In the middle
Chris Powell has talked this week about his central midfielders and coincidentally Blackheath Addick summed up perfectly the different midfield partnerships available to him.
Powell talked highly of Dale Stephens, a player I was very impressed with early season. “He’s a creative player, a player I do like and I just want him to be right and ready so that when he is called upon he does himself justice and adds to what we already have.” said Powell.
He was less gushing over Mikel Alonso. “We’ve got a long list of midfielders and there are plenty in front of him.” Alonso has been the forgotten man and he may now be fit but he still didn’t feature in the Kent Senior Cup tie the other night when Stephens, Waggy, Hayes and Ruben Bover did.
Powell talked about possible moves outwards in the remaining days of the January transfer window, which on the whole has been lifeless, and I have to think Alonso leaving either permanently or temporary would be on the list. Gary Doherty too and maybe even someone like Paul Hayes on loan somewhere to keep his fitness and get a goal or two ready for the run in.
I mentioned the Kent Senior Cup and our reserves squeaked through to the semi-finals after beating Margate 4-3 in front of 929 people (twice as many as Margate’s previous highest gate of the season). Leon Clarke scored twice, Paul Hayes once and the late winner came from Adebayo Azeez.
The Addicks will play either Tonbridge Angels or Dartford in the semi at the end of March. In the other game Ebbsfleet or Hythe Town will face Dover Athletic.
I’m a little wary of Exeter Saturday. Following the two Sheffield games, and for the record Megson, Wilson and their respective team’s fans are still banging on about the injustices of it all (!?), I hope Powell has them nicely focused for Saturday’s tricky trip.
Keep an eye on BWP though. No doubt the Grecians will give him a warm welcome and I think he will have little extra skip in his step after signing an extended contract this week.
There will probably be around 1,000 Addicks down in Devon. Enjoy the scrumpy and the game.
CA, I think Exeter have their sights set on exploiting the weaknesses of the returning Matt Taylor, who spent 4 happy years there. Wynn Grant posted a relevent article about it.
We now have a fully fit squad, so with everyone competing for their places, complacency should not be setting in just yet. I liked the look of Haynes last week, and truly believe he will be a revalation at this level, as he has something to prove to the club like Green.
I have predicted 97 points on CAFCpicks, but so far this seems an underestimation. I am more worried by the off the field antics, having witnessed events in the stand and on the train at Fulham. The singing started before leaving the ground, and I am surprised Fulham haven’t made a complaint. Let’s hope our fans don’r let us down any further!