We’re approaching the end of September and the big boys are beginning to awake from their summer slumber. All of them that is, except Oxford. Torquay and Stevenage had torrid starts to the season for differing reasons but both have now returned to winning ways with three victories on the trot each, and in Stevenage’s case ten goals in those three games. Most impressive for Torquay was their late winner at Cambridge last weekend. After throwing away points as a result of conceding late on, what went around definitely came around for The Gulls at The Trade Recruitment Stadium as it’s now so unspectacularly called. Meanwhile for Stevenage it’s been all about Steve Morison. How glad the ‘Boro fans must be that he stayed on having asked for a transfer in the summer. But how he has failed to entice league managers is a mystery. Six goals in his last three games suggest that Stevenage will be dangerous as long as he’s in this kind of form. And with the likes of Callum Willock, Mitchell Cole and Lee Boylan also chipping in with strikes, Stevenage are perhaps proving that they had the strength in depth last season, but possibly not the guidance or the spirit?
Copper's on the up
So, the big boys are stirring. But they are still being eclipsed by the success stories of the likes of Salisbury and Kettering. The Poppies chairman Imran Ladaak must be dizzy with joy right now. Gareth Seddon and securing the return of Craig Westcarr were both crucial signings but keeping hold of manager Mark Cooper was his best bit of business over the summer. Cooper is impressive and has an air of class about him as a manager. His exploits last season alerted a fair few chairmen to his abilities but he remained loyal, believing his job with Kettering was not yet finished. One or two of the current crop of Blue Square Premier managers - a handful at best – will go on to do a ‘Gary Johnson’ or a ‘Neil Warnock’ and rise to the higher leagues. And based on the last few seasons, many would put Cooper in the favourite’s bracket for that sort of elevation. His time at Tamworth which included two years of real FA Cup success got him noticed and after winning the Blue Square North last season in style, his side are the only team left unbeaten as we approach October. Whether they’ll have the strength in depth and staying power to last to a top-five finish come May I just don’t know. But one thing’s for sure, they won’t be returning to the Blue Square North this season. And as long as Cooper remains, not for quite some time to come. But of course, the question is how long will Cooper stay? Lee Sinnott was nicked from Farsley by Port Vale early last season and though he’s had a tough time there, it has only furthered his career, given him League experience and that is of course what all 24 BSP managers want if they haven’t tasted it already. How interesting it would be if we could know now where each of the current managers will end up ten years from now. I’d bet a fair whack that Cooper, amongst a couple of others, will be plying his trade in the league by then.
Evans above
Talking of wanting to get into the League…one man who’s been there already but still retains obvious hunger for a return, is Crawley Town manager Steve Evans. As with Aldershot last year, no one gave Crawley a mention when discussing title favourites in August but Evans’ summer acquisitions seem to have gelled in no time, especially the boys he picked from the mess that was Halifax Town – Lewis Killeen and Danny Forrest. Put them with an in-form Jamie Cook and a team full of goalscorers and it’s little wonder they’re succeeding. They sit top of the table as I write and already ten of their players are off the mark. Evans has said that he’ll be staying in the stands when his FA ban ends as he feels he can get a better view of the game from up there and therefore make more accurate decisions and assessments. Couple that with the fact that his players don’t have to listen to him screaming at them throughout the game from the closeness of the touchline (and boy is Evans loud) might mean his team can express themselves more freely. And it means his half-time teamtalk takes on added impact. An Evans verbal assault will jolt anyone if they’ve not heard a whisper from him in the first 45. His ban could end up being the making of him – and his team. And even better? My pick of Crawley in the office sweepstake is looking rather tastier now than it did back in July!
Busy, Busy, Busy
Another really busy week for you coming up in terms of our live coverage. Kettering against Burton is live on Monday night (be sure to stay watching for Football Matters straight afterwards at 10pm) then on Tuesday we travel to Oxford to see if they can do something about their awful form at home to Cambridge. Then Thursday we are at Grays for the visit of Graham Westley and Stevenage. All the programmes start at 7.30pm on Setanta Sports 1, so do join us if you can. Thank you for all your comments from last week’s blog – crikey I stirred something up there didn’t I?! Enjoy your football this week. Back soon.