We’ve got two Lincoln City fans eager to tell you about their season so far. First up is Tom Lawson, @tlaws87 on Twitter, who is joined by Gary Hutchinson from the popular Stacey West site, @staceywestblog.
How has the season gone for you so far?
TL: Really good start for a squad that changed a lot in the summer. Bringing in a fair few new additions I thought time would be needed to gel and build upon last years play off place. However Cowley had us flying high from week one.
Bar a little decline in performances and results over a few week period we’re back to winning ways going into the festive period full of confidence and looking forward to a trip to Everton in January.
GH: It’s been a good, solid start in a season full of expectation. The summer signings have fuelled belief that this is our year and the level of performance early doors certainly echoed that sentiment.
The challenge now is to sustain that. we’re in the bottom half of the form table at present after a difficult spell, but hopefully back to back wins against Carlisle in the FA Cup and Stevenage in the league put paid to that.
I don’t count the Accrington draw as a proper game.
Who has been your key player and why?
TL: Bruno Andrade. He has pace to burn and loves to beat a man. I’ve seen full backs this season absolutely terrified. With a fair few assists already, I’m sure his end product and attacking prowess will be key to our promotion push. Run very close in my opinion by Tom Pett though. Honourable mentions for Lee Frecklington, Jason Shackell and Michael Bostwick too. Their experience is so underestimated.
GH: There’s been a few, but I’d have to say Bruno Andrade. He’s been sensational out wide, laying on lots of assists which is what he’s paid to do. Three truly experienced lads have done well too, Jason Shackell, Michael Bostwick and Neal Eardley at the back.
It’s been a team effort, it would be hard to not mentioned Lee Frecklington and Michael O’Connor, plus Tom Pett who has switched to a central midfielder. John Akinde has had a big season too, not amongst the goals but allowing us to play a different way.
Which player has disappointed you the most this season and why?
TL: This is hard. I’ll have to say Harry Anderson. A player that gives his all and runs till he can’t anymore which can’t be faulted. I just wish we could improve on his decision making and quality in the final third. He’s so bullish and quick he’s unplayable at times, I just wish he had Andrade’s end product.
GH: It’s hard to pick any, but I’ve not been struck on our loan player, Bernard Mensah. He’s come from Bristol Rovers but looks to be some way short of the level we require. Sam Slocombe is another we got from them who isn’t impressing, he’s the back-up keeper but when he’s played he hasn’t looked great.
Which game have you enjoyed the most to date and why?
TL: Mansfield at home. Not the highest of quality on show from either team and conceding a 93rd min equaliser isn’t great, but the atmosphere was electric. Fair play to Mansfield they make noise, but that just makes us louder. Love a local derby/rivalry.
GH: Winning away 6-2 at Port Vale is a close second. We didn’t even play all that well, but everything we put into the box went in. We scored five set pieces but our form since hasn’t been the best. The 4-1 win against Swindon was a big result too, we looked really convincing that day and showed strength from the bench too.
The best day has to be beating MK Dons 2-1 at the Bank though. It was a powerful afternoon, we had the Lancaster bomber fly over and the whole crowd helped edge us to a 2-1 win. I get goosebumps writing about it.
What has been the lowest point of your season so far?
TL: Conceding to Mansfield or the 1-0 home defeat to Crawley. As poor as I’ve seen us since Cowley took over.
GH: Losing at home to Crawley stung, we were poor but should still have won and the only saving grace was the fact Ollie Palmer didn’t score. The draws with Cambridge and Carlisle were pretty bad too, we should have won both games but a combination of poor performances, awful refereeing decisions and missed chances cost us. We’d still be well clear at the top if we’d won those matches, but football is all about the what ifs, isn’t it?
How do you think the second half of the season will go for you?
TL: I think we’ll keep pushing on and go up automatically. I think we’ll have a bit of movement in January too with loanees returning and a couple coming in. Maybe a permanent L1 quality player if he can be acquired at the right price.
GH: We’ll be competitive and all being well, we’ll finish in the top three, but nothing is a given. The lads have to remain focused and apply themselves correctly. Games against Crawley have shown we can drop off at times and they need to dig deep and stop that happening.
There’s a long way to go this season, but hopefully promotion without a play off trauma awaits.
What will you be hoping to see happen at your club in the transfer window?
TL: I’m hoping we’ll freshen things up. A few loanees haven’t had a sniff, so sending them back and looking for a bit more quality to challenge the regulars for their shirt would be good. Will hopefully eliminate any potential complacency (not that Cowley will allow it) and see us through to top spot, but ultimately promotion is the goal. So I’d like to see another winger in, a holding midfielder, a forward with real pace and cover at LB.
GH: That all depends on who goes. I expect some of the loan lads will leave, Mensah, Wharton too, maybe even Kellan Gordon. They’ll need to be replaced and in doing so I hope to see full back cover and maybe an option out wide.
There’s talk of a move for Matt Green too, he’s out of contract at the end of the season and may be cashed in. If he goes, we need to grab another striker. Shay McCartan may go back to Bradford and again, if he does it’s about replacing.
Which other League 2 players would you like to see your side sign?
TL: I’d take Danny Rose from Mansfield in a heartbeat. But a few. Sammie Szmodics at Colchester, Padraig Amond at Newport, Hiram Boateng at Exeter or Danny Mayor at Bury to name a few. Anyone with League 1 quality.
GH: I like Sam Surridge, the lad on loan at Oldham, I think he’s be a great addition for us. Boateng at Exeter is an obvious choice and in a ‘money no object’ world I’d like Moore-Taylor from MK Dons. He’s such a good player and a key part of their promotion assault, as well as Exeter’s last year.
Up front we’d have to change our system, but Tyler Walker is lively and I’ve always been an admirer of Kieran Agard, he’s no business being down in League Two with his talent.
Any other comments you’d like to make about your team or the season?
TL: A good season so far for the Imps. At times I do think we’ve missed Alex Woodward who left for Peterborough.
They aren’t necessarily a League Two player, but I’d like to see another midfielder come in whose tenacious that’ll sit and do the dirty work. I massively think that’ll free up Freck and Tom Pett to cause real problems. Also as a bit of back up as Freck and O’Connor can’t play every game, so good for a bit of rotation.
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