There should be far more optimism among Peterborough United fans at the start of 2016 than there was at the start of 2015.
The free-flowing, high-risk, entertaining football is back under Graham Westley, a manager who had previously been dismissed as a long-ball merchant.
Dave Robertson should never have been appointed manager of Posh. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Westley was the third manager to work for chairman Darragh MacAnthony in 2015, a year that has seen some dramatic highs and some terrible lows.
Here is the Peterborough Telegraph list of the good, bad and downright ugly.
Best team performance
Winning at Sheffield United with two late goals last season was fun as was seeing off Darren Ferguson’s Doncaster 4-0 at the ABAX Stadium in October, but the 4-0 win at Scunthorpe in November was as good an all-round display as you are likely to see.
Posh teenager Jermaine Anderson was involved in the good, bad and ugly of 2015. Photo: Jermaine Anderson.
Worst team performance
The 3-0 defeat at MK Dons in February that ended Ferguson’s Posh career was embarrassing and pitiful.
Best individual display
Conor Washington’s hat-trick at Scunthorpe.
Star Posh man of 2015
Michael Bostwick. Outstanding in midfield in the second half of last season. Just as good in central defence this season.
Best fans’ display
Considering what they were watching the Posh support at stadium:mk sent shivers down your spine.
Best decision
Fergie was good for Posh, but he lost the plot and the dressing room towards the end so he had to go.
Worst decision
The chairman admits he blundered in appointing Dave Robertson permanently. Posh would now be close to the top two if he’d appointed Westley in the summer.
Best signing (permanent)
Midfielder Chris Forrester has taken the step up in standard in his immaculate stride. He’s a multi-million pound sale of the future.
Best signing (on loan)
Callum Elder, a high-class, attacking left-back.
Worst signings
Loans James Pearson (why?)and Luke Williams (lazy).
Most regrettable departure
Grant McCann to Linfield.
Most welcome return
Grant McCann from Linfield (one month later).
Best game.
Coventry away in October. Breath-taking attacking football from both sides as the home team fought back from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
Worst game
Coventry at home in March. Horrible negative football from both sides won with a late flukey goal by the visitors.
Most improved player
I have constantly laughed at the chairman’s insistence that Conor Washington could score 20 goals in a season. I could be proved wrong this season.
Most frustrating player
Luke James had a great attitude, but couldn’t score, which was quite a drawback for a £500k striker.
Young player of the year
Jermaine Anderson would be a Championship footballer next week if he hadn’t picked up an injury.
Best referee
No qualifiers
Worst referee
Graham Salisbury for his mystifying decision to disallow Jermaine Anderson’s last-gasp ‘equaliser’ at Burton in August and the fourth official who decided that Anderson should be sent off late in the game against Walsall in September for accidentally throwing a wtare bottle into the crowd.