Since his appointment in March, it seems Ben Strevens has only gained popularity with every decision he has made, riding high on a wave of positivity. Though it is obvious to point out the season is yet to get underway, the sense of optimism ahead of this campaign feels different to recent years. The dawn of the Strevolution is upon us and there is plenty to get excited about.
The ousting of the old regime in early March came at an odd time, as if the campaign had been written off despite play-offs within reach (albeit ever-distant), thus leaving new manager Strevens in a strange position. The choice before him was to bring players in to push for that top 7, a high-risk, high-reward approach, or do the best with the players at his disposal and wait it out until the summer, give players a chance to prove themselves and then begin the rebuild.
To what extent that decision was forced by the club or one Strevens made of his own accord is debatable, but the decision has proven the right one in my view as the overhaul this summer – heading into the new campaign – has proven, dubbed the “Strevolution”.
His intent to bring in his players, his philosophy and have things done entirely his way has been clear from the outset.
The recruitment process has been thorough, extremely well thought-out and Strevens has also displayed prudence in the market; he has got high-earners off the books and brought in even better quality. The job had been half-done for him in the steady stream of outgoings toward the back end of last season, with the departures of Josh Walker, McCallum (on loan until contract expiry), Junior Morias almost upon his arrival. However, the new gaffer completed the clear-out with the exit of Dean Rance who was most likely told he was not part of plans, before the release of Matt Robinson and Mauro Vilhete alongside fringe memebers of the squad. Then offering below-par contracts to Mo Sagaf and George Saunders, seemingly making clear their place in his future squad. The sales/mutual termination of contracts of Angelo Balanta and Manny Onariase again got high-earners – in whom he didn’t see value for money – off the books. Then in the implementation of his philosophy and mentality, there was a player in Omar Mussa who was reportedly incompatible in his attitude and work rate in training, thus left out of plans.
It was evident from that retained list, with high-profile departures like team captain Matt Robinson, and the departures that followed that Strevens wasn’t going to merely tinker around the edges, slowly building a side he could work with. His intent to bring in his players, his philosophy and have things done entirely his way has been clear from the outset.
Touching then on the timing of the sacking and subsequent appointment, it was odd at that stage in the season and in the week – on the eve of that County clash – but I think that it has worked out perfectly in allowing Strevens time to see what he had, what he needed and the opportunity to bridge that gap.
It is a gap he has bridged brilliantly in the re-imagining of the spine of the team, adding a new-look midfield and centre-back general to Inih Effiong already in position to lead the offensive line. It is this spine that has got supporters excited, the change in personnel bringing a change in style, character and attitude.
Going through the squad by department, there is a clear improvement – man for man – on last season:
The Goalkeepers
This is the only one that has remain unchanged, untouched by the revolutionary forces that have taken hold – thankfully! Despite rumour of Elliot Justham’s desire to move elsewhere, the Daggers no. 1 – now skipper – doubled down on his commitment to the club signing a new contract. A contract extension which does feel as good as a new signing.
Josh Strizovic remains his understudy, a talented young keeper to step in when necessary.
The Defenders
Now, here’s the situation in the back line with a continuation of a back three looking likely, but we’ve also seen Strevens play a back four.
In the centre back position I feel we look a lot sturdier, even just with the addition of Tom Eastman marshalling the back line. A feature in Colchester United’s back line for 12 years in the football league – accumulating 409 appearances in blue and white – he is a solid centre back, an experienced leader who can bring stability to a part of the pitch that was chaos at times last season.
Alongside Eastman there is Harry Phipps who had his best season in a Daggers shirt last year, cementing his place in the starting XI this season you’d imagine. Then there’s the other option in the back three, perhaps Sam Ling, although his versatility allows him to play at wing-back or on in centre midfield also – the latter perhaps oversubscribed. I’d go for Ling to fit him in the starting XI, but David Longe-King is also a solid choice at centre-back in a back three – having a good pre-season until his minor injury.
Other options are the returning Nik Tavares, who we are yet to see much of in a Daggers shirt, and Elliot Johnson who is also an option as a left-sided centre back, however his individual errors and the fact he often has a mistake in him would keep him out the starting XI in my view.
Ultimately, with just the addition of Eastman there is hope for a better organised, reliable and solid back line this season.
The Wingers
To adopt the back three and wing backs alongside, Strevens has options but not depth out wide, he has attacking options in Ryan Hill and Myles Weston and more defensively Josh Hare and Lewis Page.
I would suggest Page will slot in at left-wing back, much like Eastman he is a player perhaps a class above whom we are lucky to have at Victoria Road, when he is fit he can certainly be one of the best in the team. Then on the other side I would assume Josh Hare will start on the right, perhaps not as good going forward, but then the impact of a Hill or Weston off the bench when chasing the game could see us go more offensive if need be. The fluidity and adaptability of the system is a positive as far as the development of the match is concerned, as well as the obvious obstacles that can arise throughout the campaign with injuries (already encountered with Hill’s groin injury sustained in pre-season!)
Ultimately, there may be the least depth in this position, especially taking into account the two injury-prone players in Hill and Page and Weston’s age, questions of whether he could be as impactful starting a game. However, like elsewhere on the pitch, the starting options on paper with everyone fully fit is certainly pleasing.
