National League 2020/21 Mid-Term Report
It is, of course, a very unique season. The circumstances surrounding COVID has allowed some clubs to see this as their best chance of winning promotion to the Football League while others are focusing on making sure their club survives to see the 2021/22 campaign. It is likely that clubs will vote against Resolutions 2 and 4 to ensure the National League continues beyond the end of February but it is possible that campaign could reach new levels of farce with clubs unhappy with the lack of external funding with fans still unable to attend matches. These mid-term reports could be end-of-season reports for some clubs and it’s hard to blame those that decide against completing the season.
As of Tuesday 16th February, 22 clubs are playing and fighting for their future on the pitch as well as off it. With 21 to 27 games left to play (as it stands), many clubs are approaching the halfway point of the season with a better understanding of their position in the league table. I’ve attempted to break their seasons down below:
Aldershot Town
Season to date: Pld 21; W 8, D 4, L 9; F 28, A 30, GD -2; Pts 28
Actual position: 12th
PPG Position: 15th
Most starts: Josh Rees (21)
Top scorer: Mo Bettamer (6)
Most assists: Craig Tanner / Toby Edser / Harrison Panayiotou (4)
Worst discipline: Kodi Lyons-Foster (4Y)
Clean sheets: 7 (33.3%)
Pre-season prediction: 12th
“Aldershot will definitely hurt teams. Can they do it consistently enough to challenge the top 7? I wouldn’t be surprised but I have my doubts.”
Those doubts appear well formed. Aldershot are a positive football team, one that tries to play the game the “right way” and it didn’t take Danny Searle too long to find a system that works for his players. Going forward, Aldershot can occasionally lack a bit of ruthlessness – something that Searle has attempted to address with the high-profile additions of Ross McCormack and Ricky Miller – but it’s their concentration defensively that has been their Achilles heel. Notably, they are a side that struggle to last the distance too, conceding 11 goals in the final 15 minutes of matches, the second highest total in the National League.
Mid-term grade: C
Altrincham
Season to date: Pld 23; W 9, D 6, L 8; F 27, A 27, GD 0; Pts 33
Actual position: 6th
PPG Position: 12th
Most starts: Tony Thompson (23)
Top scorer: Josh Hancock (7)
Most assists: Matt Kosylo (6)
Worst discipline: Jake Moult (6Y, 1R)
Clean sheets: 7 (30.4%)
Pre-season prediction: 15th
“A squad that should be competent defensively, score a few goals and will give a few sides bloody noses this campaign.”
When Altrincham played Solihull Moors in mid-November, I couldn’t escape the feeling that this was a side in trouble. It was a nothing sort of performance, neither defensively solid or a threat going forward. Clearly, they were just finding their feet. The late victory over Chesterfield a week later sparked a run of eight victories in fifteen matches with only Notts County having a better PPG record in that time. The emergence of youngsters Joel Senior and Alistair Smith has been key to their progress, two younger players who are willing to break lines and get into the final third from deep. Altrincham need to start games better (five goals scored and 13 conceded in opening 30 minutes of games), especially given that they are yet to lose when taking the lead this season – six wins and three draws.
Mid-term grade: A-
Barnet
Season to date: Pld 18; W 9, D 6, L 8; F 14, A 44, GD -30; Pts 9
Actual position: 23rd
PPG Position: 23rd
Most starts: Harry Taylor (18)
Top scorer: JJ Hooper / Michael Petrasso (4)
Most assists: Several players (1)
Worst discipline: Anthony Wordsworth (4Y, 1R)
Clean sheets: 4 (22.2%)
Pre-season prediction: 18th
“It's plausible that I’m proved wrong but I expect a testing campaign for Barnet.”
It is difficult to find words on just how bad Barnet have been this season. The decision to appoint Peter Beadle at a time when the club were making huge changes to the playing staff amid COVID restrictions and board preference was short-sighted and they are now hoping that Tim Flowers can pull off a miracle even bigger than the one he helped achieve at Solihull Moors. This is a team that have secured just nine points from 18 league matches, scored just four goals in the first half of matches, conceded the most goals in the division and scored the first goal on just three occasions. That Flowers has already signed four defenders which tells you plenty about where he believes the priority lies.
