It’s the start of the National League season tomorrow and the Gloverscast team have shared their thoughts, hopes and dreams for this season…
Ian Perkins
Thoughts on Summer:
A summer as Champions, I could get used to this. After the upheaval following 2023’s takeover, 2024 has felt quieter. There’s not been any need to shout about the vision of the club to get people back through the turnstiles. We have added some more young, hungry players to the squad, signed a striker who has scored goals in National League, Mark Cooper has signed a new three-year deal and been given a boost to his budget too.
What are you most excited about?
Last season, I was excited for goals and we got plenty. This season I’m excited to see us compete at a more challenging level. Through plenty of matches last season there was total control and an ability to keep teams at arms-length. I’m excited to see what this united squad, with momentum, can do against much tougher sides than NLS.
📸 Gary Brown
Who is our key player?
If I had to pick an individual, I think it would be Frank Nouble. The Guvnor is a firm fan favourite and carried the team at points last season. He leads by example, and seems to find an extra gear when you least expect it. I’m going to bend a rule though here and say I think a combination of players is key – Jake Wannell and Morgan Williams. That partnership was imperious last season and rarely put a foot wrong. We saw their capability against Southend and Gateshead in the FA Cup and will no doubt be asked a lot more questions this season than last. If that duo can reproduce 2023/24 performances, who knows what’s possible?
Who will be our breakout star?
Dylan Morgan has certainly been the standout during pre-season with some lovely goals. After signing halfway through the season he started to show some flashes of brilliance towards the end of the last campaign and with a full Mark Cooper pre-season under his belt, I think he might be the one to set things alight.
Where will we finish?
After our last season in the National League, I will be very happy with a consolidating, safe season. I have that sneaking suspicion that momentum might take us further than that though. If Mark Cooper can get these players on a run, and we can keep attackers at bay like we did last year, there’s no reason why we can’t compete higher up. 11th
David Coates
Thoughts on Summer:
The recruitment does not appear to be over at the time of writing (the day of our final pre-season friendly at Weston-super-Mare) and hopefully there are more arrivals to come, but I’m happy with the business we have done. We can’t underestimate the quality already in our ranks and a decent pre-season suggests there’s more to come.
What are you most excited about?
Seeing what this side can do against better opposition. Mark Cooper has made it clear that he wants us to continue his brand of possession-based football which got us promoted last season. But we’re playing against better sides this season and hopefully that will mean not having to chip away eleven men behind the ball every week. There’s so much attacking talent in this side and if they get the opportunities they can really excite.
Who is our key player?
Michael Smith. We know what a great player he was for us last season and he alongside Frank Nouble represents the experienced head in our side. We know how important character is at National League Premier level and he’ll be the one who makes sure standards don’t slip.
? Gary Brown
Who will be our breakout star?
I’m not sure he counts as a break-out, but this feels like it could be a moment for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton to shine. Far and away out most technically gifted player, he’s shown his ability to be a regular starter as well as his versatility. He’s a very different player to the one which played at this level for us last time. If he’s not a break-out, maybe Dylan Morgan.
Where will we finish?
Ben Barrett
Thoughts on Summer:
I feel like we’ve upgraded in just about every position, we’ve strengthened an already very strong defence and added depth and flair in all areas of the pitch.
I feel like we have Plan B’s throughout and the additions of Aaron Jarvis, Brett McGavin and Harvey Greenslade stand out, but it’s been a nice, calm, considered summer.
The biggest deal of all though, is tying down the Manager for the next three years.
What are you most excited about?
Playing games up north!!
Also, playing games against teams for whom we’re not the big fish, we’re going to have some even battles, some attack minded games and hopefully some expansive football, it feels like a league with plenty of sides that are capable, willing, hoping and trying to make the play-offs, we are one of them!
Who is our key player?
I think Ollie Wright has a huge season ahead of him, he has big Gloves to fill replacing Joe Day, but he’ll need to be strong, commanding and clear in what he has to do.
He’ll undoubtedly have to keep us in games as times, and in behind a defence which performed so well last season brings with it a pressure to maintain confidence and be dominant if Yeovil are to achieve more success.
Who will be our breakout star?
I’ve already called out Brett McGavin as a potential Glovies winner, so I wont say him, i’ll go for Harvey Greenslade. His arrival made a lot of sense early on in the summer and was probably overshadowed in the headline stakes but Aaron Jarvis coming through the door.
