The proof of the pudding will come this year.
Last season we lost the spine of a team that only finished a few places above the relegation zone. More to the point we lost the 1 focal point of our attack. Marlon King was able to provide penetration when we worked it up to him. The combination of the Thorn style of play, with him up front worked. Losing him and not replacing him, Westwood, Turner and Gunna was terminal.
We played some 'nice' football last season, and for the first 2/3rds of the pitch at times we looked like one of the best teams in the league. It all went wrong in the final 1/3rd without someone like King there. We were way too 'nice', the amount of gifts we gave away at the Ricoh to visiting teams was shocking also.
But considering what had happened to our team, as I said losing it's Spine, you did have to sympathise with Thorn. Un-tested youth players are suddenly being relied upon. It was never going to go well.
Yes it did get very tedious hearing how we'd almost won a corner, and the boys had battled hard but "unfortunately come away with nothing" but we were clearly on a downwards spiral. That said, from all accounts the team spirit remained, he kept the support of the players.
So next season is the acid test. We've lost some players, but the few that have come appear at least to be certain first team players and not squad boosters.
Now we'll see what he's really about I guess.
imp:
