2020 will forever be remembered as historically unconventional, yet it still concludes with the depressing familiarity of the Daggers being slumped in a lower mid-table position, a worrying trend that repeats for a third year in succession despite another summer of investment. So far, it has been a bitterly disappointing season punctuated by brief moments of deceptive joy. Glimpses of quality have undoubtedly been there, though largely overshadowed by mishaps and frustration as Daryl McMahon's side began to resemble a team of individuals; lots of ability in the squad but no coherency, chemistry or any of the basic building blocks that are fundamental for success at any level of the pyramid. However, of late, there have been encouraging signs of progression in the team and it seems more than merely another short-term high which would invariably be followed by a rapid return to reality. The valiant victory at league leaders Torquay United, achieved despite a numerical disadvantage for most of the contest, could be the catalyst for a sharp upturn in fortunes. It was evidence that we have grit, resilience and mental strength, attributes that had very rarely been associated with the team before. The subsequent FA Trophy dismantling of Ebbsfleet was not a game on which our credentials can be fully assessed, but it was nonetheless a very professional display in the main. Our previous clash against lower calibre opposition saw us limp past Hartley Wintney, so it was refreshing to see a confident and ruthless display against the Fleet. This, coupled with the aforementioned win in Devon, made it a very good week for the club but it's now about using that as a platform on which we can build. DAGGERS AT CHRISTMAS 🎅🏼
We have the players at our disposal to do just that. Despite an unusually high quantity of mistakes this season, Elliot Justham is a top keeper at this level. Luke Croll, likewise, an excellent defender. Abu Ogogo is a League One footballer playing far below his capabilities. Ángelo Balanta's creativity and intelligence on the ball is widely known. Then you have Paul McCallum, scorer of more goals than anyone else in the National League across the past three seasons. The spine is there, and when you add Myles Weston and recent loan capture Liam Gordon to the equation, it seems like a team that should be challenging.
Whether that materialises remains to be seen, but history tells us that there usually isn't much deviation between where Dagenham are at Christmas and their final position at the end of the season. Despite this, though, that we're only six points off the play-offs with a game in hand offers strong hope that our campaign can be resurrected. Those six points could be made up through the festive double-header against Dover alone, providing we match the intensity and quality of our most recent displays. That has always been the problem, however. Dagenham can beat anyone on any given day but such is the nature of this division that we're just as likely to fluctuate to the exact opposite extreme. We've been impressive in small doses this season - most notably against Grimsby and Torquay - but never have we been able to maintain a consistent standard of performance. Until we deliver on a regular basis, we will continue to hover dangerously above the relegation places. This frenetic period of the calendar will therefore be crucial as we seek to build momentum. Our Boxing Day trip to Dover Athletic presents us with the opportunity to earn three consecutive away victories for the first time since that glorious winter period in 2018. It will take a while to undo our poor start from October onwards, but three points at Crabble would certainly be another step in the right direction.
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WRITERArchives
January 2024
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