But Greenslade will definitely get chances and has shown he might just have the ability to make himself undroppable. With more subs available, he’ll play in a LOT of games and I can’t wait to see what he can do.
Where will we finish?
The word for me this season is ‘progression’, on and off the field. In a really competitive division, we have a genuine chance of finishing just about anywhere.
We are certainly in a huge group of sides who will know that Play-Offs are in our grasp, but we understand that it will need a bit of luck, a bit of a run somewhere and a few other sides to under perform.
We’ll flirt with the Top 7, but my heart and head says we’ll fall just short. I’m going for 10th, which is very much a huge amount of progression.
Callum Gould
Thoughts on Summer:
This summer for the Glovers has been ok, and no doubt I’ll get some stick for saying that. Yes, on the pitch it’s been good when playing against weaker opponents. It’s nothing against Melksham, Frome and Buckland Athletic but they aren’t National league level and when we have come up against better sides we have struggled, Farnborough were no walkover and we lost to Exeter and Bristol Rovers, who are more the calibre of teams I expect to face this year.
Transfer wise I don’t think we’ve done nearly enough. Whether that’s been for budgetary reasons or not 1) I don’t feel the squads big enough and 2) I don’t think we have the quality to compete with the likes of Forest Green, Oldham and Rochdale. For me we are missing an out and out goal scorer and a central midfielder, because if either Matty Worthington or Charlie Cooper gets injured, we haven’t got the depth to replace them sufficiently. Hopefully Mark Cooper utilises this injection of cash the chairman has said he’s put in.
What are you most excited about?
For the upcoming season I’m most excited about not playing non regional football. Don’t get me wrong it was nice last season but I’m glad it was only one season. Playing better opponents, although tough, will be nice again. Also playing York, for obvious reasons.
Who is our key player?
It’s always difficult to tell in pre-season which players have peaked early, which players need more time and which players aren’t actually good enough. Ultimately though one player has stood out and that’s Dylan Morgan. He has contributed hugely so far in pre-season and hopefully he carries on this form.
Who will be our breakout star?
Our breakout star will be Finn Cousin-Dawson. His pedigree is clear to see and it wouldn’t surprise me if he breaks into the starting eleven at some point. Good on the ball and his experience at a young age could be pivotal.
Where will we finish?
Another tough one to predict, especially in such a difficult league. If I was being honest with myself top half of the league will be a struggle for us, with how many good teams there are in the division. I think anywhere between 12th and 16th will be good for the Glovers (I hope to be proved wrong).
Callum Hallett
Thoughts on the summer:
After the success of last season and the quality of our squad coming into the 24/25 season, it was clear that we only needed to add in certain areas, mainly depth related. I am very with the transfer window we have had, adding plenty of youth to give ourselves an exciting future for beyond this season, with an average aged squad of just 23.6.
What are you most excited about?
I just miss football… having to deal with watch Gareth Southgate’s England for a month over the Summer made me realise how much I miss watching league football. For me this season, I won’t just be watching Yeovil but I am so excited to meet up with some old faces and have a good laugh. It’ll be exciting to watch this young, promising side play some great, controlled football against quality opposition.
Who’s our key player?
I could go through a list of 5+ players who could be counted as key players. However, I’ve decided to go with our 24 year-old central defender, Morgan Williams, who is the second longest serving player at the club. His excellent pace and physical attributes allow us to play a high line as well his qualities on the ball, being able to dictate games from the back.
Who will be our breakout star?
Am I going to be boring and go with Dylan Morgan? Yes. This season’s Jordan Young? He certainly looks like he’s taking up a similar path in pre season. His footwork is absolutely brilliant adding a real pace and directness to our attacks. I feel he will reach a minimum of 15 goal contributions this season, which is VERY impressive for a 21 year-old in the National League.
Where will we finish:
In my National League predictions I had ourselves to finish 16th, comfortably avoiding relegation but making no real threat of the top half. I would be very happy with this as the jump from Step 2 to 1 is massive, meaning many promoted teams seem to struggle. We have an exciting project happening with a very young squad so safety would be a success in my eyes.
