TT PREVIEW

Sam talks about the Millers

PRE-SEASON/SUMMER

I would say the off season wasn’t too great for us. The problem we have with being a smaller club and the success of last season, is that your top players get noticed and poached. We lost two of our main players to Sutton United in Siju Odelusi and Eduino Vaz. Then Arj Krasniqi went to Maidstone. All on full time deals. Plus we had the retirement of our keeper Jonathon North. So straight off the back we have to look at rebuilding the team essentially. Pre-Season was a mixed bag. It started off well with a win over Dagenham and Redbridge. But it sort of fizzled out a bit as the manager was experimenting to find his team. You have to expect that in pre-season.

START TO THE SEASON

Tough. There’s no other way to describe it. We had a pretty good season on the injury front last year, already I think we’ve had 5 or 6 players out injured for one or two games. The new goalkeeper, Carey got the measles. So before even looking at a much improved league we’ve been up against it.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SEASON?

We can. For us, I’m sure everyone else around the club would agree, a good season will be staying up. We are going through a massive transition period. So it may take some time to get back to the level we were at last season. But we can do it.

KEY PLAYERS

For me, the key players will be those who were with us last season. Mainly because injuries have meant we haven’t really seen the best out of our new arrivals. Captain Harry Gibbs is going to be a big one in managing a defence that will definitely take a bettering this year. But we have seen good things from new boys Josh Anifowose and Luke Holness. Raz De-Graft will be another one too.

THE MANAGER

Danny Scopes. Not one Manager of the Month nomination last season. Wins Manager of the Year overall. Very humble, down to earth guy who likes to play football. Quick passing and movement. Building from the back rather than the long ball game which is what you want to see.

THE LINE-UP?

Depends on fitness I guess. Like I say, new team, with injuries etc. I honestly couldn’t say.

AWAY FOLLOWING

We had a great time last season so we’re hoping for a bigger crowd with us this year. Unfortunately, I think the fixtures may have hurt us on that front with it being earlier in the season, people are on holiday. Probably 100 all in all.

PREDICTION

Pains me to say it, but I think it will be a Torquay win. You guys are having a good start to the season, whereas we’re still trying to gel a new team. If we can get a point I’ll be happy.