Callum Hallett

Signing number five of the window is through the Huish Park doors, as Yeovil Town sign former Hampton & Richmond fullback, Jordan Thomas on a 2-year deal. The 23 year-old will be looking to settle down in his career after playing for a couple clubs after leaving Norwich City.

In this article I will be doing an analysis on Jordan Thomas. The article will include:

• Player Profile
• Previous History
• Key Strengths
• Areas To Improve
• Key Stats – 23/24
• How he suits the “Mark Cooper System”
• Conclusion

Enjoy the read! Any feedback would be massively appreciated as I continue to analyse every signing the Glovers’ make this summer. I would also be interested in hearing your opinion on the signing of Jordan Thomas and how the summer has gone so far?

Player Profile

• Name: Jordan Thomas
• Position: Defender (Right Back or Right Wingback)
• Age: 23 (2/1/01)
• Height: 6ft (182cm)
• Strong Foot: Right
• Previous Club: Hampton & Richmond
• 23/24 Season Stats: 2707 minutes – 30 games – 1 goal – 1 assist

Previous History

2020 – Signs his first professional contract at Norwich City.

2020-2021 – Norwich City – 1 Game – 0 Goals.

2020-2021 – Leyton Orient (Loan) 1 Game – 0 Goals.

2021 – 2023 – Barnet – 27 Games – 0 Goals.

2023 – 2024 – Hampton & Richmond – 41 Games – 3 Goals.

Key Strengths

National League Experience – In his short career, Thomas has had a stint of football in the National League Premier, with Barnet, where the right back made 27 appearances for the Bees’ in 2 seasons, joining the club following his release from Norwich. Any sort of experience will be helpful coming into this season and he will certainly gain much more this season, alongside Michael Smith.

Good Age – I have absolutely loved our recruitment so far this season. We have signed young, hungry players who have a desire to improve and help the team. At 23, Jordan Thomas has played a good amount of senior football, including an appearance in the Premier League, against Man City but is of an age where he has plenty of room to develop and grown.

Perfect Understudy – When I was going through our squad, thinking of what positions we need to sign players in this season, one of the harder options was a backup right back. We have found someone who will push Michael Smith to the limits for a starting spot but probably play the role of an understudy in the early parts of the 2024/25 season. Smith will be able to coach and improve Thomas perfectly, whilst Cooper gives him the correct amount of game time to improve. As the season goes on and we head into next season, Thomas will probably become starter.

Gets Forward – Mark Cooper asks a lot of his fullbacks to get forward and be involved in our offensive style, especially the right sided full back. This is certainly one of the strongest parts to Thomas’ game, he can deliver with real quality and link up really well with the right sided forward. He has pace and agility so I would back him in a race against most players.

Dribbling – I think the strongest part to his game is probably his dribbling. When playing for Hampton & Richmond, Thomas completed 2.1 successful dribbles per 90. This means he is a real threat when running 1-on-1 at an opposition defender and can create chances for himself by taking on his man.

A View into the Future – As with all of our other signings this season, we have brought in younger players around the experience we already had, on 2 year-deals to give us a good squad to build around in future years. We have signed these players to develop and improve before either selling for profit or staying in our squad, gaining experience and build with our squad as we progress.

Areas To Improve

Fitness Question Marks – Jordan Thomas has struggled with injuries over recent seasons, at both Barnet and Hampton. Hopefully he has got over these injury issues and he can come in and be a vital part of our National League season, however, there are concerns over his fitness issues.

Struggled at NL Level – The 23 year-old does have some experience at National League level, however, he did struggle in his time at Barnet where he played just 27 times over two seasons. He will be hoping for a better showing  in step 1 this time round.

Passing Accuracy – In the National League South last season, Jordan Thomas had a passing accuracy percentage of 71%, for a Mark Cooper side this is fairly poor, so will need to be improved going into next season.

Defensive Smartness – One thing that the former Norwich City man needs to improve on is his defensive smartness. He can sometimes get caught out of position, either too high up the pitch or perhaps too deep. He also gets caught at the back post on some occasions where he isn’t concentrating or switched on so the opposition player has a tap in.

Key Stats – 23/24

Stats produced by FevsFootball.

General Passing:

• Passes Per 90 – 26.4
• Passing Accuracy – 71%
• Long Passes Per 90 – 3.4
• Long Passing Accuracy – 44%
• Progressive Passes Per 90 – 7.1
• Progressive Passing Accuracy – 60%
• Passes Into Final Third Per 90 – 4.1
• Passes Into Final Third Accuracy – 57%

Creative Passing:

• Passes To Penalty Area Per 90 – 2.19
• Passes To Penalty Area Accuracy – 55%
• Through Passes Per 90 – 0.23
• Through Passing Accuracy – 29%
• Crosses Per 90 – 2.16
• Crossing Accuracy – 44%

On The Ball:

• Dribbles Per 90 – 2.1
• Dribble Success Rate – 49%
• Touches In Box Per 90 – 1.1
• Progressive Runs Per 90 – 0.5
• Fouled Per 90 – 0.7

Duels:

• Offensive Duels Per 90 – 5.0
• Offensive Duels Won – 39%
• Defensive Duels Per 90 – 7.9
• Defensive Duels Won – 67%
• Ariel Duels Per 90 – 3.1
• Ariel Duels Won – 41%
• Loose Ball Duels Per 90 – 3.2
• Loose Ball Duels Won – 41%

Defensive Actions:

• Shots Blocked Per 90 – 0.3
• Interceptions Per 90 – 5.1
• Sliding Tackles Per 90 – 0.7
• Fouls Per 90 – 0.5

How Will He Fit In?

In the picture above, I have planned out what our current squad depth is looking like, where I believe players will be positioned and who starts. With the incoming of right back Jordan Thomas, it is important to remember that we have the vastly experienced head of Michael Smith at right back as well. As we know, having good levels of squad depth is important, especially when you can fill a bench of 7 players next season. (Aaron Jarvis is also named in this picture, I will be doing an analysis of him very soon)!

I believe that Jordan Thomas has been brought in as the perfect understudy to 35 year-old Michael Smith for this upcoming season, where his minutes will likely come off the bench or in rotation with Smith. As the season goes on I can see Thomas playing more minutes, as Smith begins to fatigue. This is the perfect development stage for Thomas’ career.

When Thomas does play, he is likely to pick up a position as a right back in a 4231 formation, where he will be expected to get forward, making overlapping or the occasional inverted run inside, to create space for our wide attackers and get involved in our attacking play. This is a big strength of Jordan Thomas’ game as he likes to get forward and pull good quality crosses into the box.

As shown above, if Jordan Thomas is going to start, he is most likely going to play in the right back position, with a left footed, right winger ahead of him to create space for both. If Jordan Thomas creates an overlapping run, this will pull the fullback away from Jordan Young, who can drive inside and cause the opposition serious problems.

As I explained when we signed Finn Cousin-Dawson, Mark Cooper has sometimes used a 3/5 at the back formation if we are defending a lead and want to sit on the result we have.

In this formation, Jordan Thomas would be useful as a right wingback where he is the main source of width in the side. His job in the team would be to keep tight to the touch line wherever possible to stretch the opposition. He would be a real threat in this position because his main strengths come in the final third, where it would give him the maximum amount of opportunities to deliver with quality. This is shown below:

Despite this option, I feel that our preferred formation next season will definitely be a 4231, so Jordan Thomas will be utilised, mainly, as a right back, in a back 4.

Conclusion

I am a fan of this signing by Mark Cooper, I think Thomas adds brilliant depth to our right back position, bringing in quality cover for the aging Michael Smith. It is another signing which looks into the future, on a 2 year-deal so the 23 year-old is able to develop around the squad.

