Scott Donnelly
advertisement
Donnelly confident of making play-offs
By Charlie OliverDecember 23, 2009
A YEAR ago, Aldershot easily won their Boxing Day bout with Barnet, to move within a win of the automatic promotion spots in League Two.
From there, however, their season slumped alarmingly, before recovering to a stable finish in mid-table.
This season, little is different: Aldershot are eighth in the table, a point off the play-offs spots. And next up, on Boxing Day, are Barnet, albeit this time at the Recreation Ground.
So, 12 months on, can Aldershot maintain their momentum? Or will they come down with the Christmas decorations, like last year.
Many of the squad remain from last season and the hope is that they will have learnt from that chastening experience and, now fully at home in the Football League, will be able to play to a high standard all season.
Some excellent performances this season and an improved defensive record suggest Aldershot can indeed do better this time; conversely, the 6-1 thrashing at Burton Albion in their last match was not so encouraging.
Of course, Aldershot have a different manager and perhaps the key will be whether Kevin Dillon can recapture the sparkling performances at the Rec that Gary Waddock conjured up earlier this season, before he left for Wycombe Wanderers.
Almost all the teams that share the top half of the table with the Shots are yet to visit the Rec and Dillon’s team must improve on their recent underwhelming displays at home, when they picked up more points than they deserved.
One player who is adamant that Aldershot can make the play-offs is Scott Donnelly. The diminuative midfielder has been ever-present this season, scoring seven times in League Two — and providing as many assists.
“I see no reason why we cannot be in the play-offs come the end of the season,” said Donnelly. “I think we can play the best football in the division and our squad is very strong. That some very good players cannot get in the team at the moment is proof of that
“We probably should be higher in the table. We have dropped points, such as against Hereford at home. I think we can carry on going in the second half of the season, this time.”
Donnelly was only involved sporadically last season, when he struggled to be fit. “I’ve played every game this season and that has helped my form,” said Donnelly. “I feel fit and strong. I had a good pre-season and did well and I think I forced the manager’s hand.”
That manager was Waddock, who coached Donnelly as a youngster at Queens Park Rangers and made his admiration of the player clear; Waddock was only too glad to build his team around a fully-fit Donnelly, with a new system, involving three central midfielders. Donnelly has been one of two more attacking players, with either Lewis Chalmers or John Halls occupying the space in front of the back four.
“The three in midfield is working for us,” said Donnelly. “I think it’s best when we have one player sitting back. That way there should always be a spare man. Hopefully I can keep on getting forward to score and set up goals.”
After scoring twice against Accrington in August — Aldershot won 3-1 — Donnelly said that he had set a target of ten or more goals this season, with six or seven by Christmas. He has already achieved that first aim.
While the formation has scarcely changed, life is a little different under Dillon, whose approach is more prosaic than Waddock’s attacking ideal.
Donnelly respects Dillon’s demands but is honest enough to admit that Waddock’s style of play was more in keeping with his own. “I don’t think the football we are playing now is as enterprising as it was under Gary Waddock,” said Donnelly.
“We are not given the freedom to pass the ball as much as before and I don’t think I have been making the impact I did earlier in the season.
“Everyone has their own ways and methods and we understand how the manager wants us to play,” said Donnelly. “But perhaps the manager will let us go back to how we know we can play, as we try to push for promotion.”
Donnelly has played at a much higher level — for QPR in the Championship — and wants to get back to that level. Whether he remains at Aldershot for a while longer is a moot point; Donnelly is out of contract in the summer and, indeed, interest in him is expected in the January transfer window. Waddock and Wycombe, who are in the throes of a relegation battle, are likely candidates - but clubs in finer fettle may be monitoring the situation, too.
That said, staying at Aldershot — and being one of the key men in, hopefully, a successful side — could yet be in the best interests of Donnelly, who turns 22 on Christmas Day.
“The club and I have been in initial contact about a new contract. New deals only come when you are playing well. I need to carry on doing that and hopefully there will be a nice offer,” said Donnelly.
“Yes, I’ve had a taste of playing at a higher level and I want to get back there but let’s wait and see. Right now I and all the players just want to get that Burton game out of our system by picking up three points against Barnet — and getting back into those play-off places.”
Whether the weather puts paid to that Barnet match — and the trip to Hereford on Monday (December 28) — remains to be seen. Last season, January’s Arctic blast interrupted Aldershot’s rhythm irrevocably; this time around the Shots must not freeze when play resumes.
ALDERSHOT are highly confident that the Barnet game on Boxing Day will go ahead as planned.
Staff and volunteers are busy clearing the terracing and laying salt on the tarmac and pavements around the ground. A gritter is coming to lay grit on the internal road and car parks.
The pitch will probably be cleared of snow as late as Boxing Day morning. The snow acts like a blanket and, hopefully, is preventing the ground underneath from freezing.
The club would be very grateful for any assistance on Boxing Day morning to come and sweep the pitch and to do any last-minute sweeping of other public areas, to ensure that the game goes ahead and that all supporters can enjoy the last home game of 2009.
If you can turn up on Boxing Day then please come along any time after 8am (the earlier the better). If you can, please bring a broom and/or shovel to use.
If you would like any further information on how you can help then do not hesitate to contact the club on 01252 320 211.
Browse Sections
