In 2017 let's build a club fit for our academy graduates

This time last year I tried to prove that 2015 hadn't been all bad in a piece for In The Top One. Sadly, as we look back at 2016, I'm not sure there are many positives all to take from a pretty poor 12 months.

For 2015, I pointed to the following eight points:

1. Beating Derby twice
2. I Believe In Miracles
3. The Peter Taylor Stand
4. The 'honeymoon home wins' of the early Freedman days
5. Reading away and *those* three goals
6. The 150th anniversary
7. Tyler Walker
8. The necessary budget trimming

In the last 12 months we've lost twice to the Sheep and that 'necessary' budget trimming hasn't really laid the foundations that we hoped it would, with the club's future now on hold until a takeover can be completed. However, while the anniversary events can't happen every year, it's been good to see Forza Garibaldi, the trust and Bandy and Shinty emerge and take the baton on.

There haven't been that many highlights on the field either have there? The first win for ages at Boro was a pleasant surprise and MK Dons away - with Britt's comeback goal - ended a poor season on a good note. At home, the early season 4-3s were fun - although set a worrying precedent for the defensive frailty to come. Arsenal in the league cup sparked great interest and ended up being a chastening experience. 

Oddly, the most fun I've had this year at a game was probably at Villa away. A frenetic 2-2 with two really good goals and a cracking atmosphere in a proper ground that made for a big occasion. We didn't win but we had character and offered hope that things would get better.

Villa away

We finish 2016 with the following league record:

P46 W13 D12 L21 F56 A68

In some respects that set of results is entirely in keeping with the steady downward trend of the Fawaz era. If that were a season it'd mean 51 points and, based on last season's table, would've put us four points and four places below what we managed in 2015/16.

We kept just seven clean sheets in 2016 - and four of those were in a row within the first six games of the year as Dougie Freedman's 13-game unbeaten run came to an end. We've been far too easy to beat and, frustratingly, not that many of the teams to walk away with a point or three from the City Ground have looked that great.

Point 7 of my 2015 list was Tyler Walker. Somewhat disappointingly 'our Tyler' hasn't kicked on but the one big plus of 2016 surely has to be the performance of the academy players. The likes of Matty Cash and Joe Worrall have joined Ben Osborn as key fixtures on the first team scene and there are several more on the brink of a breakthrough. We now need a professional club with the sort of structure that can look after these players properly and continue their development. They should be the bedrock of the squad - with smart signings used to fill any gaps and add some experience. I'm fed up of signing bang average players who sit in the way of academy players that are probably better.

While the academy brought great joy in 2016, it's biggest and brightest talent was lost to us just as he threatened to break out and become a real superstar. Oliver Burke's sale to Red Bull Leipzig left a sour taste and killed much of the remaining sympathy towards the Fawaz regime while also taking the wind out of the sails of Philippe Montanier's bright start.

Which leads us to 2017. This year has to provide a new start and not just mark another in the list of false dawns. None of us should be under any illusions. Being taken over won't automatically stop us going down. The new owners will need an industrial sized Brasso to polish the turd they've been left. A lot of the work they have to do will be off the field and it might well take time to filter through. 

In 12 months time I'd like to have a club fit for our academy lads to graduate into. If so, 2017 could be the start of something better at the City Ground. The next few days need to be our 'zero hour' - marking a fresh new start where we move away from the failure of the Fawaz era. It can't come soon enough can it?