Pre-Season & Trialist Thoughts

Well we’re little off a week away from the new ‘npower’ Football League season, and Paul Simpson is busy assembling his new squad for the opening fixture at Roots Hall next Saturday.

I think the general consensus amongst County fans is obviously that we need four of five new signings to polish off a decent League Two squad, crucially though in the right areas.

Starting off in goal, we’ve got the main man Owain fon Williams who was crushed confidence-wise last season, but he’s stayed at EP for the coming year and I reckon Simmo’s belief and faith in the Welshman will do him a world of good. With the highly-rated Dave Timmins coming in as goalkeeping coach, hopefully we’ll see the fon Williams of old who was being watched by the likes of West Ham and Preston. Back-up ‘keeper Lloyd Rigby is on trial at Barrow, while we believe that one of two goalkeeping trialists that’s been with the County squad recently will be offered a deal this week. One of those on trial was ex-Leeds man Ryan Jones.

The defence looks particularly solid, with Danny Swailes signing with The Hatters and taking the captaincy for the ’10/11 season. The experience of Swailes in L2 will do nicely to guide the younger lads – Andy Halls, Louis Barnes, Luca Havern and Craig Roberts. Mark Lynch was Paul Simpson’s first signing as County boss, and he will go straight into the side and replace ex-skipper Johnny Mullins, who joined Lynch’s old club Rotherham. Trialist Mansour Assoumani has impressed in recent performances and we understand that he is close to signing a one-year deal to stay at Edgeley Park. Of course, very highly-rated Jordan Rose has signed for us, which is an excellent signing for both the present and the future with the former-Bournemouth lad aged only 20. Adam Griffin has been regularly playing at left-back in these series of friendlies, and while he didn’t really get a chance in Gary Ablett’s League One squad, he’s proven at League Two level and isn’t the worst footballer by any stretch. Paul Simpson ran the rule over trialist Andy Nicholas at the left-back position, but a trialist we are unable to name yet, who played in the 1-0 defeat to Inverness, has been offered a deal with The Hatters.

So the defence is looking pretty strong if and when the above trialists sign up.

The midfield is a concern at the moment though, with Paul Turnbull, Greg Tansey, Jamie Vincent and Matty Mainwaring – while all being talented lads – not being the strongest middle four in the league. An old experienced head is needed in the centre of the park to help those four along. Richie Partridge has signed a one-year deal to stay at EP, yet most fans seem to leave a question mark next to his name when going through the squad. Let’s see how he does in League Two anyway. Again, David Poole is a trier, and was part of our Wembley winning squad, but his final ball just isn’t there and we could do with at least two wingers to bolster the forces. Danny Pilkington provides another option and could excel at a lower level after showing glimpses of his talent last season before being halted by a broken leg. Pilks is fully fit now.

Barry Conlon got off the mark with a cheeky dinked penalty against Skelmersdale on Saturday, and while he’s the battering ram of a striker we may have been needing for a while, I sense that we can’t rely on him for a stream of goals. Ryan Kendall also scored against Skelmersdale, and the ex-Hull man seems more promising in terms of getting us the goals. Tom Fisher and Cameron Darkwah provide reason to be happy with the future of County’s squad, though they both remain inexperienced at senior level.

So yeah, as I said in the first place, about four of five signings this week would do Simmo!

The former Shrewsbury and Preston boss has already stated that he’ll be dipping into the loan market and seeking help from the bigger clubs in the area for players, so let’s see if there’s anything doing in that field.

And just ten days ’til Southend…Come on County!