Before last season I said I wanted to club to get the recruitment done early. For too long we’ve been the club that waits it out for the players who don’t get picked up. For too long we’ve felt like the last resort for players.
We’ve smashed that perception to pieces so far with a flurry of daily announcements and a selection of signings that have whet the appetite for the new season – and we’re not even back at pre season yet.
As expected – and possibly spoiled by his former club – Billy Rowley has crashed Walton and Hersham’s league winning party to bring in three players that he feels can make the step up in Mason Obeng, Jos Barker and Johl Powell. That’s provided us with depth in midfield and in goal, although I will continue to pine for the return of Jed Ward. It’s also added three players by who know the manager, know the systems that can contribute pretty quickly.
We’ve also bolstered the ranks with players who “know the level” (and above) too. Zain Westbrooke, Archie Davies, Hayden Muller and Joe Gubbins have all arrived with pedigree and in their prime years. They’ve also been drawn into the club by the project too, so whatever we’re telling these players that makes us a destination is fine with me. We’ve also bolstered the front line with Ste Walker from Scarborough. A versatile forward, who Yeovil legend Kevin Gall talked about on this week’s Gloverscast. Walker knows where the back of the net is, and from what Gally has told us, can do a bit of everything.
The promise of more to come from the club’s Chief Operating Officer, Nicholas Brayne, has seen Jordan Norville-Williams and Jack Kingdon arrive and the rumour mill keeps on going. Chatter of Tom Knowles (#DFILWF) returning to Huish Park – following the administrative error that saw him depart Forest Green Rovers – seemed fanciful and was ruled out by our HR guy on Twitter. It would be an unbelievable coup but, Knowles is comfortably a League Two player and I have no doubts clubs will throw money at him to bring him in. There’s a host of Twitter transfer rumour aggregators who are stirring the pot as always.
We’re now up to 18 squad members with plenty of depth in defence. I think we’re still light in the middle of the pitch and up top and will continue to campaign for Jed Ward’s return between the sticks. But, huge credit to all involved because we feel more prepared than we have in years and our clearly investing for a competitive season.
Finally, a shout out to the club for making sure these recruits have all been unveiled at Huish Park with scarves and accompanying content. One of the many (in my opinion) downsides of taking training away from Yeovil was that anyone who signed during last season’s lacklustre recruitment drive was given a scarf and photographed in front of generic gym entrance. These signings already feel more like ours.
Interesting how Kevin Gall spoke about Gary insisted players lived locally and the difference that made. They felt part of something and thats not be sniffed at for motivation, outcomes and cost effectiveness.
It’s certainly feeling like we’ve “levelled up” and money has been invested in this squad.
Whatever spin was put on it in the previous 4-5 seasons, at times felt, well, meh, whatever! A comparatively small number of signings aside (and we know who they are) it’s been underwhelming and hard to get enthused.
But this is a season with potential, with promise, and with intent. My only gripe is the solitary home PSF. An opportunity missed to showcase the new talent and get bums on seats. That aside, and with two more strikers, possibly an experienced or previous loanee GK, and maybe another surprise signing no one saw coming and we are in business. Not a loanee signing in sight…well, not yet.
Could they look at using a combination of training facilities… the YTFC first team have used Millfield School pitches before, it’s an out the way location near Street where they probably wouldn’t be spied on. And then still using SGS Campus in Bristol for it’s facilities that Millfield can’t offer.
It reduces the amount of travelling they’d have to do, and reduces the potential impact on performances on the pitch.