The League Awaits !

After a terrible away cup draw, once again an away game, but this time against Bournemouth rather than the usual folk that we play, we'll brighten you all up and take a look at five of the games you won't want to miss this season.

First off is the inevitable one, Crawley Town. The main reason of course is Steve Evans, he returns to Victoria Road and will receive a "welcome", I think that's the best way to put it. Having never been forgotten for his Boston antics, he still has one hell of an attitude and is a man no one in the Football League likes, but even less welcome at Victoria Road than anyone else. There are also a number of other sub plots, the fact that he's signing our "old stock" so to speak. They have captured former Daggers striker Wesley Thomas who is being paid exorbitant amounts of money to rival Matt Tubbs, but then there's John Akinde. John Akinde is sure to be a bench warmer there in my opinion and it was a silly move if he wants to be playing on a regular basis but the pay packet probably doesn't lie. The other sub plot is that of Crawley physio Mark Stein. A former Dagenham & Redbridge player, he is now their physio and it will be curious what kind of reaction he gets from our fans should he make an appearance treating an injury. Both the home & away games will be spectacular I'm sure with some fireworks at both. The last meeting between the two teams was a 0-0 at the Broadfield Stadium in 2007 season, but I'm confident there will be a lot more goals this time around.

The next is Barnet, considered by many as the main derby game this season. This one has always been hard to predict, with a defeat usually coming at Underhill in recent times and more positive results at Viccy Road. Former Dagenham & Redbridge captain Anwar Uddin now plys his trade for the Bees in North London so that's one to watch out for. This is usually our League Two derby and it's definitely one of the favourites in the fixture list. The usual thrill of a soggy day on the Underhill terracing is what being a Dagger is about and lets not forget the football played on the pitch. It's difficult to tell where both sides will be in the league but depending on what time of the season this is played, it could mean a whole lot more. You'd guess Barnet will once again be scrapping with relegation whilst the Daggers could be anywhere, up the top I'd prefer, but it's a real possibility to be at the bottom or in the middle. The last time we faced eachother was at Victoria Road in 2010, the Daggers coming away with a convincing 4-1 victory, the pick of the goals from Josh Scott, let's hope he can provide the ammunition again this time around.

Shrewsbury Town is a game that I'll be looking for, it always provides goals or has something at stake. The heartache of the 2008/2009 season is still something people look back on when they pipped us to the play offs to further increase the rivalry. Not to be outdone, we decided to get them back at the start of the 2009/2011, winning in a 5-0 rout, 4 of which were scored by Paul Benson who had been approached by them in the Summer. This year it may once again mean something and the rivalry is stronger than ever, both teams have won by 5 goals to nil in recent times and I wouldn't bet against it happening again. Click Here To See The Daggers Spank Shrewsbury 5-0 On This Link.

Southend United , a derby game that has never really had any intensity, mainly because we haven't played them in the League. Various cup meetings & friendly meetings have seen both teams come out on top a couple of times, the most memorable the 5-2 defeat at Roots Hall where Tony Roberts got sent off. It's one to watch out for, a derby game that has real potential and it's by the seaside so if we get fed up of the football, we can take a long walk off an even longer pier!

Finally it is the one, the only, Morecambe. Possibly the best game of the season, because it's a friendly rivalry. Last season was the first season in quite a while we hadn't played eachother, and I certainly missed them. The everlasting memory of Morecambe will of course be the Play Off Semi Finals, two games that will forever live in both the clubs histories. Whether it was the 6-0 drubbing we gave them at home or the fitting end to Christie Park, a David Artell winner to send the Shrimps out in glory & happiness. This is a club much like our own in so many ways and a trip to the Globe Arena should be good fun, but whatever the results with Morecambe our affinity with them will never dwindle. A great club with great fans and a fitting way to end this blog.

Also look out for the other cup draws where we'll inevitably get MK Dons in at least one and whoever is leading League One in the other.

Thanks for reading this shortish Blog as we've been a bit short of material and I look forward to seeing who we get on the opening day tomorrow!

The Daggers Player Review Part 2.

