Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Crewe Alex 24/25 Review - Self Destruct

The ability of this team to continually punch itself in the balls game after game is bordering on impressive. If it wasn't so ridiculous. Today, not only did the Alex's abysmal record at Prenton Park continue for another season, but so did their League Two status, which was officially confirmed as the play-offs were pushed out of reach. It's been quite the collapse, from 2nd in January and 7th in mid-March to now not even looking likely to finish in the top half. How it's come to this is really something to behold. My review is going to be savage on various players and people, because to be honest, I'm fed up now. This is my look at their defeat to Tranmere:

Better...for 15 minutes

I actually got a bit of hope in me early in the game. They'd gone 4-3-3 again but this time, it was with 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 attackers. A bit of balance, at last. They started off strongly, dominating possession and even creating a couple of decent openings. But once Tranmere figured the Alex out, it was fairly comfortable.

This is just a very poorly coached group. It's plain to see the manager or his staff has zero answers, because open attacking football just isn't in their DNA. You don't play the way they have done for most of the season and suddenly switch to the polar opposite and expect it to magically work. They look woefully out of their depth, as 7 wins from their last 30 proves.

Blame all round

I'm going to run through some players who caught my eye today. But not in a good way. Max Conway. Player of the season, deservedly so. But given he has 1000 touches and 50 dribbles a game, very few of his involvements result in a completed pass, cross or shot. If he wants to hack it in L1, he needs to find some end product. Lewis Billington, nice lad, but a very limited player. Either bring him back next season as a CB or let him go. Preferably the latter.

Connor O'Riordan, not entirely on him, but his weak challenge for the opening goal set the tone for the rest of the game. Owen Lunt, woeful. Conor Thomas, baffling how people rate him, he's abysmal. Adrien Thibaut, non-league player and I don't mean step 5 or 6. A trier, but not a lot else.

Then we come to the cream of the crop. Chris Long spent the entire game walking around and not getting involved. Him being subbed to absolutely no fan reaction summed up his game. He should be nowhere near the squad going forward. Tell him he's released, ask him to clear his locker out on Monday morning and tell him he's not welcome back at the Alex going forward. If he comes back next season, god help them.

And finally, Zac Williams. The most deluded footballer in the EFL. He won't sign a contract with the Alex, likely because he thinks he's better than L2. News flash Zac, you aren't. Today's red card makes it 12 yellows and 1 red in his last 27 appearances. It should be 2 reds, given his lash out against Port Vale wasn't properly assessed. He's an immature baby of a player, who spends more time moaning at officials and getting into unnecessary confrontations than he does actually playing football. I can only pray that the club don't appeal and overturn his red card. Because the idea of him serving a 3-4 game ban is one small positive from this game.

And these were just the players involved today. This doesn't even cover Omar Bogle, Ryan Cooney and Jack Powell, all 3 of whom are currently excommunicated from the squad for performance reasons. Should Bell stay in charge, he's got a complete mess of a squad to try and sort through and decide who is staying and who is going.

Discipline

Talking of discipline, today's 2 reds take them up to 6 for the season. Owen Lunt in his last 3 games has gotten sent off(wrongly admittedly) and indirectly got a team mate sent off. Zac Williams is on his 2nd ban. I get Bell wants his players to play with an edge, but they have been an ill disciplined and unprofessional bunch all season, with it costing them multiple times in either direct red cards or players missing through suspensions. In 4 of their last 8 away games, they've had a man sent off. This could well be interpreted as a sign Bell is either losing control of his players, or he's telling them the wrong things. Both are equally likely at this point.

L2 Again

And so their status as a L2 club for 25-26 is confirmed. L2 next season looks a dull one. Barnet, Crawley, Cambridge and Bristol Rovers joining the league is going to bring more north/south balance to things, but with that means smaller away followings for the Alex. Shrewsbury is a nice one to get back, but should Forest Green or Southend come up from the National League, it's not going to make a pretty sight for Alex fans.

Good luck to the club trying to shift season tickets, merchandise and convince people to feel optimistic about next season. Because their opponents make for some grim reading.

Decision to Make

All this is to say, the board have a big decision to make in the coming week. With L2 football now confirmed, they can take the next day or so to full evaluate what has gone wrong and decide how culpable Lee Bell is to blame for this debacle. And whether he's the man to turn things around next season. If they do back him and he gets it wrong, they'll be in a relegation battle next season and they'll be fire fighting to save their EFL status. If they sack him, they better have a damn good idea who's coming in to replace him, whether that's internal or external. Get this decision wrong and the club could be sunk.

Ref Assessment

He let a lot of stuff go on both sides, but I can't really complain at the 3 red cards.

Management Assessment

Do you trust them to turn things around? I admire you if you do, because I don't. Will we see a change? No, but it should be heavily discussed at the boardroom level.

Player Assessments

Filip Marschall MOTM

Not a lot he could do, kept the score down with several decent stops.

Lewis Billington

Nice lad. Committed, hard working. But not a L2 player at CB or RB. Move on.

Connor O'Riordan

Weak for the opening goal. Needs to do far far better.

Zac Williams

A disgrace to the shirt and the captains armband. An embarrassment of a player. Hopefully this is the last time we see him in a Crewe Alex shirt. Let him be someone elses headache next season.

Max Conway

Done well this season, but as I mentioned above, his end product is woefully lacking. Hopefully under a decent manager, he'll unlock that side of his game.

Owen Lunt

I do feel there is something there and if he stays next season, he's got a lot to prove. But he struggled today, with his final act being the terrible back pass which got Lowery sent off.

Tommy Lowery

Feel for him. Surrounded by half arsed and mediocre players. His last act in his first stint was a relegation, where he spent all of the 21-22 season trying to bail out incompetent team mates. His last act of his 2nd stint was a red card trying to bail out incompetent team mates. I pray he goes to a team that'll get the best out of him next season. He's wasted here.

Conor Thomas

Such an average footballer, what on earth do people think he does? I'll never see it. Should never be a regular starter. Sanders and/or Powell over him any day of the week.

Joel Tabiner

Limped off yet again. I still think RW is his best position, but next season is a big one for him to truly step up, as we're closing in on now or never territory.

Adrien Thibaut

A grafter who'll always give you 100%. But an EFL player he isn't. Give him a full pre-season and some more opportunities early next season, but cut your losses if he shows he can't take that next step.

Chris Long

I've not disliked a player as much as him in quite a while. Spent the whole game walking around the pitch. If this isn't his last act as an Alex player, I'm going to be livid.

Subs:

Callum Agius

Honestly can't remember him touching the ball more than a couple of times.

Kane Hemmings

Battled hard, but couldn't do much against Tranmere's solid back line.

Max Sanders

Not a lot he could do as an emergency sub after Lowery's red.

Overall Verdict

Season over. The club is at a big crossroads right now and if they get this decision wrong, they'll be in big big trouble.