He may take a bit of coaching to understand the Mark Cooper style but then most signings do.

Two things that worry me about the signing of Jordan Thomas is his injury record in recent seasons and secondly his last experience at National League level for Barnet. He will have a lot of experience to help him along this time round, you couldn’t ask for anyone better than Michael Smith!

Overall, I think this signing will pay off towards the end of this coming season, into the next as Thomas is the perfect understudy to learn from Michael Smith.

What are your thoughts on the signing?

As I have previously stated, any feedback or comments are massively appreciated and taken on board. I hope you enjoyed the read, thankyou!

Signing number three is in through the door as Yeovil Town announce the signing of former Bradford City defender, Finn Cousin-Dawson. The 21 year-old has signed a contract keeping him at Huish Park until 2026. The former Northern Ireland U21, spent last season on loan at Blyth Spartans, where he became one of the best young defenders in the National League North.

In this article I will be doing a detailed analysis on Finn Cousin-Dawson. The article will include:

• Player Profile
• Previous History
• Key Strengths
• Areas To Improve
• Key Stats – 23/24
• How he suits the “Mark Cooper System”
• Conclusion

Enjoy the read! Any feedback would be massively appreciated as I continue to analyse every signing the Glovers’ make this summer. I would also be interested in hearing your opinion on the signing of Finn Cousin-Dawson and how the summer has gone so far?

Player Profile

Name: Finn Cousin-Dawson

Position: Defender (Centre Back or Right Back)

Age: 21 (4/7/02)

Height: 6ft (183cm)

Strong Foot: Right

Previous Club: Bradford City – Blyth Spartans (Loan)

23/24 Season Stats: 4237 Minutes – 43 Games – 3 Goals

Previous History

2019 – Signs his first professional contract at Bradford City.

2019-2020 – Brighouse Town (Loan) 7 Games – 0 Goals

2021-2022 – Makes 7 appearances for Northern Ireland U21s.

2022-2023 – Spennymoor Town (Loan) 21 Games – 0 Goals

2023 – Blyth Spartans (Loan) 15 Games 0 Goals

2023-2024 – Blyth Spartans (Loan) 44 Games 3 Goals

2024 – Released by Bradford City after making 34 appearances for the Bantams, scoring no goals.

Key Strengths

Exciting Talent – Similar to the signing of Harvey Greenslade, Cousin-Dawson is coming in with a real view into the future for this Yeovil side, potentially staying around for a few seasons and then making a good amount of profit in the future. He was playing for Northern Ireland Under 21s at 18-19 years-old.

Senior Experience – The National League is one of the toughest leagues in the country so having experience in senior football is vital for a young player. Despite being just 21, Finn Cousin-Dawson has played over 100 games in senior football, from playing for Bradford in League Two, to Blyth Spartans in the National League North.

Football League Minutes – To have played 34 games in League Two at such a young age shows that he must be a very exciting talent. When playing for Bradford in League Two, he didn’t exactly disappoint either. I doubt they will be his last minutes in the Football League.

Versatility – As we found out, at the end of last season, having a big squad or having players available to us, who can play in multiple positions, is absolutely vital when we get towards the business end. As well as being brilliant at centre back, Cousin-Dawson is comfortable at right back. He can also do a job in a defensive midfield position because of his athleticism and quality in the ball.

Strong Defender -You will hear a lot about Cousin-Dawson’s quality on the ball but don’t let that take away from him defensively. For his age, he is very powerful into challenges and reads the game very well. Him being in a poor side, like Blyth, who were relegated from the National League North, did him no favours. He was still one of the best defenders at the level despite problems around him. This is shown from the chat below, created by Ben Pearson.

Excellent Passing Range – There is no doubt that the most exciting part of Finn Cousin-Dawson’s game is his quality on the ball. From this chart below, also by Ben Pearson, we can see that he is always willing to create chances with his progressive passes. He made the 4th most completed passes in the whole of the National League North last season, for a side who got relegated, this is very impressive.

Composure – His composure is top quality which allows us to build out from the back really well and punish teams who press really high. When he gets the ball with pressure on him he isn’t going to hit it long every time, he will take risks to keep the game ticking and create space for us to play. This suits Mark Cooper perfectly.

Areas To Improve

Location – The two previous signings have both come from local clubs, Torquay and Bristol Rovers, so the time to settle in and get used to the area was a lot less. Coming from Bradford, Finn Cousin-Dawson has never played his football down, in the South West so it may take some time to get used to the area.

National League Experience -Despite having over 100 senior appearances under his belt, at just 21 years-old, none of these have come in the National League Premier. He will have to understand the fairly quickly so he can get up to the correct pace of the game to show us what he can do.

Leadership – This one is fairly expected for a young lad like Cousin-Dawson and doesn’t really matter when you have leaders like Morgan Williams, Jake Wannell and Michael Smith around him but it’s always nice to have the trait which should be able to get trained into him by the leaders of the group.

Key Stats – 23/24

Stats produced by FevsFootball

General Passing:

• Passes Per 90 – 50.2
• Passing Accuracy – 83%
• Long Passes Per 90 – 8.7
• Long Passing Accuracy – 48%
• Progressive Passes Per 90 – 12.2
• Progressive Passing Accuracy – 65%
• Passes to Final Third Per 90 – 6.4
• Passing to Final Third Accuracy – 55%

Duels:

• Defensive Duels Per 90 – 5.5
• Defensive Duels Won – 74%
• Offensive Duels Per 90 – 1.9
• Offensive Duels Won -49%
• Ariel Duels Per 90 – 5.8
• Ariel Duels Won – 61%
• Loose Ball Duels Per 90 – 3.7
• Loose Ball Duels Won – 62%

Defensive Actions:

• Shots Blocked Per 90 – 0.5
• Interceptions Per 90 – 4.5
• Sliding Tackles Per 90 – 0.3
• Fouls Per 90 – 0.7

How will he fit in?

In the post above, I have planned out what I believe the current squad looks like, where players will be positioned etc. It is important to remember that we still have the brilliant defensive partnership of Morgan Williams and Jake Wannell so Finn Cousin-Dawson has to impress to get into the team. It leaves us with three top quality defenders to work with next season meaning we have brilliant cover in case of a suspension or injury.

If Finn Cousin-Dawson does play, he will most likely be introduced as a right side central defender in a back 4, alongside Jake Wannell to give a good balance of having one right footer and one left footer.

It is important to note that the 21 year-old can also play right back, if needed, which gives us another option in that position, just in case of any injury to Michael Smith. I think it’s fair to say he will be most regularly used as a right side centre back, as shown below.

People may not be the biggest fan of 3/5 at the back however, for the sake of the analysis it has to be mentioned. The signing of Cousin-Dawson means that we have 3 brilliant central defenders in the building, leaving one out will be a tough task for Cooper.

This signing could potentially mean that we lean towards a back 3 at times this season, with Williams as the central defender, having Wannell and Cousin-Dawson either side. With his quality on the ball and ability to get forward, Finn Cousin-Dawson would massively suit a 3 at the back system which allows us to have all of the control in the game and dominate the ball.

As shown below, the 3 at the back system could look something like this:

Despite having this option, I think the main formation we will use next season will be a 4 at the back however, it is always good to have another option and be versatile with formations. If we are in a position where we need to see out a game, this would be a brilliant way to do this, whilst keeping hold of possession and dominating the ball.

Conclusion

As of writing this, on Thursday morning, this is probably our best signing to date. He gives us a fantastic option at the back, as cover to Morgan Williams and Michael Smith. Recruiting versatile options is a massive help, come the end of the season, when dealing with lots of injuries. I think Cousin-Dawson will find it tough to be a starter right away but he will certainly make an impact when called upon.

