After watching helplessly as both of their last two scheduled away games fell victim to what is the second-wettest February on record, the Daggers will be hoping that Storm Jorge doesn't interfere with the already-mountainous task of toppling the league leaders in a match that will pose the biggest threat yet to Daryl McMahon's unbeaten league record as manager. It was just a fortnight ago that the initial trip to Barrow was rained off, and it was only through the luck of a Saturday becoming vacant in both team's fixture-lists that prevented the unenviable prospect of a Tuesday night in Cumbria. Keeping with the theme of postponements, the Daggers will be keen to avoid another after our midweek trip to Barnet was called off through a combination of gross incompetence from both the club and referee. Circumstance wise, not much has changed in the time between the initial match and this weekend's reschedule of it. Barrow are still the team to catch in the National League and, as we enter the final stretch of games, are in a commanding position. Similarly, we have maintained the promising start we've made to life under McMahon and a victory against Solihull Moors last Saturday made it six unbeaten in the league since Peter Taylor departed at the back end of last year. Barrow have been an absolute revelation this season and their ascent to the very summit of the National League has been as exciting as it was unforeseen. Under the stewardship of the forward-thinking Ian Evatt, a manager described as 'visionary' in several recent articles, they've played a brand of refreshing, possession-based football that firmly challenges the idea that you can only succeed at this level with a direct mindset and lanky, battering-ram striker. Their threats originate from many sources but it's the trio of John Rooney, Dior Angus and Scott Quigley that have done the damage and fuelled belief that this Barrow outfit can go all the way. Between them, they've scored nearly ten more goals than the entire Dagenham team put together. They're unbeaten at home in four months, but haven't been quite as convincing in recent weeks so maybe, just maybe we can dig deep and pull something off. It'll be a hard ask, but one thing that's guaranteed is that we'll go there and play on the front foot in a committed attempt to win the game, such is the attacking mentality McMahon has implemented. Weeks ago, the idea of us doing anything other than playing for a point away from home would've been inconceivable, so it's a testament to the the coaching staff and players that confidence has risen rapidly. The potency of Barrow's three-pronged attack will test the resolve of a defence that's kept four clean sheets in the past five games, as many as the entire rest of the campaign, but under McMahon the Daggers will give as good as they get and approach the game with a refreshing desire to claim all three points. The hosts will be favourites but this Dagenham side can certainly pack a punch; with Balanta back and firing, they are more than capable of stunning the league leaders in their own back yard. The stage is set for an open and entertaining encounter, with narrow margins proving crucial in determining it's outcome. First and foremost, let's hope the game survives the forecast heavy rainfall. Providing that hurdle is overcome, let's then hope for a committed, energetic display in which the players do the supporters proud, just as they've done in recent weeks. It's a long, exhausting journey, but three points would make it well worth it and, after all, during every campaign we've played at this level since our return in 2016, we've defeated the eventual champions. Barrow Predicted XI: Dixon, Jones, Taylor, Platt, Brough, Hird, Kay, White, Rooney, Quigley, Angus
Dagenham Predicted XI: Justham, Gordon, Croll, Clark, Onariase, Eleftheriou, Robinson, Brundle, Deering, Balanta, House
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Barnet Football Club find themselves in a position whereby they're on the cusp of the play-offs with several games in hand. Unfortunately, if the league table was determined by hospitality, professionalism and supporter transparency instead, they'd be in a relegation battle. For the hundreds of Dagenham supporters in the vicinity of the Hive at the time that the game was scandalously called off on Tuesday night, it was a logic and belief defying farce of incredible proportions. For Barnet, however, it's the norm nowadays and perhaps that explains the attitude of the nonchalant and blasé stewards who it appears have been present for so many postponements recently that the effect of such a decision on both sets of supporters is neither comprehended nor appreciated. The worst thing about this situation is that it isn't Barnet's most embarrassing postponement of a season, it probably doesn't even make the top three. For a team with a modern sports complex that was supposed to signify their progression as a football club, the irony of it not being able to stage a game without a glorious heatwave is quite staggering. Tuesday night was just another day at the office at Barnet FC, and the haste with which the ground was cleared from around 7pm onwards just reinforces the lack of consideration around a club that seems so far away from the days of Underhill. The club have done a decent job of hiding behind both the referee and 75 year-old ex-manager Barry Fry, whose views on the postponement were aired in a baffling statement that has since been removed. Quite how a club who have called games off at 7.43pm and at half-time on separate occasions this season, have the audacity to question another man's ability to do his job is quite incredible, and a public statement openly slamming a match official epitomises the lack of professionalism shown by the club all night. On the decision itself, I do understand their frustrations somewhat because the pitch looked more