What an odd season this has been for football as a whole. Between no fans being in the ground and everything happening to clubs like Dover I don't think Football experienced a season like this before and maybe won't again. While fans were not allowed into stadiums across England due to COVID restrictions fans of teams in the lower leagues were able to purchase games online. Personally, I purchased the season for my local team Dagenham & Redbridge to watch all home games that were available while I haven't seen all games this season between away games and the ones aired on BT Sport (no I'm not paying extra for that go away) I do still feel it was enough to give a look into what went on this season.
In an up and down season Dagenham finished twelfth with a record of 17 wins, 9 draws and 16 losses as per the below table. Only 9 points off the play offs it was a positive end to the season with 7 of those wins coming from April onwards. I do think this late season run strikes two things. One it seems to be a team which has its first 11 set up and gelled and working together but also it is used to paper over the cracks of what was a poor start to the season. As below you can see just how far Dagenham were off the top 7. It does feel like a stronger first half of the campaign would narrow that gap.
I can't be sure if the announcement of no relegation spurred the team on but once that was announced it did feel like a weight off the team. Regardless the team did play better in the second half of the season especially the last month. Dagenham had the feel of a team that chopped and changed for a large part of the season with a host of different line ups before a key core of the team was decided upon.
I think a lot of credit has to go to Matt Robinson and his re-emergence into the team and the upturn in form. He seemed to come in to bring a calmness and stability to the middle of the park for Dagenham. I have been critical of Robinson in years about the end product of his game but this year it has improved, Robinson scoring 8 of his 9 Dagenham goals this season shows a real up turn in the end product.
I do find myself worried for the team with the majority of the goals this season coming from the previously mentioned Robinson as well as Paul McCallum (who scored 16) and Ángelo Balanta (who scored 12). Now having 3 scorers is good but I am worried that no other players are really stepping up with a host of goals. As per the below image both Mitch Brundle and Liam Gordon come in next with 4 each. With one being the on loan left back (Gordon) and Brundle being injured for large parts of the season it does worry that if something happens to one of the main 3 issues will arise.
All in all it is a mixed bag of a season for every positive I think there's a negative or something to improve on. The team does have a good strike partnership and the midfield started to become stable I do still feel there's room to work with. This post season will be interesting as of the writing of this we are still waiting for a full retained and released list but on a personal not I am disappointed to see Sam Deering go as on his day he was a difference maker capable of making something from nothing which nobody else can do. We will see who else leaves and in turn what to expect from the summer. While Dagenham will look to get into the play offs next year a good start to the season will be needed. A benefit is that Elliot Justham, George Saunders, Joey Jones, Paul McCallum, Angelo Balanta, Will Wright, Mohammed Sagaf, Scott Wilson, Darren McQueen, Elliott Johnson and Callum Reynolds all remain under contract I do hope to see Matt Robinson extend his stay but a benefit is the player of the year in Elliot Justham and the two top scores in Balanta and McCallum are under contact you hope a consistent them can be built around them.
I think at the end of the day it can be considered a successful half of a season. Dagenham finally managed to click as a team it is just a case of building around a good core. This and a bit of luck and I feel Dagenham can achieve their goals. However, this summer will be crucial in the recruitment to achieving the ultimate goal of promotion which I feel may be a step to far next year but time will tell.
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