Grays' season so far:

The purpose of the report is to reflect and to ask questions. As has been said before, some of the greatest managers in the world do their best work from the comfort of their laptop (or is it in the front seat of a taxi?).

When the whistle blew at Morecambe on the final day of the season, Blues boss Justin Edinburgh blew a heavy sigh of relief. The other results confirmed that Grays would stay up.

Immediately Justin announced to the press that "work begins on Monday."

Players such as Glenn Poole and John Martin left and exciting buys and prospects such as Craig McAllister and Charley Hearn were signed.

The friendlies looked promising. A solid draw against Wolves showed the defence had bedded in immediately. All the strikers looked lively whether it was Aaron O'Connor's hat-trick against Bowers and Pitsea, Danny Kedwell and Ben Watson combining well against Orient or the whole team's attacking instinct against Spurs.

The first game against Torquay was extremely impressive. Grays second half resistance against a team who looked favourites to bounce right back up seemed to indicate that this was a team that could be in the mix come next May.

On August 27th, Grays Athletic entertained Blue Square newcomers Histon knowing that a 2-0 victory would see them top of the table. Grays lost 1-0.

Five weeks later Grays sit in 18th place and struggling. Apart from the Kidderminster 5-1 victory they have scored just seven goals in 14 games.

McAllister,Kedwell and O'Connor look pale shadows of the strikers they could and should be.

On Tuesday night against fellow strugglers Weymouth, the team couldn't buy a goal. Gavin Grant looked superb as did O'Connor and Kedwell but like a golfer whose work off the tee, bunkers and fairway is superb, they have the yips when it comes to holing out.

Justin and Mick Woodward spoke in the managers office for 45 minutes after the game. It is no media exaggeration to say, voices were raised. Interviewing Justin afterwards was difficult. Usually it is one to one. On this occasion, Jimmy, Gary indeed, even his young son were present during the interview. Justin spoke of belief and of players who scored at will last year simply but have lost faith in themselves.

He is a player who has played at the highest level and has a 1991 FA Cu winner's medal to prove it but looks at a loss to explain the famine.

So where does the problem lie? Why is a team, so well set up for the season with good to excellent prospects now looking at a long winter struggle at the foot of the table? Where has it gone and more importantly, can it be rectified?

The Chairman

Mick Woodward wears his club on his sleeve. He has taken the club from "obscurity" to FA Trophy success and has aspirations of league status and a new ground. For all his faults, where would the club be without him? Visionaries are notoriously difficult people. Some might see Grays Athletic as Mick's toy rattle. One minute a thing of comfort and joy, the next thing spat out in a temper tantrum.

Mick has a sound working knowledge of football but was it wise to stand in the dugout as what appeared to be "Acting Manager" for the first friendly against Wolves? How did Jimmy Dack feel? Did he have Justin's permission and how did he think that would be perceived?

When he is shouting out orders to players from the sidelines. Does he know whether they are in tune with what the player has been instructed by his manager? Is there any possibility that the players, among themselves will discuss who is really in charge? If there is any possibility that it will undermine the status of the manager, should it be done?

Indeed, should a conversation regarding the performance against Weymouth be held right after the game, six feet away from the media (it's a thin door) or should that be left until the cooler light of the next morning?

But this is a man who is passionate about the club, a man who would never point at a player and say "That's my next west stand" but who would dash onto the pitch to check on the welfare of a player (Jack Haverson at Pitsea).

Fitness

After the final whistle went at Morecambe, Justin was asked what is the first improvement he wants to make at the club. He immediately said "Fitness." Justin believed that the players were 30 to 40% away from full fitness. He had a point. Simon Downer was the unfittest player this journalist had seen since a striker for Leyton Orient in 1979 (name escapes me). So, when Justin announced that he was bringing in fitness guru, Angie Dowds to condition the team, then this looked like the great leap forward. Many had recognised Angie from her high profile television shows and should have been impressed by her proven track record and methods. She was certainly impressive.

I went to the first training session and was impressed with her philosophy, especially when talking about balance and technique. It also looked really hard. She appeared on the sidelines for friendlies and really looked forward to working with the team But soon she was gone. In an interview with the Gazette, Angie said: "The Chairmen just wouldn't pay the going rate. I value myself highly and it was a shame as it was a good opportunity for us all."

Angie reflected on the players' attitude.

She said: "Justin has very positive views about fitness but too many of the players are still stuck in a comfort zone. About four really took it on board."

The issue of fitness could be a key one. After narrowly losing against Cambridge most of the players could be seen rushing over to the nearest Chinese take away. Since then, not a moment goes by without a member of the playing staff being seen with fast food in his hand.

It was plain embarrassing to see Mark Marshall sitting in the stand at Stafford extolling the virtues of a "phat burger" he had just stuffed into his mouth. But perhaps not as embarrassing as seeing a palpably unfit Karl Murray simply unable to get up and down the pitch.

The fans don't expect the players to be living the life of a monk or living at altitude in an oxygen chamber but are these not paid professionals?

It was, therefore not surprising that Donny Barnard, Downer and Watson thought it was ok to sit in the bar having a beer and burger during the calamitous match against York.

Like unruly pupils in a classroom, one would hope for self-discipline but you would also look to the person in charge to have enough sense of discipline to make sure such events would be unthinkable. (Just popping out for a happy meal Sir Alex?) The players look happy enough together but then again so do underachieving Year 11 boys smoking in the bike sheds.

The Boss Justin Edinburgh has always had an excellent relationship with the fans. At every home game he applauds them and always directs his players in away games to the loyal supporters who have made the long journey.

His regular Q and A sessions with the fans show a commitment to open dialogue. His door is always open to the press and he gives a considered analysis after matches.

