Andy Cook

Because we didn't have the same midfield and Tayo all in the side.

Discussion over.

 

Absolutely ..It’s clear the return to fitness and the introduction of players since Xmas who can play this way is the difference. I like Lewis Richards but the outlet, wide play and crosses from the byeline that Tayo brings is totally different gravy. Add to that Halliday returning to be the Halliday of last season ….Thats our supply , which I add Tranmere stopped , Colchester couldn’t handle it .

Then add Sarcevic, and now Lapslie arriving late into the box from midfield ……

 

Interesting conundrum that can't be proven one way or the other, and probably never will. Tayo and Khela will go back to their clubs at the end of the season and new players will be brought in. Interestingly, when reading or watching outsider views on our form since January, most mention having to adapt without Cook and in their view for the better because the focus hasn't been solely on him.

 

Cook would only improve this team. Its the midfield that make all the difference. When they are off it, as they were at Gills, and Tranmere, we’re average. When they are on it, we’re class.

Smallwood’s been brilliant lately and as others above have said, Tayo has been brilliant and Brad back to his best. Having them on form gives width, which is crucial in our set up.

None of Kav, Mellon, Leigh have the same instinct Cook has. But Kav is by far the best option of the three in his absence.

 

PS was great to see Cook out the back of the Sunwin stand pre kick off on Sat, taking selfies with the fans. Wanted to ask him how the rehab was going but the kids all wanted photos so left him to it.

 

IF we get promoted I can see Palace and Birmingham City letting us have Tayo and Khela for a full season in the higher division . They wouldn’t be out of place and our progression development of them won’t have gone unnoticed?

 

I think to an outsider thats a logical conclusion to draw, but I personally think our improvement is despite missing Cook, not because of it.

All across the side levels have been upped
- LB was a problem early season but not now
- RB Brad back to his brilliant best
- We’ve got vastly improved performances from Baldwin and Shepherd, who were dodgy early on but have been fantastic for months now, since Barrow really
- midfield looks completely different. Smallwood’s been 8/10 or 9/10 every week anchoring but we now have runners and legs bombing on, which we’ve lacked before with our main men injured. Along with that width from the full backs, we hurt teams. The strong recruitment in Jan has won us the Cheltenham and Colchester games with Lapslie on it.
- Pointon really stepped up. No longer regarded as an impact sub (as some still viewed him early season). Bobby’s now developed into a key, influential player. He won’t be in L2 beyond this season - with or without us.
- Kavanagh back to his best. Struggled early season but was key for us ending last season, and he was key again on Sat, stepping up.

I don’t think any of the above influences would reduce with Cook in the side at all. We’d piss the league with him in this side (and a fit midfield)

 

Spot on… Just how our transition and transformation is explained . Just add Romy Crichlow too, an astute signing he has become.

 

Yep. Smooth on the ball.

we did recruit really well in Jan.

it has meant we haven’t had to rely on Smith, Oliver, Oduour and Byrne etc as much, nor Wright as much at LB, although he seems better when called upon lately.

i think Byrne’s dithering on Sat served a timely reminder of Barrow and why he shouldn’t be starting unless we’ve no other fit players.

Such mistakes can cost games. We should have Shepherd, Huntington, Crich, baldwin and Kelly all ahead of him in our pecking order I think.

 

Odour won’t get a look in unless we are desperate …. He will probably make his way into the National League ?

 

Can’t disagree with any of that except the last sentence. I’d change that to “with Cook in the squad”. There are obviously games where Cooks presence would be needed such as Gillingham and Tranmere, and there are games where a more dynamic approach would be beneficial. Either way I look forward to him coming back to make us even stronger.

 

Yes, agreed, he singled handedly carried us for years and having another option would have helped us instead of thrashing him

 

That’s a fair and balanced approach.