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Season of missed opportunities: The fans give their verdict
How did your team perform this season? Here's the Yorkshire Post's end-of-season report...
WITH another domestic season over and most players having departed for the beach, it is time for the fans to deliver their verdict.
Back in August, many of Yorkshire's clubs set off full of optimism with supporters of Hull City, in particular, being excited about their impending top-flight debut.
Similarly, all at Doncaster Rovers were eagerly looking forward to a return to the second tier of English football after half-a-century away while those whose allegiances lie with Sheffield United, Leeds United, Huddersfield Town or Bradford City were dreaming about possible glory after ending the previous campaign strongly.
Elsewhere, Rotherham United had one target in mind – survival – after being docked points for a third consecutive season as Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday looked to maintain their own steady progress.
Fortunes ebbed and flowed throughout the next nine months and when the Football League regular season drew to a close on the first weekend in May there were familiar tales of 'what if' and 'if only' being told across the county.
No team from the Broad Acres had won automatic promotion but, nevertheless, hopes were still high that both Sheffield United and Leeds United could make the step up via the play-offs.
The reality, of course, was rather different with Burnley and Millwall, respectively, putting paid to dreams of a glorious end to the campaign for the White Rose to ensure that for the first time in more than two decades no club from within God's Own County had won promotion. There was happier news to the east of Yorkshire, however, with the Tigers winning their fight for survival at the expense of Newcastle United.
Here, supporters from all eight of the county's Football League clubs give their verdict on last season along with a Hull City fan still basking in the pride of being Yorkshire's only representative in the top flight.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Chris Cook, Doncaster
What is your assessment of the club's season? Success or failure?
Overall, it must be regarded as a failure because we did not achieve promotion. Now we are faced with the prospect of trying to get back into the top flight with less cash.
A great effort in the second half of the season took us to within touching distance of Birmingham and we finished above Reading who looked certainties to go up at one stage. In the end, however, it was just a step too far. Generally we were good away but our home form cost us dearly; five defeats and dropped points to the likes of Blackpool, Southampton and 10-man Nottingham Forest.
Player of the season: Chris Morgan. After the Barnsley controversy, our captain never put a foot wrong.
Most disappointing player at the club this season: Anthony Stokes. His loan deal from Sunderland was a complete waste of time.
Best moment: Jamie Ward's late winner away at Southampton made a long trip to the south coast club in wretched weather worthwhile.
Worst moment: The final whistle at Wembley. The team didn't really turn up.
Best side faced: At home, Reading but overall would have to be Burnley.
Worst side faced: Sheffield Wednesday!
No, not really. Probably, Charlton Athletic.
What areas of the side need strengthening this summer?
We need a 20-goal-a-season striker and a creative midfielder to replace Gary Speed.
Maybe another centre-back but the defence is okay if we keep the youngsters, like Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton.
Are you happy with the way the club is being run off the field? What can be improved?
Yes. We are ambitious with solid finances. Our ticket pricing is good – the only thing lacking is Premier League football. Some supporters don't fully appreciate Kevin McCabe.
Advice to the manager:
Believe we are the best. Our target should always be a top two spot. I don't agree with
his view last season that a play-off place at Christmas is good enough.
HULL CITY
Gareth Richardson, Beverley
What is your assessment of the club's season? Success or failure?
It went from very, very good to very, very bad before, thankfully, ending happily. So, in that respect, it has to be seen as a success. I have to say though that in the final few weeks I was not enjoying it at all – unlike the opening months when I even came away from our 5-0 defeat at home to Wigan and thought 'okay, we have lost, but that was actually a really good game'. I couldn't say the same about any of our games towards the end of the season.
Player of the season: Michael Turner. I predicted in the Yorkshire Post last August that he would be the standout performer – and he was.
Most disappointing player at the club this season: Dean Marney. And if there was an 'award' for most frustrating player, it would have to go to Bernard Mendy.
Best moment: Winning at Arsenal and having my stag do at Bolton when we got the point that ultimately kept us up.
Worst moment: Being 2-0 down at home to Stoke in the latest in a long line of 'must win' games.
Best side faced: Fulham on the opening day were outstanding for the first half-hour.
Worst side faced: Newcastle United. What has happened to Michael Owen?
What areas of the side need strengthening this summer? The midfield, someone like Kevin Nolan would sort it out. And the attack.
