Am I too negative?

I know things have been going really well on the pitch for the last few weeks – a very disappointing trip to Lincoln aside – but I am going to deliberately be doom & gloom.

Not that I am of that nature normally, but it struck me just as the Bolton match kicked off that were we to lose we'd be back in a relegation fight. or certainly closer than the play-offs. 

So as I looked at the starting 11 - which is probably as strong as we can field right now a few negative thoughts entered my freezing cold mind.

Bear with me as there is plenty of positive here as well and rest assured that I pray (or would if I believed in such an activity) that none of these possibilities actually happen.

Here goes..

Alex Bass

As he crumpled to the ground late on against Bolton (I was a long way away in my defence) my heart missed a beat. 

Have you seen the replacements if he got injured? Don't let anyone rewrite history about Bilo and neither of the other two are anywhere near good enough. 

Any absence of Alex would be disastrous and extremely harmful. We really must get a quality keeper willing to sit on the bench.

Peter Kioso

Got to love him at times and going forward he was much better against the Trotters than the Imps but that wasn't difficult. 

He really must improve to become anything like he was the first time around.

Carl Johnston

He becomes the de facto replacement should the above not happen and whilst he is the better defender (man on man) we'd lose the attacking options Kioso offers..

The same goes for James Dornelly and I don't think he's quite ready. He could even be elsewhere if he goes out on loan.

Left Back

With Harley Mills probably out for the rest of the season and the desperate ongoing issues that Rio Adebisi seems to be suffering, we are fortunate that CJ has covered that position, generally, so well.

Jacob  Mendy is not the answer to any question and certainly not one that asks who should be lining up in our defence.

Central defence

I agree with those who have Tom Lees as at least one of our players of the season and I do believe his experience won't mean my concerns come to fruition. 

But things get a bit trickier when he and Tom O’Connor are faced with pacier attacks.

I am hoping 'Big Dave' returns soon and retains the form he was showing before the freak injury he suffered.

He is a defender with real pace.

Archie Collins

I don't need to list how he benefits the team and whilst we have good players around him none have his tenacity, skillset or quarterback-like vision.

But I do worry about how we replace him when that time comes.

Matt Garbett

Oh, please don't get injured!

I could wax lyrical about the Kiwi all day and night. 

There is genuinely no other player in the division like him, never mind in our squad.

While I cringe every time he lunges into those tackles, it is for his personal wellbeing and the associated negative effect on our squad as much as the possibility of a red card!

Kyrell Lisbie 

The same goes for our young winger who is way further ahead of what I expected.

He still has many shortcomings, especially defensively, but he causes so many issues for the defenders.

In fact, I swear he’s not always sure what he is going to do, so no wonder the opposition have no idea.

Other wingers

I have not been impressed by Frith while Hayes looks a mere shadow of what he showed previously.

So it is  not surprising to hear of other wingers being looked at.

Forwards

Jimmy-Jay Morgan and Harry Leonard are an outstanding partnership, while what I have seen of Pemi is promising and it looks like we are saying farewell to Gustav.

Is this enough to see us consistently score enough to get us to where we want to be? As ever time will tell but again, don't be surprised if reinforcements are being looked at.

Bear with me…

Obviously, injuries and players leaving the club are a part of the game, but my worries about the squad are genuine.

Please don't give me too much grief about the negative vibe, as I say not in my nature...honest.

KIP. Up the Poshcast