Half-Term Review: Progressive improvement undermined by continual undercurrent of fragility19/12/2022 We're haven't quite reached the exact half-way stage of the season in terms of games played due to our progression in the FA Cup and the recent freezing conditions causing postponements that will consequentially create a backlog in the new year but, in the midst of our longest break between league fixtures all season spanning 23 days, it is nonetheless an opportune time to reflect upon where we are currently at. The first few months can be divided into distinct phases but the overriding assessment is: from the confounding residue of a confounding injury crisis emerged a transformed and re-energised Dagenham side, which redeemed yet far from excused an abject start that ought to have signified the end for Daryl McMahon, but we've slightly digressed since albeit aided by strong misfortune. We are still on a more positive trajectory than not, though, with pros superseding the cons. However, that we've only really succeeded in going from lower to higher mid-table without ever threatening the play-off places casts its own irrefutable aspersions over a campaign in which quality across a sustained period has been highly elusive, while admittedly not telling the whole story because we possess up to three games in hand on those above us. McMahon has always maintained that the only thing which matters is where you finish, yet we will have to improve our overall standards enormously in order to prevent another year of failure. Going back to the 1st October at Dorking, It is impressive that he somehow managed to restore us to a state of equilibrium from what was the lowest ebb in a turbulent managerial reign characterised by brief glimpses of promising brilliance interspersed within more frequent underachievement - passed off the pitch by part-time divisional newcomers for a 5-1 demolition that finally seemed to have eroded the infinite patience towards him. Worse still, it wasn't even their heaviest loss thus far, that unceremonious accolade being mercilessly inflicted in early-September by a Notts County outfit that were stratospheres ahead in every single department. Along with shipping four goals at Wrexham directly afterwards, it emphatically demonstrated how astonishingly far we were from the best at this level, compounding an underwhelming start in which other low points included conceding a last-minute equaliser at Eastleigh and handing a woeful Yeovil side their first triumph. There were some decent wins interspersed within, like back-to-back home wins against Altrincham then Barnet, but then came the Dorking debacle. As the atmosphere among supporters at that game escalated to embittered new levels of toxicity reflecting the disunity on the pitch, where visibly disinterested players had clearly stopped applying themselves fully if even at all, it was blatantly obvious that something had to give. Indeed, that miserable afternoon around a picturesque Surrey hillside would prove a turning point in a way nobody would have predicted because Daggers immediately embarked on a largely brilliant run of form, hoisting themselves from the proverbial abyss represented by one of the most embarrassing results in their recent history. An inquest-ridden three days later came a stunning ascent from that rock bottom pit as Chesterfield were sliced open 3-2 on their own patch having not long celebrated a club record start to a season, for Daggers' first away win no less. They had always been capable of unearthing an exceptional result from nowhere but this felt different, as it was such a compelling performance truly befitting a title contender let alone one struggling to get near the play-offs. Rather than merely a standalone one-off, this Derbyshire delight formed the foundation of what followed. That transformation in half a week underlined the erratic unpredictability of a team capable of freely fluctuating between extremes, who had now been dubbed one of the league's primary entertainers after a staggering forty goals featured in their seven games ending with that one at Chesterfield, yet that tag is only advantageous if it's merely a characteristic behind winning football rather than a partial saving grace from the opposite. Our next defeat, Halifax away, was nowhere near as disgraceful as the preceding example. In fact, showcasing commendable defiance instead of crumbling amid the almost impossible circumstances of suffering two severe injuries to important first team players inside the opening half an hour was somewhat encouraging in an unusual way. Their fate felt pre-determined after an astonishing eight consecutive losses at the Shay before the latest, and the bitter misfortune outlined above virtually confirmed it, but we went down fighting. Once again, the result would prompt an unlikely upturn thereafter. Through adversity, the team were galvanised. To go as far call McCallum's absence a blessing in disguise would be enormously disrespectful to a man who maintained an almost one-in-two record here, but the enforced front two of Josh Walker alongside Junior Morias undoubtedly made us more fluid. Similarly, unforeseen defensive solution Harry Phipps continued to bring the best out of Manny Onariase, so there was enhanced coherence to a previously disjointed side, which will serve us well going into the new year. However, pinning hopes on notoriously injury-prone players at either end of the pitch in Phipps and Walker respectively could be dangerous. Our next six matches in all competitions fuelled belief that we can kick on to pursuing the play-offs, as we registered four victories sandwiched inbetween two draws, among which a stunning victory at high-flying Solihull Moors. December, though, has conversely delivered two seismic blows - reverses to bottom-placed Torquay United then Gillingham in an FA Cup replay with a lucrative incentive, both unjust in many ways but signifying an untimely return of that all-familiar mental fragility. It leaves us positioned in the centre of the table ahead of the final league outing this calendar year, though ironically the very thing the team have lacked most is perhaps a middle ground, the ability to tick along nicely; we constantly seem to drastically change direction in unpredictable fashion. Successful sides at this level tend to regularly grind out unspectacular yet effective results through grit and, Scunthorpe (H) aside, I struggle to remember us demonstrating that quality so it's something we need to find within ourselves. After 20 Games: This Season v Last
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Every BBC-televised FA Cup clash prior to the Third Round phase invariably elavates supporters to a praise-worthy pedestal for their immense dedication to their clubs whom it is often implied would not exist without it. The organisation strives to give them the publicity they deserve, conveying their regard for non league and those that devote their lives or at least a significant proportion to it.
