Pre-season is supposed to be a time for cautious optimism. New kits, fresh grass, a couple of trialists doing stepovers near the Thatchers (well as ‘near’ as possible on the pitch), and the hopeful thought that this might be our year. But at Yeovil, with just weeks to go before the season kicks off, there is a growing feeling that something is not quite adding up.

This blog does not attempt to discuss the playing style adopted under Mark Cooper; my own views on this are widely documented and there has been much discussion on the Gloverscast podcast and among supporters. So the focus of this post is on our preparedness for the coming season.

We have 15 contracted players, plus one on loan. But how many of them are actually part of the plan?

Squad Depth, or Lack of It

Let’s break it down.

Sixteen players are now listed, but not all are clearly part of the manager’s plans. Social media speculation continues to brew around the future of Aidan Stone, Josh Sims and Jacob Maddox. Matt Gould is registered as a player-coach, which says a lot in itself, especially considering he didn’t make a single appearance last season albeit he underwent surgery at some point. That realistically leaves just 12 players. TWELVE.

The goalkeeper situation has been unclear since February when, after becoming a becoming a stable part of the defensive unit, Ollie Wright was returned to Southampton in the aftermath of a shaky display in the 4-0 defeat at Rochdale. He popped up at Solihull Moors days later and will be plying his trade in the EFL with Accrington Stanley this season.

Will Buse, who signed permanently after a previous loan spell, went from number 1 choice to no squad number and persona-non-grata in the space of less than a season and is currently a free agent.

Now, heading into the new season, Aidan Stone is the only senior goalkeeper in the squad. He was benched for the full 90 minutes in the recent pre-season game against Bristol Rovers with Bristol City keeper Josey Casa-Grande on trial in between the sticks. That raised eyebrows, especially given his recent signing and the lack of depth behind him and no official word from the club.

There is now a recognised right back in on loan in Byron Pendleton, which helps, but there is still limited depth in central midfield and very little width. Even allowing for a few trialists, this is still a thin group. The season is nearly here, and it still feels like a squad in flux.

“We are not just short on numbers, we are short on time. Even if players arrive tomorrow (or today), it could be October before we look like a functioning team.”

It’s Not Just About Having Players, It’s About Having a TEAM

The issue is not just numbers. It is time. Whoever we bring in now is arriving late to the party, and Cooper’s system is not one you master overnight.

He demands a lot. Discipline, shape, control. When it works, it looks solid. When it does not, it can be ponderous. And we’ve seen how it can take players weeks to adjust. So even if we suddenly pull four new signings out of a hat tomorrow, they will not be fully up to speed by the first few fixtures. Realistically, it could be October before we have anything like a fully functioning TEAM.

If results are not going our way by then, we will likely see more chopping and changing. More loans. More ins and outs. More resets. A team that never settles.

Is It Just a Mark Cooper Thing?

It is tempting to point the finger at the manager. After all, Cooper regularly says he has a preference for a small squads. But this small? This light? It is hard to believe this was the plan all along.

So what is going on?

To be fair, the new owners did mean we lost time at the start of the summer. Transition periods always cost a couple of weeks, maybe more. But when the club talks about a “competitive budget”, we are left wondering what that actually means. Competitive for what? Top half? Mid-table? A relegation scrap?

And what role has the move to Bristol played in this?

Bristol Base: Attraction or Distraction?

The club has been keen to back Cooper’s vision, including moving training to the Bristol area. The idea was that it would help attract a better calibre of player. But has the manager’s vision actually weakened the playing budget?

On 22 July, the club tweeted:

“The club backed Mark’s vision to move training to Bristol and continues to support his work in the transfer market. The budgets for both the Bristol move and playing staff form part of the overall investment in the first-team operation.”

Is the same pot of money is now covering more things?

If part of the player budget is now funding travel expenses and training pitches, that raises the question. Are we weaker on the pitch because of a decision made off it?

The 3 Cs: Calmness, Competitiveness, Community

The new ownership under Prabhu Srinivasan has been clear about its values: Competitive. Calmness. Community. But let’s be honest, calmness will not last forever if supporters do not feel we are ready to compete.

There is no doubt that things are happening behind the scenes. But actions speak louder than words. At the moment, what fans are seeing, or not seeing, is creating anxiety. And you cannot blame them. After a decade of drama, promises only go so far.

We are not expecting signings for the sake of it. But people need reassurance. A sense of structure. A plan.

“How long can calmness last when key positions are unfilled, results aren’t in, and the fanbase is still waiting for something to believe in?”

Is This the Barnet Model?

Mark Cooper has previously hinted at following the Barnet model. A club that managed to climb the National League table over several seasons without a massive budget. The logic is sound: keep your core, build gradually, don’t overspend. And on the face of it, it worked for them.

Let’s look at how their journey played out:

• 2020/21 – Finished 22nd, only avoided relegation due to COVID restructuring

• 2021/22 – Improved slightly to 18th

• 2022/23 – Big leap to 5th, reaching the play-offs

• 2023/24 – Runners-up, 2nd place

• 2024/25 – Finished 1st, promoted as champions

The parallels are obvious. In 2024/25, Yeovil finished 18th, just like Barnet did in 2021/22. So if we’re genuinely copying the Barnet model, the logic would suggest a jump to top 5 this season.

But is that realistic?

Barnet didn’t just get lucky. They kept a consistent core of players, had a defined playing style under Dean Brennan, and steadily added quality in key positions. They weren’t perfect, but they were organised, resilient, and gradually built a squad capable of competing at the top.

Right now, Yeovil seem some way off that. The core is unclear. Trialists are still hanging around. Key positions are still unfilled. And while the club speaks about “quality over quantity,” it’s hard to see the structure that made Barnet successful being replicated in time for the new season.

If we’re aiming to follow Barnet’s path, then 5th should be the minimum expectation. But to get there, Barnet had the stability, depth and direction. At the moment, Yeovil have questions, gaps and trialists.

A model is only useful if you’re resourced and ready to execute it. Otherwise, it’s just a reference point with no foundation.

Trying to Stay Balanced

Part of me wants to say ‘wait and be patient’. Let the season start and then judge Cooper and the board once we have seen the full picture.

But another part of me cannot shake the feeling that we are flying too close to the sun.

Fans do not need perfection. We gave up on that a long time ago. But they do need communication, visible progress, and a sense that the club is ready to compete at the right end of the table.

Because if we start slowly, and this squad looks like it might, how long will the calmness hold?

Conclusion: A Lot Still to Prove

There is no doubt that Mark Cooper has experience and knows how to organise a side. But right now, supporters are being asked to buy into a plan they cannot fully see.

We are told the budget is competitive, but it is unclear what that means in practice. We are told the Bristol training ground will help attract players, but we are still short in key areas. We are told we are following a model like Barnet’s, but the squad does not currently reflect that level of structure or stability.

Even the basic signs of progress are difficult to pin down. Last season’s home form was poor, and the team changed constantly. Players came in and out, systems were tweaked, and consistency never really took hold. As a result, momentum was always fragile, and performances never fully settled.

There is still time to strengthen. A few well-judged signings in the right places could change the mood quickly. But with the season fast approaching, calmness is not guaranteed to last.

Yeovil fans are not asking for miracles. They just want to see a team that looks ready to compete, a squad that is coherent, and leadership that builds belief. Right now, that belief is fragile.

If this is a rebuild, then it needs to start looking like one. Because the longer things stay vague and incomplete, the harder it becomes to keep the faith, and after the past ten years, supporters deserve more than another summer of uncertainty.