U's 1-1 Northampton: Bad Habit

The Garry Monk era started with a draw at the Abbey yesterday. It was a point on the board but far from a convincing one. Have we got enough about us to keep out of trouble this time?

Ten games then. That’s what Garry Monk has to try and find the seven or so points United need to avoid the drop again. Can he do it? Well, that remains to be seen, but he’s got off to an unbeaten, if unconvincing start with a point against the Cobblers on Saturday.

Let’s face it - Monk’s initial tenure at the Abbey is always going to be one of evolution not revolution - the transfer window is closed, the money’s spent, no-one else is gonna join the squad that Mark Bonner and Neil Harris have put together to try and get us out of this mess. George Hoddle was recalled from his loan at St Albans but didn’t make the squad, which got even lighter this week as George Thomas suffered an ACL injury which will keep him out for the rest of this season (and likely a good deal of next too).

To expect Monk to come in and turn this group of players, who’ve underperformed terribly so far this season, into world beaters is simply unreasonable. The best we can hope for is that he instills a bit of drive, determination and pride into them, and gets this over the line.

Did we see anything that different yesterday then? Not really, but we were never going to. You can basically pick our starting XI these days, the only surprise was seeing Sullay Kaikai make way for the returning Lyle Taylor, and United line up more or less in a 4-4-2 formation.

We started off pretty well if I’m honest, and made the breakthrough on 16 minutes, with Liam Bennett and Jack Lankester playing some great football resulting in a nice cross for Elias Kachunga to tap in from close range. United continued to press for the first half although never really looked like adding to the scoreline.

Second half and it was all Northampton - I don’t think we had a shot on goal until the dying minutes and Northampton should have found the net more than they did. Their goal came from a set piece, Stevens completely missing the ball, something he’s done a few times now this season. Kachunga and Lankester - our best two players on the day and the only two looking likely to do anything - were taken off for Kaikai who didn’t contribute much, and Macauley Bonne who contributed even less. It was an off day for Kaikai, and he’s delivered when needed this season, but Bonne hasn’t shown anything during his time here to make me think he’s going to be an important part of our run in. I get we’re not really playing to his strengths, but he’s not showing for the ball, not wanting the ball or wanting to impose himself on the game. He’s fast running out of chances to show us what he can do, and as it stands is beginning to look like one of our worst ever signings.

His strike partner Lyle Taylor owed us a performance today, but we didn’t get that from him. We know what class he has, but he didn’t look bothered yesterday. After that red card against Bolton (which ultimately cost us more than Harris leaving) we need to know we can trust him to come up with the goods during a relegation battle. I don’t really care if you just collect your wage whilst you’re here Lyle, but you’ve got to sweat and you’ve got to give a shit. You owe us that much.

If Monk does one thing for us I hope it’s reminding these players that they’re not terrible footballers. Get us playing football, moving the ball on along the floor. We’re neither big enough or strong enough to play hopeful balls up into the air every time, it’s been clear all season that just simply doesn’t work. Get the ball to Taylor in the box and he will score the goals we need to stay up- if he wants to. Let’s get back to basics - short passes, hard work, lots of movement. It’s not going to be easy, but do that and you can leave the Abbey with your head held high when Monk is given the Summer to recruit in his own style.

Whatever happens this season the damage has already been done - relegation won’t be Monk’s fault so we need to make sure we’re not on his back as he’s stuck with this set of players. It’s down to those players how they want to be remembered - heroes or villians?

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