The Midfielders
We now move onto perhaps the most exciting part of the squad, an area where the ‘Strevolution’ really did take hold, in the middle of the park. The likes of Robinson and Sagaf, Strevens has admitted, simply didn’t score enough goals for his liking and the improvement in quality and depth in this area is clear. There is now an established three who look set to start in Jake Hessenthaler, Josh Rees and Frank Vincent as well as Conor Lawless as the main reinforcement on the bench.
Assuming there is a more orthodox 3-5-2 setup then the aforementioned three would be my choice and the likely choice of Strevens. However, we did see that 4 in pre-season, of two advanced midfielders supporting Effiong in attack and two holding protecting the back four – this brought Lawless into the fold.
Elsewhere we have Sam Ling with the capability to step into the midfield if needs be, the same goes for David Longe-King who was experimented in that position toward the back end of last season by Strevens. Then there is the mysterious case of Omar Mussa whose position looks precarious to say the least, an attempt will be made at a re-integration, but whether that works remains to be seen.
Ultimately, it is the strongest department on paper, the biggest improvement of the ‘Strevolution’ with the most investment hopefully reaping the biggest reward. That midfield is the core that this squad is built around and provides the engine that sets the level of work-rate expected by Strevens.
The Attackers
Onto the area of the pitch where I have some slight concern, not in what is there, but rather what isn’t. The front line is lacking real depth after a gradual emptying of the attacking arsenal at the back end of last season with the departures of Junior Morias, Josh Walker and Paul McCallum. However, arguably McMahon’s best piece of business was his parting gift of Inih Effiong, who now leads the line with Charley Kendall, Sydney Ibie and Aaron Blair making up the options up top.
It may be an unfounded feeling, but I just feel we could struggle for goals, if Strevens’ hope of goals being spread across the team isn’t fulfilled. There was a lack of creativity at times in pre-season following Ryan Hill’s injury, and off of that I feel that we could have the problem of being defensively sound and ‘hard to beat’, but have a lack of goals being scored up the other end.
Though we mustn’t look too much into pre-season, and if Inih Effiong is on song and has the service required… well, then everyone in the league is well aware of the heights he can reach. On the other hand, we have Charley Kendall who is something of an unknown entity at this level, which could work out in the Daggers’ favour. We haven’t seen much of him but he is a talented, young striker by all accounts, so if he can hit the ground running he could prove to be the difference.
Then there is of course Sydney Ibie, a player whose development so far has been impressive earning him a new deal, and his unpredictability means he is always a nightmare for defenders. It is unknown yet how he will fit into the side up top, playing off Effiong, or coming off the bench as an impact sub. In the case of the latter, we’d see Kendall playing with Effiong up top, which would be my starting partnership.
Aaron Blair is also an option for backup but I don’t know whether he is quite ready yet to make the desired impact in the first team.
Ultimately, it’s a case of experimentation with the strike partnership for Strevens and finding what works, who is in form and where the goals are coming from.
The Overall Picture
Strevens’ approach has been more than just about bringing in players to get results, it’s been about reviving that ‘Daggers spirit’ and rekindling the connection between the players, coaches and supporters. This mission is rooted in a belief in the return to basics of having a team that is hard-working, energetic and hard to beat. A team that will fight for every ball.
It seems he was quick to notice the lack of the basics at the end of his predecessor’s tenure, the lack of spirit and energy – a loss of connection that put the fire out in the players, the supporters and the club.
Strevens’ approach has been more than just about bringing in players to get results, it’s been about reviving that ‘Daggers spirit’ and rekindling the connection between the players, coaches and supporters.
The ‘Strevolution’ has brought with it a renewed optimism in the character, as much as the quality, of the players Strevens has brought through the door. There are leaders, bar-raisers who drive up the standards in training, the dressing room and therefore performances on the pitch. I dare say this was lacking last season, but now we see leadership run throughout the team, with Hessenthaler and Eastman just two examples.
Strevens’ intelligence is borne out in his recruitment, in the combination of factors that drive the motivation for collective success and desire to raise standards, rooted in individuals’ ambition: unproven points and unfinished business. I look at Lewis Page with his desire to push on after being held back by injury; Frank Vincent who lacked game time at Notts County and Charley Kendall looking to break into Lincoln’s first team.
This squad is also then in some ways a reflection of Strevens himself, given his desire to prove he can achieve success in this league, not quite getting over the line with Eastleigh.
This quality and character, the combination of factors that drive these individuals and squad as a collective, fuel my optimism going into the 2023/24 season.
Finally, there is the mentality of the club and supporters going into this season, a world away from last season’s ‘now or never’ approach. The expectation of play-offs at all costs last season saw McMahon’s ‘last chance saloon’ collapse under pressure, but the trust in Strevens’ project and return to basics sees the foundations laid to a longer-term vision.
This is not to say there is no expectation to achieve success on the pitch, but there appears more stability to the process. In this change in mentality with the idea of being difficult to beat, picking up some results along the way, I feel there is a bonus. As Joel outlined in his preview, this could see the Daggers almost go under the radar and become a surprise package this campaign.
I back Strevens to under-promise and over-deliver, let’s hope I’m proven right!
It all starts Saturday, a trip to Moss Lane to face Altrincham, let’s hope the dawn of the Strevolution brings a new era of success for Dagenham & Redbridge!
Viva La Strevolution and Come On You Daggers!
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