This is the second part of the Dagenham & Redbridge player review for the 2010/2011 season. So far we've gone down to squad number 15 of Damien Scannell so we'll continue from there, as well as with some of the players that enjoyed a brief loan spell at Victoria Road.

16. Bas Savage- Bas Savage, either a hero or a villain. There was his inability to the head the ball against players of a much shorter height then there was the moonwalk when he scored, however due to the lack of goals he scored we only saw it 3 times. Brought in on a free he was a part time solution to the striker problem, but never really looked up to the task. His work ethic and holding up the ball along with his very good skill for a gangly striker was extremely good, but in the goalscoring department was never the answer. His short stay brought to an end being released last week, a player that I'll be sad to see go in a quirky kind of way.

17. Darren Currie- It's hard to sum up Curries season in all honesty. Not a regular starter, but when he has come on he has been a very good player, a good impact player at this level. Some good trickery and the ability to swing in a deadly cross, also a very good mentor for the younger players at the club. A good season for him, playing a more intricate role this season, the games he's started he's performed well in, the game against Huddersfield sticking in my mind as one of his best. Scoring his first goal in 13 odd years against Walsall another highlight perhaps, a superb diving header. A player that will play a more vital role next season in my opinion.

18. Solomon Taiwo- Solomon Taiwo, another one hard to define. Having joined back on loan at Victoria Road in late October from Cardiff where he never really got it going, he's played quite a big role in the midfield. His ability to pick out a pass and ping a ball so well across the field an attribute that he gave us, as well as the threat of a fierce strike into the top corner. My fondest memory was his equaliser against Orient in the cup that sent us in to raptures, a real Dagger, just a shame that an injury at Swindon kept him out for a while when he could have been vital. A player I would hope we can re sign for next season but with Cardiffs ongoing situation, who knows where he'll end up.

19. Abu Ogogo- Abu is Mr consistent. Very rarely can you say he's had a bad game and vary rarely is he actually talked about, always going about his business at right back like a true professional. Capable of putting in crunching tackles and tracking back with his speed, a real asset to the back line. He can be a bit rash at times but usually tracks back and avenges his mistake. A very good player who I don't really have any bad words for.

20. Romain Vincelot- Dagenham & Redbridge player of the season. The converted right back who has not missed a game in the league this season. Simply amazing, he embodies everything a Dagger should have. When the chips are down he lifts the spirits, he makes that crunching tackle, he doesn't give up no matter what. With no end of energy and his amazing heading ability he has been a star. The goals he has this season are a sheer reflection of what he's done, the header at Colchester, the strike against Huddersfield my pick of the bunch. Very rarely will he have a bad game and if he is here next season it would be an honour, he is such a good player and deserves everything he gets in football, lets just hope he can guide us back to League One before anything else happens.

21. Danny J Green- A player that I first saw in the Essex Senior Cup and he looked very good then. He has come into the team making a number of substitute appearances towards the back end of the season and looking very lively. Plenty of skill about him and a lot of energy in a place where we need a solid and consistent player. I have no doubt that with work over pre season he will be a starter next season in the team and a major contributor.

24. Billy Bingham- Another youngster that has bucket loads of promise about him. Billy has started more and more games as he's been at Victoria Road and this year has been no different. Good performances against Southampton and Brentford in New Year a highlight, he was thrown in slightly at the deep end and looked fairly poor against Swindon but he's young and he will become a very good player for us. He is a player that I personally have a lot of time for as he's waited his turn, sat on the bench and hasn't been outspoken, his time will come in the middle, maybe as early as next season.

29. Femi Ilesanmi- I don't have a clue what to say about Femi in all honesty. I'm not his biggest fan as I'm sure you know, but considering everything he has done pretty remarkable. Coming in against Oldham shocked everyone even though McCrory was having a shocker. He looked fairly decent up until New Year then it all deserted him in my opinion. Caught out weekly, looked shaky and played the wrong pass, it finally showed when he was replaced against Huddersfield by McCrory. After an injury to the Irishman he came back in again and looked fairly solid once more before aggravating me and ending up in a bad rut of form. He is really a player that you make your own decision about, he has a bright future with a lot of work and he's a player I'd like to see prove me and other doubters wrong in the future.