Mid-term grade: F
Boreham Wood
Season to date: Pld 20; W 8, D 6, L 6; F 21, A 16, GD +5; Pts 30
Actual position: 9th
PPG Position: 11th
Most starts: Nathan Ashmore / Jamal Fyfield / Femi Ilesanmi / Kane Smith (20)
Top scorer: Kabongo Tshimanga (8)
Most assists: Matt Rhead (4)
Worst discipline: Gus Mafuta (5Y, 1R)
Clean sheets: 8 (40%)
Pre-season prediction: 4th
Boreham Wood didn’t need a makeover this summer and the club deserve credit for keeping the side that finished 5th together.
Without forcing it, this has been a relatively transitional campaign for Boreham Wood and the players have handled it relatively well. Long time leaders Mark Ricketts and Tom Champion have played less while Sorba Thomas departed in January for Huddersfield Town. The Wood have been well prepared and excellent defensively, conceding fewer goals per 90 than any other National League side bar Notts County and only spending 12.3% of their game time losing. The challenge is scoring goals – The Wood have only taken the lead on seven occasions and spent over half their game time drawing. Garrard will hope the additions of Junior Morias and the returning Tyrone Marsh prove season-defining.
Mid-term grade: B-
Bromley
Season to date: Pld 19; W 8, D 5, L 6; F 31, A 23, GD +8; Pts 29
Actual position: 11th
PPG Position: 9th
Most starts: Mark Cousins / Michael Cheek (19)
Top scorer: Michael Cheek (11)
Most assists: Michael Cheek (5)
Worst discipline: Chris Bush (5Y, 1R)
Clean sheets: 5 (26.3%)
Pre-season prediction: 10th
Neil Smith’s Bromley are a fun outfit. They score plenty, concede plenty and have finished between 9th and 13th in each of the last four seasons. Their inconsistency knows no bounds.
It looks like being another mid-table campaign for Bromley. Once again, this is a side that are good for goals, playing positive, attacking football and contains the divisions leading marksman but there is a soft centre that hasn’t been removed despite the signings of Byron Webster, Kory Roberts and Liam Trotter in the summer. One point Smith may choose to raise is the lack of consistent game time for his midfield. However, Bromley have led at half time in 53% of their matches – a divisional high – and spent 34% of their game time leading – second highest – but sit in the bottom half for their second half record. Improve that and it’s a top seven finish.
Mid-term grade: B-
Chesterfield
Season to date: Pld 18; W 7, D 3, L 8; F 30, A 23, GD +7; Pts 24
Actual position: 15th
PPG Position: 14th
Most starts: Curtis Weston (18)
Top scorer: Tom Denton (9)
Most assists: Jordan Cropper / Liam Mandeville (4)
Worst discipline: Will Evans (7Y)
Clean sheets: 7 (38.9%)
Pre-season prediction: 14th
Pemberton has taken on the permenent managerial position and a summer takeover means the club can hopefully look towards better times ahead. It’s time for them to finally start moving forward.
Chesterfield’s season can be split into two. Before James Rowe and since James Rowe. Before James Rowe, Chesterfield were a side that scored plenty, conceded plenty and were a very soft touch late in games. John Pemberton was close to the formula but couldn’t break from the spiral of being unable to hold onto leads. Since James Rowe, The Spireites are one of three sides to achieve two PPG, losing just one of their nine matches. What’s more, Rowe has been backed, signing younger, fitter and more exciting players, players he can trust to do the job required to win football matches in the National League. Chesterfield are slowly becoming easier on the eye and their development under Rowe will be interesting to watch from afar.