He suits the way Mark Cooper wants to play perfectly because of his quality on the ball and his way to build from the back. With the amount of progressive passes he makes per game, it shows that he is more than just a “pass sideways” player. He has the ability to pick out a long pass or a driven pass through the lines into the striker feet.

The age profile of this signing and the other ones made, so far, really excites me, as it shows we are building a strong side for the future, which allows Cooper to develop the side to suit his style.

What are your thoughts on the signing?

As I have previously stated, any feedback or comments are massively appreciated and taken on board. I hope you enjoyed the read, thankyou!

INTRODUCTION

It’s that time of year, around the middle of May, where the transfer talk is at its highest point, most of the released and retained lists have been published by football clubs across the country and talks are beginning to happen over what players are ending up where for the new season. In this piece I will be doing my own version of a Yeovil Town recruitment document on some players that I think Mark Cooper and his team should be looking at for the 2024/25 National League season. The club have made it very clear that they are hoping to be up there next season, around the playoff spots, so I have based my player suggestions off of this.

So, how will this document work? First of all, I will go show you each position that I believe we need a player in for next season. once I’ve done this, I will move onto going through each position, explaining what sort of attributes I am looking for as well as giving 3-5 player options for each position, explaining why I think that specific player would be a great fit for Mark Cooper’s system.

Enjoy the read, be sure to comment any opinions you have, I am always willing to listen and improve my work.

 How does the squad look currently?

At the time of writing, we currently have 13 players under contract at the club, with two players – Rhys Murphy and Sam Pearson – in talks to sign new contracts. You may notice that I haven’t included Jordan Maguire-Drew on this squad list as I don’t think he will be here come the start of the new season.

To have a strong enough squad to not be hindered too much, by injuries, I believe you need at least two players per position, with a couple versatile options who can play in more than one position.

Let’s start this recruitment document off, working in position order, starting with the goalkeeper, finishing with the strikers. 

Goalkeeper

The goalkeeping position is always an interesting debate for Yeovil Town fans in the summer. Last season we started off with 22 year old goalkeeper Will Buse, who played six games for us, keeping one clean sheet. He struggled at the start of the season, making a couple of mistakes costing us some big early points. Mark Cooper decided to be ruthless, bringing in a wealth of experience on loan from Newport County, in terms of 33 year old goalkeeper Joe Day, who played 45 games in Green and White, keeping 17 clean sheets.

Will Buse is the current goalkeeper at the club, he has had a brilliant second half of the season for Bath City, playing 20 games, keeping 10 clean sheets. I think he will stay around this season, but I do think we will look to get another keeper in to challenge Will Buse and contest for the number 1 spot.

In this position, I am looking for a goalkeeper who is a quality shot stopper, someone who commands their box really well but also has quality on the ball being able to play out from the back. We need a player who is either willing to be backup to Will Buse or be our starting goalkeeper.

Goalkeeper option 1 – Joe Day – Free 

Let’s get the obvious, fan favourite out of the way, Joe Day has come in to the team this season and added some real stability to our defensive unit. This is probably my preferred option as well, he is coming into his mid-30s now so Will Buse can learn a lot from Day, who may play a second part role coming towards the end of the season if Buse keeps developing. He’s likely to leave Newport on a free so it just makes sense. His shot stopping is brilliant, he dominated his box because of his size and stature, he is also good enough on the ball which we have seen this season. I can only think of one or two mistakes he’s made all year. Someone who has made almost 300 appearances in the Football League is definitely good enough to be a part of a playoff chasing National League side, as shown this season.

Goalkeeper option 2 – Harrison Male – Free

This one is another boring name, a name that will be on the shortlist of every single National League club. Despite conceding 85 goals in the league for relegated, Dorking Wanderers, without Male it could’ve been so much more. He isn’t the tallest goalkeeper in the world so may not have the dominance in his penalty area like Joe Day but the 23 year old has plenty of qualities. In the 23/24 season, Male made 4.1 saves per game, stopping 70% of shots he faced. It isn’t just his shot stopping that is impressive, his quality on the ball would be perfect for a Mark Cooper team, making almost 28 accurate passes per game with a passing accuracy of 84% it’s hard to look past Harrison Male. Dorking announced that he will be leaving the club, he was an obvious but brilliant shout!

Goalkeeper option 3 – Will Henry – Chippenham Town – Transfer

My first less obvious suggestion of the goalkeeper position comes in the way of Chippenham Town goalkeeper, Will Henry. The 25 year old won player of the season for the Bluebirds, appearing in all 46 National League South games, conceding 62 goals but keeping 11 clean sheets. In a Chippenham side with a very low budget, he has done a brilliant job and helped them to a mid table finish. I think he’d be brilliant at Yeovil, he’s still young so has time to develop, he could be a long term option and he is local. He doesn’t have the experience of playing at the National League level, or higher, but he has played over 100 games in his career so their is plenty of experience in the men’s game, most of those have come in the past 3 years for Chippenham. This just seems like a realistic option to me as he may want a way into full time football.

Goalkeeper option 4 – Harvey Wiles-Richards – Bristol City – Loan

My fourth and final suggestion for the goalkeeper position is Bristol City goalkeeper, Harvey Wiles-Richards. The 21 year-old has had a solid 10 games for W*ymouth since joining from the Robins’, in that time he has conceded 9 goals, keeping 3 clean sheets. He may look for a step up next season, into the National League, Yeovil would make sense as it is local and there is a good group of young players looking to develop their game. However, as we already have a young goalkeeper in Will Buse, I don’t think this would be the best of ideas and we would not be able to promise the game time Wiles-Richards needs to develop. I think a more experienced head is needed to partner Buse for next season.

Right Back

The right back position was a vital part of our team last season, Michael Smith ended up coming third in the Gloverscast’s, fan voted, player of the year, he played 32 games last season, scoring once, getting 4 assists. At 35, I can’t hide on the fact that playing over 2300 league minutes is impressive, especially when you watch Smith play, he is up and down all the time. Towards the end of the season he started picking up small injuries that kept him out for a couple games, this really affected our team having to change right back every game. Mark Cooper then decided we needed to bring in another full back, We signed Yeovil-born right back, Brooklyn Genesini, on loan from Swindon. In his short spell at the club he played 6 games, assisting once. He gave us some vital depth at the back, helping out massively in the run-in. Michael Smith is the only right back at the club as we enter the off-season so in my opinion, we need another right back to add some depth to our squad so we don’t make the same mistake as last season and regret not bringing in backup if Smith gets injured.

In the right back position we are looking for someone as a backup to Michael Smith but will get lots of game time because of Smith’s age. We need a player who has plenty of energy to get up and down, someone who defends brilliantly in 1-on-1 situations and has quality when coming forward. 

Right Back option 1 – Brooklyn Genesini – Free

In similar style as my first goalkeeper option, I am suggesting that Mark Cooper goes for a player that we signed on loan this season. The 22 year-old right back has been released by Swindon after struggling to get game time for them in League Two this season. He is a Yeovil-born player who still lives locally, which fits into the transfer strategy that Cooper used last season, by mainly signing “local players.” In his short spell at the backend of the National League South winning season, Genesini showed his quality defensively and offensively. He could have some sell on value as he is still only young. This would add some real strength in depth to our squad for next season. He definitely looked like he could make the step up to the National League.

Right Back option 2 – Oscar Rutherford – Free

The first of two players released by Eastleigh that make my suggestions for the right back options is exciting, 21 year-old full back, Oscar Rutherford. Another young option to add depth to the right back position, he has a wealth of experience in the National League after playing over 2100 minutes of football for the Spitfires this season. Despite being so young, he has already played 74 games at the level, this could be vital for The Glovers to have a successful first season back in Step 1. He is an exciting, attacking right back who enjoys getting high up the pitch, using energy to get up and down. He is okay defensively but has room to improve, this could be another signing that we make profit on in the future if Rutherford delivers good performances. He is also versatile, being able to play left back and right wingback in a 5!