Are you happy with the way the club is being run off the field? What can be improved?
I wish the chairman would be less vocal at times and be a bit more reluctant to try to get in the spotlight.
Advice to the manager: Don't be as cautious as you were in the second half of the season. We won promotion by being adventurous and kept that going when winning at Arsenal, Spurs etc.
SHEFFIELD WEDS
Stephen Wilson, Crosspool
What is your assessment of the club's season, success or failure?
A new dawn has come. Last season was a respectable finish that we simply must build on. The season was riddled with inconsistency, when you consider we took 12 points from the play-off finalists, but lost twice to the likes of Plymouth. Off the field has seen the biggest changes and the new regime has, and will, continue to allow the feel-good factor to run throughout the club.
Player of the season: Marcus Tudgay. His work-rate and contribution to the team have been outstanding.
Most disappointing player at the club this season:
Jermaine Johnson. Proved against Cardiff that he does have an end product. We need to see more of it.
Best moment: Completing the double over the Blades.
Worst moment: Woeful performance at Derby.
Best side faced: Wolves. Not pretty but effective.
Worst side faced: The Blades, they never turned up (twice) – but it seems they never do in their Cup finals!
What areas of the side need strengthening this summer? A striker and another midfielder as a minimum to complement the early signings of Darren Purse and Tommy Miller.
Are you happy with the way the club is being run off the field? What can be improved? Oh yes! After years of suppression, we really have got our Wednesday back.
Advice to the manager:
We believe in you. Install belief into the players and this will be our year.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
Andrew Pearce, Huddersfield
What is your assessment of the club's season, success or failure?
Our season could be split into three distinct parts – under Stan Ternent was a waste of time and money, the middle saw Gerry Murphy do outstandingly well and the third saw Lee Clark make an encouraging start. To finish ninth was disappointing but the damage Ternent did was always going to make that the case. Just 14 points from the first 14 games.
Player of the season: It was between Alex Smithies and Michael Collins.
Most disappointing player at the club this season: Pick one from several of Ternent's signings.
Best moment: The Town fans shouting 'attack, attack, attack' in the final minute at Elland Road and the players doing just that to score the winner.
Worst moment: The back-to-back games against Stockport, Colchester and Millwall in February and March when we conceded in the 90th minute.
Best side faced: Leicester City by some distance.
Worst side faced: The biggest disappointment in terms of their performances was Leeds but the worst side were Cheltenham.
What areas of the side need strengthening this summer? We need a natural goalscorer and someone to play alongside him. I would also like to see some more pace at the back and the toughening up of midfield.
Are you happy with the way the club is being run off the field? What can be improved? I am just delighted that, in (new chairman) Dean Hoyle, we now have a genuine Town fan at the helm.
Advice to the manager: Work out a way to demolish teams when they are reduced to 10 men.LEEDS UNITED
Paul Taylor, Doncaster
What is your assessment of the club's season, success or failure?
Failure is the only way to describe the inability of a club with the apparent resources of Leeds United being unable to match a club like Scunthorpe United. What matters most is that we are in this division again come August. And that is depressing.
Player of the season: Luciano Becchio. A great first season in England.
Most disappointing player at the club this season: The defence during that awful six-game run before Christmas that cost us a top-two spot.
Best moment: Fabian Delph's goal at Stockport just after Christmas.
Worst moment: Millwall's equaliser at Elland Road.
Best side faced: Millwall away in the league.
Worst side faced: Yeovil, Crewe or Northampton. Pitiful.
What areas of the side need strengthening this summer?
We need a striker or two to fill the gap that will be left by Jermaine Beckford, a defender to replace Sam Sodje and a tough midfielder.
Are you happy with the way the club is being run off the field? What can be improved? No. The fans distrust everything that the club says and does and the sad fact is we now expect disappointment.
Advice to the manager: Hope the club provide you with more than just a few free transfers and loan signings.
BRADFORD CITY
Mike Harrison, editor of City Gent fanzine
What is your assessment of the club's season, success or failure? Failure. Even as late as March, I was thinking that automatic promotion was a distinct possibility. But then we had the month from hell from mid-March onwards to blow any chance of even finishing in the top seven.
Player of the season: Luke O'Brien, pictured, probably because no one really expected him to play too often when the season started.
Most disappointing player at the club this season: Paul McLaren. Arrived with a reputation but did nothing.
