Gab Sutton weekly: ‘Soft’ Posh worth a poke at 5/1 for the drop

In his latest exclusive column for Odds Now, English Football League expert Gab Sutton (@GabSutton) takes a look at Peterborough's relegation prospects in League One.

“It was a mess. A complete mess. If you don’t do the basics, you don’t run, you don’t tackle, you don’t head the ball, you don’t have desire, real desire to turn up every game, that’s a problem with this group of players. They haven’t got the desire. They have not got the desire. As a group.

“I don’t often say this about my teams but I’m sorry, but I’ve gotta be honest and say that this group of players is without doubt the softest group of players I’ve ever had in my whole managerial career.”

Scathing words from Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson, following his side’s 5-1 thumping by Lincoln City last week.

In fairness to the players in question, they did respond with a 1-0 victory over Wigan the following Tuesday but couldn’t build on it, losing 3-1 on Sunday at Bristol Rovers.

Ferguson’s public attack on the character of his own players – the same ones he’ll be relying on for League One survival – puts him in an extremely awkward position politically.

Let’s say the Scot is correct in his assertions, that those players are very soft. In such a case, they are probably not likely to be the type of people who would respond well to being insulted – you’d have to be the opposite of soft for those kind of comments to motivate you in any way.

Darren Ferguson didn't tread lightly with his comments following Peterborough's defeat to Lincoln. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)

On the other hand, what if there are players in that group who aren’t soft and who will give everything? Ferguson didn’t caveat his statement by saying ‘not all of them’, he made it very much a blanket assertion, which could hurt any players of whom his words aren’t true.

It’s going to be difficult for the 52-year-old to apologize to the players for his words, even if he might say emotion got the better of him, because he was so direct and so scathing. It’s not as if there’s room for misinterpretation.

And yet, if he doesn’t apologize, the situation is going to get even more frosty: any time he gives instructions to his players, let alone tries to motivate them, the players are still going to have his words in their heads.

Rock and a hard place

It feels like almost an impossible situation for Ferguson to navigate, and there was an element of him taking a liberty because of his close friendship with owner Darragh MacAnthony.

The Irishman trusts Ferguson like family, as he’s said openly, and they’ve experienced four promotions together with an association going back 19 years.

Plus, MacAnthony is somebody who speaks his mind, even when it’s unpopular or politically inadvisable, and therefore admires that tendency in other people.

So, there may have been part of Ferguson wanting to protect his own status with the fanbase if the club suffers relegation, increasing the chances of him getting the chance to lead a rebuild in League Two by attacking existing personnel and absolving himself of responsibility.

Conversely, it might not be as calculated as that. It may have just been the heat of the moment that gave him the urge to cross the line.

Either way, Peterborough have taken a paltry nine points from 14 league games and seem to be plummeting towards the drop zone, whilst the likes of Burton and Shrewsbury have shown signs of life recently.

Surely, the chances of the Posh being relegated are greater than the 16.7% chance implied by the 5/1 odds BetVictor currently offer.

Gab’s selection - Peterborough to be relegated from League One - 5/1 (BetVictor)

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