We're At Home to Ipswich, Great Stuff - Notes for Crawley Monday, 11th Aug 2014 10:43 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Tuesday's Capital One Cup first round tie by delving into their forums. "It's been a hell of an upheaval over the summer and we essentially have a new team. Don't be surprised if we see a right mixed bag of results over the first quarter of the season. It will take time to gel and patience is a virtue." Crawley fans are nervous about the coming season, with their team having undergone a complete rebuild. Many established players have left, including former ITFC midfielder Andy Drury (to Luton), holding midfielder Andy Bulman (to AFC Wimbledon) and defender Kyle McFadzean (to MK Dons). Ex-Town striker Billy Clarke was released and has joined Bradford. Expectations are modest for this season. "It's a race to 50 points. The sooner we get there, the happier I'll be", "There'll be no shouts of a crisis if we slip into League Two. With our resources and fan base, it's impossible for us to go any higher." Three Points at Oakwell"Three points at Barnsley is more than we could have hoped for", "The game was very dull and a draw would have been fair, but I will happily accept the win", "I can't moan about three points, but that was dire." The Red Devils made a winning start to their League One campaign on Saturday, beating a 10-man Barnsley team at Oakwell with a headed goal from striker Izale McLeod. A Barnsley supporter visiting the Reds forum summed up Crawley's approach well: "Your game plan worked perfectly. It was well executed. You limited us to half-chances and scored the goal from a set piece. You were content soaking up pressure and hitting us on the break. There may not have been much quality on show, but it was a perfect away performance." John Gregory"I reckon that John Gregory was overcome with relief today. Fair play to the bloke. He has done bloody well to get a win there with our team", "Survival has to be our objective. League One will remain our Premier League for some time yet." "I have no doubt that Gregory is creating a team, and I suspect that it will more industrial that the last two season's teams. Functional, direct and aggressive will probably be the words that describe the team we are assembling." The squad overhaul at Crawley has been substantial, with 16 players leaving and 17 arriving from other clubs (as well as two on loan). Many supporters believe that one reason behind the overhaul is a need to trim the wage budget. Fans have great faith in the former Villa and Derby boss. "Our one saving grace is that we have an experienced and quality manager. Just maybe he'll be one step ahead and somehow keep us up", "If we are in League One next year, he deserves huge credit." "Is he the ace in the pack? For most managers, it would be a disaster managing this level of change, but just maybe he will pull it off. He's usually as cool as a cucumber, but he seemed unusually stressed today (at the Barnsley game). I think he knows he's up against it big time." A Small Squad"We have 11 or 12 players who should be okay at this level, but frankly the rest are tosh. One or two may develop, but God help us if we get two or three injuries to our starting XI", "We might be okay if the same 11 players play all 46 games. Even the most optimistic fan must sense trouble with this squad." "The bench looks weak." Crawley have 22 players on their books, but the widely held view is that they lack strength in depth. "Our first XI are good enough to do well in this league, and we have two decent back-ups. If we get injuries in the wrong positions, we are in doo-doo land." Many Reds also feel that their squad is small in stature. "With the odd exception, we seem to have signed a team of midgets", "Four of our new players are all 5ft 6in and about eight stone, and they have very little football experience between them." Defence"Our back four were excellent (against Barnsley)", "Our defence is okay, and we have a very, very good keeper who will talk to his defenders and give them confidence", "It has been refreshing not anticipating a car crash every time the ball has been with our back four this season." Fans are most pleased with how their new defence has come together. "Even in the first game of the season, we already look to have a solid defensive unit", "As a unit, they defended well. When they do gel together, I'm sure we'll see more expansive football." Brian Jensen"I like Jensen. I think he will become a fans' favourite. There was more shouting coming from him in one of the friendlies than all of the Crawley fans." The 39-year-old Burnley legend joined the Reds from Bury this summer. "He saves or catches everything that comes at him."
The Dane's leadership is acknowledged and welcomed. "We have a vocal and competent goalkeeper, whose confidence extends through the back four", "He looks commanding", "He kept us in the game against Woking", "It's a relief to have a keeper who can hit a moving ball." "Jensen's a solid signing. I was a bit worried when we signed him due to his age, but he has been very commanding and made some decent stops. He gets down well and isn't afraid to open his mouth." "I'm not sure we have any cover for the full-backs." There has been little comment about the two first choice full-backs, both of whom arrived this summer. Left-back Ryan Dickson "is a good player. The 27-year-old has arrived from Colchester. "He put in some eye-catching displays when he played for Southampton and is pretty good going forward", "He works hard and already looks to be a good replacement for Mat Sadler (now at Rotherham)." At right-back, 24-year-old Lanre Odebanjo "has great pace, can cross the ball, shows good anticipation and resilience in defence." The ex-York man "made the League Two team of the year. He is decent and gets forward well", "York fans have said that he is a hugely popular player, as well as a good one." "Walsh and Leacock is a very good central defensive pairing", "Ideally Walsh will partner Leacock, and we will find an experienced holding midfielder to sit in front of", "Leacock and Walsh, with Jensen behind them, look as though them will have enough to keep out plenty of strike forces." Twenty-two-year-old centre-back Joe Walsh, who joined Crawley from Swansea in 2012, has been partnered by 30-year-old former Derby defender Dean Leacock, who arrived from Notts County this summer. "Leacock definitely has class about him, making some very good passes from the back", "He looks good, and a leader", "It's good to have an experienced defender to boost the squad", "He looked good at the back and good in the air in the Fulham friendly, and can play all along the back four." "It's clear to see that the reserve keeper isn't up to it". It is worth mentioning Crawley's 21-year-old reserve keeper, just in case he appears. "As for Raphael Spiegel, it was a disastrous start for him, wasn't it?" The prospect of the West Ham loan signing appearing terrifies most Reds. A poor debut in a friendly against Brighton was followed by a "calamitous" showing against Chelsea U21s. "West Ham sent us the Swiss miss and he has butter on his fingers. We were duped", "No wonder West Ham sent that goalie on loan. Blimey - send him back please before the start of the season." Central Midfield"We are struggling so badly in midfield. At times the Chelsea midfielders were running through the centre of the park unopposed", "The reality is that we will be relegated with the midfield we have now. It isn't physically strong enough and doesn't have the quality and experience to compete over a season." "We lacked size and aggression in the middle last year, yet this years are smaller and less aggressive", "A bullying holding midfielder, and experienced to boot, would be great", "We could certainly do with a battling midfielder", "We need someone to do the scruffy, satisfying work." "Conor Henderson can be a bit mixed, playing some really classy stuff and wayward passes. I'm not sure he's a ball winner, but I am sure there's more to come." The 22-year-old ex-Hull player "likes to have the ball, but has not shown he can win possession".
