Manager Matt Bloomfield has been shortlisted for League One’s September Manager of the Month, after winning all three games played during the month, overcoming Northampton, Bristol Rovers and Cambridge United, all by 2-1, also beating Brighton’s U-21 side 5-3 in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
Wycombe’s hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed during the second month of the EFL League One campaign, with Matt Bloomfield receiving a nomination for the Award alongside Chris Davies from Birmingham City, Steve Bruce from Blackpool and Nigel Clough from Mansfield Town.
Big Spenders Birmingham City have showed their determination to bounce back from relegation at the first attempt by investing heavily into the squad, which also saw them pull off a deadline day transfer of Jay Stansfield from Fulham for more than £10 million. Chris Davies has implemented a slick style of football which has seen them rampant in September. Birmingham haven’t been the only shakers in the transfer market. Nigel Clough has been busy building momentum at Mansfield Town following promotion from League Two. He’s immediately brought in experienced Championship duo Aiden Flint and Lee Gregory to name a few to help assist the teams depth. This has transitioned with the Stags winning three games in September to put them firmly in the promotion mix. Whilst Blackpool took the bold decision to sack Neil Critchley after two games and immediately appointing the experienced Steve Bruce. Bruce masterminded four wins in September which included two big away day wins at Huddersfield Town and Charlton Athletic.
This is however huge testament to Matt Bloomfield after the difficult start to the campaign. Despite defeats at the hands of Wrexham and Birmingham City, Bloomfield has maintained his footballing principles whilst rotating personnel to achieve some important results in September, which has placed the Chairboys into fifth position in the table. When we compare the vast difference in budget spend against his fellow nominee’s, it makes the achievement all the more incredible.
With Wycombe on a run of seven unbeaten league games, the patience has really paid off for Bloomfield. Contrast this period to last season’s opener where Matt Bloomfield transitioned the playing philosophy away from the direct Gareth Ainsworth style and with many new players through the door but maybe lacking the true intensity Bloomfield craved. It didn’t happen overnight and included some darker periods with form but this is redemption for Bloomfield. His perseverance and strong held principles to lead Wycombe through to the attractive and hard working side we’ve seen this season is a credit to the man we call ‘Mr Wycombe’.