Scunthorpe United - Striving for Greatness

[owencoker]

View attachment 238193
Season One 2014/15

View attachment 238183

Pre-season

View attachment 238180

A fairly strong pre-season with only a disappointing draw at Winterton coming as a suprise. Paddy Madden was in fine form, combining with Kevin van Veen to bag 5 goals across the five games. We succumbed to Championship side Huddersfield after conceding twice in the first fifteen minutes. Only one clean sheet is a worry as we played some poor opposition. However, pre-season is all about testing tactics and improving fitness ahead of the new season. We'll have a better idea of how the team can perform after the first few games.

Transfers

View attachment 238178

We definitely look stronger after the transfer window. The free signings of Leon Clarke and Jacob Mellis could really push us forward this season. Clarke has the ability to score a bagful at this level and Mellis had proved a handfull in the Championship for Barnsley before. Combined with the additions of Paul Hanlon, Ivan Toney and Kevin Dawson for small fees we look a much better outfit. The terrifying attacking trio of Madden, van Veen and Clarke will scare opposition defenses. Our weakest position, wingers, now looks like a strong point with Kevin Dawson experienced in League One and the pacey Kenneth McEvoy looks the part out out on the left. Promosing youngsters Reece James and Liam O'Neil have signed up for the season and add considerable depth to our back line. There were no high profile departures with only Joe Anyon leaving for a fee to Derby. A number of youngsters left for lower league sides to gain match experience.

​

 

[owencoker]

View attachment 238174

Season One 2014/15

View attachment 238155

View attachment 238170
I was hoping for a push at automatic promotion but I would settle for a play-off place. However we exceeded those expectations, winning the league by 7 points and with games to spare. We began the season with 3 successive wins but a defeat at Millwall ended that run. We then lost another two games over the next month, but a unbeaten run stretching from mid November untill the end of January cemented our position in the automatic spots. That terrific run included comfortable victories against Doncaster, Peterborough and Millwall. Our form then dipped with only 3 wins across February and March which put Millwall back into contention. A strong finish to the season saw us record 7 wins in our last 9 games and we secured the title with a 4-0 win at Crewe with with two games still to play. We improved throughout the season, scoring more and conceding less in the second half of the campaign With a competitive budget and shrewd signings we could look for a high finish again next season.

View attachment 238167
View attachment 238165​

View attachment 238168View attachment 238166
View attachment 238164

View attachment 238163

Top Goalscorer

View attachment 238162
1st. Paddy Madden - 2nd. Leon Clarke - 3rd. Kevin van Veen
Paddy Madden marked his first full season at Scunthorpe with an record breaking 44 goals in all competitions including an incredible 34 in the league making him the top goalscorer in English football. Leon Clarke and Kevin van Veen trailed scoring 19 and 16 in all competitions respectively.

Player of the Season

View attachment 238161

1st. Paddy Madden - 2nd. Jordan Clarke - 3rd. Radoslaw Majewski
After his phenomenal goalscoring feats, Paddy Madden was the only real contender for this award. Hopefully he can continue his form into the Championship and take us to new heights. Jordan Clarke put in impressive performances at right back but looked just as competent in a 3 man defence. Despite only signing in January, Radoslaw Majewski looked a different class, both scoring and assisting numerous goals. His Championship experience will be vital in what is still a young team.

​

 

[owencoker]

View attachment 238144

Season Two 2015/16

View attachment 238143
Pre-Season

View attachment 238141
Despite the lack of quality possessed by our opposition, we flew through pre-season with a 100% record. 4 clean sheets is also a positive with that one area we wanted to improve on from last season. Youngster Ivan Toney looked impressive as we tested some new tactics. Our new signings have settled in nicely and we look the part heading into the club's return to the Championship.

Transfers

View attachment 238138
Our target for the transfer window was to improve the defense. Dean Brill was brought in to battle Luke Daniels for the number 1 shirt after he looked shaky at times last season. Ash Taylor, another player signed from the Scottish Premier League, showed impressive form since moving to Aberdeen and will reinforce the defence after Liam O'Neil's loan ended. Sam Clucas was signed to replace Kenneth McEvoy, who later resigned on loan, after he stood out in a struggling Chesterfield side last season. Recently relegated Rotherham let Jordan Bowery leave after he bagged 10 goals for a fee of £600,000. Simon Gillett will add some Championship experience to the side. He won the League Two player of the season as Yeovil missed out on promotion in the play-offs, and was eager to showcase his skills in the second tier of English football again. Paul Taylor was signed on loan after being transfer-listed at West Ham. He will add cover to the striking position after Kevin van Veen departed to MK Dons for £850,000 and Leon Clarke also left for Huddersfield for a similar fee. We managed to keep the core of the side together despite offers for both Paddy Madden and Jordan Clarke and we look prepared to fight it out in the Championship.