In terms of management, he is learning his trade. If he has to be judged then for the defence he would cite the defence.

Grays, remarkably have the best away defence in the league. He has moulded an excellent outfit with Sambrook and Gross reliable and Stuart and particularly Ashton outstanding.

Because proceedings are, in legal terms, active, journalists are forbidden to discuss possible/pending court proceedings so there will be no discussion of Jamie Stuart's alleged conduct against York but everyone has been impressed with the defence.

And let us not forget Ross Flitney who has made some wonderful saves.

At his best Edinburgh's teams have flair and style. The 90 minutes at Stevenage in the second-leg last year was an outstandingly brave and exciting display. Interestingly it was with a formation that never played together again.

Tinkering seems to be a problem. The team that beat Kidderminster also never played together again.

The key question, therefore is Justin able to get the best out of midfielders and attackers?

Stuart Thurgood.

In the second leg against Stevenage in the FA Trophy, Thurgood put in a herculean performance that was one of the best you will ever see.

He is once again trying to come back from injury but does he need to be more calculating in his approach to the game?

Too many balls go off the radar and his role doesn't seem to be clear. Perhaps less could be more.

Do Grays needs a clear water carrier in the tradition of Makelele or Mascherano who gets it and then gives it?

Would that not leave the creative midfielder to do what he does best and espress, deliver and carve out chances.?

Trying to do everything is admirable but could be part of the problem.

Charley Hearn

The purchase of Charlie was a risk. Many managers may have said "Never going to fulfill......"

On his debut, against Wolves, Charlie played a beautiful through ball with the outside of his boot into Aaron O'Connor's path. It was at this time that I was determined not to refer to the fact that back in 1999, Charley was tipped by The Sun to be one of the "Sportsmen of the New Millennium" (along with Monty Panesar and Nicola Sanders)

But as each game passes Charley seems to be content to play a cameo role in his own career.

Where you would expect him to dominate and dictate, he appears on the periphery, unwilling or unable to stamp his talent on the game.

Nearly every game, he puts in a Ronaldhino dummy. Impressive, however in 99 most of us would have hoped that one day we would be seeing Charlie doing that against Ronaldhino and not Stafford Rangers. Perhaps Charlie needs a copy of "On the Waterfront" for Christmas.

The Flanks

There is a great deal of creativity coming down the flanks. Mark Marshall scared the life out of Torquay. James Lawson looks a mighty talent and Dennis Oli is a considerable force but are they left and right sided midfielders or are they wingers?

Ernie Cooksey is rated by many who saw him for Boston and Rochdale as a terrific box to box midfielder. If Grays are looking at 10th place at best and anything else is a bonus, then would it not be better to have Ernie working the channel?

There is no doubting the attacking flair of the flank players such as Oli, Lawson and Marshall but does it turns the team into 4-3-3 or even 4-2-4 on too many occasions.

The "winning ugly" teams of the Blue Square have the drill of getting two banks of four across the park when defending. There seem to be too many holes to walk through with Grays midfield and this gives the excellent defence too much to do.

It may not be the best example but against Spurs, Sambrook and Cooksey were left terribly exposed as Tarrabt and Routledge terrorized them. It should have been an obvious warning that the system needed tightening.

Up Front

On Tuesday night, before the game, the strikers, under the guise of Jimmy Dack, practiced shooting. Player after player simply struck the ball wide. For a time it looked as if they were actually placing it past the post. Sadly, no.

Oli, Lawson, Marshall, Thurgood haven't scored. O'Connor, McAllister have just one to their name while Kedwell the top scorer in the friendlies has not scored since the Kidderminster hat-trick.

McAllister knocked in 16 goals for Woking last season and was mightily impressive when Woking beat Grays 1-0 in April. He has always looked classy but ever since a strangely off-key performance against Bowers and Pitsea, he has looked rudderless.

He has been in and out of the starting eleven and so each time he comes on, he looks tight.The same could be said for many of the attackers.

Many may privately look to other attackers who are given time to breathe. Andy Johnson is being given that chance at Everton as he suffers a long dry spell, as was Crouch. Shearer went 12 games without a goal for England.

Others say he is on good money and needs to sing for his supper.

You have the terrible feeling that he will go to another club and pick up where he left off at Woking.

Is this where the club need to take on board advice? A fresh pair of eyes which would dissect the last 20 games, frame by frame (they are all on tape) since Wolves and say "this is where you are going wrong."

If this was tennis or golf, the team would be getting a sports psychologist in. So why not now? That is the 21st century approach. Then again so was Angie Dowds.

The harsh reality is that Justin has been given money and backing but he clearly wants more time. On far too many occasions he defends the players by saying that they are young men learning their trade but if they don't fast track their apprenticeship, they will be on job seeker's allowance in the Essex Senior League.

Personally, Justin hasn't looked right since Margate, as if something is eating at him or he is just putting something down to experience. Sometimes he comes across as if he is onto greater and bigger things whereas this could be a good as it gets.

Is he the type of manager like Wenger or Houllier, who will go to cold nights in Sawbridgeworth, Ipswich or Folkestone looking for the missing pieces of the jigsaw or does he have the real hunger or right stuff for football management?

The Fans

The fans deserve better. Go to the web-site and you will witness patient, loyal, passionate followers of Grays Athletic. Some feel that this could be as good as it gets and be careful what you wish for. Others feel that this could be the dawn of something special and that Grays could be part of the brave new world of gateway regeneration.

Whatever the season brings, this is now a vital time where important decisions may need to be considered. It is difficult when you are trying to marry dreams, results, businesses, livelihoods and reality. Sometimes one of those elements has to be traded for the benefit of all. Let us hope the right decisions are made.

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