than playable and postponing a game because of something that hasn't materialised yet is very odd; if the decision was made on the forecast alone I don't understand why it took until half 6 for it to be made as it had long been predicted that a downpour would occur during the game. However, the fact that the referee decided that the pitch was in such a vulnerable state that even a small dosage of rainfall would've rendered it unplayable, is an indictment of how atrocious the surface is. In spite of attempts to deflect the blame onto the referee, the fact remains that the state of Barnet's pitch and it's susceptibility to be destroyed by rainfall forced his hand. If it was a good pitch, the game would've gone ahead and you would imagine the pitch was barely playable at the time of postponement anyway, otherwise there would not have been such concern or worry from the referee about the impending forecast.
However, just as disappointing as the postponement itself was the fact that, upon entrance to the club bar, there were stewards and safety officers hastily shutting the blinds to prevent people looking at the pitch. I managed to take a picture of the surface before they did this, which went against the wishes of one of the staff members who said we couldn't look at or photograph the surface. There was no sympathy or understanding, and from what I gathered they weren't too keen on people sticking around for too long either. This, combined with other stewards openly laughing when the supporters' coach arrived, sums up a very inhospitable experience at a time where you would expect to be treated a little bit better as visiting fans, and indeed customers, to another team's home. Compared to Harrogate, Farsley and the many other clubs Barnet have inconvenienced this season, the disruption caused to us was minimal. However, I alongside many others still went over 30 stops on the District & Jubilee lines there and back for a journey that took the best part of two hours each way. That's part and parcel of non-league football in all fairness, and with Barnet's track record it was always a risk, however that doesn't reduce the frustration of seeing a game postponed when it was portrayed as if it was definitely going ahead. So we'll begrudgingly be back at the Hive at some point during the next couple of months, potentially a Thursday night given the backlog of fixtures awaiting the Bees. I wonder what time they plan on calling that one off. '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.
As if the prospect of Barrow away and their potent three-pronged attack wasn't quite daunting enough for a team without an away victory in four months, it's reported that Daryl McMahon's Daggers are heading right into the epicentre of a storm purporting to deliver a deluge of wind and snow to the most extreme ends of the country, which is virtually guaranteed to render the notion of playing positive, progressive football as pointless. This undesirable proposition is dependent on Holker Street and the surrounding areas escaping relatively unscathed from the weather forecast outlined above, but should the game go ahead it will be a huge test for the Daggers and the new-found confidence that's been triggered by the arrival of Daryl McMahon. Since the Irishman succeeded Peter Taylor at the helm, there's been a notable improvement at either end of the pitch, though we're still a long way from being fluid in attack. Improvements have been made. McMahon inherited a team with a severe losing habit and, in the six games of his reign in all competitions, there's only been one defeat which was in the Trophy at Notts County and courtesy of a freak wonder-goal from near enough the half-way line. We've kept three clean sheets in the first four National League matches under the new boss, the same amount as in the entire five months beforehand. Barrow have been an absolute revelation this season and their ascent to the very summit of the National League has been as exciting as it was unforeseen. Under the stewardship of the forward-thinking Ian Evatt, a manager described as 'visionary' in several recent articles, they've played a brand of refreshing, possession-based football that firmly challenges the idea that you can only succeed at this level with a direct mindset and lanky, battering-ram striker. Their threats originate from many sources but it's the trio of John Rooney, Dior Angus and Scott Quigley that have done the damage and fuelled belief that this Barrow outfit can go all the way. Between them, they've scored nearly ten more goals than the entire Dagenham team put together. They're unbeaten at home in four months, but haven't been quite as convincing in recent weeks so maybe, just maybe we can dig deep and pull something off. It'll be a hard ask, but one thing that's guaranteed is that we'll go there and play on the front foot in a committed attempt to win the game, such is the attacking mentality McMahon has implemented. Weeks ago, the idea of us doing anything other than playing for a point away from home would've been inconceivable, so it's a testament to the the coaching staff and players that confidence has risen rapidly (though, in regard to the laughable comments that we can make the play-offs, perhaps have risen a bit too high). Barrow Predicted XI: Dixon, Jones, Taylor, Brough, Barry, Kay, White, Hardcastle, Rooney, Quigley, Angus Dagenham Predicted XI: Justham, Gordon, Croll, Clark, Onariase, Eleftheriou, Robinson, Brundle, Deering, House, Kandi Though we're just a point above the drop-zone and firmly embroiled in a relegation battle, the pressure is still on Barrow - not only as the home side but as the league leaders - to take the game to us. However, the fact that they're not hitting the highest standards recently, coupled with our upturn in form, may just create a perfect storm from which we can claim an unlikely but very timely three points.
