Peterborough have managed to win just one match in their last ten games, attaining four points out of the 30 available. This puts the club out of the promotion chase and stranded in mid-table mediocrity. The Peterborough relegation risk is high if they do not galvanise themselves. How can the club stop the rot?
The club currently languishes in 16th place as the second top scorers in the league. This reveals the fundamental problems at the club, the abhorrent concession of goals. Posh have some quality defenders at the club, yet still the defensive record is abysmal. Some goals could be blamed on defence and goalkeeper, but the real root of the problem is ingrained in the whole team.
Good defences start from the front, with pressing, harrying strikers. Somewhere in between the strikers and the defence, there is meant to be a midfield, which is where the club are lacking. Blaming the centre-backs when the opposition team have dominated the midfield all match long is ridiculous. The injury of Gabriel Zakuani and the recent suspensions of Ricardo Santos have forced Michael Bostwick into the centre-back role. Bostwick is most influential in midfield, due to his aggression but also aerial ability in midfield. He is the steel that is incredibly lacking, allowing Posh to compete for midfield domination.
Every successful side has a ‘destroyer’ in midfield. Take Tottenham’s Eric Dier, who protects the defence by intercepting, tackling and marking key players. In the same way, Bostwick is the destroyer for Posh. If the club wants to improve, he has to be put back into midfield. Graham Westley is clearly tinkering with the midfield, with the loan of Simon Gillett from Yeovil, but it still feels weak. Of course, the overhaul of the squad will lead to team members playing alongside each other for the first time, but the squad really needs to hold onto a lead. With Bostwick in midfield, it should weaken the Peterborough relegation risk.
Expectedly, boos met the final whistle after the club gave up a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2. Some fans were even calling for Westley’s resignation. It is understandable after such a dire run recently, with the club seemingly declining. But, this isn’t an option that chairman Darragh MacAnthony should consider as the already turbulent season in terms of managerial changes needs to settle. The manager has already had some spells of success at the club. Westley does have some promise at the club after introducing the likes of Tom Nichols, Jordan Nicholson and Aaron Williams, who are all in their early twenties as the manager looks to build a younger, hungrier squad. He has tried to bolster the younger players with experience, with the aforementioned Gillett.
It is crucial that there is a good mix, as often in the lower strata of the Football League, the physicality of some players wins a lot of matches. Nevertheless, Westley should not ignore players such as Erhun Oztumer, who is the most creative player in the team. Despite his diminutive size, he is able to unlock defences. Leave Bostwick to win the headers for him, and there is a wonderful midfield partnership that must be reunited – a partnership that could help to ease the Peterborough relegation threat.
In the summer, there will be time to rebuild the squad and get back on to the promotion push next season. The loss of Conor Washington has really hit home and he must be replaced somehow. It seems as though the only option is to invest in youth and to bring them up, just as Washington developed.
No player in their prime is going to move to the club at this stage. MacAnthony does have a record of buying young players and selling them to Premier League clubs. There is potential to find many more young stars. Fans want to see their club promoted, and this is possible with a lot of time and a lot of patience. Ultimately, the club needs stability in its staff and players. Otherwise, Posh could be continuously stuck in the purgatory between the Championship and League One. Or, at worst, the Peterborough relegation risk will take them into League Two, seriously damaging the already struggling club.
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