Ollie Marsh
Thoughts on summer…
Is it possible to have a bad summer when you’ve just gone up as Champions? There’s been no need to galvanise or rebuild as there was in the summer of 2023; instead, the only job this year has been to keep the good feeling and team spirit going. I’ve been encouraged by our signings, with proven goalscorer Aaron Jarvis naturally becoming the headline arrival. I might have liked to see a bit more EFL experience – most of our signings have come from below rather than above – but it feels like this year’s Michael Smith-esque addition could be forthcoming.
What are you most excited about this season?
Being able to arrive at an away ground and not immediately think about how far we’ve fallen. It’s hard to call a return to National League ‘back in the big time’, and I’d hope the feeling around the club is that we’re still one division away from where we should rightfully be, but not having to go to made up towns such as “Aveley” (just not a real place) will be a welcome relief.
Who’s our key player?
While the goals were shared around the team last season, I think this season’s success could depend on whether we can get a song out of Aaron Jarvis. He’s scored goals aplenty at this level and a double figure return could be the difference between relegation and staying up, staying up and mid-table, mid-table and play-off push etc. etc. Other than that, Frank Nouble’s experience and leadership will be equally as valuable.
Who’s going to be our breakout star?
In the final game of last season, Dylan Morgan looked like he had a point to prove. His performance against Dover that day, which saw him sweep home two goals in a 3-1 win, was enough to earn him a contract, and he’s carried that momentum into this pre-season. I’m rooting for him.
Where will we finish?
As we find our feet back at this level and adjust to not playing semi-pro sides every other week, I’m not expecting consistency. I do pessimistically think we could go through some sticky patches, but I back us to steer clear of any relegation dogfight.. 13th.
James Graham
Thoughts on summer…
I think a very notable takeaway from this summer was the strength of our retained list, the fact we’ve kept the majority of the title winning squad together and tied down Mark Cooper for another three years can only be positive. As well as this, considering the manager’s known ability to recruit well, I am confident in the signings Yeovil have made.
What are you most excited about this season?
I’m excited about facing a different calibre of opposition compared to last season, as it was no secret that Yeovil were on a different level to most of our opposition, in regard to the stature of the club. This season we will not have the problem of facing eleven players camped in their own half. I’m looking forward to bigger clubs visiting Huish Park and bringing a proper following, equally there are multiple exciting away fixtures this season such as Oldham, York and Forest Green, amongst others.
Who’s our key player?
While it’s difficult to choose one key player, I think Yeovil’s new frontman Aaron Jarvis could be crucial this season. Having signed from Torquay this summer, after rumoured interest from football league outfit Cheltenham, Jarvis opted for the Glovers and I think his goalscoring pedigree in this division will be an important asset this season. In his last spell in the National League, Jarvis returned 15 goals in a relegated Torquay side from 37/46 league appearances. With the squad we have built I think Jarvis has an opportunity to be Yeovil’s talisman and lead from the front. Regardless of the cliché, goals win games and having an established National League goal scorer will bode well for the newly promoted Greens. I also think our new loan recruit between the sticks, Ollie Wright, will be an impressive addition to the squad, he has had a good pre-season and will be a perfect replacement for Joe Day in my opinion.
Who’s going to be our breakout star?
I think Dylan Morgan is in a position to have a very good season if he stays fit. He’s been in good form since the tail end of last season, notably netting a great goal against Dartford, and a brace away at Dover on the final day. Morgan has also had a promising pre-season, scoring four times. As well as this, I think it’s worth mentioning Harvey Greenslade and Brett McGavin, both of whom I think will prove to be important players for us in the coming season, they, like Dylan Morgan have impressed in pre-season.
Where will we finish?
I think we have a good opportunity to finish mid-table this season and cement our place in the National League, possibly to stage a more realistic promotion chase in the 2025/26 season. While I think it is relatively possible that Yeovil challenge for the play-off positions in the coming season, I think due to it being our first season back, as well as the sheer quality of the teams around us, we will fall short of a fairytale promotion push. I don’t think a mid-table finish would upset any Yeovil fan, and I would definitely call it a success if we were to finish where I am predicting.
Tom Bailey
Thoughts on the summer…
I think we’ve had a solid summer, less exciting than last year but I don’t think we needed an exciting summer. We’ve got a great core of players already, and Mark Cooper has done a really good job at building off of that, adding where we needed depth and quality without breaking the bank. There’s also the new kits and sponsors to continue the revitalisation of the club, with the likes of Bradfords and Tamburinos coming back as sponsors after time away, so it’s been a positive summer all things considered! Oh, and of course we can’t forget, summer as a champion can’t be beaten!
