Sadly, there is a gaping Sam Morsy-shaped hole in the middle of our football team. No doubt about it, we are missing our inspirational skipper a huge amount.
Of course, we miss him as a player, with his ability to drive forward with the ball, start attacking moves and break up opposition breaks when needed. But we miss him even more as an inspiring leader.
Make no mistake, Morsy was our main man on the pitch, encouraging, cajoling, pushing his team-mates on to greater efforts even though their legs were tiring. He was the beating heart of our team.
Quite why we let him go is something of a mystery to me, but the fact is this: Without him, the team looks rudderless, especially at a time of such significant change in the line-up.
What a difference having Morsy would make now, as we try to adjust to a series of departures and new arrivals. He would pull the strangers together and get them playing as a team. Without him, that’s not happening.
Saturday at Preston was more of the same, I’m afraid. Lots of the ball but little creativity and therefore very few chances.
In our three games back in the Championship, we’ve scored a paltry two goals, one a penalty and the other an own goal. So, no Town player has scored in open play in 270 minutes of trying.
That’s pretty dismal for a team billed as favourites to bounce straight back into the Premier League.
Kieran McKenna has admitted that it’s difficult having to virtually rebuild a team after all the changes – far more than I had been anticipating. Yes, I understand that it must be a challenge building new partnerships. But that doesn’t explain why some individuals are performing so poorly.
Without Morsy, we lack presence in the centre of the pitch, and I can’t wait for Jens Cajuste to be deemed capable of starting games.
Now, he flatters to deceive, and has little or no end product. A bit like a second division version of Jack Grealish. All show and no substance.
As for Philogene, he always had something to prove to Town fans after his protracted and somewhat messy arrival. But, for me, he’s been so disappointing. Again, very little end product.
If it was my decision, I would bench both of them to give them something to think about. Starting them in every match certainly doesn’t seem to be working.
The last few days of the transfer window will be crucial for us. We desperately need to sign another quality striker, to strengthen that department. Currently, we only have George Hirst and Chuba Akpom as realistic options.
We also need a dynamic presence in the engine room. Yes, someone like Sam Morsy. Funny that. Paul Cook unearthed the gem that was Morsy when he was out of favour at Middlesbrough. A master stroke. Can McKenna perform a similar miracle?
I remain glass half-full. We will improve as the team gels together. But it will take a little time. We need to be patient.
To conclude, two pleas to our manager. Firstly, please, Kieran, can you sometimes change our formation? It’s all so predictable, and that must be lovely for the opposition. For example, on Saturday, could Akpom have played alongside Hirst when he came on? Surely it’s worth doing something surprising just occasionally.
Secondly – and I make no apologies for repeating myself – please start Conor Chaplin. He has a bubbly personality and is a born leader, which we’re desperately lacking. And he scores goals – something else we’re seriously short of. Come on, Kieran – you know it makes sense.
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