by Alviro Patterson » Mon Jul 31, 2017 2:58 pm
Significant changes at Valley Parade in the close season
The last three history makers have moved to new clubs - James Meredith (Millwall), Rory McArdle (Scunthorpe) and Stephen Darby (Bolton). Billy Clarke and Mark Marshall joining Charlton Athletic. New, younger players have come into the club and transfer fees have been paid - notably Dom Poleon and Jake Reeves from AFC Wimbledon, Shay McCartan from Accrington Stanley. Also players from Premier League development squads have been signed as "ones for the future".
The average age squad must be easily 5 years younger than last season. I suspect the German owners transfer policy is to get yonger players who are more mobile and play on the deck, whereas rival League One clubs are making prolific signings. Not necessarily a bad thing where Championship football is on a different level to League One and players are primed to play that style of football. It's when winter sets in, pitches get heavier where experienced heads and physical bodies win the tight battles.
Heart says promotion, but head says top half finish.
"Stats are there to be broken" Dominic Cork
"They took all our players away, banned our captain and we still came away with a ten-wicket victory" Jason Gillespie
"You won't get anywhere slouching about half out of bed" Geoffrey Boycott
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