Right Back option 3 – Sam Robinson – Kidderminster Harriers  – Transfer

My third choice for a right back is probably the first player, in the whole document, to break the “local” barrier. Admittedly, Kidderminster isn’t exactly miles away but I wouldn’t count it as local, even then, he was born in Cheltenham. Kidderminster were relegated from the National League last season so certain players may be willing to stay in the National League, especially 22-year-old attacking fullback, Samson Robinson. Just over 1500 minutes of football this season for the ex Man City youth player is probably enough experience to become backup for Michael Smith. Robinson is a well-rounded fullback who looks to play high and wide when his team are in possession, having good creative abilities in the final third. He is also a solid defender who reads the game really well and has good recovery pace to get back into position. Another one who would add real quality depth to the right side of our back line, he also has the ability to play as a wing back in a 5.

Right Back option 4 – Jeff King – Free

The first rogue shout of my recruitment document comes in the way of former Chesterfield right back, Jeff King. The 28 year-old is in his prime age now and is probably one of the best right sided fullbacks in the division. He didn’t get as much game time last season for Chesterfield, only playing 1500 minutes in 19 games, getting 2 assists. When he has played though he has shown his quality, getting forward really well, with his progressive style and threat when carrying the ball. He is a good defender as well, someone who reads the game brilliantly. This option would leave us with two of the best right backs at Step 1, adding to our group of “winners” from last season, with another player who has won a title could add some vital experience. Bringing players in who have won the National League is massive when trying to have a successful season. He is another player who has the ability to play in a 4 or a 5, he has also come inside as a more inverted fullback at times for The Spireites this season, similar to what Mark Cooper asks of our fullbacks.

Right Back option 5 – Brennan Camp – Free

My final suggestion for the right back position is the second player to be released by Eastleigh this summer. At 23 years-old, Camp has played almost 100 games in men’s football, having loans to clubs in non-league such as Dorchester and W*ymouth, as well as Eastleigh where he was at most recently. He signed for Eastleigh on a free last summer but didn’t play a single game for The Spitfires last season. Despite this, Camp would be a useful signing, given his versatility and quality that I know he has. With the experience and quality of Smith, Camp could become a really useful backup next season, giving us the cover at right back and centre half, covering for two positions. His attacking qualities are lacking but defensively he is impressive, decent in the air and defends his bid really well. It’s my fifth choice for this position for obvious reasons but another local player and someone who has shown is quality before. I wouldn’t be against this transfer.

Central Defenders

The centre half position is probably the strongest part of our team from last season, Morgan Williams and Jake Wannell both playing 50 games in all competitions. They were both absolutely vital to our title winning season, defensively and offensively. Between the two of them, they made 15 goal contributions last season, both were so dangerous from set pieces, scoring some massive goals against the likes of Truro, Worthing and Bath. Defensively they were absolutely immense, brilliant reading of the game, getting in the way of shots and intercepting the ball to stop an attack. They were both incredibly dominant in the air and showed real composure when in possession to bring the ball forward and build from the back. However, at times through the season, we never really had a backup just in case one of them had an injury or suspension. Luckily, neither of them picked up any injuries at a time where we didn’t have any other defenders who could fill in. Josh Staunton played 12 games for us last season before being released, Jamie Sendles-White played 5, before picking up a nasty injury which saw him out for the rest of the season and Duncan Idehen played 4 games for us when he came on loan from Bristol City before the busy Christmas period. Jake Wannell and Morgan Williams are the only two central defenders left at the club so a backup or two is definitely needed coming into the new season.

In this position I was looking for someone who could play as a cover option for Williams and Wannell, allowing us to rotate and rest players if necessary. For the centre half position we need a player who is comfortable on the ball to build from the back and be a part of our unit in possession. We also need someone who is quality defensively, dominant in the air and strong into tackles.

Centre Back option 1 – Raphael  Araoye – Bristol City – Loan

The 19 year-old German, left sided central defender is my preferred solution to backup Jake Wannell next season. Araoye has played 15 games for Somerset side, Weston Super-Mare, this season, in which he has played over 1300 minutes. He showed his quality in that time by helping a Weston side find a mid table spot. Defensively he is brilliant, really quick, powerful recovery pace to chase the forward done if the striker gets beyond the last man. He defended his box brilliantly, putting in some vital blocks and some big last ditch tackles. On the ball, he looks very promising, composed in possession, which allows him to move the ball around very nicely, he has an excellent range of passing and can step into midfield to overload when needed. It’s a progressive loan for the German, one that makes sense considering our links to Bristol City. This is my preferred option at left sided centre back.

Centre Back option 2 – Luke Wilkinson – Free

The reason I stated clearly that Raphael Araoye was a backup for Jake Wannell was so I could get a fan-favourite, right side central defender in as my other backup. This signing is less about quality and more about getting some experience and leadership through the door. Wilkinson is a brilliant player to have around the dressing room because of his leadership and fight no matter who he plays for. This is a very popular name among Yeovil fans as he played 77 games for The Glovers over a 3 year period before moving to Woking, following Darren Sarll. The 32 year-old defender was born local to Yeovil in Wells so he knows the surrounding area. He has had an okay season for Woking despite being hampered by injuries, he played 23 times for the Cardinals, in the league, playing over 1700 minutes. He is a fantastic defender who reads the game really well. He doesn’t necessarily have the pace or quality on the ball but he would be a brilliant signing because of his leadership and defensive qualities he would be a useful signing to make 10-15 appearances throughout the season. He has plenty of experience at EFL and National League level to help the younger players improve. I could see Morgan Williams benefiting massively, having Wilkinson as a backup.

Centre Back option 3 – Canice Carroll – Oxford City – Transfer

Despite Oxford City being relegated back to the National League South after just one season in Step 1, I have no doubt in my mind that the 25 year-old, Ex Irish youth international will still be in the National League come the start of the 2024/25 season. He has had a fantastic season for Oxford City, playing over 2600 minutes, across 30 games, scoring one and assisting one. Carroll is at a brilliant age where he has lots of experience in the men’s game but still has time to improve before he enters his prime, this may be the perfect time to pick him up as he could be fairly cheap after Oxford’s relegation. He suits how Mark Cooper wants us to play perfectly, in an underdog side like Oxford, Carroll still controlled the ball, having a passing accuracy of 86% throughout the season. He is brilliant on the ball and dictates games from the defensive position. Defensively, he is really impressive, has quick pace to recover and get back into position, reads the game brilliantly and is good in the air. He would have been tested massively in a poor Oxford side who conceded 94 goals, it would be interesting to see how good he would be playing alongside a solid back line.

Centre Back option 4 – George Langston – Free

My fourth suggestion for a central defender is former Eastleigh defender, George Langston. The 21 year-old had a good season for the Spitfires but was surprisingly released at the end of last season. He played 43 games in the National League, making over 3800 minutes. At such a young age this is impressive, he now has the National League experience to stay there and make a name for himself. Another young player who may have some sell-on value if he puts in some good performances, this could be a really interesting signing for Yeovil. He is a good defender who made over 6 interceptions per 90 last season, which shows he reads the game very well. He is still young so has a lot of room for improvement, I’m sure he would be a brilliant backup centre half in the National League. On the ball he still needs to improve but there are definitely signs that he has some quality. This is one i would like to see us go for as it adds some real quality in depth to our back line.