Yet beyond that disingenuous facade lies the disillusioning truth that they will happily shaft these kind of people for their own minimal gain, as our fanbase will quite literally have to pay the price of. The midweek replay at Gillingham being needlessly scheduled in a bizarre Thursday evening slot has come at the expense of our longest trip of the season two days later, for which supporters have now lost considerable amounts amid the notoriously most expensive period of the year prior to Christmas. It's a disgraceful decision of logic-defying stupidity, motivated by sheer self-interest, that has a disastrous impact upon loyal supporters willing to navigate extreme lengths to follow their clubs, only to be treated with utter contempt as a result. After all, the appeal around lower league football hinges upon feeling valued in a refreshing contrast from the elite echelons where broadcasting considerations supersede those of fans.The worst thing is: it's been scheduled as such to have an exclusive spot without clashing with the World Cup on Tuesday but, without being self-deprecating to either ourselves or Gillingham, that's unlikely to make much difference whatsoever...so it's widespread inconvenience for very little gain from a BBC perspective. Certainly not proportionate to the disruption caused, anyway. Both clubs financially benefit to the tune of 30k, and us doing so from a decision that directly harms its supporters doesn't exactly sit right. However, we contractually have to comply under FA regulations so it's not fair to attribute any blame to Dagenham, who were never going to play two games within 36 hours at a mileage differential of 250 on top. This intensifies our fixture congestion, which is severe even without Oldham and now Gateshead being rearranged on Tuesday nights somewhere along the line. It ultimately means a heavier workload as we chase the play-offs, which is far from ideal for so many reasons.
Winning the replay will certainly soften the above-mentioned inconveniences, though, for we have the rarity of a Premier League opponent as an extremely lucrative incentive, namely the competition's winners the season before last in Leicester City no less. You have to delve back ages for the last time we had a top-flight team visit Victoria Road in a competitive capacity and it may be the same timeframe before we have the opportunity again, so we simply have to take advantage of this. A Premier League tie in round three is the desire of every non-league side - we could make it reality.
Knowing what we could have is a massive motivator but simultaneously could prove enormously painful if we now lose the replay, which doesn't even bear thinking about, especially when we were so close from progressing outright in the initial match. There was a dreaded feeling afterwards that we might have missed our chance, and seeing the reward we would have secured only intensifies the frustration of conceding that late equaliser against the run of play. However, that we were so dominant beforehand is a source of immense optimism - we have every reason to wholeheartedly believe that the quality in our squad can completely overwhelm Gillingham again. They're a poor side under enormous pressure, which we can exploit in the knowledge that a sloppy five minutes from them will surely reignite anger within a fanbase of growing toxicity. While still knowing what's at stake, we aren't risking any damage to reputation whereas Gills' woes would be compounded by losing to a non-league outfit so they have much more to lose. Our inferior status is no reason to harbour fear, though, as we've already seen that they're nothing special - infact arguably worse than most National League opponents we've faced this season. Whenever something promising has appeared in the horizon in recent history, we've had a tendency to scupper it: The FA Trophy capitulation against York, numerous wasted chances to take control of our play-off destiny. I just hope this isn't another, and we can dig deep into our innermost armoury of ferocious mental spirit to rise to the occasion. Whatever happens, let's leave everything on the pitch. Time to believe...COME ON DAGENHAM! |
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January 2024
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