Salop Social: Armchair fans can trust Steve Cotterill

CHRIS HUDSON

It’s less than a week until the transfer window slams shut, and the armchair experts are out in force.

This week we’ve added Nathaneal Ogbeta, presumably to play at left wing-back. “Great signing,” say many fans on social media – presumably basing that opinion on nothing more than the fact that the player has come from Manchester City.

I’ve no idea if it’s a good signing or not. I’d never heard of the lad until his name popped up on my phone on Monday morning.

We’ve had other players arrive from big clubs with a fanfare, though, and flop spectacularly. Who remembers Steven Hogg, who came from Manchester United, did nothing of note over two seasons and never played in the Football League again.

On the other side of the coin, we’re also being linked (again) with striker Will Grigg – a man arguably more famous for a terrace chant about him than his exploits on the pitch.

“No thanks!” scream the comments from many – pointing to Grigg’s torrid scoring record at Sunderland.

There are no guarantees with any transfer, but in Steve Cotterill we surely have a manager who has earned our trust. I’ll trust his judgement over those armchair experts.

Nathan Rowden

It almost feels inevitable that Shrewsbury are going to have a little wobble in the coming weeks, but we really shouldn’t be too disheartened.

For obvious reasons, the Covid outbreak in the squad and the hole left by manager Steve Cotterill while he recovers will have a big effect on the team.

Fitness will be that bit lower right now, which is natural, and the coaching during games by Steve will maybe mean we will see players not quite at it tactically, but it’s not something that should be alarming. All being well, fitness will improve in time and hopefully Steve will return to the club sooner rather than later, but at the same time not rush his recovery, which I’m sure the club wouldn’t allow.

This compiled with the incomings and outgoings this month is a recipe for disruption and a temporary drop in form. It’s going to take a few weeks for things to start to gel again.

However, I have every faith on the back of the Southampton and Sunderland performances that things will start to click again, and I think we have every reason to be optimistic for a strong finish to the season, comfortably clear of relegation.

STEVEN JONES

It seems Steve Cotterill is only absent in the physical sense as his shake-up of Shrewsbury’s squad continues at pace.

That infectious energy the players and staff talk about is there for all to see. Not even a deadly virus can stop him. Fingers crossed he’s back doing what he does best soon, but it goes without saying health comes first.

Reports suggest Cotterill’s transfer business isn’t finished yet, with further ins and outs both likely.

That – and a packed fixture calendar – should help lift the gloom during lockdown and provide some excitement.

One arrival that could get fans out of their seats, or sofas, is Will Grigg. He desperately needs a fresh start and we need more goals. Quit flirting and get it done.