No player has had a seamless, linear progression from novice professional to reliable veteran. Fluctuations in form are all part of a professional footballer's journey.
Many over the years have said the first dip in performance is the hardest, particularly when a youngster has made such a strong first impression. That was the case for Bristol Rovers defender Luca Hoole, who was an unlikely hero of Joey Barton's promotion-winning team last season.
The 20-year-old right-back was thrown in at the deep end and he thrived, going on to make 32 appearances, starting 19 of the final 20 games as Rovers surged into League Two's top three with a sprint finish. The Welshman has had to endure something of a sophomore slump since stepping up into the third tier, with Barton speaking plainly about the player's struggles.
The past few weeks have seen an upturn in form, though, and on Boxing Day Hoole was returned to the starting XI for a league game for the first time since struggling in a 4-2 defeat to Derby County in October. The defender's showing against Wycombe Wanderers – which followed a hugely impressive substitute appearance at Charlton Athletic earlier this month – was mixed, with encouraging moments and a few things to work on as Rovers succumbed to a 2-1 defeat.
But after his confidence was knocked by a difficult run, Hoole believes he is getting back in the groove and he wants to take his game to levels higher than he achieved last season.
"I had a dip in form and a loss of confidence, so the gaffer and all the coaches have been speaking to me about getting back to my best," Hoole said. "They have been filling me with confidence so hopefully this is the start of me not just getting back to how I was last season but being better.
"The gaffer tells me I am learning on the job. At the start of last season, he threw me in at the deep end and I happened to do really well.
"As a young lad, you’re always going to have your ups and downs and it’s about how you come back from the downs. Hopefully, this is the start of me being back to my best.
"Paul Coutts, Glenn Whelan, Sam Finley, they all have come to me and said ‘It happens to all of us’. It is part and parcel of football and you’re going to have your ups and downs.
"But there is no one I can say who hasn’t come and given an arm around me and said ‘It happens, get back to your best and make sure it doesn’t carry on’."
Rovers made a flying start at Wycombe with Josh Coburn putting them ahead inside four minutes and the Gas looked likely to score a second until they shipped a soft equaliser to David Wheeler midway through the first half.
From that moment, Hoole believes Rovers were guilty of being sucked into Wycombe's physical style of play, getting away from the fluid football that proved so effective in the early moments. They were made to pay early in the second half when Lewis Wing scored what proved to be the winner through a crowd of bodies.
"In the first half we played well and we were the better team," Hoole said. "It was two scrappy goals (for Wycombe) and we’re onto Exeter now and it’s about making sure we take the three points in the next game.
"At half time, we could have come in two, three or four up. They had one chance and scored it, we had multiple chances and I think we could have had a penalty as well. We definitely should have scored more goals, but we now have to take the positives and take them into the next game.
"We knew what we were getting into before the game. We knew they were just going to hit the big man up top and they were going to be physical and scrap.
"I think we ended up getting dragged too much into their game instead of playing our game. They wanted a fight instead of us playing it around. We started like that but we got dragged in."
Rovers and Exeter were promoted from League Two together and have played several fiercely-contested games during Barton's tenure, although Rovers are yet to beat them in that time.
Although there has been a change in management team for the Grecians with Gary Caldwell taking charge after Matt Taylor's departure for Rotherham, the Gas are expecting another intense game at the Mem when they meet on Thursday.
Hoole has positive memories against Exeter, scoring his first senior goal in a 1-1 draw last season, but he was frustrated in October when Rovers took a point in a 2-2 draw at St James Park, believing the Gas were good value for a win.
After that result, he says 10th-placed Rovers have added motivation to add three points to their tally on Thursday.
"Exeter to finish off the year and the lads will be looking for three points to finish off the year," he concluded.
"Every team we come up against now, we’re in it to win it and we want three points from every game. Exeter came up with us and in the last game, we feel like we should have won, so we feel like we’ve got something to show."
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