Pic: Media Image
AND THEN there were two. Lincoln City and Tranmere Rovers are fighting it out for the National League title.
We all know how well Lincoln have been doing this season, but there's a big reason why Tranmere are in such good form and taking it all the way. Since manager Micky Mellon switched to a 3-5-2 formation they look a completely different side.
Centre-back Steve McNulty knows what it takes to win this league having done it with Fleetwood Town and Luton Town.
You never see a game where a centre forward tears McNulty apart – he doesn't put himself in foot-races – but he's got a bit more confidence around him in Adam Buxton and Michael Ihiekwe.
It was a bit like me in some ways. When I played sweeper, I felt a bit more comfortable to squeeze up a little bit because I had people with pace around me to cover.
Composed
Tranmere's full-backs Lee Vaughan and Liam Ridehalgh – two of the best in the division – are suited to going forward.
As I said in my commentary during the Wrexham game, ‘Get the ball out wide to them'. Then Ridehalgh crossed to Vaughan for the goal. They had so much joy.
Jeff Hughes and Jay Harris in midfield are the ones who allow the two wide boys to get forward as much as possible. Harris has become a much better player under Mellon. He looks a lot fitter and a lot more composed.
Some people might not be familiar with this name, but I played with a guy at Brighton called Alan Navarro. He was our defensive midfielder.
Gus Poyet said to him, ‘If you get suspended for five yellow cards after stopping counter-attacks, you'll be straight back in. I won't drop you'. I don't know if that's the same between Mellon and Harris, but he's never been the most prolific in front of goal.
You want a Jay Harris in your team to be a bit nasty, break up player and be a leader. I'm seeing that now. Hughes has always been a steady player but at times he's found himself on the left or the right. Central is his best position.
The amount of turnovers of ball they get now, plus the fact they are keeping it much better, is a big reason behind their form.
Mellon knows this formation. He played it at Shrewsbury and Fleetwood. Chelsea are top of the Premier League by playing 3-5-2. I'm a big fan of it, especially compared to a 4-4-2 because not many teams play against it.
Funnily enough, the times I most played it was when the teams I was in were struggling and conceding goals. But here's the thing.
A lot of teams, like Wrexham did last week, will play one up front against Tranmere and it means you can really bomb forward. You know crosses are going to come in the box and your strikers are going to get chances.
It's black and white with Mellon. He wants players to do certain jobs. If they don't, they don't play. Simple as that. They are also able to rotate. If someone comes out, the player coming in knows their remit.
Nerves
Saturday's demolition of Solihull Moors made it six wins in a row. The league title is still so open.
I saw Lincoln City against Dagenham & Redbridge last Monday. If ever there was a time their fitness was going to be questioned, they've played a lot of minutes this season, I thought it would be in that game. But they looked really sharp.
It's tricky to call who has the better run-in. Macclesfield could beat Lincoln on their day and Gateshead are on a really consistent run. Tranmere may find Aldershot trickier than Forest Green because, I imagine, the Shots might sit off them more. But in the final ten games of the season, you can't predict anything. Especially against teams at the bottom.
I've been in situations in the middle of a season where the team is struggling and you say, ‘Well, there's still 20 games to go'. When it gets down to this stage, you can't just say the higher team will beat the team at the bottom.
Players are playing for their livelihoods. All of a sudden you're going home to the family saying, ‘I could lose half my wages here'. It kicks them into gear.
I've been lucky enough to win three titles. It's why you're in football. I've also been fortunate enough to go up through the play-offs. If you could pick a way to go up it's definitely the best – just not for the nerves! I can't take my eyes off it.