Mid-term grade: C-
Dagenham and Redbridge
Season to date: Pld 20; W 6, D 5, L 9; F 19, A 28, GD –9; Pts 23
Actual position: 18th
PPG Position: 19th
Most starts: Elliot Justham (20)
Top scorer: Mitch Brundle / Paul McCallum / Angelo Balanta (3)
Most assists: Myles Weston (5)
Worst discipline: Dean Rance (6Y)
Clean sheets: 6 (30%)
Pre-season prediction: 5th
The starting XI looks better balanced and more capable of dealing with the physicality that the division brings. The uncertainty surrounding the current climate means they haven’t been able to build on those early signings but the Daggers look stronger.
It must be infuriating being a Dagenham and Redbridge supporter right now. It must be infuriating being Daryl McMahon. On so many occasions this season, he has watched his substitutes turn a game for the better, rewarded them with a start only to watch them fail to perform. It has included regular changes of system and personnel but nothing seems to work on a consistent level. If only second halves counted, The Daggers would be second. However, they have the third worst record in first halves, have gone behind in 60% of their matches and spent just 15% of their game time leading. McMahon recently received a vote of confidence from his board through Twitter but has to find a solution to his team’s problems starting football matches.
Mid-term grade: E
Dover Athletic
Season to date: Pld 15; W 3, D 1, L 11; F 12, A 35, GD –23; Pts 10
Actual position: 22nd
PPG Position: 22nd
Most starts: Sam Wood (14)
Top scorer: Sam Wood / Will De Havilland / Ade Azeez / Akheem Rose (2)
Most assists: Jack Munns (3)
Worst discipline: Josh Passley (2Y, 1R)
Clean sheets: 1 (6.7%)
Pre-season prediction: 23rd
Their biggest asset is their manager, Andy Hessenthaler, but even he will struggle to turn this situation around. Survival is the aim for Dover, and that may be off the field as much as on it.
This season has most certainly been about survival off the field more than on it. Andy Hessenthaler, to his credit, has put out a side that has, usually, competed but has never looked capable of doing something extraordinary despite a couple of shock victories. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things. Dover have only played 15 league matches this term and recently announced that they plan to play no more unless they receive financial aid. On-field matters are of far less significance right now.
Mid-term grade: E
Eastleigh
Season to date: Pld 20; W 8, D 7, L 5; F 29, A 22, GD +7; Pts 31
Actual position: 8th
PPG Position: 7th
Most starts: Joe McDonnell / Andrew Boyce (20)
Top scorer: Tyrone Barnett / Ben House (6)
Most assists: Sam Smart (6)
Worst discipline: Jack Payne (7Y)
Clean sheets: 5 (25%)
Pre-season prediction: 21st
I just can’t remove this feeling that they have a soft centre and a lack of goals in the team. Escaping the clutch of sides involved in the relegation fight may prove difficult over the course of a 46 game season
I hold my hands up. I got this wrong. A change in recruitment strategy was long overdue at Eastleigh after years of it being a retirement home for ex-Football League stars but my assumption was that Ben Strevens, still new to management himself, would find it difficult to integrate youth into the side while finding consistent performances. The reality is they got their recruitment spot on, Strevens and his backroom staff have had the foresight to manage game time for certain players and the team are looking capable at both ends of the pitch. There remains a rawness about the side and I suspect they will fall short of the top seven but in difficult circumstances, the club can be proud of the work they have done and should look at the 2021/22 campaign with optimism.
Mid-term grade: B
FC Halifax Town
Season to date: Pld 20; W 7, D 6, L 7; F 32, A 25, GD +7; Pts 27
Actual position: 13th
PPG Position: 13th
Most starts: Sam Johnson (20)
Top scorer: Jamie Allen / Jake Hyde (4)
Most assists: Kieran Green (5)
Worst discipline: Danny Williams (5Y, 1R)
Clean sheets: 4 (20%)
Pre-season prediction: 7th
Repeating last season’s achievements could be difficult but I won’t be surprised to see them in the top 7 come the end of the season.
It’s difficult to get a handle on FC Halifax Town. They have the most mid-table record possible, they have gone winless in eight, won three games in succession then failed to win, draw or lose in consecutive matches in their last eight. They are least fun – no National League side can match their records of both teams scoring in 70% of their matches. Pete Wild can at least point to selection consistency as a factor, particularly in forward areas where only one player has played over 50% of available minutes, and Jamie Allen only beats that threshold by 34 minutes. Their goals this season may depend on their ability to keep players fit and stop relying on short-term loans.
