All The Right Notes? Rovers v Morecambe preview
Going into this season, my biggest fear was Tranmere Rovers getting sucked into a downward spiral of the likes that saw them drop out of the Football League six years ago, so I would have been content with a mid-table finish after Rovers’ ‘relegation’ through Points Per Game last season just to avoid a similar fate.
As it was, Southend United suffered the same fate that Rovers did as their PPG relegation was followed by a real one, so Rovers finishing in the play-offs should be cause for celebration. Yet there was such an air of despondency that had Exeter City held on to their lead against Barrow and Colchester United fashioned a winner that seemed increasingly likely as the game in which they had nothing to play for progressed, it would have been a merciful relief to avoid the impending play-offs just to see Keith Hill bounced out of the door.
So, it came as a pleasant surprise and cause for unanimous celebration amongst the #SWA when Hill was dismissed last week. This act eclipsed Rovers’ other good deed in letting season ticket holders have free admission to tomorrow’s first leg.
Such has been the surrealism of this season that despite Hill persisting with an approach that wasn’t working without the aerial prowess and tireless work-rate of James Vaughan upfront after his injury against Leyton Orient, Rovers almost managed to get automatic promotion. But the maths of the league table belied the rot that had set in at Rovers after the Football League Trophy final.
Ultimately, Hill’s legacy was to play a style of football that was alien to the squad and recruiting players that still could not adapt to his hoof-ball approach. Had Hill chosen to retain Sam Smith as back-up to Vaughan (Smith’s aerial prowess was subsequently key to Ben Tozer’s long throw-ins, a key factor in Cheltenham going up as champions), or approach Mansfield Town for the now out of contract Andy Cook, things might have been very different.
Worst of all, Hill could have simply watched the games when Ian Dawes and Andy Parkinson were in charge to see what Rovers could produce just by getting the ball on the deck. Hill even recruited a midfielder in Ali Crawford with the quality to control possession and distribution so Rovers could at least create in the final third. But instead of sprinkling that salt and pepper, Hill managed to undo all the good work that Dawes and Parkinson put in to return Rovers to their listless state under Michael Jackson.
The only mitigation for Hill’s approach was that Rovers looked tired towards the end of November as their high tempo began to slow as they scraped narrow wins against Carlisle and Brackley Town. Yet by the time Hill took over, the EFL had brought in the five substitute rule, which should have allowed Rovers to freshen enough key players and maintain this approach. Given his fetish for substitutions in injury time, never has a rule been so under-utilised as it was when Hill was in charge.
Since Hill’s dismissal, Rovers have had time to try and regain that self-belief in time for the first leg. But the tie itself is still a tall order. Although the impact of Dawes and Parkinson was instant last time round, there is a world of difference between trying to arrest the slide in the earlier part of the season and trying to win a make or break play-off against a Morecambe team that appear full of confidence and self-belief.
Yet Rovers have the players in their squad to bring back the creativity once again and give themselves a chance. In fact, there is almost an embarrassment of riches there so long as Dawes and Parkinson recreate their approach that saw them win five games on the bounce last November. Paradoxically, the addition of Crawford, David Nugent and Nya Kirby under Hill means that Dawes and Parkinson have even more options better suited to what will hopefully be the return of the almost legendary Dawes Diamond.
Dawes has spoken about having players within the squad with play-off experience as being a key factor, yet this pales into insignificance given that it’s Rovers’ lack of effectiveness since Vaughan’s injury that has been more of a concern. Usually teams that go into the play-offs maintain the approach that got them there but with extra emphasis on discipline and defence. Now Hill has gone, Dawes and Parkinson have the chance to turn Rovers’ recent approach on its head.
This more expansive style is bound to be risky, especially as Morecambe’s defence has improved in recent weeks, but it’s all that Rovers have given the players at their disposal. Put it this way, if they lay the ghost of Hill’s hoof-ball they might lose. If they don’t, they will lose.