​

 

[owencoker]

View attachment 237989

Season Two 2015/16

View attachment 922882
View attachment 237988
At the beginning of the season, we had been tipped to struggle by both the media and our own board. I wasn't expecting to battle relegation but automatic promotion has definitely come as a surprise. I was hoping for a play-off push at best. Our goal scoring power really carried us through the season as our defence was worryingly open at times. We hit 5 or more on 6 different occasions. We lost 6 games before January but we really kicked on after Christmas. We went on a terrific 13 game unbeaten run throughout January and February as us and Forest pulled away from the pack. We secured a play-off place in around mid-April and an automatic promotion spot just 3 games later. Although we're pleased with promotion, a lot of work is needed if we want to be competitive. Conceding 69 goals is poor at any level and we once again need to improve the defence. Also, replacing the deadwood with higher quality players is a must because beyond our starting XI, the team looks weak. Hopefully our attacking prowess will light up the Premier League and keep us competitive. Our home stadium is being expanded in preparation for the new season and our home form will be vital to a good season once again.

View attachment 237979

View attachment 237973View attachment 237974
View attachment 237971


Top Goalscorer

View attachment 237970

1. Paddy Madden - 2. Jordan Bowery - 3. Kevin Dawson
Paddy Madden was our hero once again bagging 40+ goals in all competitions for the second consecutive season. He proved he can make the step up to the Championship but the Premier League could prove a challenge. New signing Jordan Bowery showed why Aston Villa signed him as a youngster by scoring 23 goals himself. Kevin Dawson was the surprise of the season as he scored 15 goals and grabbed 24 assists as well.

Player of the Season

View attachment 237968

1. Jordan Bowery - 2. Kevin Dawson - 3. Paddy Madden
Since joining from Rotherham Jordan Bowery has been nothing short of excellent. He formed a lethal partnership with Paddy Madden and won the Championship Player of the Season award. Kevin Dawson followed close behind leading the league in assists and earning his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad. Despite scoring 43 goals, Paddy Madden was outshone this season but his impressive goalscoring feats cannot go unnoticed and he could prove vital next season.



​

 

[owencoker]

View attachment 237733

Season Three 2015/17

View attachment 237732
Pre-Season

View attachment 237731
Friendlies shouldn't be used as a judge to how the season will go but we played some really great attacking football. We put 5 past Motherwell and Rangers during our trip to Scotland. A rotated side comfortably beat lower league opposition during the first 3 games of pre-season. Our new signings gelled quickly and adapted to the attacking mental I have installed in the team. We're not going to change the way we play and we will continue to try and outscore our opponents.

Transfers

View attachment 237728
We needed to make big signings and thankfully the board gave us a competitive budget of £11,000,000. Craig Forsyth came in to be first choice left back after we were initially knocked back in our attempts to sign Kenneth McEvoy. However he would later sign a loan deal and then agreed a permanent deal in mid-November. Oliver Norwood, who was named in the Championship Team of the Year, joined and will link up with Stephen Dawson in centre of midfield. Zach Clough has scored 30 goals in the last two seasons for Bolton at the age of just 21. Paying just £2,100,000 for him could prove a steal. We rebuilt the entire defence. Wes Morgan will come in as captain and add invaluable Premier League experience. Promosing defender Dominic Iorfa joined however both him and Morgan will jet of for the AFCON later in the season. Jonathan Parr will replace Paul Hanlon at left back and Daniel Opare will battle with Jordan Clarke for the right back position. Both Luke Daniels and Dean Brill struggled at time last season so hopefully Adam Bogdan can give us some solidity in goal. Altogether I think we had a successful window with a mix of exciting youngsters and experienced footballers coming in. Once again we kept hold of our prized assets despite interest and many youngsters have left on loan.

​

 

[owencoker]

View attachment 237440

Season Three 2016/17

View attachment 237439

View attachment 237438

Despite being pleased that we comfortably survived, it was a season of mixed emotions. We started strongly narrowly loosing to Arsenal at the Emirates and then winning our next to games. We lost just 4 of our first 14 games and were sat in 7th going into December. However a tricky run of fixtures saw us loose 5 games in a row going into January. We experienced a slight rejuvenation towards the end of January loosing just 1 in six which included a memorable 3-1 away victory at Manchester City. At this point we were perched in the top half in 9th but no win in our last 10 games, seven of which were losses, saw us slide down the table into 13th. Whilst I am happy we finish mid-table, we could have pushed on for a top half finish had it not been for our winless run late on. Some heavy defeats saw our goal difference plummet. I'm not convinced that our current squad can take us further. Major additions may be required to prevent us going backwards next season.

View attachment 237435
View attachment 237433View attachment 237434View attachment 237432
Top Goalscorer

View attachment 237431
1. Paddy Madden - 2. Zach Clough - 3.Kevin Dawson/Oliver Norwood
Paddy Madden once again proved his worth with some more quality finish. Only 24 this season but and impressive tally in the Premier League. He lead the line at times when others were injured and won us several points. Zach Clough was on course challenge Madden for the award but a 4 month lay-off saw his season hindered. He bagged 12 goals before his injury but couldn't muster any goals on his return in May. Beyond our two strikers only Norwood and Dawson showed any threat bagging 5 goals a piece.

Player of the Season

View attachment 237424
1.Oliver Norwood - 2. Stephen Dawson - 3. Paddy Madden
Having signed from Reading in the summer big things were expected and boy did he prove it. Both scoring and assisting from midfield he put in consistently impressive performances even when the team struggled. However there is interesting brewing from some top Premier League sides. Stephen Dawson is Mr Scunthorpe having been here from the start. He still struggles with discipline but puts in combative performances alongside his more attacking midfield partner. Paddy Madden was once again up there due to another high scoring season.

​