I don’t think this squad is completely lacking quality. Beestin, Butterfield, Rowley, Whitehall, Gale and the two Howes should provide the basis of a competitive National League side.
The bigger concern is balance and organisation. We have two natural centre-backs, numerous full-backs and left-sided players, no convincing answer in goal and no settled system. Against Eastleigh looked like a collection of individuals rather than a team. Fighting back twice only to concede almost immediately both times points to structure, concentration and game management—not simply ability.
Calling Butler a failure after delivering promotion and then fifth place is plainly unfair. However, that credit cannot excuse this start indefinitely. He needs to simplify things, settle on his best eleven and formation, add an experienced goalkeeper and centre-back, and stop adapting the team around every opponent.
Give him ten league games, certainly, but judge the performances as well as the points. If we still look this disjointed then, the “three games” defence will no longer wash.
