OPPOSITION Q&A
Photographer Tom King discusses Moors
Hi Tom so what are your expectations for Moors this season?
My expectations this season are for hopefully to sneak into the play-offs at the end of the season, some of the teams and squads this year in the National League are full of quality and some big teams too. So it might be difficult to break into the play-offs but it would be great if we could.
How’s the early performances been from the team?
Early performances have been under par for me. But with a new manager, new styles of play and new players it can sometimes take some time to gel. So hopefully over the next few weeks that happens a lot more.
Which notable signings have the club made?
Notable signings for us have got to be the signing of Lois Maynard on loan from Stockport, but with also Callum Howe back from a long term injury. He only played a handful of games last season, so might seem like a new signing.
Who are your key players and why?
Key players this season? Well there’s certainly one and that’s Joe Sbarra. Already got 5 goals in 4 games playing just behind the normal 2 strikers, the ‘little man’ as we call him has been running the show so far for the Moors and not just in the goals department. It seems like most things we do at the moment go through him.
TT PLAYER PROFILE: Joe Sbarra
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: 21st December 1998 – 22 years-old
Birthplace: Lichfield
Height: 1.78m
Previous Clubs: Burton Albion
NL Stats 21-22: Played 4, Goals 5, Yellow/Red Cards 1/0
Who’s the gaffer and what tactics does he like to use?
Neal Ardley is our gaffer for the new season. He’s a very nice bloke and has a lot of time for everyone around the club. Tactics wise he likes two up top which is good and full backs to bomb on with normally two holding midfielders to balance things up. Seems to be working a bit, we’re just sometimes not getting a bit of the rub of the green when going forward at times.
What’s the probable starting line-up?
Most probable starting line-up is the exactly the same as Saturday away at Aldershot. For me it provides a good balance in the team. Only possible thing you could change is bringing in 6”9 Kyle Hudlin to add a different dimension to the play.
-
1 – Boot
-
2 – Williams
-
3 – Cranston
-
7 – Sbarra
-
25 – Maynard
-
5 – Howe
-
6 – Gudger
-
4 – Storer
-
8 – Maycock
-
11 – Barnett
-
19 – Dallas
Can the Moors mount a promotion challenge and who are your tips for the title?
This season I’m not sure about promotion. I think we have a good squad. I just think that other teams have even stronger squads. As for my tip for the title, you can’t look past Wrexham for being up and around there. But they still have the monkey on their backs of being in this league for a long time. So if I have to pick one winner, I’ll go Chesterfield as their team looks fully stacked with talent.
Where’s best for pre-match food and drinks?
Best pre-match drinks for me are in the away ‘peaky blinders bar’ now it’s been fully kitted out. Food wise. You can’t go wrong with anything at all from Solihull town centre as there’s a few bars and pubs and then make the short 5-10 min drive to the ground.
What are the main strengths of the team?
Main strengths of our team this season I’d have to say is calmness on the ball and trying to play a possession game which has not done too badly so far, except losing 3-4 at home to Weymouth, who credit to them did a job on us by setting up for the counter attack and then hit us on the break 3 times.
And give us a score prediction for Tuesday night?
Score prediction. I’m going to sit on the fence and say 1-1.
OTHER ARTICLES:
THE GULLS WEEK 13th – 19th SEPT by Danny Burnell
TT TALKING POINTS – GRIMSBY (H) by Joseph Pope
TORQUAYTALK 
One thought on “THE OPPOSITION Q&A – SOLIHULL MOORS by Tom King”