The former Arsenal youth product, who was on trial with the Blues last summer, played on loan at Stevenage from March to the end of last season. "Henderson is hit and miss. He can take some great corners and mixed this with some sloppy passing. He can give the ball away way too often", "He took a great corner for our Brighton goal." "Christ, take Josh Simpson out and it's worrying." The Reds had a huge setback on Saturday when the ex-Posh man and captain, who was with the Town academy as a schoolboy, left Oakwell on crutches after being injured just before the break. "He has been our most accomplished midfielder in every pre-season game and is the strongest in the challenge." Apart from praising his "proven league experience" there has been little said about 27-year-old ex-Orient midfielder Jimmy Smith, and Reds have had equally little to say about 18-year-old Bobson Bawling, who joined from Watford this summer. Bawling replaced the injured Simpson on Saturday. "Can I ask on what basis anyone selects Mitch Rose after his performance (against Chelsea U21s) on Saturday? He couldn't pass two yards or get near a tackle." Some Reds rate the 20-year-old Rotherham loan signing. "At least he has physical stature" and "is a good defensive midfielder with an eye for a pass." Wide Midfield"I'm not sure what style of football we will be playing. I thought we'd be going with wide players, but Young and Edwards were dire (against Chelsea U21s). They were knocked off the ball by a breeze", "They couldn't get a cross in between them. Our full-backs were more effective." Reds have concerns in particular over their two right-wingers. "The whole right side looks to be a problem, even though midfield seems to be an issue", "Emmett O'Connor and Lewis Young are very different players, but at least one of them needs to step up to the mark." "Emmett O'Connor looks lively. Even if he gets lost positionally, at least he gets stuck in." The composure of the 21-year-old Canadian, who joined the Reds after a trial, has been questioned. "O'Connor was running around like a headless chicken when he came on against Fulham" Lewis Young, the 24-year-old winger who arrived this summer from Bury, has been severely criticised. "We should be worried about Young. He struggled in pre-season and had a poor game against Barnsley", "His positional play is poor. He goes missing too often and is very, very lightweight." Young was replaced on Saturday by 20-year-old Fulham youth product Charles Banya. "Pace is a great asset at any level, and he appears to have it in abundance", "The lad has pace and lots of it. He looked bright when he came on (against Chelsea U21s), created space and shifted the ball around nicely." Gwion Edwards"Edwards permanent signing is terrific news. With regular football, Gwion will improve", "He's a flagship signing which sends out a very positive signal." The Wales U21 international "is unpredictable, and with a bit of pace could make a big difference to our season".
The 21-year-old signed from Swansea this summer after being on loan with the Reds since March. "Edwards has obvious speed and is a threat", "He's a very talented young player", "His lack of size hampered him against Brighton, where he struggled to stay on the ball." Strikers"It looks as though we'll be playing with one up front as Harrold and Tomlin are injured." With Gavin Tomlin having stretched a hamstring in the Reds last pre-season friendly against Chelsea U21s and ex-Bristol Rovers man Matt Harrold undergoing minor knee surgery, Crawley have one fit front line striker. Izale McLeod"McLeod is proven at this level, and knows where the goal is", "He's potentially a great signing and knows where the goal is", "He has always threated to be a great player." The 29-year-old arrived from MK Dons this summer and scored the winner, heading in a corner against Barnsley on Saturday.
"He's a class act on his day", "He's going to be an important player for us. A lot could depend on how well he performs as he seems to be our main goal scorer", "He's an enigma, but I think John Gregory knows him from old and is confident he can get the best out of him." Reds' Thoughts on ITFC and the Game"We've got Ipswich at home, not a bad draw", "It's a pity Andy Drury isn't still here", "It's a decent draw and should produce a good crowd, even in the holiday season." Reds have had little specific to say about the game, apart from welcoming "a decent draw". "We've had a good result at Barnsley. Let's keep it going on Tuesday and let's get behind the team, regardless of the score throughout the game." WebsitesThere is one busy Crawley Town message board, CTFC Net, which is very knowledgeable and polite, but registration is required in order to access the football forum.
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