While I agree with Sonko's view that we can't use the injuries/team gelling excuse ad infinitum, after a result (and performance, by all accounts) like Saturday's we don't appear to have much else to cling to.
Collister isn't the finished article yet, but he is very young and has been thrown in the deep end. Over the next few months we will know whether he is capable of the necessary improvement, or whether he is not up to this grade of football. Having Broomes back will make a difference to an inexperienced defence, and to my mind Les needs to give serious thought as to how we include both Zoom and Cresswell in the starting XI. Poor pre-season form or not Zoom was a revelation last season, providing much of our limited attacking threat, and is far too good to be warming our bench.
Joss Labadie and John Welsh should be starting every game they are available for - who plays with them probably being dictated by who our opposition is. Once these guys are fit we have a full strength midfield, irrespective of other availability. However, I do think Fraughan should be given as much game time as possible this season.
Up front Enoch and ITM are both capable at this level. If we are playing 4-3-3 then the jury is out on the third striker. McGurk looks the best of the bunch so far; although neither he nor Akins, nor Morrow, nor Jennings have really had the chance to impose themselves. But, to be honest, the intial signs don't look promising. If just one of the 4 proves to be as good as Enoch / ITM, I thing we have a result.
Whether there are excuses and whether they appear valid or not, it is almost pointless looking at replacing Les. A new manager would be in the same position with the same players and no budget to make changes. We would end up with another drawn out saga like last season where we couldn't find a manager with the appropriate experience willing to work for the remuneration available with his hands financially tied.
My idea of a good season will be avoiding relegation, and ending the season with Collister, Cresswell, Fraughan and one of the peripheral strikers proving that they are good enough to shine at this level. I would also be delighted to see Ash Taylor and Alan Mahon fully fit and challenging for places. That would leave us in a good place at the start of next season. A great season would see Sheik Hwang Mansour Romanov buying PJ out and puttimng some money into the club - in that case stuff the rest of my criteria!