Mid-term grade: D
Hartlepool United
Season to date: Pld 20; W 11, D 3, L 6; F 29, A 20, GD +9; Pts 36
Actual position: 3rd
PPG Position: 4th
Most starts: Nicky Featherstone / Gavan Holohan (19)
Top scorer: Luke Armstrong (7)
Most assists: David Ferguson (7)
Worst discipline: Luke Molyneux (3Y, 1R)
Clean sheets: 8 (40%)
Pre-season prediction: 8th
Challinor has a good platform to build upon. My concern at the moment is whether he can get enough goals from his attack.
For a moment, it looked as if the wheels were falling off. Hartlepool had won two in ten, had been thrashed 5-0 by Torquay United on their home turf, lost 3-0 at Woking and even failed to score against Barnet. The resurgence has been spectacular. Six wins in seven matches, three goals conceded and huge victories over Stockport County (4-0), Notts County (1-0, away) and Sutton United (1-0). A change in formation has helped, as has the signings of Jamie Sterry and Luke Armstrong, the latter scoring seven in nine since arrival. Hartlepool have slowly put together one of the divisions strongest squads, one filled with players in their developmental or prime years, suggesting there is plenty more to come. Continuing to start strongly will be key – Hartlepool have won ten and drawn one after taking the lead in matches.
Mid-term grade: A-
Kings Lynn Town
Season to date: Pld 18; W 5, D 3, L 10; F 21, A 38, GD –17; Pts 18
Actual position: 21st
PPG Position: 20th
Most starts: Archie Mair / Chris Smith (16)
Top scorer: Adam Marriott (5)
Most assists: Sam Carey / Michael Clunan / Kairo Mitchell (3)
Worst discipline: Rory McAuley (2Y, 1R)
Clean sheets: 4 (22.2%)
Pre-season prediction: 19th
I’m also aware that they have a chairman and manager with the club’s best interests at heart and a playing style that came unstuck thanks to the winter weather.
It’s always fun when a team decides to attack the division after promotion. The problem for Kings Lynn Town is that their open approach has often benefitted their opposition more than themselves – they have been on the wrong end of 5-0, 3-0, 5-1 and 4-1 scorelines this term and lost 10 of their 18 league fixtures. A big issue is their inability to start games well, scoring just two goals in the opening 30 minutes of matches and spending just 14% of their league games leading. The bold approach should always be applauded but Ian Culverhouse has to add some steel and knowhow to his group if they are to avoid an immediate return to regional football.
Mid-term grade: E
Maidenhead United
Season to date: Pld 18; W 9, D 3, L 6; F 28, A 26, GD +2; Pts 30
Actual position: 10th
PPG Position: 6th
Most starts: Taye Ashby-Hammond (18)
Top scorer: Sam Barratt (9)
Most assists: Josh Coley (5)
Worst discipline: James Comley (3Y, 1R)
Clean sheets: 5 (27.8%)
Pre-season prediction: 20th
With Devonshire in charge, Maidenhead will always put up a good fight. That fight will more likely be to survive rather than thrive.
Like with Eastleigh, it appears that I misjudged Maidenhead United. It would take an extraordinary bad run of form for them to finish 20th now. Five straight victories set the tone for their season, including victories against Wrexham and Notts County away from home. They have since put four past Wealdstone and Yeovil Town. What’s more, Maidenhead are comfortable at home (1.63 PPG) and away (1.7 PPG) and are the division’s comeback kings – they have finished victorious in five of the ten games that they have conceded first in. Of course, they started well last season before imploding through the winter but this squad looks far better equipped physically, technically and in depth.