Centre Back option 5 – Duncan Idehen – Bristol City – Loan

My final suggestion for a central defender is another ex Yeovil player. Idehen played 4 games for the Glovers this season before moving to Bath City on loan where he started to get some consistent game time. The 21 year-old is a left sided defender – which is rare to find itself – who has struggled to find a successful loan spell for Bristol City. Next season is a vital season for Idehen who needs to get a good load of experience under his belt. I doubt Bristol City would loan him back to us because of the lack of game time he got when he game down to south Somerset last season, however, it is local and Cooper could use a player who already knows the surroundings down at Huish Park. He is a strong, quick defender who defends his box excellently, getting his body in the way wherever possible. On the ball he looks a bit shaky but at 21  he has time to improve.

Left Back

We were fairly comfortable at left back last season and weren’t really threatened with needing one. Alex Whittle was signed on a free transfer from York and was probably our most consistent performer throughout the season. He played 40 games last season, scoring once and getting 2 assists. However, towards the end of the season he picked up a big injury which will leave him out for the whole summer period. Jay Foulston was the other left back brought in last season, on loan from Taunton. He played 20 games for us, mainly from the bench. He had an option to buy at the end of his contract but as of yet, there is no news of this being activated. Therefore, we currently only have one left back at the club in Alex Whittle.

In this position we are looking for a left back who is brilliant at defending, has lots of energy to get up and down as well as having quality when they come forward. They need to have the ability to challenge Whittle for the first choice spot, giving us some real quality in depth down that left hand side.

Left Back option 1 – Jake Vokins – Free

At 24, it’s time that Jake Vokins left Southampton to find some quality first team football and get his career back on track. He has spent the final part of last season on loan at Eastleigh in the National League, where he played 6 games, starting all 6. Vokins is a player who would add real depth to our left back position, allowing us to rest Whittle if needed and it won’t affect our performances. He is quite short, at 5”4 which could lead to some issues when defending crosses to the back post, however, what he lacks in height, he gains in athleticism. He is quick, agile and dangerous when running with that ball. He likes to get as high up the pitch as possible and deliver with quality. It works geographically and allows him to settle down into a first team environment, at 24 he is at a good age where he can still develop into a brilliant left back. He can also play as a left wing back in a 5, which could become useful throughout the season.

Left Back option 2 – Jay Foulston – Taunton Town – Transfer

Jay Foulston is a player, familiar to Yeovil fans because of the 20 games he played for The Glovers at the end of last season, helping them towards the National League South title. I am not sure what the situation is with Foulston and his contract, when he signed for us on loan the club stated that we had an option to buy him at the end of the season, in the retained list was released, it was unclear if we were going to active that clause and buy Foulston permanently. I personally hope we do buy him, he would be a quality rotation option alongside Whittle, he’s only 23 so can develop and become our starting left back in the future as Whittle is getting older. He is a defender who improved massively as he got more comfortable with the professional environment, he looks dangerous going forward and takes a really good set piece. I could see Foulston being very useful if we decide to resign him next season. I feel it may be a missed opportunity for us if we don’t go on to sign him permanently.

Left Back option 3 – Ryan Haynes – Free

A bit of a rogue shout this one but Ryan Haynes was released from Northampton at the end of last season after playing just 5 games in the 2023/24 season. To have a successful season in the National League, you need a mix of experience and youth, Ryan Haynes is a player who has made over 200 appearances in the Football League, giving him the levels of experience required. He is 28, so probably wouldn’t expect to play week-in-week-out so he could rotate with Whittle. Haynes isn’t a brilliant footballer but would add a large level of experience to the back line and is someone who will be great in the dressing room. He still has a few years left in football so a move down to the National League could relight his career.

Left Back option 4 – Ben Brookes – Chelmsford City – Transfer

Ben Brookes has had a superb season for Chelmsford, who are spending another season in the National League South after losing in the playoffs to Braintree. This means that they will lose a lot of players in the summer to teams in higher divisions. Ben Brookes is another one of these. I feel that a lot of National League clubs will be in for the versatile full back this Summer, so the 23 year-old is one i’d love to see Yeovil go in for. He is a player who can play either side of fullback and uses both feet very well. He needs to work on himself defensively but going forward is very dangerous. He used his unpredictability to take the ball on either foot and deliver with quality. He is still young, so can develop and improve defensively. I think he would be a fantastic signing for us next seoson and add some real depth to our back line. Brookes would learn a lot off of Alex Whittle. Ben Brookes is bottom of my left back suggestions because of location, him being in Essex makes it slightly unrealistic for a move down to the South West.

Defensive Midfield

We didn’t really have a defensive midfielder last season, this left us very open in midfield at times and we looked under serious threat when teams hit us on the counter attack. Charlie Cooper and Josh Owers were the closest players we had to a number 6 last season but both Cooper and Owers are more like central midfielders. Cooper played 37 games for Yeovil last season, getting himself 7 assists. Josh Owers, who was released at the end of the season, played 20 games, scoring once. Cooper may still play as a defensive midfielder next season but I don’t think he is good enough to be a starting “number 6” in the National League and should be further forward.

For this reason, I feel that we need to sign a proper defensive midfielder who is there to sit in front of the back line and stop opposition counter attacks. We need a player who is big and strong, someone who can put in a tackle and read the game really well to make interceptions. We need a midfielder who is good on the ball so they can dictate play and create chances in deep areas.

Defensive Midfield option 1 – Rohan Ince – Free

I’ve gone for another ex-Yeovil player for my first suggestion for a defensive midfielder. Rohan Ince has had a poor season for Woking, he struggled to get up the standards he reached in the 2022/23 season under Darren Sarll. I believe the 31-year-old could reach them heights again with proper reset in his career. The ex-Chelsea academy player has had plenty of experience at this level, playing over 100 games for Woking since 2021. He is the perfect type of build for the defensive midfield position, 6’3, strong and powerful allowing him to hold the midfield. He is a really powerful runner, someone who can carry the ball a long way if the space opened up for him. This is a signing that would add real experience and quality to our midfield, allowing the likes of Worthington and Sonny Blu to be more open and creative in the final third. Ince will also be a threat from set pieces because of his height and power. He would be an excellent short term option in the number 6 position.

Defensive Midfield option 2 – Lloyd Humphries – Weston Super-Mare – Transfer

My second suggestion for the defensive midfield position is a local one. The 26 year-old Welshman is one of the most underrated players in the National League South, he played all 46 games in the league this season, adding over 4000 minutes to his name, scoring twice. He is an absolute joy to watch on the ball, the way he manages to dictate play. He is a good defensive player as well, reads the game brilliantly and holds the midfield with ease. This signing makes perfect sense in a Mark Cooper side, Humphries would dominate games with his quality on the ball and his lovely passing range. At 26, he is coming into his prime and at the perfect age to move into full time football. I feel that if he has another season at Weston some more clubs would start realising how good he is, so getting in early could be great idea. He is very disciplined and doesn’t rush forward unnecessarily, he holds his position very well.

Defensive Midfield option 3 – Omar Mussa – Free 

My third option for the defensive midfield position is Belgium-born midfielder, Omar Mussa. Mussa never really kicked on for Dagenham since his move from W*ymouth in the summer of 2022, hence why he has been released this summer. A move back down to the South West, but staying in full time football, may be an attractive proposal for the 23 year-old. He only played 14 times for the Daggers this season but there is definitely quality in there. At such a young age, he still has plenty of time to grow and improve. His stature and build is similar of that to Rohan Ince, although not quite as tall, he is still a very strong and powerful runner with and without the ball. He reads the game brilliantly. He’s more of a progressive defensive midfielder, someone who isn’t afraid to get forward and involved in the attack, this shouldn’t be a problem because his recovery pace is excellent. A signing I’d love to see us make!

