Welcome to my Football League column for BestBettingBonuses. I spent my whole career in these three divisions, from League Two right the way up to promotions with Sheffield United and Derby, so there isn’t much about this part of the pyramid I haven’t seen first-hand.
This week I’ve gone right through the pyramid. There’s a ex-Sheffield United teammate of mine earning praise at Sunderland, a goalkeeper at QPR whose rise has been genuinely remarkable, and a John Eustace side I know plenty about from the inside. Further down I’ve looked at what’s gone wrong at Rotherham, why Exeter’s defensive record deserves far more credit than it’s getting, and whether York can keep this going after coming up from the National League.
Championship
Characters Like Simon Moore Are the Glue a Dressing Room Needs
Si is a fantastic character who is not only a top goalkeeper with high personal standards but a really amazing person who can be the glue a dressing room needs when times are tough and when new players come into it, although his short game needs some work! Characters like Si are so important, and when I think back to all the teams I had success with, they were full of these types of people. The importance of dressing room culture can’t be overstated. Similarly, the clubs I experienced bad times with had fractured dressing rooms and poor culture within them.
Being a third-choice goalkeeper isn’t an easy role, as you’re trying to push the two in front of you whilst knowing that, realistically, unless there’s a catastrophe, you aren’t likely to get lots of minutes. Being able to keep your own standards high and be a positive influence on the goalkeeping department and the dressing room as a whole is a skill that should be admired.
Pierce Charles’ Development Has Been Nothing Short of Remarkable
Pierce’s development over the past 18 to 24 months has been nothing short of remarkable considering his age and the position he plays in, with it traditionally being an older player’s position. The thing that stands out to me, similarly to Shea, is his assuredness and rock-solid belief in his own ability, two incredibly important attributes for a goalkeeper.
His ability with both feet is a real differentiator even at the top level. QPR and Northern Ireland can essentially build with 11 players rather than 10, as he’s so comfortable under pressure, and he also has great longer-range distribution, which is a weapon against teams that want to try and get pressure high up. We have a habit of building players up early on in their careers, but you’ve only got to look at James Trafford, who is now a regular starter in the Premier League, to see where Pierce can potentially go.
I’d Back John Eustace to Turn Derby Around When the Injured Lads Return
I’ve worked with John a couple of times in my career, as he came in as assistant to Steve McClaren at QPR when I was there. His attention to detail and hard work were obvious from the first moment, and he coaches with real intensity. He’s also done a great job of surrounding himself with top coaches like Keith and Gards.
I can imagine John is doubling down on the detail and the hard work in order to give the players the best possible chance to win games of football. We all know the Championship is relentless and it’s so easy to get on a bad run, but similar to when he first came in, I’d back him to turn things around when the injured lads return.
Terry Devlin’s Versatility Is an Underrated Weapon for Portsmouth
Versatility is such an underrated attribute in modern football, and as long as the player is happy being utilised in different positions, it can be a really powerful tool for managers to have at their disposal. The Championship is relentless, and with the amount of games, having someone like Terry who can slot into a number of positions can be invaluable at times, especially during really congested fixture periods.
Terry is a clever player who is good technically, with a real desire and intensity to his game, and that naturally lends itself to a number of positions. I’m sure John Mousinho is delighted to be able to use him wherever he’s needed!
League One
Louie Sibley Does Things That Catch You Off Guard
Sibs is one of those players who does things in training and games that catch you off guard. He’s got bags of technical ability, he’s creative and he plays off his natural instincts, which I think some managers can find difficult if they’re very pattern-based or demand lots of structure in the attacking areas. Out of possession, if you simplify the instructions and give him a couple of jobs, he’s very diligent in the work he does and competes well.
Aaron Ramsey has got so much experience dealing with players with Sibs’ ability and personality, so will have worked out quickly how to get the best out of him. Alongside Chris Gunter, who is an excellent man manager, it’s a perfect environment for Sibs to thrive.
League Two
I Worried for Rotherham in Pre-Season Because That Squad Was So Thin
We played them in pre-season (Matlock) and I worried for them, to be honest. The squad was so thin at that point, and they obviously had a flurry of signings towards the end of the window, but those players haven’t necessarily played lots of football in recent times, so will take some time to get up to speed. Bradshaw and Mullin, I believe, are good signings for the level, and Mullin has shown signs he’s up to speed. They’ll both score goals in this league.
I think once you get relegated, there can be a carry-over in terms of a negative feeling around the club, even if there’s been a big turnover in players and staff. Ultimately, you can get used to losing games of football, and any time a goal goes in, the fans naturally think, ‘here we go again’. The Millers fans are great, and the atmosphere can be a brilliant weapon for Rotherham for the rest of the season if they can get themselves on a little run. Momentum is huge in football, and a six or nine point week when the fixtures get congested can suddenly become a platform to mount a real push for the top end of the table.
It Would Be Silly to Write Rotherham Off at This Point
I think so. They’ve got good people in the building, both in the coaching and recruitment departments, who will be working tirelessly to improve the team both now and in the near future. It would be silly to write them off at this point. There’s lots of experience in the coaching staff (Woody is ancient) and in the team, who will have been on bad runs and been promoted.
The best teams weaponise the negative energy when on bad runs and create an ‘us vs them’ mentality, which can turn the tide quickly. League Two is unpredictable, and at the time of me writing this the Millers are only eight points off an automatic promotion spot.
Northern Ireland
Ross McCausland Just Needs Regular Football to Get Back to His Best
I remember Ross coming into the Northern Ireland squad and being really impressed with him. He looked sharp in training, was really direct and wasn’t afraid to get at people. He had that confidence to take players on and make things happen, which is something you always want from a wide player.
I’m not necessarily surprised that he’s found it difficult to establish himself at Rangers, because it’s a tough environment for any young player, particularly when the team isn’t doing well. When results aren’t going your way, there’s huge pressure on managers to turn things around, and sometimes younger players are the easiest ones to leave out. There’s less patience for mistakes and development almost becomes secondary to getting results.
I certainly don’t think it’s a question of whether he’s got the ability. I saw enough of him with Northern Ireland to know there’s a really talented player there. It’s probably more about finding the right environment where he can play regularly, build confidence and get back to doing the things that made him stand out in the first place. Whether that’s at Rangers or somewhere else, I think regular football is the most important thing for him at this stage of his career. He’s still got plenty of time on his side and I certainly wouldn’t be writing him off in terms of getting back into the Northern Ireland squad.
Final Word
That’s everything from me this week. The theme running through most of it is momentum, whether that’s York carrying theirs up from the National League, Rotherham desperately needing to find some, or Exeter getting that first away win off their backs. The beauty of the Football League is that it rarely does what you expect, and the clubs that come out on top in May are usually the ones that stay calm through the runs where nothing goes their way.
I’ll be back next week with another look at the Championship, League One and League Two, plus my predictions for the full round of fixtures.
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