“..and so the start is near..”

I feel that it is the performance of the “almost “players which will determine whether or not Rovers have a good season this year.

We have made some good signings who i feel sure  will deliver some solid performances but for a season to be succesful , We need more than that. We need a few players to really step up a gear and make this their ” break out” season. Dont you just love a good cliché? 

I can’t think of a better word to describe them really but they are the guys who have shown ability but for one reason or another have failed to deliver at the levels we hoped they might..

Jervani Brown is a classic example – a guy who seems to have so much ability and had one great season at Exeter . Occasionally he shows glimpses of true class but at the same time he seems content to be a bit part player whilst other less talented guys have more grit and determination than he does and make more of their opportunities.

Maybe he does not believe in himself i cant help just wishing that he would take the bull by the horns and show the world what a good player he really can be . Just imagine if JB had Antony Evans mental approach. Evans  came through a bad patch when we first got promoted but gritted his teeth , fought through it and succeeded to become player of the year last season. 

Luke McCormack is a natural goal scorer and with a new more physical centre forward making his presence felt up front then Luke could thrive as the new grab of a smash and grab partnership. He has had injury problems and is yet to nail down a regular starting place but I have over the years seen enough predators to know that McCormack has what it takes to break out and make a name for himself . He just has to believe and be given the chance to prove himself.

Even a new signing like Promise has shown so much talent in the past but according to others he has never quite became the player he could be . “ Nappers” – Fleetwood’s young fan pundit thinks that he is overpriced and described him as the perfect centre forward except that he doesn’t score enough. This is obviously the most important part of his role and if he does find that touch then his value will soar way beyond the figure that we paid. Form my early glimpses he seems to be an instinctive player rather than technical – perhaps the opposite of Chris Martin in many ways – and maybe he will learn from the older guy – the real skill of being a centre forward .

Bryant Bilongo looks like a real find – one who has not yet announced himself on the world . It only takes about 20 games for a player to suddenly lift himself above the ordinary and to become a “. Name “ that everyone knows .

Ward – if he stays injury free – is a great midfield player – but that’s a big “ if”. One season could make the difference

I could go on – Rovers – as a team – feel like a group of individuals whose best days are mostly ahead of them and that makes this team exciting.

Yes we have some older heads – Sinclair , Martin , Hunt , Wilson who perhaps are in the twilight of their careers but these guys should be role models for the next generation and can teach the game to the guys on the rise.

We also have a new group of coaches who we hope  will have the Midas touch that enables the next Gas Legends to take to the stage .

Yes you have guessed it – pre Season optimism has taken hold and whilst I am happy for the experts to predict a 15th  place finish based upon what the current situation , I have a hope that a few of our smoking embers can ignite into a flame.

Then again I thought that we would go up by the play- offs last season. How wrong was that ?

All opinions are my own CC