Defensive Midfield option 4 – Henry Ochieng – Chelmsford City – Transfer

It seems that most of the defensive midfielders in the National League South have gone about their business quietly this season. Ochieng is another one, he has had an excellent season for the Clarets since moving back to Essex after a disappointing season at Aldershot in 2022/23. The 25 year-old is at the perfect age where he can still develop but has enough experience to be comfortable in any environment. This may be a slightly unrealistic signing as he may not want to move down to the South West, however, a route into full time football would be an attraction for Ochieng, that’s why I feel he’s a player Cooper should be looking at. I watched him closely when Chelmsford played Chippenham at HardenHuish a few weeks ago and he was my MOTM. Brilliant tackler of the ball, recovery pace was excellent and he dictated the game from deep.

Defensive Midfield option 5 – Emmanuel Maja – Banbury United – Transfer

My last suggestion for the defensive midfield position is 22 year-old Banbury midfielder, Emmanuel Maja. Banbury have been relegated from the National League North so certain players, like Maja, will be looking for moves up the pyramid. He is probably going to go back into the North, where he can keep building his career, however, he has been a real standout player this season and is deserving of a move into professional football. He is not a proper defensive midfielder but he can play there. Similar to Mussa, he has the ability to drive forward into space and get involved with the attacking play but has the recovery pace to get back into position again. He played 32 games for Banbury this season, scoring 4 goals from midfield. A signing that definitely won’t happen but I really like Maja so I thought he deserved an honourable mention because he has a lot of quality.

Attacking Midfield

We haven’t really had a genuine attacking midfielder throughout this season, Frank Nouble has taken up the number 10 role in a way. He has been given a free roam role to get on the ball in deeper areas to create when coming forward. He played the most minutes of any player this season and reached 50 games for the season, scoring 14, assisting 5. He will probably take up the same role next season as well but at the age of 33, he might not be playing as much football, so another option may be needed to rotate around with Nouble. I must add, if Jordan Maguire-Drew is to stay at Yeovil this season, he probably takes him this position as an attacking midfielder, however, I doubt he will stay. Jordan Young can also play in this number 10 role but his main position is coming in off of the right hand side.

In this position I was looking for a player with a lot of creative qualities and a brilliant end product. As well as having the technical ability to play the game at different sorts of pace, whether that is on the counter attack or when in controlled possession. Some that has some flair to excite the crowd but is ruthless with their decision making in the final third. Possibly the most important player in our attacking play.

Attacking Midfield option 1 – Reece Brown – Free

As soon as Forest Green released their retained list for the end of the 2023/24 season, and Reece Brown had been released, I knew that Yeovil would get linked to it straight away. Mark Cooper has spoken about him on many occasions saying how much he likes him, I can’t help but put his name down as my number 1 suggestion for an attacking midfielder. Technically, he is top class, last season in League 2, despite only playing 11 games, he completed 85% of his dribbles. It works geographically, he is played under Cooper before, he is at an age, 28, where he has plenty of experience at this level and higher, where he can really push this team up the table. Another important factor is that he has won the National League before, under Cooper, at Forest Green. A bit of work needed on his end product but if he got off to a good start, I could help feel he could be one of the best players in the National League.

Attacking Midfield option 2 – Charlie Carter – Dorking Wanderers – Transfer

It is going to be tough to pull anyone away from Dorking next season, Marc White will be telling their players that they are going to get promoted back up, at the first time of asking but if you offer the correct amount of money, for a player like Charlie Carter, they may budge. Carter has had a brilliant season in the National League for Dorking, playing 38 times, scoring 8 with 2 assists. He is a well rounded midfielder who can play as an 8, or a 10, drifting around the pockets of space. One of the main things I like about Carter is his quality on the ball, his passing is lovely and he has the vision to match his range. At 27, he is coming into his prime and may like the attraction of full time football. This would be a real statement signing and could be the difference between mid table and the play off push.

Attacking Midfield option 3 – Alex Babos – Hereford – Transfer

Alex Babos is a player I’ve been following for a couple of months now and really like the look of. He has a lot to experience in the men’s game, at 25, he has played almost 100 games for Banbury, before joining Hereford in the Summer where he has played 45 times, scoring 10 goals and getting 4 assists. He is a wonderful player to watch, plays in the pockets of space, where he can pick the ball up on the term and seriously hurt a team with his quality in the final third. He has never played in the National League before but after an excellent season in the North he won’t be short of offers this season. Yeovil isn’t miles from Hereford so it could work geographically. The former Derby County youth player would be an excellent pick up for Mark Cooper’s side and even add some sell-on value to himself which could benefit all parties.

Attacking Midfield option 4 – Harry Pell – Free

There is a reason this is my fourth suggestion for an attacking midfielder, it’s very unrealistic. However, the 32 year-old attacking midfielder was released by Wimbledon this summer. He played 33 games for AFC this season in League 2, scoring 2 goals and getting 2 assists. Despite playing 33 games, he only started a handful. He would be a a short term replacement, only getting a single season out of him. He would come in use his experience to really help us out as the season goes on, players like him, Michael Smith and Frank Nouble could take us through if things get tough in periods next season. He has played in the South West before, when he had a short spell at Bristol Rovers and Cheltenham 10 years ago, but has spent most of him time in the East of England at Colchester, Grimsby and Wimbledon.

Wingers

Yeovil had a lot of success with most of the wingers that played last season, Jordan Young being the main one, he played 46 games, scoring 15, getting 10 assists as well. Young signed a new contract in January keeping him here until 2026. Dylan Morgan and Sam Pearson were the other two success stories with wingers last season, both played 16 games for the club after signing half way through the season. Dylan Morgan is one to be really excited about ahead of next season, he scored 4 goals, getting 2 assists in his short spell at the end of last season. Sam Pearson has been offered a new contract ahead of the 2024/25 season, he scored 4 goals, getting 4 assists in a similar period of time to Morgan. Having those 3 here next season could be absolutely key to our success. Other wingers we had last season include Jordan Stevens and Will Dawes, they have both been released after playing 23 and 24 games retrospectively. Courtney Senior came on loan from Barnet, showed sparks in his 4 game spell but didn’t do anything to shout about. Our three contracted wingers for next season are Young, Morgan and Pearson if he signs the contract.

In this position I am looking for someone with quality and unpredictability, allowing them to stretch the oppositions defence and create chances from out wide. They need to come in to be another option for our wingers, adding some real quality in depth to our team.

Winger option 1 – Ephraim Yeboah – Bristol City – Loan

Yeboah is one of the most exciting Bristol City youngsters right now, he has already had first team experience in the Championship for the Robins’ this season before being loaned out to Bath City where he played 10 games. In those 2 games he showed his qualities, scoring 2 goals and producing some brilliant chances. The Italian 17 year-old is so powerful and exciting when he’s at full speed, he can go either way with his tricky feet. For such a young player to have experience in a first team environment already, it really shows how good Bristol City rate him. They may want to loan him out for a whole season next year, either in the National League or League Two. If Yeovil can use their Bristol City links can to get Yeboah through the door they will have one of the best players in the National League.

Winger option 2 – Pedro Borges – Exeter City – Loan

For my second suggestion at the winger position I have gone for someone who can through our youth academy before being poached by Exeter City. Pedro Borges was poached by City when he was 16, he’s since had loans at Dorchester, Tiverton and Plymouth Parkway but has struggled to find a consistent run. He has played a few games for Exeter this season where he made a massive impact from the bench, even getting an assist in League One. Next season could be his chance to kick start his career, a loan back at Huish Park for a season could do him the world of good, not only will he be playing regular football but learning from some brilliant players. Exeter may be persuaded to loan him here after the success of the Sonny Cox loan last season. I could see this one happening. Borges is an exciting, tricky winger that would get the crowd off their feet. That’s what you want in a wide man.

