Patience is a virtue

The bookies got it right again, though not without a little helping hand from the officials at St Mary's, the Glovers going down 2-0 to Southampton, both goals penalties and both penalties gifted to the Saints by bad, bad decisions by the referee and linesman, at least according to the view from my tv set.

Eight games into the season then and the Glovers are 20th in the table on 6 points. We haven't won since the first game of the season, and that was against Tranmere, who we were wondering if they were any good or not at the time - and now we know, they're not. Skivo's overall record in the league since the time of his appointment makes scary reading - played 25, won 4, drawn 9, lost 12. That, to coin a famous phrase, is relegation form.

As if the bare stats don't make depressing enough reading there are other causes for concern. A couple of times now Skivo's after-match comments seem to be describing an entirely different game to that which supporters have been watching, or this supporter at any rate. I've criticised his team selections, his propensity for playing players out of position, and his tactics. His treatment of Danny Hutchins and Scott Murray is, to an outsider, perplexing, to say the least. I'm on record as saying that his appointment was more a political move by the board than a straightforward footballing decision, to appease supporters aghast at Russell Slade's assassination.

So, time to join the increasing number of posters on the green room who want Skivo out, and sooner rather than later? Well, no, actually. I've always preached the gospel of continuity. Managers, whoever they are, need time to make their mark. Forget last season, that doesn't count. We stayed up, that's all that matters. Skivo's time started this summer. He's the one who decides who to sign, the positions they play in, the tactics used and the training regime employed. Eight games in and already some fans have made up their minds that he has to go - it's absurd. If the gaffer had clearly lost the confidence of the squad, if we were getting thrashed every week, then maybe they might have a point. But that's not happening, the Norwich game aside.

Admittedly I don't go to away games anymore, so my view is based entirely on what happens at Huish Park. But so far this season I've seen Tranmere, Norwich, Orient, Swindon and Stockport, and only one of those sides looked in any way superior to ourselves, and even then the scoreline flattered them. The gap between success and failure in this league is very small and confidence and luck play their part. At the moment it seems that luck is against us but that can change very quickly. A win against Brentford next Saturday at home will put us back into mid-table. But a loss or draw still wouldn't be the end of the world, not yet, not so long as the team are still playing for the gaffer and pulling in the same direction. It's a long, long season, 46 games and only 8 so far gone. Back in August I made the comment that people ought to remember that whatever their expectations of the club this season, we have one of the smallest budgets in L1, attract some of the smallest crowds in L1 and certainly have the most inexperienced manager in L1. Patience is needed. Give Skivo the time to make his mistakes and learn from them.

Unless things change radically, unless we start to be beaten heavily every game and it's clear that he's lost the dressing room, then Skivo should be given this season at the very least to learn his new trade. However, knowing Skivo and his affinity and dare I say love for the club, if either of those negatives started to happen then I feel sure he'd step down of his own accord anyway, rather than damage the club further.

Give Skivo a fair crack of the whip. We can and doubtless will be as critical as we like of his decisions on blogs like this and on the green room, but let's keep on getting behind him and his team at the matches themselves. Patience is a virtue.