Terry Dolan was going to put smiles on the faces of York City supporters, but instead the gloom is deepening at Bootham Crescent.

This side is now a serious contender for the worst York side ever seen and those of us who turn up week after week are sick and tired of seeing a clear lack of quality and little commitment from many of the players.

We are in exactly the same position as this time last season with 25 points from 24 games, but even fewer goals scored. This side is being out-thought and out-fought by virtually every team in the division with passionless and pedestrian performances.

Is it too much to expect players to give 100 per cent for 90 minutes and to battle for every ball, not just in cup games?

Whether the current squad is good enough is debatable, what isn't is the apparent consistent lack of motivation and a game plan that consists almost entirely of pumping long high balls to either one, or two, big target forwards.

The 3-5-2 or 5-2-3 formation, which the manager persists in playing, is not working.

What goes on all week at the training ground? There is little movement, incisiveness, or creativity in the side. Dolan should, surely, revert to the proven 4-4-2 formation which most players are comfortable with.

The side is in desperate need of a quality, hard-working midfield general and one or two players to play wide midfield who have the ability to go past defenders, something lacking since Paul Stephenson left the club.

The best strikers in the land would struggle to score goals in this side because of the lack of decent service into the box.

Why not give Kieran Darlow a chance? Why will he not play Barry Jones, one of the most consistent players over the last three years? Is it because he's not one of his signings?

For a side that has scored a miserable 21 goals in 24 League games, not to have started a game all season with James Turley, who scored, worked hard and looked the best striker in the final home game of last season, is inexplicable.

David McNiven should partner Turley up front and the side should adopt a passing game with movement, with the emphasis on the ball being played to feet or into space for these two strikers to exploit.

Matt Hocking is promising and is worth his place on the basis that he is one of the few players at the club with pace.

We are fortunate to have an outstanding goalkeeper, arguably the best the club has ever had, certainly far too good for the Third Division, and without him City would undoubtedly be in the bottom two of this division.

Earlier this season, Dolan thanked fans that travelled to Exeter and Stoke for their commitment.

For a club with one of the highest wage bills in the third division it's high time that the players started to show the same commitment as the fans.

Phil Wass,

Brook Close,

Harrogate.

Updated: 12:18 Wednesday, January 17, 2001