Mid-term grade: A-
Notts County
Season to date: Pld 18; W 10, D 3, L 5; F 25, A 14, GD +11; Pts 33
Actual position: 5th
PPG Position: 3th
Most starts: Sam Slocombe / Michael Doyle / Jake Reeves / Kyle Wootton (18)
Top scorer: Kyle Wootton (10)
Most assists: Enzio Boldewijn (5)
Worst discipline: Ben Turner (1Y, 1R)
Clean sheets: 8 (44.4%)
Pre-season prediction: 1st
They join a side that had the second best defensive and attacking records before lockdown and has retained a large core of the side that came so close last term. The Magpies should be in the promotion race.
Notts County are the team to beat. With or without supporters, that’s difficult to overcome. There is a weight of expectation on a grand old club to return its home of over 100 years, the Football League. Fans are understandably twitchy, unhelped by the tight nature of their games. So far, they have managed things well. The Magpies have only conceded the first goal on four occasions, scored 12 goals in opening 30 minutes of games while conceding only four in the opening 60 and have been in a leading or level position in 92.1% of their minutes. Their home form is excellent too. Of concern may be that County have not picked up a point in those games they have conceded the opener and the fact that they have scored just five goals between minutes 30 and 70. If Neal Ardley can coax a little more ruthlessness from his side, they have a real shot at glory.
Mid-term grade: B+
Solihull Moors
Season to date: Pld 17; W 8, D 2, L 7; F 21, A 18, GD +3; Pts 26
Actual position: 14th
PPG Position: 8th
Most starts: Ryan Boot / Tyrone Williams (17)
Top scorer: James Ball / Joe Sbarra (4)
Most assists: Jordan Cranston (3)
Worst discipline: Jamey Osborne (5Y)
Clean sheets: 7 (41.2%)
Pre-season prediction: 3rd
The manager of this group is Jimmy Shan, a highly respected coach who has worked hard to get this opportunity but his managerial experience is limited, meaning there is an element of predicting the unknown.
Solihull Moors are a real anomaly this season. They have the best home form (six wins and a defeat from seven games), have yet to concede a second half goal at home, have conceded just once in the first 15 minutes of matches and have the third best overall record in second halves. On the flip side, only Barnet and Dover Athletic can claim worse records away from home and leading at half time. The Moors are clearly a very well-coached outfit with their patterns of play so often clearly straight from the training ground. What they lack at times is a ruthlessness in the final third and the courage on the pitch to reorganise if the game calls for it. The returns of Callum Howe, Alex Gudger and Adam Rooney could be pivotal on that front.
Mid-term grade: C-
Stockport County
Season to date: Pld 20; W 10, D 5, L 5; F 30, A 20, GD +10; Pts 35
Actual position: 4th
PPG Position: 5th
Most starts: Ben Hinchcliffe (20)
Top scorer: John Rooney / Alex Reid (9)
Most assists: Richie Bennett (8)
Worst discipline: Lois Maynard / Jordan Keane (4Y)
Clean sheets: 7 (35%)
Pre-season prediction: 2nd
Stockport look good for a promotion push and a return to the Football League that has been far too long in the making.
Stockport County have a squad chock full of Football League quality. They create chances at will from all areas of the pitch and their defensive record is relatively solid despite ongoing injury problems defensively. Jim Gannon was sacked but that was put down to “culture” rather than any concerns about their on-field performances. Yet this team is only fourth in the league table, fifth if you go on points per game. How? The answer is in where they have earned their points. Their record against sides in the bottom half of the table reads ten games and twenty-five points. Against top half sides, it’s ten games and ten points. Against sides in the top five, it’s four games and zero points. If Stockport County are serious about automatic promotion, they have to start beating the best sides in the division. The quality is there and that is the challenge that now faces Simon Rusk.
Mid-term grade: B+
Sutton United
Season to date: Pld 19; W 11, D 4, L 4; F 32, A 17, GD +15; Pts 37
Actual position: 2nd
PPG Position: 2nd
Most starts: Dean Bouzanis / Harry Beautyman (19)
Top scorer: Isaac Olaofe (6)
Most assists: Isaac Olaofe (5)
Worst discipline: Omar Bugiel (2Y, 1R)
Clean sheets: 8 (42.1%)
Pre-season prediction: 11th
The sheer work rate of the side, along with the flashes of quality available, makes me believe they will improve on last season.
