I have a theory that, at this level, the difference between a rubbish team and a title-winning team can just be having players who make a difference at each end of the pitch.
A really good keeper or centre-back and a really sharp (or Sharp?) striker and you can go from bumbling along to beating all-comers.
These difference-makers are so important because, ultimately, there is not much to choose between most teams at this level. So if you have a player who can take more chances than is normal or someone at the back who can stop more than is normal, you’ll turn a 0-1 defeat into a 1-1 draw or a 1-1 into a 2-1.
Who do we have that fits that bill? Van Veen? Possibly but I still think he’s best at making others look good rather than being deadly in front of goal. Eisa? Ditto. At the back? There aren’t really any candidates.
