The Diary

Cod Almighty | Diary

Aren't Westerlo something from Game of Thrones?

21 July 2017

Devon Diary writes: Josh Venney's tweet yesterday, wishing Town all the best for the season, confirmed that his pre-season runouts at left back hadn't been enough to earn a new contract. I guess we knew that already though, given his absence from the Devon tour and based on that I would also guess that Max Wright is also wondering where his career goes next.

Another year, and another cohort of youth players don't quite make the step up to the first team. Our hopes of a locally developed player breaking into the team this season then rest with young Harry Clifton, also missing from the tour but through injury rather than rejection. Fingers crossed, Harry. Work hard.

So, how did the team look on tour? That's what you want to know, right? 

I have to say that when I first heard that Town were heading to Devon for a couple of pre-season games I did wonder why. Why travel 300+ miles to play a couple of teams of a lesser standard and (on paper) no greater challenge than that posed by say Cleethorpes Town and Grimsby Borough. Shouldn't we be playing better teams as we prep for the new season? 

Team building though, isn't it? And at the first game at Bideford on Tuesday evening, it all started to make sense. Last season, one of the problems with the team which we noticed, especially after Christmas, was the lack of leadership and how quiet the team was during a game. This season, Collins and Clarke will offer leadership in buckets and Slade and Wilko are clearly encouraging their squad to be more vocal. Was it because we were closer to the game than usual? I dunno but both keepers – Jimmy Mack and young Ben Killip – bellowing "shape!" and directing their outfield team-mates was good to hear. Killip spent a good deal of the Tavistock game outside of his area making his presence felt and letting both Adi Yussuf and Tom Bolarinwa know where they should be for opposition goalkicks. 

The team? Tuesday we kicked off with McKeown; Mills, Collins, Clarke, Jordan Mustoe (trialist, ex of Wigan, Accrington and Belgian side Westerlo); Dembele, Mitch Rose, Berrett, Kelly; Vernon, Jones. For the second half, the outfield players were replaced with Davies, Keeble, Karleigh Osborne (ex of Brentford, Millwall, Bristol City), Jamil Roberts (former Plymouth apprentice); Bolarinwa, Summerfield, El Haj (Moroccan chap, Josh Gowling's hair), Jamey Osborne; Cardwell, Yussuf.

At Tavistock, pretty much the same XIs were used but in different halves. McKeown sat out the game and Killip played 90 minutes and also Mustoe and Roberts were swapped.

You'll have seen the results and while one shouldn't read too much into the scores (4-0, 7-1), the style of play, if it continues into the season will make you happy. We're playing 4-4-2 and shape is everything to Slade and Wilko. I'm going to go out on a limb and say we won't get turned over this season as we'll be too organised.

Dembele and Kelly are always looking to pick the ball up and run at defenders, far more than Bolarinwa and with better results. We're probably still looking for another striker but we've got pace in the squad and goals too. Dembele looks frighteningly good and will become a huge favourite with fans. If you've got kids then you can expect them to want his name on their shirts. He's the new Bogle, although only half the size.

The trialists? I don't think El Haj is quite what we need. He's prone to switching off in games and maybe needs too much direction from the bench. Do we even need him? Summerfield looked great on Thursday and I think Slade is keener than the fans. He fits the system. Berrett too looks to be in favour and fits the Slade system, like he fitted Hurst's last Autumn.

Of the left backs on show, while Roberts might have a hint of John McDermott about him, I reckon that Mustoe would be a solid signing. Clever, quick and hardworking; at times he pushed so far up the pitch it looked as though we were playing 3-5-2. 

Based on the two games, Karleigh Osborne is a cracking player; strong and a leader on the pitch. Considering he had probably only met the squad on the morning of the Bideford game, he bossed things when he was subbed on and if we've got the budget for another central defender then he's definitely worth it. 

Tomorrow, Town will be sending a youthful team to Boston in the semi final of the Lincs Cup. It's a tenner to get in but what else are you going to do on a Saturday afternoon?