Junior Morias arrived here with alarmingly underwhelming references from supporters of his previous clubs whom he'd registered a paltry goal record for, thus was not expected to offer much. How emphatically incorrect that would prove to be as, sixteen months later, he leaves as one of our best signings in recent years to bolster an already star-studded squad at Notts County. It is similar to Conor Wilkinson in that we have provided a mutually beneficial platform to reinvigorate a stagnating career, which had not lived up to expectations. To say Junior surpassed them at Daggers would qualify as a seismic understatement, for he was absolutely exceptional for the most part albeit tailed off since the turn of the year. While unable to maintain the electrifying form he carried through from the second half of last season to around last October, his ferocious work rate never even slightly faded. The measure of not only a player but person as a whole is transmitted via actions in adversity. While we were struggling, Morias was the last one to give up, always running himself into the ground while simultaneously never shying away from going over to the supporters afterwards unlike many others. There was also an impassioned interview of accountable honesty evaluating the Scunthorpe defeat last month, after which supporters made a deliberate point of only applauding him while subjecting the others to abuse, which said it all. Rarely was there ever a critical word uttered about our tireless centre forward, who will be fondly remembered as a class act for his mentality on top of footballing credentials. Both were unmatched at times. Few players have reached such unplayable levels in a Dagenham shirt throughout recent years to such an extent that for a while he seemed the complete package: physicality defying his small size, lethal finishing from a diverse range of scenarios, skilful trickery and all underpinned by infinite energy which characterised him more than anything else. The workmanlike honesty was as endearing as his lethal spark. Two performances in particular encapsulated the very best of Morias, namely his twelve minute hat-trick enroute to an astonishing 7-3 victory over Barnet last season, and when he scored the opener then assisted two McCallum goals in a stunning triumph at Chesterfield a few months ago. A few days later came an immaculately-dispatched finish versus rivals Southend, after which a cloud of red smoke enveloped the terrace. There were braces at home to Wealdstone and Bromley, too, plus a last-gasp equaliser on the opening day against Gateshead, among more. It is a damning indictment on our latest 'attempt' at reaching the play-offs that, throughout what should be the final surge towards which the fans harbour the most anticipation, they have instead watched the side falter into mid table mediocrity to evoke widespread frustration accentuated by the departures of the three highest scorers since the beginning of last season (albeit all understandable for differing reasons). This one is effectively over, so it's all about laying foundations under Ben Strevens.
Junior was never going to be a part of that, having turned down contract offers, so all this has done is ensure we receive compensation rather than lose him on a free transfer. After scoring just two league goals in almost four months - the same as Balanta, and half Effiong's tally in a fraction of that timeframe - it would not be worth foregoing a transfer fee for the sake of a play-off push which seems fruitless anyway. Things would be different if we were fifth or thereabouts with something to cling onto, but instead have to average near enough two points per game to give ourselves a fighting chance, so in all likelihood we will miss out again. That's not to say losing our leader in both primary attacking metrics of goals and assists will not weaken us because of course it will. Junior was our best player at stretching defences out of position. Even beyond the key contributions were ones that he did not directly create or execute but still played a valuable part in, for example the equaliser at his new club Notts County when the striker peeled off wide to collect Robinson's throughball then demonstrated superb vision to find Ling who duly teed up Balanta for the finish. There are so many more like that, sympomatic of a man to which there is nobody similar at the club. Yet it is now about Strevens making plans to recruit players tailored to his philosophy, supplementing the existing ones that are going to stay. Morias may well have suited the vision, but clearly his future lay elsewhere and now has a deal we cannot compete with: three years, the vast majority of which will likely be spent in the EFL, on presumably good money. All the best to him, as he served us wholeheartedly while providing some great moments, but it's time to get a head start on assembling what will be next season's squad. Onwards and upwards.
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This period was always going to be potentially important for the Daggers, not only in providing respite from playing nearly a quarter of their entire season inside the previous thirty days, but also signifying the ideal window to appoint a replacement for outgoing manager Daryl McMahon.
It would allow a new man time to conduct preliminary assessments on the squad, and begin to lay foundations for what would hopefully be a successful tenure in which we finally fulfil our play-off aspirations at long last. Not this season in all likelihood, though we only sit six points off, but certainly the next. The board have clearly aligned with that reasoning and today announced the appointment of Ben Strevens, a man to whom the fanbase already hold strong affection following his two spells as a player which included promotion to the Football League. He will now work towards that very same goal from the dugout, building upon some promising managerial attributes nurtured at Eastleigh, where he did a largely tremendous job in defiance of the modest budget underpinning it. Reaching the play-off semi finals following a seventh place finish was a superb accomplishment and only the misfortune of cruelly losing to Salford City on penalties prevented it from being even better. They defeated Wrexham in the eliminator beforehand among many other eye-catching results that season, notably two draws against eventual champions Leyton Orient and a win at Salford. That he lost influential quartet Rob Atkinson, Joe Tomlinson, Josh Hare and Paul McCallum - the latter two of whom are ironically contracted to his new club (albeit the latter is loaned out with a view to a permanent departure in the summer) - to upwards moves throughout his reign undermined their chances of replicating that accomplishment but nonetheless reflects well on Strevens' ability to nurture players into reaching their optimum standards. Certainly there are many within our dressing room not operating anywhere near the levels they can but, under Strevens' reported man management skills as well as technical acumen, have a platform to potentially change that for the better. The aforementioned Hare can attest, having earned a move to League One from an environment that is hopefully replicated here. Of course, there is no guarantee that Strevens will have the above-mentioned effect, and that his predecessor McMahon arrived to ultimately unwarranted positivity necessitates a certain degree of hesitant caution this time around. He also made the National League top seven at his previous club it must be remembered, albeit on a significantly larger budget than Strevens with Eastleigh. There is some risk in giving out the job based on a solitary managerial sample, but he otherwise ticks several boxes thus was the most logical option from those available. Nobody can say we have not exorcised diligence throughout the entire process. There is obviously an element of 'wait and see'. A contingent of the fanbase desired a change in direction from the usual familiar face, however Strevens has decent credentials which would have made him a feasible option even if he had not played for the club. That additional factor only supplements what he can offer, and there is much to be said about a man who already has an existing relationship of mutual adulation with the fanbase. Admittedly it would be more painful if things do not go well, but likewise the opposite, which we have to believe will manifest. Either way, there is an initial feelgood factor about having a club hero at the helm, and one can only hope that amplifies. It won't redeem underachievement, but certainly helps having a manager you can strongly identify with, especially having been part of such a successful side under John Still whose methodology rubbing off can only be a good thing too. The man knows what the club is about and the expectations, so will have a powerful drive to emulate what was achieved here as a player. Forever be hailed as one of us for that, now as supporters let's give him everything in the knowledge it will be reciprocated the other way. Ben Strevens' Red & Blue Army
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WRITERArchives
January 2024
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