Steven Dale talks about how attacking prowess has glossed over defensive insecurity
Following Tuesday night’s humbling at the hands of Wycombe, the time has come for a defensive change.
We have been fortunate this season in the respect that the quality of our attackers has glossed over that insecurity. They couldn`t bail them out forever, defensively we were always going to take a hammering eventually.
Whether you are a pessimist, optimist or whether you even don`t care; Crewe won`t go anywhere this season unless they can find a defensive formula that is first of all, good enough. And secondly, that fits the picture.
Whilst I hate picking out individuals and usually do my best to avoid doing so, I can`t help but feel we`d be a much better side without the inclusion of last season`s captain Harry Davis – who of which, a lot needs to be considered as to whether his face does truly fit anymore.
Sometimes player`s reach a point where they have achieved their limits at clubs, a position where they can’t achieve anymore or offer no more. Harry is a player who looks stuck in this category.
For me, he won`t improve playing for us anymore. From the stands, watching on, his career seems to hit the buffers slightly. It looks from the outside that a change could do both the world of good and certainly in Harry`s case, could reignite his own footballing ambitions. Which in fairness, at the moment, look completely lost.
That could well be a lasting symptom from the series of injuries he has suffered over the last few years. He has spent more time in the treatment room since 2013 than he has on the pitch. That is, for obvious reasons, going to take its toll both mentally and physically on the player.
So there could be an argument whether the player isn`t there mentally in the first place.
But whatever the reasons behind it, I maintain the view that his career at Crewe seems to be over.
Jon Guthrie has also looked extremely wobbly in recent times too, making a few bad mistakes in key areas. His own goal against Blackpool last week, would be a contender for header of the season if it had been at the other end.
The form of Ben Garratt also continues to pose a worry. He seems to have picked up a strange habit of rushing out of his goal, whether it`s a tactical thing is another debate but Ben looks extremely uncomfortable doing it and in turn gives me kittens every time he attempts to do so. I`m sorry to say but that goal Wycombe scored in those circumstances had been coming since the beginning of the season. This is a habit he needs to get rid of and quick. If not for anything else, just my health will do.
Attacking wise we are right up there. Defensively we are definitely right down there. Mid-table finish looking likely at this stage.