worth this season, wouldn’t be a bad thing, but the adopted Mackem hasn’t looked out of place so far.
As for O’Nien, he seems to start every season without an obvious role to play but somehow forces himself into the regular first-team selection. Whether injuries, suspensions, form, a change in tact or some other reason be the one behind him getting a chance, he usually makes a position his own after some stellar performances. With the arrivals of Daniel Ballard and Aji Alese in the summer to add to the competition of Bailey Wright, Danny Batth and arguably Dennis Cirkin as our options at centre-back, not many people could have predicted O’Nien would be quietly carrying out his business as a regular-starting centre-half at this point in the season, performing in either a back three, four or five.
The summers transfer window was something which frustrated large sets of supporters. We do have to admit we left ourselves short of striking options. Ending the window with just two recognised strikers was a massive mistake. We knew that, even before both of our strikers got injured. A gamble made, it seems, by those in charge of recruitment, which really backfired. Not having a proper centre-forward on the pitch for a run of seven games not only hindered our goalscoring opportunities, but our overall performances as well. Without having an obvious outlet up top, we struggled creatively or when trying to end a well-worked move with a goal. The lack of a focal point meant the midfield not having the help only a good striker can provide - to hold the ball up, win some aerial duels, stretch a defence or bring other players into play. With all of that being said, it really makes you think: where would we be if we’d recruited another striking option or two to see us through in moments like that? With Ellis Simms now back at Everton, we are once again left with one (very good) striker up front. So give him a new contract and sign two more strikers ASAP.
One positive of the window, however, was the loan signing of Amad Diallo. Not many could have predicted us signing him before the rumours began and it took the twenty-year-old a few games to get going, but he’s been nothing short of a revelation since, notching a few goals. The confidence and ruthlessness he posses in the final third is just great to watch. The skill, creativity and end product he has shown can only be described as above this level. He has performed to such a level these past few games he’s really softened the blow of Alex Pritchard’s injury concerns. Most of what we do well going forward goes directly through Pritchard, so being without him would be a major concern. However, the way Amad is able to toy with defenders and produce some first-class end product means we aren’t missing a heartbeat in attack. He’ll be that loan player that nobody wants to let go at the end of the season. Regardless of where his long-term future will be, he has a really exciting career ahead of him and this signing is a testament to some of the great work the ‘new model’ has brought about.
In addition to Diallo, Aji Alese and Ellis Simms (before he was recalled...) have really brought something to the squad when available. The power and physicality they both posses have really helped us in their respective areas of the pitch; they’re both great options to have available for selection. Now we just need a replacement striker!
I could go on all day about some names in the squad I’ve not even mentioned yet. Without waxing lyrical it would be unfair to not, at least, give a nod to a few more names. Anthony Patterson, Dennis Cirkin and Dan Neil were all young players who played vital roles throughout last season but were players I wasn’t totally convinced would take to the Championship with ease. Patterson has his moments and could do with improving areas of his game still but he’s more than held his own so far and has produced some great saves. Neil, just like in League One, can go missing at times but has been able to display his passing and creative talents, in particular, to a really good standard so far this season and Cirkin always looks so assured and comfortable in a range of positions, arguably being our most improved player since he joined in summer last year.
Danny Batth is a Championship defender and has been for most of his career. The experience and calming nature him and Corry Evans bring to the side has been pivotal to our success so far. In fact, I’d argue I’ve been more impressed with them this season so far than I had been watching them last season. We can only hope their injuries aren’t anything major.
Jack Clarke’s arrival was something I was a little unsure on. Despite the hype a lot of our fanbase had regarding the young winger, I found him to be a very frustrating player to watch who could be quite wasteful at times. Moments such as his assist for Roberts’ decisive goal away to Sheffield Wednesday in the play-offs and his stunning goal to secure the points at home to Fleetwood were just two examples that proved he had it within him to be a difference-maker. However, when his loan was made to be a permanent move in the summer, I wasn’t sure he’d be the right type of player for us in the Championship. Often too hesitant to take the ball on the outside and use his left foot making him predictable and give possession away cheaply, my concerns were that when we have less of the ball and are up against better defenders he’d be largely ineffective. Oh, how wrong I was! Opening this season’s scoring and completing our goal of the season so far away at Reading are just two examples of his contributions thus far. It was our home fixture against Rotherham, however, where Clarke really stole the spotlight. Two really well-worked assists and a great solo goal at the end meant his name stole the headlines that evening, proving what a handful for defenders he can be and how well he is able to create and score. Another one who has really improved in his time in red and white, I stand corrected and see Clarke as an exciting part of our future.
Maybe I had simply over-rated the Championship before the start of the season, but it’s fair to say I stand corrected at my expectations on what I thought we could achieve, and I bet there are many others with the exact same feeling. Having said that, Wigan and Rotherham respectively won and finished as runners-up in League One, whereas we finished 5th last season. Both sit below us, with Wigan rock-bottom of the table at the time of writing.
There’s still a very long way to go, and it is a very tight league this season, but at the very least I can admit we can certainly expect more than just staying up. There are so many others who deserve credit who I’ve not been able to mention so far.
Tony Mowbray took over in a time of uncertainty when we’d lost Alex Neil, one of the first coaches or managers in a long time who had delivered success and who we believed in. But Mowbray has settled the squad and continued the progress we were making, as well as dealing with the striker situation and the recent growing concerns over the number of defensive injuries we have.
Ross Stewart is probably an obvious name to have in this conversation; he’s taken to the championship like a duck to water and scores goals and dominates defences just like he did in League One. He’s got to be the most value for money singing we’ve made in recent years, and we can only cross our fingers and beg he signs a new long term deal with us. Especially with Ellis Simms’ shock exit. Tying him down to a lengthy contract could be one of the most decisive moves we could make for the club’s long-term success.
The club has a massive month ahead. If we can protect our key assets and address the areas of the squad that need addressing, nobody for certain can set a limit on what we can achieve this season and I have full confidence that, wherever we are come May, the club will have a plan to take us even further next season. Maybe it’s just a by-product of supporting Sunderland, but I have to admit I’d severely underestimated our capabilities before this season and I hold my hands up to being corrected.
