2023: How did we get here
Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 10:08 am
Given the current lack of positivity at the club, both on and off the pitch it’s maybe worth looking at what has happened in 2023 so far leading up to this point. A rough timeline of the big happenings are below:
- On EFL deadline day Josh Walker is sold to Burton for what was a well deserved move up for him, the money is used to replace him well with Inih Effiong.
- Three days later Paul McCallum is then loaned to play-off chasing Chesterfield weakening our attacking depth.
- Later on in February Daryl McMahon is sacked after over a year of underachieving with the players he has. His premature contract extension is seemingly paid out.
- Two weeks later Ben Strevens is hired, allegedly on a low salary + high bonus deal to help push results.
- Five days later Junior Morias is then sold to Notts County, with no replacement brought in.
- The remainder of the season and our outside chance of playoffs fades under Strevens with 12 points, 3 wins, and 8 goals scored in his 10 games in charge. It seems clear to all during this time that the resources given to Strevens were purely to just get through the remainder of the season. Not to push ourselves to compete.
- Following the last game of the season, Peter Freund released a statement highlighting his disappointment in the season, his support of Strevens and his commitment to taking a new approach to the club to deliver playoff football (or better yet automatic promotion). Comments also on making Victoria Rd an intimidating fortress.
- A summer of more departures follows. Balanta, McCallum, Sagaf, Robinson out the door. Justham only extending his contract with us because one of our biggest rivals were close to going bust.
- Season ticket prices and ticket prices are announced as going up.
- New players start to come in, with a clear lack of goals in the squad not being addressed. Squad size is then also clearly reduced for this season despite injury prone nature of some players signed/retained.
- Todd Johnson joins the club as Exec Vice-Chairman. With intentions to improve the commercial and comms side of the club. Which has had a noticeable improvement in quality but what feels like little financial benefit.
- Stanchions are then erected in the sieve to support a new tv gantry required for West Ham Ladies, which block out views of the pitch for most fans. This is only partially rectified after countless fans complain on social media, with the blame seemingly put on West Ham. Despite it being our stadium. (I know this doesn’t effect our players but what does it show about decisions at the club?)
- Online highlights show that new TV gantry has a worse view of the pitch than before, with scaffolding obstructing camera-side angles of the pitch.
- A slow but expected start to the season worsened by a tragic and unforeseeable health scare to Effiong. His absence then really exposes how non-existent our goal threat is.
- Three loan players brought in. Including one who is not good enough and another is sent to prison after maybe 3 weeks at the club.
- Owners say they recognise the lack of goal threat in the team but will not be held to ransom by potential players. Emphasis that they want to sign players who fit the mould and want to be here (like the lad now in prison). They go on to sign a striker who was holding us to ransom since the summer.
- Owners call out fans on social media for criticising the lack of backing given to Strevens. With comments even mocking a fan for not having the money to run the club for 5 minutes, as if that makes his opinion invalid.
- Meanwhile the club go 4 consecutive matches without scoring. A run that then evolves to 7 matches without a win. 3 games lost from a winning position.
- During this run, at Aldershot Todd Johnson sits down with some away fans for a drink and asked them what can be done to improve the atmosphere at the club… Well intended yes, we all want to see this happen. But does it really need to be spelled out to him?
- Dagenham now sit 19th in the table with 13 goals scored after 14 matches. With 2 experienced strikers vs the 4 we started the year with.
Ultimately, the quality of football under Strevs has definitely improved this season in our own half. But the forwards are not showing the same level of quality. Yes this may be different with Effiong back, but as the above shows the lack of goals has been there since March and the squad’s size is leaving us horribly exposed to key injuries. Why is this happening? Because the club’s leaders do not know how to deliver on their words. They constantly make mistakes around the club. They say one thing, and then do the opposite. Even when we do something positive like creating Johnson’s position, it seems like we don’t see any real benefit from it. Did we bring him in just to ask fans questions? I don’t know if it’s Thommo, Johnson, or Freund himself behind this, but that’s where the blame needs to lay. Not Strevens. They need to sort out how the club is being run, so Strevs can get the backing he needs and keep us in the league.
