Every summer i do a q+a piece for a football magazine. Found it incredibly difficult to answer the questions this summer, so would be interested in how others would have answered. It will no doubt be edited down for the final cut, but these were my answers
1. In a sentence, how would you describe last season?
Complicated, frustrating, but ultimately relieved. A season where lack of investment and forward planning ahead of a takeover looked likely to relegate us before a late rally eased us to safety. Sandwiched in the middle was a hugely disappointing no-show in the FA Quarter Final, which really did hit the fans badly.
2. What are you expecting from this season?
The unknown. We are now a club owned as part of a network, and eight months on and with a full summer of planning, this will be the test of whether it is potentially the way forward or a complete disaster. We have a new overseas manager (Bob Peeters), and a whole host of overseas signings. No one could tell you with any certainty which way this will go.
3. Who was your biggest hero last season?
Jose Riga, no question of doubt. Chris Powell was as popular with a fanbase that any player or manager could ever be. So when the new Belgium owner sacked him and brought in a little known Belgium manager, the scepticism levels went through the roof. But Riga quickly won everyone over and along with a calm, assured and methodical presence, he also delivered results. Why he wasn’t appointed full-time manager for the coming season, no one could really understand.
4. Who was your biggest villain?
Tough question. Some people will say our new owner’s decision to sell three of our best players in January (including fan’s favourite Kermorgant), and replace with players from his network that didn’t appear up to the job, amid suggestions of pressuring the manager on team selection. However, the strong finish to the season under Riga, and a number of ground improvements this summer has placated a lot of the unrest going into the new season.
5. What was the best terrace song/chant last season?
With the growth of Youtube, Twitter etc, no decent or funny chant stays original for more than a week these days. We embraced one of the new Euro-style drum-based chants, but sadly it felt like half the Football League were doing it by November. Following Powell’s sacking the fans organised a minutes appreciation, which was well-embraced and nice recognition for a great servant of our club.
6. Is there a young player should we look out for?
Joe Gomez. Yet to make his first-team debut but this England U17 has the tools to go a long way. Can play either centre half / right back, he is composed, reads the game well, has a good turn of foot bringing the ball out of defence with confidence. We are gutted to see a similar young talent in Diego Poyet move on so quickly, hopefully we will get to see more of Gomez in the next 1-2 years before the big boys inevitably swoop.
7. Which game are you most looking forward to, and why?
The one that confirms our safety for another season. We are desperately in need for an exciting season, the last two have largely been focused on ‘making do’, but this coming one appears to be carrying risks and the cautious amongst us would take safety now. The bookies think we will struggle, the sooner we hopefully prove them wrong the better.
8. Are there any games you are dreading, and why?
No hesitation. Millwall, home and away. Whoever said ‘the good guys always win in the end’ has not seen the Tale of the Tape in this painfully one-sided South London Derby. Regardless of form, whoever plays for or manages our club will religiously let the fans down during the annual six point handover. Having a former Millwall player as a manager may ironically prove our best chance of beating the hoodoo, but with just 11 wins out of 68 games, we won’t be holding out much hope.
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Comments
3 is the only one I'd answer differently. Johnnie Jackson for me as I think he pulled the players together which gave Riga an easier ride than he might have had otherwise following what many regarded as the unsavoury sacking of a club legend.
That said Riga did an excellent job in difficult circumstances.
I too am just praying for safety, but I think the money we have paid for Vetokele and possibly Delort means we could be in for something a little bit surprising. Surely these boys don't come with such a price tag without some talent.....
That late winner v QPR was a real season highlight
Seriously though, hard to disagree with any of it
Number 4 ~ If we are talking about ground improvements I might have also mentioned the 8 players signed and most certainly Poyet's knob-headedness in reference to biggest villain
Leading on from that, i suppose there is an argument that Dennis Wise could well have been the Hero, having won his court case against TJ, which probably sped up his desire / need to sell
Boring
2. What are you expecting from this season?
Pushing on at least a top 10 finish, then improving the squad again and trying to push on again unlike the last couple of seasons.
3. Who was your biggest hero last season?
Diego Poyet, Great to see such a quality player playing for us, just a shame it didnt last too long
4. Who was your biggest villain?
Chris Powell, Was sick of seeing players having a bad game one week, then dropped from the squad completley for the next 6 weeks then out of the blue back in the starting line up.
5. What was the best terrace song/chant last season?
Were winning at home how shit must you be were winning at home
6. Is there a young player should we look out for?
Joe Gomez looks the business, cant wait to see him in the first team
7. Which game are you most looking forward to, and why?
Millwall home and away, I generally think we may score against them this season
8. Are there any games you are dreading, and why?
Bournemouth, really dont want to see Yann control the game and score against us.
OK the new lot made mistakes but Stephens was no loss as he was replaced by Poyet and Yann was allegedly offered and refused.
But would alternatively say, biggest hero, Johnnie Jackson, Biggest villiain, Thuram-Ulien...refusing to travel to leeds as 2nd keeper.
In all honesty, you cannot question JJ's commitment and what he has done for us in the time he has been with us. His goals against QPR & Watford were typical of his contribution over the years. I just felt at times, the team was built around accommodating him, but this was to our detriment. I hope he continues to perform well, and perhaps this isn't the thread to get into a detailed discussion about this, I am just not as overly enamored as others by him.
That said I do see some of the footballing arguments postulated that he was not at his best as a player last season even if I do not necessarily fully agree with them .
My perspective in naming him as "hero" is a wider one than just the playing side.
He did his job as Club Captain, and some, to help stabilise the playing side of things in a very unsettled season where 14 players, including him himself incidentally, didn't even know whether they would have a contract next season. To cap it all amidst the turmoil a well respected, popular manager was sacked.
Life for Riga could have been very difficult but, in my opinion, thanks in no small part to Jacko's role in geeing up the players it was not and Jose in turn performed very well to retrieve a sticky situation.
1. In a sentence, how would you describe last season?
A slow starting and frustratingly disappointing season topped with confusion.
2. What are you expecting from this season?
A mid table finish with a cup run would be nice, however I could see it going either way as the manager is an unknown. It really is going to be a season of the unknown, some of the players i'd never heard of and whether they can cut it in English football is unknown.
3. Who was your biggest hero last season?
(Stole your answer here)
Jose Riga. Why he wasn’t appointed full-time manager for the coming season, no one could really understand.
4. Who was your biggest villain?
Kermorgant, Fan favourite that we accepted a transfer bid for however he did not 'have' to leave. He could have chosen to stay. I assume money talked louder than fan appreciation.
5. What was the best terrace song/chant last season?
Jose Riga Riga Riga Jose Riga
6. Is there a young player should we look out for?
Kevin Lisbie
7. Which game are you most looking forward to, and why?
The play off final... or the relegation survival game.
8. Are there any games you are dreading, and why?
Millwall, I dread those boys every year.
However I (very blinkered POV) see us taking one game this year without concession.