I spoke about how highly I rated Sutton United in my pre-season prediction. I wrote them into my top seven on several occasions but when it came to the final prediction, I bottled it. I had nagging doubts. Could they sustain last season’s level of performance? Did they have enough goals? Was their squad big enough? Sutton have answered those questions emphatically so far. They are a team that almost always start games with the right tone, get the first goal in games and secure the lead – they have opened the scoring in 13 of their 19 games and won 11. It’s a side willing to muck in, do the dirty work and earn the right to play. The surprise 4-0 loss at Wrexham aside, they have competed in every game. The next step is to ensure they begin beating the sides around them in the league table.
Mid-term grade: A
Torquay United
Season to date: Pld 22; W 13, D 5, L 4; F 42, A 20, GD +22; Pts 44
Actual position: 1st
PPG Position:1st
Most starts: Kyle Cameron / Ben Whitfield (22)
Top scorer: Danny Wright (8)
Most assists: Connor Lemonheigh-Evans (9)
Worst discipline: Adam Randell (4Y, 1R)
Clean sheets: 7 (31.8%)
Pre-season prediction: 13th
Keeping a busy midfield with plenty of energy, pace and craft fit and firing could be the difference between a top 7 finish and looking over their shoulders. I’m not convinced they will be consistent enough.
Torquay United have been the standout side in the National League. They are the side atop of the actual and PPG league tables and have scored more goals than anybody else. There is clearly variety to their game, able to hurt teams from set-pieces, counter-attacks and from open play. They recycle possession, they get bodies into the box, they attack at pace. They start games well, taking the lead on 14 occasions, and finish strongly, their record of 11 goals in the final 10 minutes of matches is by far the best in the division. Yet, they have hit a sticky patch. The Gulls have won one of their last six matches, during which they have been forced to chop and change the starting XI amid injuries. Meanwhile, the chasing pack are bang in form. Can Torquay return to form and keep their key players fit and firing? That was always going to be the challenge.
Mid-term grade: A*
Wealdstone
Season to date: Pld 19; W 6, D 4, L 9; F 27, A 40, GD –13; Pts 22
Actual position: 19th
PPG Position: 17th
Most starts: Jorome Okimo (19)
Top scorer: Jacob Mendy / Moses Emmanuel / Danny Parish (5)
Most assists: Dennon Lewis (5)
Worst discipline: Danny Green (5Y)
Clean sheets: 3 (15.8%)
Pre-season prediction: 17th
I see a group that will likely play to its strengths, that has pace in wide areas and an array of attacking talent that should produce enough goals to hurt teams.
It’s generally difficult to dislike any side that approaches games with a “let’s score one more than you” approach and early on, it worked for Wealdstone. Clearly, they had players that were not up to the level but goals were flying in left, right and centre and fives win on the bounce took them into the play-off places. Since then, it’s gone downhill. Wealdstone have won one of their previous eleven, injuries and short-term additions have left the side looking disjointed and manager Dean Brennan has departed. Their attacking approach should be applauded but if they are to stay in the National League, an improvement in structure and mentality is required – only Barnet have conceded more goals in general play and nobody has conceded more in the final 10 minutes of matches.
Mid-term grade: D
Weymouth
Season to date: Pld 21; W 5, D 3, L 13; F 22, A 34, GD –12; Pts 18
Actual position: 20th
PPG Position: 21st
Most starts: Ollie Harfield / Calvin Brooks (19)
Top scorer: Josh McQuoid (5)
Most assists: Sean Shields (4)
Worst discipline: Jake McCarthy (2Y, 1R)
Clean sheets: 4 (19%)
Pre-season prediction: 22nd
Despite the signings of Cody Cooke, Myles Anderson and Alefe Santos, Brian Stock has an unenviable task ahead of him.
