2016-17 | #2 | First defeat - Cracks appearing?

Almost a year on since the last domestic defeat at Whaddon Road, Cheltenham finally fell to a loss at the hands of Darren Fergusons Doncaster Rovers.

After three straight draws out of the opening three games in the Robins return to the football league, cracks that were identified by Johnson in the final pre-season game at Bristol Rovers, have enlarged over the course of the last few league games. A wonder goal from O'Shaughnessy away to Mansfield lifted the spirits on what was a pretty poor showing, they weren't outclassed by the by the Stags, however on the day they really struggled to get anything going and struggled with the basics. 

Onto the trek towards the the Scottish border we stopped short at Carlisle in what was expected to be another tough battle. Although the squad was looking bare, the travelling 117 fans as well as the ones listening at home were hoping for a rejuvenated performance from the Robins. James Dayton and Asa Hall were welcomed back to the squad, at the expense of Dan Holman and Amari Morgan-Smith to injury. Again the performance wasn't anywhere near what we have come to expect from this group, in another frustrating game it ended 1-1 with an equaliser in the dying minutes of the game. Town were constantly hounded from start to finish with balls being pummelled into the box and the crossbar hit numerous times. Dayton's return sparked the only real excitement, with his run from deep inside our own half to the edge of the 18-yard box, to feed through Harry Pell to finish nicely in the bottom corner.

Carlisle Away (1-1)

For my full thoughts on the Carlisle game  - Carlisle Review

Following the game, Johnson again came out questioning the ability of his squad, with the unknown return date of last seasons top goalscorer Dan Holman, and Amari still feeling not 100% reinforcements were clearly needed. I have to admit I got quite giddy at the news of Koby Arthur returning to the club on loan. Johnson clearly doing his homework on a proven success, and the Ghanaian probably feels he has unfinished business with us after his early recall in our relegation season. He was shortly followed by the arrival another loan signing and winger Jonny Smith from the Johnson affiliate Bristol City. 

Koby came straight into the starting XI in what arguably was going to be the toughest opponent out of our openers, and required the biggest of reactions from the squad to the previous games. However again the Cheltenham squad as a whole were non-existent, nothing was clicking and the basics we're going so horribly wrong. Pell was in a one man midfield as we still are failing to get the best out of Whitehead, we can't expect to play any real football if we can't play anything through our midfield, the return of Storer is long-awaited. Ex-loanee John Marquis got the inevitable breakthrough in a scrappy game, which saw Jordan Cranston end up in midfield and Asa Hall at right-back. 

Heads turned to the out-of-favour Jack Barthram slumped on the bench long gone after the full-time whistle, a disagreement with Johnson perhaps, or just a tantrum and fit of frustration from what has been a quality and consistent player for us. 

It's hard to cast an opinion off four games into the season, when the fixture list splurged up these opening games I wasn't exactly expecting us to run riot, however I also wasn't expecting the lacklustre performances our heroes of last season have mustered up. Before each game so far I have had literally no idea what outcome to expect. Admittedly I've been happy to take a draw from each game, due to strengths of the opposition, although I've expected the characters in this squad to possibly pull of a noble win, even though we've come close we've never really looked like winning any, possibly the season opener against Orient towards the end. However I have been more sided to the expectancy of a loss, especially during the last two games, and it is purely down to the previous performances, not only has it lacked the quality, we've seriously lacked that character of last season. 

As you can tell it's been a complete mixed bag of thoughts and emotions, and there have been some really interesting insights to be seen on social media, which just emphasises the reason for expectancy and non-expectancy. I do feel confidence is low amongst the troops, as well as in numbers, with news of another arrival, and again another winger in free agent Jeffrey Monakana. Questions have been raised at the mind-games of Johnson, should he be battering the players in interviews? Are the cracks appearing in his own head, playing left-backs in centre mid, centre mids at right back?

I feel the most important thing is Johnson has stayed true to us fans, the players and himself. He said he will make or break these players, and if they aren't good enough they will be found out. The other important thing is it's only August, if things aren't going right they will be sorted, but first of all this has to be given time. We're trying to work with what we have got, the new boys need to be 'brainwashed' into the playing style, the more experienced players are now having to adopt a different formation, something out of practice from the long slog of last season, whether it lasts or not we have to have faith and not be hasty on the panic buttons.

Mansfield Away (1-1)

Opinion on booing

Something which always manages to tickle me when it crops up on Twitter is about the 'boo boys' as they were called on Saturday. I myself didn't boo after the game, although that being said even if I wanted to I couldn't be bothered after being so deflated by the showing. 

However it always niggles at me when people do get frowned upon for showing their thoughts on a poor performance, as to be fair none of us are questioned for cheering after a win, or clapping after a solid game with quality throughout. I'm looking at it from the perspective as Johnson has basically been in the same shoes as the booing fans, only expressing his disappointment in the players he has been working so hard with. It's not a sign of giving up, it's more an expression of this isn't good enough, something has to be changed, I'm all for getting behind the players and I do feel it's a method of showing the same emotion Johnson has been showing in his post-match interviews.

Whether I feel it's wrong or right I respect each persons view on the football, and don't feel other fans should be offended by another showing disapproval from a poor performance, and the comment rang true on Saturday of "should we clap them" after that. My opinion is no. Just a penny for your thoughts. 

Whatever happens on Tuesday night and the rest of the season, enjoy it and get behind the lads. Hopefully the weight is lifted off the shoulders in what should be a brilliant occasion at St.James Park, again I don't know what to expect maybe we could pull of the win and regain some of that drive and belief? Who knows?