- On EFL deadline day Josh Walker is sold to Burton for what was a well deserved move up for him, the money is used to replace him well with Inih Effiong.
- Three days later Paul McCallum is then loaned to play-off chasing Chesterfield weakening our attacking depth.
- Later on in February Daryl McMahon is sacked after over a year of underachieving with the players he has. His premature contract extension is seemingly paid out.
- Two weeks later Ben Strevens is hired, allegedly on a low salary + high bonus deal to help push results.
- Five days later Junior Morias is then sold to Notts County, with no replacement brought in.
- The remainder of the season and our outside chance of playoffs fades under Strevens with 12 points, 3 wins, and 8 goals scored in his 10 games in charge. It seems clear to all during this time that the resources given to Strevens were purely to just get through the remainder of the season. Not to push ourselves to compete.
- Following the last game of the season, Peter Freund released a statement highlighting his disappointment in the season, his support of Strevens and his commitment to taking a new approach to the club to deliver playoff football (or better yet automatic promotion). Comments also on making Victoria Rd an intimidating fortress.
- A summer of more departures follows. Balanta, McCallum, Sagaf, Robinson out the door. Justham only extending his contract with us because one of our biggest rivals were close to going bust.
- Season ticket prices and ticket prices are announced as going up.
- New players start to come in, with a clear lack of goals in the squad not being addressed. Squad size is then also clearly reduced for this season despite injury prone nature of some players signed/retained.
- Todd Johnson joins the club as Exec Vice-Chairman. With intentions to improve the commercial and comms side of the club. Which has had a noticeable improvement in quality but what feels like little financial benefit.
- Stanchions are then erected in the sieve to support a new tv gantry required for West Ham Ladies, which block out views of the pitch for most fans. This is only partially rectified after countless fans complain on social media, with the blame seemingly put on West Ham. Despite it being our stadium. (I know this doesn’t effect our players but what does it show about decisions at the club?)
- Online highlights show that new TV gantry has a worse view of the pitch than before, with scaffolding obstructing camera-side angles of the pitch.
- A slow but expected start to the season worsened by a tragic and unforeseeable health scare to Effiong. His absence then really exposes how non-existent our goal threat is.
- Three loan players brought in. Including one who is not good enough and another is sent to prison after maybe 3 weeks at the club.
- Owners say they recognise the lack of goal threat in the team but will not be held to ransom by potential players. Emphasis that they want to sign players who fit the mould and want to be here (like the lad now in prison). They go on to sign a striker who was holding us to ransom since the summer.
- Owners call out fans on social media for criticising the lack of backing given to Strevens. With comments even mocking a fan for not having the money to run the club for 5 minutes, as if that makes his opinion invalid.
- Meanwhile the club go 4 consecutive matches without scoring. A run that then evolves to 7 matches without a win. 3 games lost from a winning position.
- During this run, at Aldershot Todd Johnson sits down with some away fans for a drink and asked them what can be done to improve the atmosphere at the club… Well intended yes, we all want to see this happen. But does it really need to be spelled out to him?
- Dagenham now sit 19th in the table with 13 goals scored after 14 matches. With 2 experienced strikers vs the 4 we started the year with.
Ultimately, the quality of football under Strevs has definitely improved this season in our own half. But the forwards are not showing the same level of quality. Yes this may be different with Effiong back, but as the above shows the lack of goals has been there since March and the squad’s size is leaving us horribly exposed to key injuries. Why is this happening? Because the club’s leaders do not know how to deliver on their words. They constantly make mistakes around the club. They say one thing, and then do the opposite. Even when we do something positive like creating Johnson’s position, it seems like we don’t see any real benefit from it. Did we bring him in just to ask fans questions? I don’t know if it’s Thommo, Johnson, or Freund himself behind this, but that’s where the blame needs to lay. Not Strevens. They need to sort out how the club is being run, so Strevs can get the backing he needs and keep us in the league.