I was reflecting yesterday about some of the similarities between this season and 2 years ago. Herewith my thoughts:
Overall
03/04: Div 2 more wide open this time round. Anyone of 12 clubs could go up and possibly 4/5 could be champs.
01/02: There were only about 6/7 decent teams then and alot of mediocrity. We won because we kept grinding out wins when our main rivals dropped points against some of the weaker teams.
Style
03/04: To my mind we are much more interesting and try, where possible, to play football. We are scoring more which is an indication of this.
01/02: When Tinker took over, some of the fun went. My view was he was a great tactician but his team had little flair (however what he's doing at Hull contradicts this).
Personnel comparions:
Michel 01/02 v Michel 03/04.
He's better IMHO and I reckon that's got something to do with Ben sitting on the bench as opposed to "MOM Packham".
1-0 03/04
The Ginger Prince 03/04 v The Ginger Prince 01/02
I remember thinking how average he was 2 seasons ago but he was a revelation in Div 1 and has carried on the development. He's my main man.
2-0 03/04
Danny 03/04 v Danny 01/02
Bigger, stronger, better and even more commanding than 2 years ago.
3-0 03/04
GB 03/04 v Morgs 01/02
GB is getting better now his shorts fit but I worry about his pace. If he comes up against a pacey Leon-type he'll be in trouble. Morgs hardly put a foot wrong all season.
3-1 03/04
Hinsh 03/04 v Watto 01/02
Watto had a great season and scored some important goals (Stoke from memory) and he just edges Hinsh at present who, I reckon, will fulfil an enormous potential in time.
3-2 03/04
Jonesy 03/04 v Brooker 01/02
Jonesy is, at best, mercurial but then so was Bozza who didn't look class until he reached Div 1. Tough call but Bozza was a little less headless than the purveyor of the Rhondda 2 step.
3-3
Zesh (for now) 03/04 v Junior 01/02
Quite similar in some ways - rangy, controlling, goal-scoring. I thought Junior did a great job for us considering his injuries and set up BZ for a load of goals. If Zesh stays all season I'd give him the vote but sadly I think he won't.
3-4 01/02
Chippy 03/04 v Chippy 01/02
Mr Chipster is not quite on fire so far this term. 2 years ago I thought he was very consistent.
3-5 01/02
Harty 03/04 v Harty 01/02
As with Kezza and Danny, he gets better for me. Aptly named, runs till his socks fall off and scores goals - always a productive outlet for a packed midfield.
4-5 01/02
Crispy Flea 03/04 v Stainless 01/02
Stainless always seemed to start at 100mph fpr 10 mins and then looked knackered and anonymous like a man with a hangover (mmm). Crispy gets better by the game and gives it his all, all of the time. Now he's got confidence he looks a different player to last year and previously. His link play with Leon looks so much better than any combination we've had in recent seasons.
5-5 01/02
Leon v Bobby
Both are peerless at this level, both score hatful of goals and both set up goals (Leon all 3 v Blackpool) and yet very different types of player.
Bobby edges it.
5-6 01/02
And as for the boss: well both Micky and SC left in October. I believe that SC did more this season than Micky did before he left so a draw at 6-6. So with the right manager to be appointed we should all be in good spirits for the rest of the season. Order that open top bus DK...
Overall
03/04: Div 2 more wide open this time round. Anyone of 12 clubs could go up and possibly 4/5 could be champs.
01/02: There were only about 6/7 decent teams then and alot of mediocrity. We won because we kept grinding out wins when our main rivals dropped points against some of the weaker teams.
Style
03/04: To my mind we are much more interesting and try, where possible, to play football. We are scoring more which is an indication of this.
01/02: When Tinker took over, some of the fun went. My view was he was a great tactician but his team had little flair (however what he's doing at Hull contradicts this).
Personnel comparions:
Michel 01/02 v Michel 03/04.
He's better IMHO and I reckon that's got something to do with Ben sitting on the bench as opposed to "MOM Packham".
1-0 03/04
The Ginger Prince 03/04 v The Ginger Prince 01/02
I remember thinking how average he was 2 seasons ago but he was a revelation in Div 1 and has carried on the development. He's my main man.
2-0 03/04
Danny 03/04 v Danny 01/02
Bigger, stronger, better and even more commanding than 2 years ago.
3-0 03/04
GB 03/04 v Morgs 01/02
GB is getting better now his shorts fit but I worry about his pace. If he comes up against a pacey Leon-type he'll be in trouble. Morgs hardly put a foot wrong all season.
3-1 03/04
Hinsh 03/04 v Watto 01/02
Watto had a great season and scored some important goals (Stoke from memory) and he just edges Hinsh at present who, I reckon, will fulfil an enormous potential in time.
3-2 03/04
Jonesy 03/04 v Brooker 01/02
Jonesy is, at best, mercurial but then so was Bozza who didn't look class until he reached Div 1. Tough call but Bozza was a little less headless than the purveyor of the Rhondda 2 step.
3-3
Zesh (for now) 03/04 v Junior 01/02
Quite similar in some ways - rangy, controlling, goal-scoring. I thought Junior did a great job for us considering his injuries and set up BZ for a load of goals. If Zesh stays all season I'd give him the vote but sadly I think he won't.
3-4 01/02
Chippy 03/04 v Chippy 01/02
Mr Chipster is not quite on fire so far this term. 2 years ago I thought he was very consistent.
3-5 01/02
Harty 03/04 v Harty 01/02
As with Kezza and Danny, he gets better for me. Aptly named, runs till his socks fall off and scores goals - always a productive outlet for a packed midfield.
4-5 01/02
Crispy Flea 03/04 v Stainless 01/02
Stainless always seemed to start at 100mph fpr 10 mins and then looked knackered and anonymous like a man with a hangover (mmm). Crispy gets better by the game and gives it his all, all of the time. Now he's got confidence he looks a different player to last year and previously. His link play with Leon looks so much better than any combination we've had in recent seasons.
5-5 01/02
Leon v Bobby
Both are peerless at this level, both score hatful of goals and both set up goals (Leon all 3 v Blackpool) and yet very different types of player.
Bobby edges it.
5-6 01/02
And as for the boss: well both Micky and SC left in October. I believe that SC did more this season than Micky did before he left so a draw at 6-6. So with the right manager to be appointed we should all be in good spirits for the rest of the season. Order that open top bus DK...
