Who Are Ya? - Crewe Alexandra (#1)

Thank you to Crewe Alexandra supporter Rebecca for answering these questions!

Thank you to Crewe Alexandra supporter Rebecca for answering these questions!

How Long Have You Supported Crewe Alexandra?

I have supported Crewe since I was 11 (I’m 21 now), however as I was living abroad in the early days, I have only been able to regularly watch them since the start of the 2012-2013 season.

Last Season’s League Finish?

We finished 17th in League Two after finishing strongly in the second half of the season.

What Do You Think Of Your Manager?

Our current manager, Dave Artell, was appointed in January 2017. At the time he got fans back on-board as he was a fans favourite from his playing days here. However, due to our league status, and other on-pitch factors, a large fraction of the fan base have started to believe he isn’t the right man to take us forward.

Hopes/Expectations This Season?

We made a strong start to the season, lying third after the opening month. However, our form began to dip horribly in September and now we find ourselves at the wrong end of the table. My hope is that, now, we survive the drop into non-league and plan ahead so we don’t end up in this situation again next year.

One(s) To Watch?

Callum Ainley: he was expected to be the next one to leave the club in January after a Championship side came in for him, although the move didn’t go through. He has pace and ability about him, however like many young players, he is inconsistent and can go missing for periods of the game.

Top 7 Predictions?

1st: Luton Town
2nd: Accrington Stanley
3rd: Wycombe Wanderers
4th: Swindon Town
5th: Mansfield Town
6th: Lincoln City
7th: Coventry City

Thoughts On Lincoln City?

A club I think you’d be daft not to admire. The work the management team have done there to rescue them from the non-league is nothing short of brilliant and I wouldn’t be shocked to see them playing in League One next season. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say we were rooting for them during that FA Cup run last season!

Score Prediction?

3-1 to Lincoln.

Random Fact About Your Club?

The name Crewe Alexandra comes from Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who was Queen of England as she married King Edward VII.

What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Crewe Alexandra supporter?

One of my proudest moments as a Crewe supporter was in April 2013 when the manager fielded the starting line-up of 11 academy graduates, something that no other club had ever done before.

I think the embarrassing bit is a tough one to call. Losing our away game Forest Green and realising we were in a relegation battle this season is up there. Our biggest hope during our days in the second division was that we’d never return to the days at the bottom of the fourth division. We escaped it for the second time briefly when we were promoted back to League One, but that game in November made us realise that the old days were well and truly back. The manner of the defeat doesn’t even bare mentioning.

Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the club?

We do not currently have a supporters trust, it dissolved due to a lack of involvement with the club. It appears no-one has the motivation to give it a go again!

Which was your favourite match involving Crewe Alexandra?

As I couldn’t make it to Wembley in 2012 when Crewe were promoted to League One, my favourite match which would be Coventry in the first leg semi-final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. More than 1,400 Crewe fans made the journey to Coventry in February 2013, – a game that was sold out. I, along with the rest of the travelling supporters, went without any expectations, and Coventry supporters had even began planning their day at Wembley! To go there and win 3-0 against all the odds is something I’ll never forget.

Which was your least favourite match involving Crewe Alexandra?

My least favourite match was in April 2016, after a horrendous season which saw us in the relegation places of League One for much of the season, we lost 3-0 to Port Vale, our local rivals, which confirmed our relegation back to League Two.

I see you have signed (Jan 18) Paul Green on loan from Oldham. He should be all too familiar with the ‘Sincil Bank Experience’ having played for Oldham at Sincil Bank in Lincoln’s fine 3-2 win in the FA Cup second round (Dec 16). Has Paul Green made a difference to your midfield and is he one to watch?

Green has made a difference to the midfield since coming into the team; however he won’t set the world alight. I wouldn’t say he is one of the more exciting players, but he’s effective. A player that can keep hold of the ball and put his foot in when needed.

How will the Barry Bennell scandal affect Crewe? The club could stand to lose thousands if victims start launching proceedings to sue.

The scandal surrounding Barry Bennell is uncertain at the moment, but it’s horrendous to be involved in. If, like is rumoured, victims are planning to sue, I struggle to see how the club can both pay it, and move on.

Do you think Crewe have what it takes to stay up? And where has it gone wrong this season?

There seems to be a losing rot at the club that no one can stop. However, I believe the only way Crewe will stay up is if there are two teams with less points come the end of the season. We just can’t keep leads at all and it’s been a big downfall this year. Crewe have lost 26 points from winning positions this season, had we kept all 26 points we would have been in the play-off places. However, once again we are down the other end of the table, and only got ourselves to blame for the mess.

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