If everybody is prepared now to recognise that most of the young players are not good enough or not ready to carry the side, then that is the cause for some hope.
Last season we tried to manage with too many of these young players starting.
This preseason, much the same.
We've looked pretty awful with that reliance on too many of these youngsters thrust into those roles together. Not meaning to blame them and they did as best they could. But they kind of got sent on a suicide mission.
We've looked better preseason with just Retre, Armiento and Eze coming on. Payne is clearly still out of sorts. Rufer is still getting started. Mileuznic yet to be seen. New CB to arrive. Plus potentially another couple of useful squad players.
We won't be the side that has been playing so poorly in the Aus Cup games. Nor the side full of injuries and struggling so badly last year.
How much better we can be is the obvious question. And what we've seen of a couple of the new players doesn't suggest a revolutionary improvement. But the combination of all the more senior players who are to come and still to get fit may make us competitive enough. The club has said it recognizes the need for a more experienced squad overall and they've shown us they are moving in that direction and have more to come.
I like what I've seen of Loke. Hughes is not quite the finished product but deserves his place and with good support should do the job and continue to get better. LBS should continue to improve and get time. The other younger players, not so much significant time, thanks. We need the senior players stepping in, staying fit and some of the new guys doing more than we've seen so far.
But, hopefully, a bit early yet to write us off as wooden spooners.
Last season we tried to manage with too many of these young players starting.
This preseason, much the same.
We've looked pretty awful with that reliance on too many of these youngsters thrust into those roles together. Not meaning to blame them and they did as best they could. But they kind of got sent on a suicide mission.
We've looked better preseason with just Retre, Armiento and Eze coming on. Payne is clearly still out of sorts. Rufer is still getting started. Mileuznic yet to be seen. New CB to arrive. Plus potentially another couple of useful squad players.
We won't be the side that has been playing so poorly in the Aus Cup games. Nor the side full of injuries and struggling so badly last year.
How much better we can be is the obvious question. And what we've seen of a couple of the new players doesn't suggest a revolutionary improvement. But the combination of all the more senior players who are to come and still to get fit may make us competitive enough. The club has said it recognizes the need for a more experienced squad overall and they've shown us they are moving in that direction and have more to come.
I like what I've seen of Loke. Hughes is not quite the finished product but deserves his place and with good support should do the job and continue to get better. LBS should continue to improve and get time. The other younger players, not so much significant time, thanks. We need the senior players stepping in, staying fit and some of the new guys doing more than we've seen so far.
But, hopefully, a bit early yet to write us off as wooden spooners.