A few weeks ago, I couldn’t see anything but Weymouth being relegated. Every week, I watched in despair at the soft nature of the goals they conceded, as if they were always finding new ways to lose football matches. Before 23rd January, Weymouth had won twice, kept two clean sheets and conceded at least three goals in six of their previous eleven matches. Brian Stock and his team have made some excellent signings, however, and it has given them a chance, winning three of the previous five and giving Notts County and Boreham Wood a real scare. Stock has acknowledged that new signings have enabled a change in training schedule and it could be a huge factor in their bid to survive.
Mid-term grade: D-
Woking
Season to date: Pld 19; W 6, D 5, L 8; F 23, A 24, GD –1; Pts 23
Actual position: 16th
PPG Position: 16th
Most starts: Craig Ross (19)
Top scorer: Kane Ferdinand (5)
Most assists: Charlie Cooper (5)
Worst discipline: Jack Cook (6Y)
Clean sheets: 6 (31.6%)
Pre-season prediction: 16th
It may not be an easy start for Woking but they’re in good hands and that should see them avoid the trapdoor comfortably again.
When I think of Woking, I immediately think of an effective team, one that makes really good use of set pieces, looks to get from one box to the other side as quickly as possible and works hard. Of course, that description suggests The Cards are a team of hard knocks but that isn’t really the case. Woking are a good grounding school for young players learning their trade, a place where forwards are allowed to play with an element of freedom provided they put the work in and are capable of delivering or being on the end of a thrashing – six of their games have ended with a 3+ goal margin, the highest in the division. Their league position can perhaps be put down to how they start games – Woking have won each game they have taken the lead in but only scored first on four occasions.
Mid-term grade: C-
Wrexham
Season to date: Pld 21; W 9, D 5, L 7; F 28, A 23, GD +5; Pts 32
Actual position: 7th
PPG Position: 10th
Most starts: Fiacre Kelleher / Luke Young (21)
Top scorer: Kwame Thomas (6)
Most assists: Jay Harris / Reece Hall-Johnson (3)
Worst discipline: Jay Harris (8Y)
Clean sheets: 7 (33.3%)
Pre-season prediction: 9th
Dean Keates has often seen his sides start well but tail off. Wrexham will be much improved defensively and I suspect they might just have enough goals in the side to keep them in the hunt for a top 7 finish.
It’s tough to get a handle on Wrexham. At times, they have looked a really good football team but they remain streaky in terms of results and performances. They are neither brilliant defensively or offensively, spend as much time leading games as they do chasing them and their record is pretty much the same against top half teams as it is against those in the bottom half. It’s little wonder fans aren’t overly enamoured with Dean Keates. Still, the club are in a good position going into the second half of the season. They are seventh in the league, the change in ownership is a huge positive and the squad of players is impressive in paper. If Wrexham can add more consistency and adventure to their game, they stand a good chance of a top seven finish.
Mid-term grade: C
Yeovil Town
Season to date: Pld 20; W 6, D 5, L 9; F 27, A 31, GD –4; Pts 23
Actual position: 17th
PPG Position: 18th
Most starts: Adam Smith (20)
Top scorer: Joe Quigley (7)
Most assists: Carl Dickinson (6)
Worst discipline: Luke Wilkinson (4Y, 1R)
Clean sheets: 4 (20%)
Pre-season prediction: 6th
I expect they will address the lack of depth in attack but more so as the season continues, providing they can stretch the budget in these times.
Yeovil Town go into the second half of the season playing catch up, which sums up their season so far. They failed to win any of their first ten fixtures, no side has conceded more goals in the first 15 minutes of matches and only two sides (yes, those two) have led a smaller percentage of game at half time. Yeovil are fighting back, however (perhaps too literally given their disciplinary record). They have hauled themselves away from the bottom three with six wins in ten, made necessary changes to the playing staff to introduce some stability and stopped conceding so many early goals. It will take some turnaround to finish in the top seven now but Sarll and Yeovil have a really good opportunity to build ahead of next season.
Mid-term grade: E
**Statistics taken from FBREF, Whoscored, Soccerway, FootballWebPages & Soccer Stats
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