Winger option 3 – Noah Coppin – Salisbury Town – Transfer

My third choice for a winger comes from Step 3 of non league. Noah Coppin has had a fantastic season for Salisbury in their playoff season. He has had unsuccessful spells at Chippenham and Taunton before but he has finally settled down and had a brilliant season. The jump up from Step 3 to Step 1 may be a big one, that’s why I’ve made it my third choice suggestion and not any higher. We have had some massive success stories from players who have moved from Step 3 to Step 1 before, I’m hoping this would be another one of them, like Josh Stokes moving from Sudbury to Aldershot last season. He is local to Yeovil so knows the South West very well. The 22 year old mainly plays off of the left but can play more central as he has an eye for goal. Will be interesting to follow Coppin over the next few seasons to see where he ends up.

Winger option 4 – Jephte Tanga – Free

This one came about as a bit of a shock to me, Tanga has had a brilliant season on loan in the National League South at Welling and Maidstone where he played all 46 games, plus a playoff game, scoring 4 times. At just 19, he has been released by Leyton Orient, leaving himself a free agent for the summer. He had two really successful loan spells in the South where he showed his quality on the ball. He’s a tricky winger, who is unpredictable on the ball and dangerous when running at the opposition defence. He needs to work on his final product but at just 19 he has plenty of time to develop. This one could be worth the gamble by Mark Cooper, he has experience in the men’s game already and seems like an absolute bargain on a free. Will be some sell-on value in there if performances are good as well. I would love to see Tanga down at Huish Park, obviously location could be a problem.

Winger option 5 – Enzio Boldewijn – Free

My final suggestion for the winger position comes in the way of versatile, 31 year-old, Enzio Boldewijn. The Ex-Eastleigh winger had an okay season for the Spitfires, scoring 6 goals and getting 5 assists, before being released it what was a big clear out on the south coast. He can play on either wing or as a right wing back in a 5, which could be really helpful for Yeovil next season in a Mark Cooper team who has played in a back five sometimes. He is an exciting player, with plenty of experience at this level and it leagues above. He is someone who has moved around a lot in his career, including a move from the Netherlands to Crawley. This is a signing I could see happening if we wanted a more experienced player on the wing to go with the younger talent we already have.

Centre Forward

As ever, the striker situation is an interesting one at Yeovil. Most of our strikers that were at the club last season have been released or gone back to their parent clubs. This being Jake Hyde, Alex Fisher, Ollie Thomas and Jahmari Clarke. The only striker we have kept at the club, other than Frank Nouble, who I’ve counted as a number 10, is Rhys Murphy – if he agrees a new contract. Murphy scored 15 goals and got 4 assists in 29 games this season. We probably need two more strikers, one in their prime, and one a bit younger to complement what we already have with Murphy.

In this position we need two players who are a decent size, so they don’t get bullied off the ball, they also need to have decent pace and power and someone who can link up well with the midfield, second striker or wingers. They also need to be confident in front of goal.

Striker option 1 – Aaron Jarvis – Torquay United – Transfer 

Not sure much explaining needs to be done for my first suggestion at the striker position. Jarvis has struggled this season with injuries and a poor Torquay side in general. However, 9 goals in 19 appearances in the National League South does show his quality. Last season he was one of the best strikers in the National League but he decided to stay at Torquay. He has recently moved house to Taunton so he is local to Yeovil. The 26 year-old is a physical striker who plays well with runners off of him. He is a natural finisher who is most effective when he is shooting with instinct. I could really see this one being done.

Striker option 2 – Ricardo Rees – Merthyr Town – Transfer 

The second to last suggestion from step 3 on this list comes in the way of 24 year-old forward, Ricardo Rees. He has had an unbelievable season for the Welsh side, scoring 35 goals in the league alone. He is a complete striker who scores all types of goals. He would work very well upfront with Aaron Jarvis and Rhys Murphy because of his on the ball qualities. He is brilliant on the half turn because his linkup play with his teammates is brilliant, he has quick feet to get away from his man and his finishing is as natural as they come. Rees is deserving of the jump from step 3 to 1, into professional football because of this brilliant season. I think he would still score 15-20 goals in the National League because of his finishing qualities. It’s worth a gamble, with a chance of selling him on for more money. It seems like a low-level risk worth taking for me.

Striker option 3 – Marcus Wyllie – Enfield Town – Transfer

Another step 3 suggestion comes in the way of 24 year-old striker, Marcus Wyllie. He has had a brilliant season for Enfield, scoring 30 goals and getting 15 assists in all competitions. His quality in and around the penalty area is brilliant, he is a naturally gifted finisher and someone who links up play brilliantly. No matter the level, to have 45 goal contributions in a single season is quite something! He would be a real fun, interesting player for us to sign, at a good age, where he already has lots of experience in the men’s game and is ready to make the step up. Would be another low-risk gamble worth taking, it could lead to profit being made in the future as well.

Striker option 4 – Jordan Garrick – Free

My final transfer suggestion, for the whole recruitment document is former Swansea, Plymouth and Forest Green striker, Jordan Garrick. The 25 year-old Jamaican needs to rebuild his career in English football, a drop down to the 5th tier could help this massively. He played just 8 games for Rovers this season, scoring 2 goals in that time. He is a quick, technical forward who can also play on both wings, he likes to get the ball to feet and take his man on. This could give us a different style of player to what we currently have and he could link up really well with Aaron Jarvis. Someone who will thrive with confidence so if we get him scoring in pre season, come the start of the National League season, he could be one of the best players in the league. He needs to find the level he was when playing for Plymouth again. He is local and lives in the South West so this makes sense geographically as well.

So here it is then, my final squad that I think we should go into the first game of the season with. I am interested to hear your thoughts on who I have picked.

thankyou for reading! Any feedback is always taken on board.

Welcome to Yeovil, Jay Foulston!

There’s a new Glover in town, Jay Foulston has followed Jake Wannell from Taunton to Yeovil and it’s an exciting signing, Callum Hallett has taken a deep dive into the new man in town… here’s what we can expect!

In this analysis I will be explaining who Jay Foulston is and what sort of player he is using, prior knowledge as well as getting a point of view from @Jaakecruump, who has watched many of the Welshman’s games over the last few years! Finally I will be using stats from the brilliant @Hoopsss to backup my points to give people a clear understanding of what type of player Yeovil have signed.

Enjoy the read! It’s a lot of words!

We are delighted to announce the signing of Jay Foulston on loan from Taunton Town until the end of the season. ✍? https://t.co/AIrlprZe1f#YTFC ? pic.twitter.com/6rBwnyWDGp

— Yeovil Town F.C. (@YTFC) December 15, 2023

What sort of player is Jay Foulston?

Foulston is a player Yeovil have been crying out for in the last couple of weeks. A versatile, left footed defender who can play at left wingback in a 5, left back in a 4 or even left side of central defence in a 3 or 4! His quality both on and off the ball at such a young age (23) is why this is such a brilliant signing for Mark Cooper and his Yeovil side. This is vital for a manager like Cooper as we know he is always changing his formation game by game and even in games as well!

I spoke to former Taunton Town media assistant Jake Crump to get an opinion on the Glovers’ new signing from the eyes of someone who would’ve seen the talented defender player dozens of times for the Peacocks.

The way Jake described Jay is that “he was the first player you’d fall in love with when you watched Taunton”. This is always a good thing you want to hear after signing a player is that they fight for the badge and leave nothing out on the pitch. These words are backed up with some stats from Foulston so far this season:

• 4.71 Ariel duels per 90.

• 4.59 defensive duels per 90.

• 6.12 interceptions per 90.

As Jay is a defender, these 3 stats are massively key for him, 6.12 interceptions per 90 is the 29th highest out of any player in the National League South.