What are you most excited about this season?
Stadiums! I only started going to away games last season, and I can’t lie, going to some of the grounds we went to throughout the season, compared to Wrexham for our “big day out” really put into perspective where we had fallen to. Going to “proper” stadiums again this season, with actual stands, with sides, and seats, will be a great experience, I’m personally looking forward to Southend and Oldham!
Who’s our key player?
There are so many options, but I have to go for Jordan Young. He had a breakout six months at the start of last season, and while he tailed off towards the end, if he can find that kind of form at the division above, I think he’s going to be a big influence on where we finish this season. Honourable mentions go to Jake Wannell and Matt Worthington (if Perky can bend the rules, so can I!)
Who’s going to be our breakout star?
One answer – Dylan Morgan. I’ve been really impressed with his pre-season, and end of last season was just a taster for what we could see this year. I’m seriously excited to see how Dylan fares at this level, and I think he’s going to flourish into one of the most dangerous wingers in the division!
Where will we finish?
With our current squad, and the lack of depth in it, I think I’d be expecting a mid to lower mid table finish – I’m going to go for a comfortable 14th place finish, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some extra reinforcements help push us a little further up the table!
Jonathan Hooper
Thoughts on the summer…
It is great that most of last season’s squad has been retained, this will help with the teams cohesion and hopefully lead them to a positive start to the season. Sad to see a couple of faces leave but they have been replaced well. I think Mark Cooper’s transfer business has been solid but not spectacular. I don’t think there has been that jaw dropping signing that gets me really excited.
What are you most excited about this season?
Yeovil going into matches and not being clear favourites and not playing against teams who sit 11 men behind the ball. Also up there is the fact Sofascore data now covers the National League 🤓
Who’s our key player?
Ollie Wright. With a whole new Goalkeeping team and how last season’s two goalkeepers at the start of the season were released or sent out on loan before Christmas, Ollie Wright and the back four need a good start to the season if the Glovers are to be successful.
Who’s going to be our breakout star?
I’m going to go for Dylan Morgan who just edges Harvey Greenslade for me. Dylan was great in the last couple of games last season and has been in red hot form in preseason. I can see him really pushing on this season.
Where will we finish?
I do think we have the talent for the top 7, however, I don’t think we have enough depth to properly challenge. We are light in a couple of areas still which may see us struggle at times this season and the bigger benches will help the teams with bigger squads. I’d prefer us to finish 17th if not in the top 7 – just so we avoid that awful new competition with premier league U21 teams next season. Prediction: 15th
Former Gloverscast Quiz Champion Rob Manley
Thoughts on the summer…
I’m glad it’s finally over and football for three points is back. It’s been a weird feeling seeing a number of the squad from last season depart and new lads coming in and I would prefer us to have completed our squad before the season has started (sounds like at least one more still to come) but in Cooper we trust!
What are you most excited about this season?
Being back at National League level. Last season was great in terms of the results and the feel good factor, but we only did what we should have done. We are too big for the NLS but realistically we aren’t one of the biggest sides in the NL anymore. So, I’m looking forward to going toe to toe with some big clubs, visiting some new grounds with the boy (and the away day gloves) and supporting the team week in week out.
Who’s our key player?
Ollie Wright. Big gloves to fill the void of Joe Day for the youngster and he’s going to be busy this season both with his hands and feet. We’re going to need him to make saves he should be making, and saves that he shouldn’t be making as well. Hopefully he’ll be worth/win us 10-15 points by keeping cleanos and taking some pressure off the attackers needing to score multiple goals to win us matches. 46 1-0s will do me nicely.
Who’s going to be our breakout star?
Dylan Morgan has looked on it this pre-season and carried on his purple patch from the end of last season. It’s great to see him with a full full-time pre-season under his belt. If we can get 10 goals and assists out of him then it sets us up nicely. He’s the one player I think we could be looking to make a decent profit on if a bigger club comes in for him. Outside of Morgan, I’m hoping for decent things from Greenslade and Pearson as well
Where will we finish?
50 points as soon as possible is my target. Anything on top of that, for me, is a bonus in the first season back in the National League. Staying in it is a must and I think we’ll be in and around mid-table.
What do you reckon Yeovil fans? Let us know your views in the comments!