I am presuming that we will still be in league 1 next season, cannot see why not, then this will have been a successful season for us. Just look at the other teams that were promoted with us, so yes, it is a success. It will soon be over and we can plan for next season.
Covid has shortened this season and I am absolutely sure that fatigue has taken its toll on some of the players that have been playing Sat Tue Sat Tue Sat Tue when it has been required. Yes,I know it is the same for both teams, but Lowe has not been so squad orientated, and has only replaced players when 1) they get injured 2) they lose form 3) they get carded 4) they get replaced three quarters through the game 5) they make a large error in the previous game.
Aimson is the player that stands out. He has played more than his fair share of games, but only because he cannot be replaced, like for like, except with inexperienced youngsters. He has played well under the circumstances and his recent injury may have been a result of playing too many games in too short a time.
The season has been shortened and no time has been given to the players or staff to try to remedy failings, so it happens again and again.
My biggest beef is the fact that Lowe has put most of his faith in youth, and has not counteracted that with experience.
I suspect that is because his short managerial experience has shown him that the young will listen and learn, and maybe the more experienced will not be so pliable in his requirements.
This has left us with a lack of leadership, as has already been noted by others (including Lowe himself), a lack of physicality, and a lack of players wanting to be leaders on the field of play.
Unless they are exceptional talents, you do not win anything with kids, but they are cheap, they listen and try to learn, but are not as effective as they should be.
Physicality and being bundled off the ball, as per the Fleetwood game, has shown up their inadequacies and they are trying to play their under 21/under 23 football in the mens game and it doesn't work.
The good thing is that Lowe, and his backroom staff, will have identified the teams failings, and will be able to try to rectify the situation before next season. Lowe has a steep learning curve, but he has his backroom staff to help, and we all hope he is a fast learner. He has already alluded to not having leaders on the pitch. Hopefully the team will be up and running before the season starts, and any loanees that we get late will not become part of the spine of the team.
I also hope that Hallett will be able to release sufficient money, not only from season ticket sales, and profit from the Tom Jones show in Central Park, but from anticipated profits from the grandstand, which will be dependent wholly on how Covid reacts in the future and whether we will still be wearing masks and safe distancing next winter, which I fear may well be the case.