Whatever the outcome, let's hope for a committed, determined and passionate performance in which the players leave everything on that pitch. Watching us away from home under McMahon has already been more entertaining than what you would typically see under Taylor, and it's certain that we'll do everything we can to continue that trend at Holker Street. They're unbeaten at home in four months but records like that are there to be shot at; after all, during every campaign we've played in the National League since our return in 2016, we've defeated the eventual champions. A trip to Wrexham has always proved monumental in some form. In 2016, our first year back at this level, we won 1-0 to secure a play-off place. A year later, we travelled there against a backdrop of concern and misery following the financial revelations that emerged a few months earlier, but once again managed to take three points. Then, at roughly this same point last season, we lost 1-0 in North Wales for a game that fuelled a desire to get Peter Taylor out of the club. This time, Wrexham marks the first away league game of the Daryl McMahon era, an era that has offered nothing but positivity so far. After earning a first victory in two months against Notts County last weekend, we're looking to make it back-to-back wins for the first time since our return meeting with the Dragons at the back end of October. It wasn't just getting the three points that was pleasing, but the overall manner of it; the team played with an intensity and tempo that was rarely seen at Victoria Road under Taylor. Today, we face a side who have had just as much source for optimism as us in the past few weeks. Much like us, Wrexham have been able to alleviate growing concerns for relegation with a spate of good form that has seen them win three games in their past four, including a notable success away at Harrogate Town last week. Their recent upturn is an inspiration for us to do exactly the same thing in the next few weeks, but first we'll have to be the ones to strike a dent into their recent good spirits. Whether or not this materialises, one thing we can all but guarantee is that we'll get a spirited and committed performance in which the players give all they've got to try and get the three points. Irrespective of results, that's good enough for any supporter. However, such was the manner of last weekend's victory that there's belief we can make it two from two, especially given the recent news that Ben House is back at the club on loan. He showed much promise during a previous spell at the club that was stunted by injuries, the lack of creativity of those around him and the fact that he was playing under a safety-first manager who constantly played for a point. Him and Reid, who made a brilliant impression on debut against Notts County with both goals, are certainly capable of doing the business to ensure we have a gradual ascent up the division, away from the dreaded drop zone which previously was edging closer every week. The signing of Jay Harris last night only added to the armoury Wrexham have amongst their ranks, but we're certainly got the ability to penetrate them too. With both teams in good spirits and both finding a scoring touch recently, it should be an entertaining game that could conceivably go either way. McMahon confirmed in his most recent interview that Balanta still isn't available from injury, much to the frustration of the supporters, while the absence of Sam Deering from a team photo yesterday sparked worry that he may have sustained an injury too. Aside from that it should be the same team as last week, although House may dislodge Kandi and Wright may sneak in ahead of Eleftheriou.
Let's hope we're able to dig deep and get a long-overdue first away league victory since September. Whatever happens, it's just nice to really look forward to games again, safe in the knowledge that the team are going to put in effort and play on the front foot, and I have no doubt it'll be the case again at the Racecourse. |
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January 2024
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