Best moment: Winning at MK Dons in the FA Cup.
Worst moment: Take your pick from any game between mid-March and mid-April.
Best side faced: Dagenham & Redbridge.
Worst side faced: Chester City – though, tellingly, we drew 0-0 against them twice.
What areas of the side need strengthening this summer? The midfield. If you lose control of that, the opposition will run all over you.
Are you happy with the way the club is being run off the field? What can be improved? There can be no complaints on this score. Club doing best in difficult times.
Advice to the manager: Stick to your guns – even if we lose a couple of early games.
ROTHERHAM UNITED
Bob Booth, secretary of RUFC Supporters Club
What is your assessment of the club's season, success or failure?
Unquestionably a success considering the uncertainty that shrouded the start of our season. Everyone was feeling down last summer but we showed something like the Dunkirk spirit and ended up near the play-offs. It could easily have gone the other way and gone down like Luton.
Player of the season: Ian Sharps. A leader, good character, and good with fans.
Most disappointing player at the club this season: Reuben Reid. Promises so much but often fails to deliver.
Best moment: Beating Leeds United in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. It was a good performance on live TV against a team everyone wants to beat.
Worst moment: Missing out on Wembley after losing the second leg of the northern area final to Scunthorpe.
Best side faced: Stoke City in the Carling Cup. They put out an under-strength side, too, but still didn't give us a chance
Worst side faced: Chester. Problems off the field reflected in their performance.
What areas of the side need strengthening this summer?
We need a midfield general, someone who can hold onto the ball and find the strikers.
Are you happy with the way the club is being run off the field? What can be improved?
Club is moving in the right direction with calm and confidence and a chairman who seems to have passion.
Advice to the manager: Mark Robins is a model professional who knows his trade.
DONCASTER ROVERS
Nathan Batchelor, Doncaster
What is your assessment of the club's season, success or failure?
Massive success. Just staying up would have been a success but to finish 14th was commendable. If the season had started at Christmas we'd have finished second in the league. There's a lot of "what if we'd had form like that all season?" and "what if Heffernan had been allowed to play twice as many games?" but the main thing is that we exceeded expectations. There were a few dreadful performances but overall the standard was great to watch. A lot of players who had question marks over their ability to step up a level really showed their mettle.
Player of the season: Matt Mills, just edging out Ritchie Wellens and Brian Stock.
Most disappointing player at the club this season: Darren Byfield, the striker never made an impact after his summer move from Bristol City, no surprise to see him leave.
Best moment: Securing mathematical safety against Plymouth. Our season's objective was achieved with two games to spare.
Worst moment: Barnsley doing the double over us. The capitulation at Oakwell. Shameful.
Best side faced: Wolves. They were clinical and knew how to win matches. Not many teams matched our skill level though.
Worst side faced: Plymouth Argyle. Very poor.
What areas of the side need strengthening this summer?
We need a big target man and I'd like to see a tall full-back join the squad to give us another alternative.
Are you happy with the way the club is being run off the field? What can be improved?
Yes. We have a board who are not going to waste money and we are a community club.
Advice to the manager:
Have a Plan B and C for when things aren't working and don't be afraid to take risks.
BARNSLEY
Steve Croft, Royston
What is your assessment of the club's season, success or failure?
We have had a very difficult season yet, being realistic, I don't think we could have expected to be a top side. All along, I would have settled for a comfortable mid-table position which I think was a realistic expectation but things went wrong. The club invested heavily in striker Iain Hume only to lose him to a long-term injury and I think that seriously upset things.
Player of the season: Bobby Hassell, without a doubt. The 'Mr Reliable' of the side.
Most disappointing player at the club this season: Dennis Souza, the Brazilian defender went from being impressive last season to very ordinary this season
Best moment: Winning at Plymouth Argyle on the last day of the season. I am so glad we achieved survival ourselves.
Worst moment: Knowing that the fight for survival was going to the last game.
Best side faced: There has not been one team that stood out for me in the Championship this season.
Worst side faced: Charlton Athletic – they were very poor and we dropped to their standard.
What areas of the side need strengthening this summer? We need another central defender and, like most clubs, a goalscorer.
Are you happy with the way the club is being run off the field? What can be improved? Yes. How can anyone question what our owner Patrick Cryne has done for the club?
Advice to the manager:
I don't think Simon Davey is doing much wrong; a young manager still learning.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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