Football Season Guide

The U’s are probably one of the very few clubs in the bottom two tiers of English football to have enjoyed a rather serene summer. The club underwent several changes during last season, including a takeover by Paul Berry which led to Joe Dunne’s appointment as caretaker manager. He oversaw enough of an improvement to be handed a three-year deal on the last weekend of the season. He already knew that influential striker Uche Ikpeazu was heading to Heart of Midlothian having rejected the offer of a new deal. He also allowed centre-back Leon Legge and wingers Medy Elito and Piero Mingoia to leave the Abbey Stadium. Dunne has made just three additions to his squad over the summer; including a permanent deal for loan centre-back George Taft. Louis John has signed from National League side Sutton United whilst midfielder Reggie Lambe has arrived from Carlisle United. Dunne appears to be content with much of the squad he inherited from former boss Shaun Derry which includes goalkeeper David Forde, defenders Brad Halliday and Greg Taylor and midfielder Gary Deegan. The quartet missed just 13 league games between them last season. He will still want to strengthen in attack however following Ikpeazu’s departure and striker Jabo Ibehre having struggled for fitness for much of the last campaign. The U’s main concern over the summer has been keeping hold of two of their most influential players in midfielders George Maris and Jevani Brown. Brown was outstanding in the first half of last season and Maris took over the mantle with an impressive second half of the campaign as he reached double figures in the goal scoring charts. If Dunne can keep hold of the creative pair then he will be able to build a team around them which can challenge for the play-offs.