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Joe Uglow

@Joe_Ugs

Joe looks at how Wotton’s squad is shaping up

HOW THE SQUAD IS SHAPING UP

Well, what a first week under the new regime! The Bryn consortium have been a breath of fresh air so far with their openness and the creativity shown in announcing the new signings via videos showcasing the local area!

The new approach to recruitment has also been a breath of fresh air, a nice mix of multiple appearances at NLS/NLN level, a sprinkling of football league experience too as well as players who have enjoyed success and promotions recently. This should help to build a squad who have a winning mentality rather than the perennial losers we have had to suffer over the last couple of seasons.

It’s also been refreshing to hear such glowing praise for each of the new signings from their former clubs, this hopefully bodes well for the new season!

As each signing walks in the door you can start to see how Paul Wotton wants to set his team up, and if as expected Brad Ash and Dean Moxey extend their stay at Plainmoor later this week then we will have our first 11 players to compile a starting line up from.

Now I’m not sure that we will line up in a 3-5-2 but it’s a good way of seeing how the squad is shaping up and where the gaps are still yet to be filled.

I think right back is now covered with Wotton rating Craske highly, there is also Oscar Threlkeld who can fill in there if Craske is injured. NLS league winner Jay Foulston would have signed to be our starting left back option, and there might be a temptation to use Moxey as back up there, but for me Mox is now a centre back, so a back up left back must be on the shopping list.

Rumours of Ryan Law making the move across the tamar doesn’t really align with being a back up option, so it’s possible that a younger understudy may be the route Wotton takes. Somebody like Ryan Jones who was released by Bristol Rovers this summer may be the perfect back up option, especially as he can play further forward in midfield as well. Versatility seems to be the theme in a lot of the signings so far and is the best use of a reduced budget so it would make sense.

We are definitely a central defender or two light and perhaps we may be looking at somebody already under contract which could explain why we haven’t yet announced a defensive partner for Sam Dreyer. Two players that may fit that bill are Ben Adelsbury at Truro or Jordan Dyer at Bath City. Either of those would be a solid addition to the squad but are both under contract so may require a fee or agreement to release them from their current contracts.

Central midfield is probably the one position where we look to have done most of our business already; Roddy Collins and Oscar Threlkeld wouldn’t have signed to be bit part players this season and I’d be very surprised if both are not in the starting line-up on August 10th. Lirak Hasani will certainly have eyes on a starting place too and Blyth Spartans fans were very impressed by his loan spell last season. There’s probably room for one more central midfielder, maybe two, if we are going to line up with three central midfielders and I would expect at least one of Cam Hargreaves, Tom Smith or Dan Hayfield to arrive at Plainmoor this week to finalise the central midfield.

There is a distinct lack of wingers through the door and that might indicate a system utilising wing backs instead or it may be that we will look to the loan market for our wingers.

Up front the signing of Jaydn Crosbie is a really exciting one, 37 goals in a season at any level is impressive and to do that at the age of 20 shows the potential that he has. Signed on a 2 year deal, I don’t expect Crosbie to be the finished article from day one but give him time and opportunities off the bench and we could have a real player on our hands. At 6 ft 2 he gives us a target man option as well and could be the perfect foil for Ash (if he re-signs) or the rumoured new signing Ben Seymour.

If those two are announced this week then that probably leaves space for one more striker.

An obvious shout would be Tyler Harvey, but I think with the impressive managerial announcement of John Askey, Harvey will be convinced to stay. The last striker’s spot may be reserved for a loan signing or perhaps a striker who made the step up to National league last season but found himself out of favour. That man may be Will Davies who joined York for an undisclosed fee after notching 8 in 15 for Braintree last season. He ended the season at Bromley on loan but may be looking to reignite his career back in the NLS.