30. Chris Lewington- After Robbo goes we're left with a bright young keeper who has showed a lot of promise this season. After being called in against Southampton, possibly the most daunting game of the season it was understandable that he was a bit shaky and he was caught out a couple of times by Oxlade Chamberlain but looked ok overall. Against Orient he looked very good, a couple of top draw saves but suffered from the same thing as Robbo, not being able to kick a ball straight. Six games overall this season and it looks like we have a replacement for Robbo when he does eventually retire, where others have fell short such as Ed Thompson & Dave Hogan we finally have a contender for the number one jersey.

31. Phil Walsh- The best personality in the team after rallying the sieve against Notts County, footballing wise I don't have a clue where he stands. A loan spell at Barnet where he scored 3 times broadened his horizons, but didn't feature in a forward role back at Victoria Road. He was deployed as a central defender, to a lot of peoples amazement. However he has been kept for next season so he must be in John Still's plans, I would personally like to see him start a game up front, but John Still doesn't agree, he see's more than we do so whatever he chooses to do we'll just have to agree, after all he see's what happens in training; not us.

33. Peter Gain- Another player that has real determination and the heart of a Dagger. Always gives his all and despite a mid season blip regained his form excellently to play a vital role towards the end of the season. Sometimes he goes in slightly to rash, but that's what we love about Gainy, he's a nutter, one of the loudest voices and toughest figures, but reduced to tears against Peterborough on the last day. A player that doesn't get nearly enough credit for his work and will be a key, key feature next season.

35. Oliver Lee- A bright youngster who came to us in late March on loan from West Ham. The ability to pick out a good pass and excellent awareness of the game two of his best features, always keen to have a shot when possible as well. I personally would have liked to have seen him feature more, he was hungry and up for the fight but was reduced to a place on the bench in many instances. A very bright young player who with the right guidance will go on to have a good career and I wish him all the best.

37. Cameron Lancaster- A spurs loanee who never really got to grips with life at the Daggers. He wasn't really given a chance to showcase his abilities, whatever they were, reduced to substitute appearances whenever he was called upon. His ability to persistently give away fouls and a dreadful free kick against Tranmere Rovers perhaps summing up his unfortunate and short loan spell. A nice person to talk to though and had a nice bit of pace about him, good luck to him in the future as well.

39. Marvin Morgan- A player that will probably draw a divided opinion amongst fans. His work ethic and willingness was all there and for a while, the alternation between himself & Bas seemed to work alongside Jon Nurse. However he will forever be remembered to Daggers fans for a costly miss against Leyton Orient which would have made it 2-0. You can argue it's wrong to remember a player like that, but in my eyes it's how I'll remember him. Other than that he had a decent start to the spell, playing regularly with us getting results, after the Orient game he was dropped for basically the rest of the season. Good luck to wherever you head off next Marvin, personally I wouldn't put it past Crawley making a move for him.

08. Kayleden Brown- Despite only making three appearances for the Daggers, Brown made a decent impact in his time, picking up a couple of assists, most notably against Carlisle United. I would have liked to have seen more of him but the harsh winter didn't really give any loan players a chance.

37. Medy Elito- It was a tale of two stories for "Magic Medy Elito" in his time with us. Away from home, a fantastic player, at home he failed to shine in all honesty and that's the real tail of the tape. He scored a coupel of vital goals away from home including one on his debut against Yeovil Town, but at home he never really got into the game. However given enough time he could have become a good player for us, he has been released this Summer and a lot of people, including myself feel if we could get him, he could be a very good acquisition.

23. Stuart Lewis- An ill fated spell at Victoria Road in which he only played 10 games, the last being possibly the worst of the season, a 2-0 reverse against MK Dons. A fall out with John Still resulted in him being loaned out to Wycombe for the rest of the season and I very much doubt he will make a return. He done ok from what I can remember, he got stuck in, but wasn't anything special.

14. Victor Palsson- A loan signing from Liverpool who I can only remember against Leyton Orient really, never really got a fair slice of the action because of the harsh winter once more. He looked strong and appeared to have a good shot on him, a lot of people believe he's got a bright future and I hope he does too.

Thanks for reading the second part of the player blog if slightly late, we might have another special for you next week, if not, we'll see you next time!