Mark Cooper is a manager who likes his defenders to be commanding and powerful when challenging for duels.

However, he is also a threat going forward as well, whether that be from a set piece, which is where he scored his only goal this season, or whether it is from distance in play or in a deadball situation. Jake said that Foulston has a “fantastic strike on him!”

As we know, Wannell and Williams both have 3 goals so far this season and (Wannell especially) loves to come out of defence and have a shot if he can 

Yeovil Town fans… here is what you can expect from your newest addition?

? – @TauntonTownFC#YTFC? pic.twitter.com/Mpi1ewrENf

— The National League Look (@NonLeagueLook) December 15, 2023

It isn’t just his shooting that causes trouble for opposition defences, his passing is impressive as well! In a Taunton side that isn’t always looking to keep the ball for long periods, Foulston still manages to make 31 passes per 90, including 7.76 progressive passes per 90. A progressive pass is ”a pass that significantly advances the ball towards the opponents goal.” Despite playing the majority of his football this season as a left sided centre half, Jay Foulston still makes 0.71 deep completions per 90. A deep completion is where “a pass is completed within the penalty area of the oppositions goal.” 

This is Cooper’s perfect style of centre half, someone who is confident on the ball, allowing his sides to progress the ball forward. Foulston will be able to show his skill set even more in a Yeovil shirt as we are a side who like to keep the ball.

How many times have we seen Jake Wannell bring the ball out of defence from that left side position, into the midfield to create a massive overload, allowing us to keep the ball?

This is exactly how Jay Foulston will thrive in this team, giving him the freedom to roam out of defence when we have the ball, giving us an extra body in midfield. So far this season, Foulston completes 1.76 dribbles per 90 and travels with the ball 2.43 metres per minute! To put that into perspective, Will Dawes does 2.5 metres per minute!

How does Foulston fit in?

Cooper has made his intentions clear in many games this season, he is willing to change formation and player positions around on many occasions from game to game, or even sometimes minute to minute! For example, against Bath, we started in a back 5 but when Whittle got injured we changed to a back 4 or even a back 3 with Smith stepping into midfield. Personally, I believe Foulston is best suited at left centre half in a back 2 or back 3 as it allows himself a lot of time on the ball, where he can show off his quality, progressing the ball into midfield.

It will be interesting to see how Cooper sets up, and whether Foulston plays at all on Saturday. Good luck Jay!

This is a post for both Wrexham and Yeovil fans really, however, a warning for any Wrexham fans giving this a read, it will be biased towards Yeovil.

The whole idea of this is to understand how Wrexham play. What their strengths and weaknesses are, trying to figure out how we could potentially counter, or stop, this to give ourselves the best chances of an upset (We can all hope).

Before I start I would like to give massive credit to WT_analysis who has provided me with the statistics, tables and graphs for this post. He runs a brilliant twitter account using these types of graphs to create content.

Hope you enjoy the read, any feedback or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Wrexham’s “Completed Passes For/Against”

In the image above we can see that most of Wrexham’s “Completed Passes For” are mainly made across their back line or down the sides of the pitch, clipping passes over the opposition full backs head for a forward to run on to.

In League 2, Wrexham average 49% possession in matches, which may suggest that they look to counter quickly after winning the ball back. This may be the perfect game for someone like Charlie Cooper (don’t attack me) or even Josh Owers. We need someone who will sit back when we come forward, to stop any danger of a Wrexham counter attack!

Michael Smith could be the perfect player to deal with the chipped passes over the top of his head from Wrexham because he should have the awareness to sit a few yards deeper to give himself more chance of winning the ball.

From the graph above “Completed Passes Against” on this photo we can see that the opposing teams seem to have more of the pitch covered with a dense red. The Red Dragon’s opponents seem have more passes completed in their own penalty area and defensive third.

This shows that Wrexham allow their opposition to have the ball in their own half. This may suit our style if Sonny Blu plays, as he can pick the ball from deep and dictate the pace of the game. Similarly to themselves, Wrexham’s opponents seem to complete lot’s of passes in wide areas, trying to exploit the Wrexham wide men. We may see the patterns of play between the likes of Jordan Young and Michael Smith come in to action with great effect down the right hand side!

Wrexham’s Possessions Won/Possessions Lost

The green graph in this photo shows that Wrexham mainly gain possession back in between their first and middle thirds of the pitch. This matches up to the “Completed Passes Against” where Wrexham’s opposition complete a lot of passes in their defensive half and coming into the advanced part of the middle third.

This could be a game where our midfield and defensive players complete many touches and passes between each other despite being massive underdogs. Another option could be to stick an extra body in midfield and have one less striker, this would not be a defensive switch, it would be a tactical battle to attempt to control the ball in midfield. I believe a middle three of Owers holding with Worthington and Sonny pushing on could give us a genuine chance of controlling parts of the game.

The image above shows “Possessions lost”. From this graph we can see that Wrexham give the ball away regularly in their oppositions half, although this will be heavily affected by the amount of risks they take when in possession of the ball. Sometimes this works in their favour, like in their 6-0 win over Morecambe, sometimes they will concede plenty of goals because of taking risks, like the 5 they conceded to Swindon and MK Dons.

We have shown many times this season that we can destroy teams when we hit them on the break in games such as Southend, Gateshead and Aveley! Using the pace of Dawes and Young could be vital in this game.

Wrexham’s defensive line when under pressure

The red shaded area in this photo shows the average line of Wrexham’s back four or five per defensive action. It continues with the trend of Wrexham sitting deep when out of possession, not allowing any space in behind because of their slow defence. This will suit Jordan Young perfectly, allowing him to pick the ball up from deep, to drive into the opposing area or get a shot off from range.

Wrexham’s Shot assists For/Against

[The term “Shot Assist” means the final pass before a shot is then taken on.]

On both “Shot Assist” maps we can see that most of Wrexham’s (green lines)(Red blocks) shots come from crosses or cutbacks from wide areas pulled back to around the penalty area. This is why I believe a holding midfielder is key in this game, Wrexham always have runners coming into the box, some towards the goal, and some hold back on to the edge of the box. The two central defenders cannot be expected too mark two Wrexham forwards and the late midfield runs. Charlie Cooper or Josh Owers will be able to sweep up at those given opportunities.

Defensively a lot of “Shot Assists” Wrexham face come from a winger or a wingback playing a pass inside from a deep wide position, to a midfielder on the edge of the box, or perhaps a forward who has spun in behind the backline. We will be able to follow this trend further when of either Michael Smith or Jordan Young comes a bit narrower, into the midfield, being able to receive passes on the half turn, being able to get shots off, or slot in a forward player.

Wrexham’s Shot and Goals map

Wrexham’s shot map shows that most of their shots happen in between the penalty spot and the 6 yard box. This is to give themselves the best chance of being clinical with their shooting. They have taken 267 shots this season, scoring 41 goals from an Expected goals (xG) of 1.85 per 90.  Wrexham are out performing their xG by +0.35, having scored 2.1 goals per 90. This means it is vital for the defensive pairing of Williams and Wannell have to be completely aware of the dangers that surround them.

Wrexham’s Shots and Goals Against map

Wrexham’s “Shots Against” map makes me very excited for the game on Sunday as it seems they concede plenty of shots from outside the area and of the 28 goals conceded a few have come from long range. The Welsh side’s expected goals against (xGa) is 1.34 per 90 and have conceded a total of 1.55 goals against per 90. These numbers have however been affected by their poor defensive start to the season, where they conceded 5 to Swindon and MK Dons. The reason I am excited by this is that we take many shots from range with the likes of Jordan Young in the squad and this could be a viable way to score if Wrexham are sat so deep when out of possession.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the read, as I said before any feedback or comments are massively appreciated, as I am always trying to improve my work!