Tranmere Rovers 1-4 Crewe Alex 25-26 Review - Unexpected

The 3-1 at Salford on the opening day was unexpected. Nobody saw such a good performance and result coming. The win against Fleetwood was unexpected. Nobody saw such a battering and a 4-1 win coming. Add the win against Notts County, add the win against Grimsby. This team this season seems to come up with the goods just when things seem to be turning sour. And so it was that they soundly ended their miserable record at Prenton Park by hammering Tranmere. This is my review of the game:

Into a Blender

It's not the first time Bell has thrown his line up in a blender seemingly out of nowhere. Sam Waller in for a start and Booth benched was strange. Agius at RB was strange. The Josh March on the left wing, with Tezgel in behind Thibaut was strange. But whether by luck or judgement, it totally paid off. Maybe Andy Crosby was thrown by the sudden system changes. Maybe the players were using the bad feelings from Wednesday's dropped win. Who cares. All that matters is the 4 goals and 3 points.

Messages Sent

The manager undoubtedly sent out a few messages today with who he picked. Tom And who he didn't. His bench wasn't as weak as I thought it would be as Jack Powell and Louis Moult both were declared fit, which was a boost to welcome back 2 vastly experienced veterans to the group when Mickey Demetriou, Conor Thomas and Omar Bogle were out. But Charlie Finney was out of the squad entirely. Punishment for his errors on Wednesday? Or injured/ill? Jay Mingi went from a starter on Wednesday to benched entirely. Stan Dancey coming on in the final minute rather than him felt symbolic. Booth on the bench for the first time in the league this season was a bold call, but some will say warranted.

This team needs 3 things in January. Help defensively, both at CB and at full back. Help in midfield to ease the pressure on Sanders and Lunt. And to keep Tezgel and O'Reilly. The manager has surely set his stall out, so let's see if they can happen.

Dominant

Let's talk about the form of some of these players as well. Max Sanders scored 2 great goals and made another for Tommi O'Reilly. He's in incredible form and is the clear front runner for the player of the season award. O'Reilly himself deserves a mention as he got 2 assists and 1 goal today, taking his personal total in the league to 11 goal contributions.

They aren't alone though. Emre Tezgel scored for the 4th game in a row to take his total to 7 in the league. There were other standout performers and in truth, they have been solid all season. Lunt, Billington, Hutchinson, March. They need help from their absent colleagues, but the Alex are where they thanks to this core group.

Form

Whilst we can bemoan the draw against Newport and rightly so, an optimist will tell you that the Alex have lost 1 of their last 7 and that was a last minute defeat. They should have beaten Oldham, could have beaten Chesterfield, should have taken at least a draw from Cambridge and definitely should have beaten Newport. Yes, they haven't got the results, but the fact is their performances since MK Dons have been largely fine, but have been missing either that clinical edge up front or that defensive solidity/game management at the back. Today had both.

How they get on against a soon to be managerless Bristol Rovers next Friday and how they do on Boxing Day remains to be seen, but if they can find a way of turning some of these performances into more points, which some will argue they fully merit, then they can have a good season. But finding that consistency is proving to be their biggest challenge.

Attack

I'll label a lot of things at this Alex team. But I saw some describe them as boring. Are you joking?! This team is easily the most exciting team going forward under Lee Bell, save for perhaps the end of the 22-23 season. In Tezgel, O'Reilly and March, they have 3 of the best attackers in the division. Calum Agius has been fine, but he too can improve. It's also easy for forget, but they have Jack Lankester, Matus Holicek, Omar Bogle and hopefully at some point next year, Shilow Tracey, to welcome back.

To have scored 33 goals, the 6th most in the division, with half an attack, is a testament to the new found attacking zeal they've had all season. We can criticise their game management, consistency and the manager's decision making at times, but they are not a boring team that's for sure.

Ref Assessment

No complaints with Mr Joyce, as I so often don't. Could have bottled the penalty award on March, but didn't.

Management Assessment

They gambled and got their rewards. Was today luck or judgement? Who knows and who cares. The search for consistency goes on, but given this is only the 2nd December win under Lee Bell, I'll happily take the 3 points and move on to Bristol Rovers.

Player Assessments

Sam Waller

Unfortunate to not earn a clean sheet as he made a number of top saves at key times. Nothing he could do about Connolly's 2nd own goal in 4 days.

Calum Agius

Forced into an unusual RB role whilst Mingi sat on the bench was telling. Did about as well as you could expect in an unusual position.

James Connolly

Unlucky to score his 2nd own goal in 4 days but he dealt well with the tricky threat of Ironside and Dennis. That being said, if he could actually head the ball in any meaningful direction, maybe the goal doesn't go in.

Lewis Billington

A better display after looking shaky several times on Wednesday. Took a booking, but it's only his 2nd.

Reece Hutchinson

Another solid display at LB. But we do need to have a conversation about the fact this is his 19th league appearance and he's now up to around 40 professional games played since February.

Max Sanders MOTM

What more can you say about him? His 2nd goal was incredible and his first wasn't bad either. Just in outstanding form.

Owen Lunt

Not really a factor in the game. I think he can hack it in a deeper CM role, but he was quiet today.

Tommi O'Reilly

He can quiet all round games if he continues to show up on the stats sheet. Only 31 touches, but 10% of them resulted in goals as he set up Sanders twice and scored 1 himself. 11 goal contributions before Christmas is an incredible return.

Emre Tezgel

Perhaps not quite as effective in a deeper role, but he still should have scored more than the 1 penalty he did bag.

Josh March

LW isn't his best position, but he won the crucial game killing penalty, which Tezgel then dispatched.

Adrien Thibaut

Worked his socks off, but there is still a lack of EFL quality in his play. As players return, I'm fine with him dropping out of the squad.

Subs:

Jack Powell

Almost a forgotten figure. Maybe it's the wrong time to have the conversation, but is he worth keeping around beyond January given how this team plays is not his style?

Dion Rankine

Nice to see him get back to back appearances at least.

Louis Moult

They need all the help they can get, so it's pleasing to see Moult back after a short lay off.

Stan Dancey

He must be made up to make his league debut. Can he force his way into the managers plans at RB? I'd be surprised, but you never know.

Overall Verdict

League Two summed up in 90 minutes. The form, the injuries, the team selection. It all screamed defeat. But they go and win comfortably. Go figure. The Alex's rollercoaster season goes on. What next against a managerless Bristol Rovers? God only knows. Could be a 3-0 win. Could be a 3-0 defeat. Could be anything in between. What next in this topsy turvy season?