Truly, this is a different world...

If you want an indication of the different attitude of supporters to Andy Scott, as opposed to He Who Probably Ought Not To Be Named Any Longer Because It's Just Not Worth The Hassle, then look no further than the reaction to the pre-season victory over Grimsby. And then have a go at guessing what the reaction would be like had it been this time last year.

Let's just contemplate, for a moment, two things. 

Thing the first: over the summer, we've got shut of an experienced central defender, who'd performed pretty consistently well in the time he'd been with us. We did that last year, too (although not by choice). Last year we replaced the experienced central defender with a younger player, who'd been a stalwart  in the heart of defence for a play-off chasing side. This year, we replaced the experienced central defender with an transfer listed attacking midfielder who has, in the 100-odd league games he's played, played precisely zero of them in defence. 

And yet, there's no sign of boggly-eyed types raising hands in the air and running screaming for the exits. "Hmmm, interesting", they muse, like goatee'd hipsters contemplating a free jazz vibraphone solo, "really interesting tactical idea. Let's give it a go". This time last year, angry types with veins prominently bulging on foreheads would have shouted scornfully about the madness of expecting a floaty midfield type, who's yet to win a header or tackle in his entire career to date, to adequately replace a proper, grizzled central defender, FFS. (FFS is crucial in any argument of this kind. It's the equivalent of QED for the passionately cross).

Thing the second: in his post-match interview, Scott didn't bemoan the sloppy defending that yielded up half a dozen chances from corners. Nope. His main regret was that he didn't get chance to play Marcus Marshall at right back for longer. That's Marcus Marshall (position: winger; hobbies: backing out of challenges, being unaware of team mates and opponent's positions, holding on to the ball for too long and losing it, slumping into indolent, introspective, fogs of indifference) at right back (requirements: determined tackles, tactical accuity, sensible, simple, swift distribution, constant concentration).


In terms of post-match statements, it makes as much sense as saying "I really wish we could have given Alfie a longer stint in goal" or "cabbage light-bulb occasional table carpet. Snarky hoodlum weeble grass".


And yet, not an eyelid bats. "He's willing to try things", comes the admiring cry. Contrast the likely reaction had a certain former manager decided to play Marshall in defence ahead of a new right-back signing and Tonge.


Truly, this is a different world. Where a manager can try things that seem, on paper, lunacy and not get castigated for it. Where pre-season games are seen in perspective. Where expectations and requirements are tempered by realism. Where supporters try their best to see the good in the manager and, er, support him and the team. We've not seen this sort of thing since the great mass hypnotism took place that convinced whole swathes of people that 80 yard punts to Drewe Broughton's head was attacking, flowing football. 


Where will it lead?

Guess the first team

Lewis Grabban's signature today is the sixth of Andy Scott's close season transformation of the first team. It's pretty clear that next season's team will be very different to last season's. So, what will it look like?

The easy bit is who won't be in it. Ryan Taylor's departure to Bristol City and Nicky Law's to Motherwell create two first team spaces and it seems unlikely that Tom Pope or Mark Bradley are going to fill them.

In goal, Jamie Annerson looks like being first choice, or, at least, Andy Warrington doesn't.

The defensive squad suggests a flat back four, presumably consisting (from right to left) of Brown, Cresswell, Foster and TBC (given Scott's lack of tolerance for some players who did ok last year, you'd imagine the inconsistent Newey isn't earmarked as a first choice). Still lacks a seasoned campaigner to me, and unless Cresswell's injury struggles last year truly were freakish bad luck, it's possibly light on numbers, given Mullins' long term injury and Foster's somewhat suspension-prone disciplinary record.

After the defence, it gets very hard to work out the line up.

There's no obvious front two pairing. Holroyd and Le Fondre seem to be similar sort of players, so look an unlikely partnership. Evans and Grabban are both six foot, but neither seem to play the "target man" that a Le Fondre or Holroyd might play off. Indeed, both are the sort of forward who can play on the wing, which suggests they're not really equipped for back-to-goal hold-up play.

A front three looks the most likely possibility, with Grabban or Evans aiming to stretch the play, allowing Le Fondre and Holroyd to sniff out space, which would leave a midfield three of Taylor, Pringle and Schofield. Whether Taylor, with his propensity to over-reach himself and get caught challenging for possession too far forward, can anchor a midfield trio is an open question, as is who provides the challenge in the centre of the pitch should he get injured or suspended.

The old saying is that you judge a team by looking down the middle and across the back and on that basis we look ok, but nothing more.

If Annerson starts we've got a potentially good 'keeper, but one who's prone to mistakes and to lose confidence thereafter. Cresswell and Foster are the right size, but Cresswell's easily turned and Foster's never featured as a regular first team player in the League. Taylor is a decent defensive midfielder. Up front, we look to have competition, finishers and pace, but no obvious battering ram, which successful sides in League Two tend to have as an option and in many cases as plan A. Assuming we bring in another left back, the defensive squad as a whole looks good, if a little callow.

The supporting cast (Schofield in particular) look impressive, but a blunt instrument up front and wise counsel at the back are still needed, in my view, to turn pretenders into contenders.