Peterborough United Season Preview: is Evans the right man?

With the 2018-19 League One season coming up, The Football Lab spoke to Peterborough United fan Alex Batt (@AlexBatt)…

In nine of your last 10 seasons, you’ve either been in the Championship or the top half of League One. Looking at the bigger picture, do you feel that the club is in the right hands?

I don’t think you can criticise what DMAC has done in general for the club. Before him we were a reality TV series on Sky One and in an absolute mess, so he deserves massive credit for dragging us out of that mess and stuck in League Two. People will have questions regarding certain aspects of how the club is being run, but I think it’s certainly a case of ‘be careful what you wish for’. We could be in a worse position, that’s for sure.

While Posh fans acknowledge Steve Evans’ promotion record, it seems palpable that they perhaps don’t identify with him in the same way that they identified with Grant McCann. Is there a danger that that lukewarm relationship could turn sour if form dips?

If Evans doesn’t win games, there will be no support for him, but he’ll already know that. Posh Twitter was pretty brutal regarding his appointment, and was brutal at the end of last season when results weren’t going our way, and the performances weren’t great either. However, Evans has been there, done that, and got the XXL T-shirt. He knows football is about winning games, and if he does that, fans will support him.

Marcus Maddison and Jack Marriott were central to your play-off push last season. Do you fear you’ll struggle to keep hold of both?

Yes. Simple answer. We can’t hold onto both of them, or either of them in my opinion. If anything, I’d be surprised if they’re still at Posh after this is published. Interest hasn’t been as high as I thought it would be, not publicly anyway, but yeah, I’d imagine both will be gone come August 4.

Striker Matt Godden signs from Stevenage while Jason Cummings joins on loan from Forest. Do you still need a target man to accommodate Evans’ approach?

The feeling is that a target man will still be coming in. As usual with transfers, there has been a mixed reception with both Godden and Cummings, and they’ll have to hit the ground running to win the support of the fans. But yeah, I don’t think they’ll be the last strikers through the door.

Evans made Lincoln midfielder Alex Woodyard his number one target in a recruitment meeting. Are you pleased the club have been able to attract arguably one of the most complete midfielders outside the Championship?

It was clear in the summer that midfield was going to be strengthened. Michael Doughty was released early doors, Lopes was sold to Wigan, Forrester was moved on, and Grant was told he wouldn’t feature much. Woodyard comes with high reviews, so a lot of eyes will be on him and he’ll be expected to deliver. He’s probably the signing with the most pressure on his shoulders.

Chris Forrester and Leo Da Silva Lopes have left for Aberdeen and Wigan respectively while 6’4” Mark O’Hara signs from Peterborough. Was it important to add power in midfield, or were you wrong to let go of capable technicians?

I think selling Lopes and Forrester was the right move. Lopes wasn’t totally convincing in his time at Posh, despite his reputation and his age. Fans weren’t best pleased with him last season, and I think a transfer was needed for his career (surprised he opted for Wigan though). Forrester hasn’t been the same since Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup, so he simply had to be sold. He was a passenger most games after Chelsea away. With Evans’ style of play, you need strong men in the midfield, so it’s no surprise he’s signing big men, I just hope that doesn’t slow down our play.

Aaron Chapman joins after winning the League Two title with Accrington Stanley. Do you expect him to be first choice, or does Connor O’Malley have a chance?

Connor O’Malley was solid whenever he played last season, but I can’t see Chapman not being first choice. Winning Golden Glove last season shows he’s a solid goalkeeper, and I would expect him to be No.1 when the season starts. However, that was the situation last season with Jonathan Bond, and O’Malley displaced him, so it’s healthy competition there.

Steven Taylor has left but Rhys Bennett and Josh Yorwerth arrive with reasonable reviews from Mansfield and Crawley. Do you think Jack Baldwin and Ryan Tafazolli will keep their places at centre-back?

Ryan Tafazoli will be first name on the team sheet going by Evans’ comments on him. He’ll be a regular CB, but Baldwin won’t be, and I’d be surprised if he’s at London Road come the start of the season. On the transfer list and wanted out, so he’ll be moved on I’d imagine. Tafazoli and Bennett probably the starting CB partnership.

Andrew Hughes and Liam Shephard have gone to Preston and Forest Green respectively, with new boys Tyler Denton and Jason Naismith replacing them. What are your thoughts on the changes in the full-back areas?

I was a big fan of Andrew Hughes, so I was surprised to hear him leave, but going to the Championship is a big opportunity for him, so I wish him well. A classic 7/10 performer. Shephard also surprised me given our lack of depth at RB at the time. Always looked solid when he played, but clearly Evans wasn’t a fan. Denton has started pre-season well, so that’s promising, and Naismith will need to hit the ground running too. Surprising sales in my eyes.

Posh aside, what are your thoughts ahead of the League One season as a whole? Any potential dark horses for you?

League One is very tough to predict this year in my opinion. Sunderland won’t walk it like most assume, and Burton won’t find it easy either. Barnsley probably the strongest out of the relegated teams, and I think Charlton and Pompey will have a solid season. Dark horses is tough, but I’ll say look out for Luton Town.

Where will you finish?

Usually pretty accurate with Posh’s final position, but it’s so unpredictable this year given the mass changes on and off the field. I’ll be a bit more positive this season and say 6th…

Thanks to Alex for his answers. The Football Lab’s verdict on Peterborough can be found on We Love Betting from late July.