A record breaking 2021/22 campaign saw Cheltenham win their highest ever points tally in the third tier and highest ever finish in the football pyramid. A surge in form form the likes of Alfie May and Elliott Bonds saw the second half of the season bring plenty of success for the robins, but also saw the club garner much deserved attention with Barnsley coming in for Michael Duff and leaving us with a sense of uncertainty heading into 2022/23. With a new manager and plenty of new faces to come in, here’s what Cheltenham Town need to not only survive but thrive.
NEW GOALKEEPERS
With the departure of Scott Flinders following the expiration of his contract and the imminent departure of Owen Evans on a free transfer to Walsall, the incoming head coach is left with just Max Harris between the sticks. Harris’ recent game time came for Weston-Super-Mare on loan and the 22 year old looks unlikely to be challenging for the starting berth so Micky Moore will need to bring in two senior goalkeepers who will be able to battle it out for the starting place in order to sure up a leaky defence and have the ability to win points when it doesn’t look likely.
MIDFIELD MAESTROS
Cheltenham have welcomed a new midfielder as Daniel Adshead became the first fresh face through the door (with a fee involved) and will come as a welcome addition to an area of the pitch that improved so vastly last season. The trio of Callum Wright, Elliot Bonds and Aaron Ramsay solidified itself as the first choice and leaves Moore with a bit of a headache due to two thirds returning to their parent club.
Adshead brings League One experience and has age on his side (much like Lewis Freestone when he joined) with rumours of Taylor Perry returning permanently while Cheltenham are apparently keen to bring Aaron Ramsay on loan from Aston Villa for a second time. Perry will be able to fill Wright’s role (although possibly not quite as well) while Ramsay can fit straight back into his place, it will also be exciting to see what former Rochdale man Adshead can bring.
SUPPORT FOR MAY
No Cheltenham player saw a second half of the season go better than Alfie May. The run up to January saw what most would expect from a striker promoted from League Two, a handful of goals and assists and some good performances here and there, but after May signed on the dotted line to extend his time in Gloucestershire, he turned into a whole new player. 30 goal involvements saw May play a pivotal part in our success and it’s something he and we hope he can emulate, but he can’t do it alone. Much of May’s best form came along side Kion Etete and that’s something the robins will need once more if we are to push on. While it’s true May didn’t fire home at every opportunity early in the season, we were a completely different side without him. It’s imperative that May remains and has the support beside him for us to be able to thrive.
THE RIGHT HEAD COACH
The start of pre-season is the perfect time for a new manager (head coach in our case) to come in, change the system, and implement their style of play. While many may want to do that, it’s important that whoever comes in takes advantage of the players we already have and embrace the system that we’ve seen work so well. While there is room for change and space for them to change how we play, Micky Moore will be looking for new players who fit our current style of play while the coaches at the club will know Duff-ball incredibly well. With the fan favourite choice of Wade Elliott or someone completely new like John Eustace, whoever it is, the club has to make sure that it’s the right man with the right system and the right time.
OUR SUPPORT
A new manager won’t normally come in and win straight away, a new head coach could see a change in system and the new players will need time to gel, so it’s important that all supporters fill the Whaddon Road stands and give the staff and squad the time they need to find their feet. There’s no use in negativity at this stage, and if all is awful come January then it’s a different story but for now let’s support “XXXX XXXX’s Red Army” and look forward to what could be a very exciting season.
Comments