Edited ..er.... highlights, not very positive... Commentary: Crawley Town found themselves involved in the mix at the foot of League Two towards the end of last season despite occupying a play-off spot after 10 games. Manager Dermot Drummy had brought in an incredible 17 players ahead of the August 2016 transfer deadline including striker James Collins from Shrewsbury, and appeared to have moulded them immediately into an effective unit. Unfortunately it was not sustained, and Crawley had slipped into the bottom half by mid-season. They won just 5 more games after that, and were only certain of staying up with three games to go. Drummy departed by mutual consent in May and was replaced by former Liverpool and Australia star Harry Kewell, taking his first steps in professional management.
The main problem last season came up front with only 53 league goals scored, 20 of which came from the now-departed Collins. More than 70 were conceded, and manager Kewell has sought to overhaul his midfield this summer in an attempt to cure both ills. The loss of Collins is a major blow - 20-goal strikers are hard to come by at this level, and no other striker managed more than 2 last season. Giant Dutch striker Thomas Verheydt could do well after scoring 11 goals last season in the Dutch second tier with MVV, but there appears to be a shortfall in striking options. Kewell is something of an unknown quantity, a big-name appointment in a relatively minor league. Success as a player is no guarantee in management, and life at the bottom end of the Football League is an unforgiving environment.
Kewell put Crawley's 6-0 pre-season home defeat by Brighton down to individual mistakes, which is either slightly naive or a precursor to disasters to come. Although they will not be meeting the likes of Brighton every week, Crawley come into the 2017-18 season on a run of 1 win in 14 games, and no win in 7. Kewell's appointment at Broadfield Stadium could prove to be brilliantly imaginative, but he needs to reverse that negative momentum quickly if another relegation battle is to be avoided.
At the bookies (Ladbrokes): 80/1
Prediction: Relegation battle, may stay up by the skin of their teeth.
Ah what do they know. We'll surprise a few people this season I'm sure, and a win tomorrow will start that. Also is this written by someone from Lincoln? (I know the website kind of suggests it is). Automatic promotion? Really?
In fairness, between our demise and Lincolns ascension it likely makes insightful and intelligent comments on the prospects of the other teams... only I'm not even slightly interested in the prospects of the other teams, however insightful and intelligent those comments might be.
So, once again, we haven't got a prayer... hey-ho...!
In fairness, between our demise and Lincolns ascension it likely makes insightful and intelligent comments on the prospects of the other teams... only I'm not even slightly interested in the prospects of the other teams, however insightful and intelligent those comments might be.
So, once again, we haven't got a prayer... hey-ho...!
Whilst we dont have a Prayer we do have a Mark, Thomas,and a Jordan. We will be OK.
