League table can turn around in an instant

WE have a massive two games coming up now against Crawley Town and Chesterfield.

We’ll be looking to win both games and continue our home record.

We’ve developed the Weston Homes Community Stadium into a fortress and I think one of the big reasons for that is that we never underestimate any side.

It’s important for us not to be complacent and we have to go out there and put in a performance to win the game.

I know that the League Two table doesn’t look great at the moment but I don’t pay a lot of attention to it until around ten to 15 games into the season.

It can change in an instant, especially at this early stage of the season.

You only have to look at ourselves and Exeter City last season, as an example of that.

We were both in and around the bottom of the table but by the end of the season, Exeter reached the play-offs and we missed out by a point.

After a tough start to the season, Crawley have really picked up having won their last two games.

I’m sure that they’ll be full of confidence and will look to come and do some damage but we’re fully focused on what we do well.

New signings will increase competition

IT was brilliant work by the club to sign five new players on transfer deadline day.

We were aware that it might have been a big day for us but I didn’t anticipate as many signings as that coming in.

It will increase competition for places within the squad and that can only be a good thing, as everyone is pushing one another for their spot in the team.

The manager has a lot of decisions to make, in terms of selecting the team.

Sanmi Odelusi had been training with us prior to completing his move so we knew him anyway and hopefully they will all make a big impact with us.

But everyone knows everyone in football and they’re settling in well.

Generally speaking, transfer deadline day is a huge event nowadays.

It surprises me every year how big the window has become.

This summer, Neymar’s transfer from Barcelona to Paris St Germain for £199m has been a real game changer.

There’s been talk of the transfer window being scrapped or at least changed and I think it would make sense.

I think it would be a sensible move, providing there’s something in place like the emergency loan system that helps clubs who suffer injuries.

Key moments cost us at Cambridge

THE Cambridge United game last weekend was one that we should have got at least a point from.

I don’t think that there was a huge amount in the match.

We did OK in the first half but in the second half, they opened us up and got their goal.

It was a disappointing away day for us, especially with it being a bit of a derby game for us.

We’ve talked about key moments in games in recent weeks.

In our previous league game against Forest Green, we took our chances and could have scored more goals.

The chances were there to be had against Cambridge but it wasn’t to be on the day.

We had a chat about our away form after the game and there’s no hiding it – the stats don’t lie.

It’s not just been this year and it’s in stark contrast with our home form, which has been excellent.

We’re an ambitious side and the goal is to get out of this league.

To do that, we have to do something about what’s happening on the road.

We’re all very aware of it and it’s a case of us working hard in training and putting it right, on the pitch.

England job is a poisoned chalice

I’VE not watched a huge amount of international football over the last few days as I’ve been busy revising for an exam I’ve got coming up, as part of the business degree I’m studying for.

But it looks as though the teams from the Home Nations are in with a pretty decent shout of World Cup qualification, at the moment.

Group D is looking really interesting, with Wales in second place and four points behind leaders Serbia and Republic of Ireland just behind them, in third.

Both Wales and Republic of Ireland will be hoping to get a play-off spot at least.

But with only eight of the nine best-placed group runners-up going through to the play-off, Wales are placed ninth with two games left.

It would be a bit harsh for either of them to miss out in that way – it’s a long campaign and it’s tough going.

England’s place at next summer’s World Cup looks more assured after two recent wins but they still came in for criticism, despite beating Malta 4-0.

I think the England manager's job is a bit of a poisoned chalice – when it’s good, it’s never good enough and when it’s bad, it’s blown out of proportion.

The stuff last Friday made me laugh – they’ve just won a football match 4-0 yet they still came in for criticism.

At least England aren’t in the same position as Argentina, whose hopes of qualification for the World Cup are looking precarious.

They are fifth in the South American standings with two games left and only the top four sides qualify automatically.

In my opinion, it would seem pretty ridiculous if Argentina don’t make it and it would be a big loss to the competition.

You always want to see nations like Argentina and Brazil at the major competitions.

I’m sure Lionel Messi can perform his heroics and pull them through – for me, he’s the best in the business.

Farewell to two of sport's iconic commentators

SO commentator John Motson is hanging his BBC microphone at the end of the season.

He’s one of those iconic names, having been in the game for 50 years and I don’t think anyone will begrudge his decision.

I watched a lot of sport on the TV when I was growing up and my go to channels would always be the sports ones.

I’m also a huge cricket fan and Test Match Special commentator Henry Blofeld is in a similar category to Motson, in terms of his legendary status.

He’s set to be part of the TMS team for the final time this weekend, when England take on West Indies at Lord’s.

He’s got a great voice and a sharp dress sense and anyone who has listened to TMS over the years will know all about him and have their own memories of him commentating on different games.

I do quite a bit of driving and I’ll always have the cricket on, even when I’m giving Kins (Lewis Kinsella) and Kane (Vincent-Young) a lift to training.

Kins doesn’t mind cricket but Kane isn’t a fan at all – I don’t think I’ll be hearing cricket commentary in his car for a while!