'GAME OFF' - two frustrating words that can derail a football supporter's weekend completely, leaving plans dashed and enthusiasm drained. A free Saturday is a far from attractive proposition, but nonetheless one we've faced on many occasions in the past year due to a whole multitude of reasons ranging from train trouble, damaged pitches, international call-ups and the progress of other teams in cup competitions. From very early last week, the likelihood of a latest postponement grew higher as Storm Dennis loomed. Three quarters of the National League schedule were wiped out by the threat of the storm, and at the very extreme end of the country, our trip to Barrow simply stood no chance. Thankfully the decision was made a full 24 hours in advance which minimised disruption for all parties concerned, a smart call, and a provisional date of Saturday 29th February has been marked for the rearranged fixture which means we'll avoid the daunting prospect of a Tuesday night in Cumbria. So, with no football to dissect this weekend, I've decided to instead take a look at how our first month under new manager Daryl McMahon has panned out, and some of the notable changes that have been made. There have been definite signs of improvement in recent weeks as we look to heal the wounds created by Peter Taylor, with there being a renewed sense of confidence amongst players and supporters alike. We're approaching games in the right way, sticking to our beliefs irrespective of opposition, and it's those promising signs that have fuelled hope that McMahon can restore some long-overdue cheer to Victoria Road. A distinct gameplan This may seem like a given, a natural expectation in football these days, but I feel I already understand McMahon's gameplan more than I did Taylor's. After attempting to decipher what Taylor was trying to get us to do for 18 months, it's refreshing to see a manager who has a clear, distinct way of playing. McMahon sets up with two energetic wing-backs with strong engines to roar up and down the flanks, two shielding midfielders, two strikers and a creative midfielder (Balanta or Deering) that acts as the glue to merge the whole team together. His system hinges on pressing from all angles and, as a nuisance striker who harries defenders and goes deep to retrieve possession, Ben House fits this perfectly. The fact that players such as Luque and Dobson have fallen by the wayside, while Myles Weston - a powerful runner with good stamina - has been brought in indicates he's buying players to suit his formation, unlike his predecessor Taylor who would shoehorn players into a formation. Overall, Taylor didn't have the right players for his system, with our chances of winning a game usually determined by a piece of Balanta brilliance, but McMahon has a full understanding of what personnel is needed. Winning culture Daryl McMahon has briefly mentioned on several occasions his desire to create a winning culture at the club. He strikes me as a manager who will risk losing to win, which we nearly saw against Stockport, whereas Taylor was very much a safety-first manager who was content with a point. Taylor constantly focused on nullifying the threats of other teams, often using their strengths as an excuse for why we lost such as the Halifax game on the 10th August when he comically mentioned that they were top before kick-off, but McMahon has always set us up to focus on our own strengths. It's a testament to this that, in my opinion, we've been the better team in each of the games he's managed from Notts County in the Trophy to Stockport last week. Even last weekend, when we snatched a 94th minute equaliser, McMahon still seemed disappointed that we didn't win the game, still seeing it as two points dropped, whereas you can guarantee Taylor would've adopted quite a different attitude. In short, McMahon wants to win. He would've tried to win at Barrow and will target three points in every single game we play. With that somewhat risky mindset we'll lose some games along the way, a bit like John Still's 'all or nothing' 2016/17 side that only drew six times all season - and what a team that was. A change in the awayday mindset A pathetic tally of just nine away goals from fifteen games, the worst in the league at a whole three goals fewer than anyone else, tells the story of how toothless, painfully boring and embarrassing Dagenham were on their travels under Peter Taylor. Considering the ultra defensive mindset we approached every away trip with, everyone behind the ball and all players in our own box at corners, it's actually surprising we managed to register that many. In six weeks between mid-November and late-December 2019, we travelled to Stockport, Fylde, Chorley, Hartlepool and Bromley - racking up over two thousand miles in the process - and barely saw a shot let alone a goal in every single one of the games. However, under McMahon that negative mindset has changed and the two away games he's taken charge of have brought refreshing performances in which we took the game to the home team and actively tried to attack at every opportunity. We're not expecting a victory in every away game, but at the very least to be entertained and, even in the Wrexham game where the wind interfered massively, we played some good stuff at times. I certainly don't expect that dreadful trend on the road to continue for too much longer. Connected to the supporters Dagenham & Redbridge is a historically family club with a strong connection amongst everybody, a mentality that enabled us to defy the odds and reach League One. However, Peter Taylor often sulked around the place like a dark cloud that seemed to cast shadows over everybody. He often remonstrated with supporters in a manner that indicated he thought he was superior to them and the club, plus didn't make much of an effort to endear himself either. It's no surprise that Barrow, whose team and manager are heavily involved with the fanbase, have been able to do so well this season. McMahon seems much better than Taylor in that respect, having stayed in the upstairs bar after the game to chat to supporters, while also having a laugh with them during Essex Senior Cup games. It's nice to see a manager who looks like he's happy to be here and has a genuine passion for doing well. Obviously it's early days yet and while it's easy to get carried away in hope for the future, our short-term future is very much uncertain with the gap above the drop zone to just a single point. However, under McMahon. I have every faith that there is finally a cause for optimism at a club where it is long overdue.
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January 2024
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