Football Season Guide

National League

England

National League

2011/2012

Cambridge United

In

Tom Shaw (r)(mid), Kidderminster), Michael Wylde (r)(def), Tamworth), Ryan Charles (r)(att), Rushden & Diamonds), Harrison Dunk (r)(def), Bromley), Kieran Murtagh (r)(def), Wycombe), Michael Gash (r)(att), York), Ashley Carew (r)(mid), Ebbsfleet)

Out

Sam Ives (sp)(mid), Darryl Coakley (sp)(def), Danny Wright (k)(att), Wrexham), David Partridge (sp)(def), Brian Saah (r)(def, Torquay), Paul Carden (r)(mid), Simon Russell (r)(mid), Lincoln)

Cambridge United begin another season that promises very little different from mediocrity and meaningless existence in the mid-table of the Blue Square Premier. The U's are one of the big clubs in the division with a very enthusiastic fanbase but difficult financial situation has turned them into one of those teams that have very little prospect of pushing on. Last season was a complete nightmare as the U's flirted with relegation right until the end and have been extremely unconvincing for most of the season. Jez George took over from Martin Ling in February but hardly steadied the ship, winning just a handful of games until the end of the campaign. Yet, he was asked to stay on as the board cannot afford a more capable manager and the former head of youth development at the club will now begin his first full season in charge. He will be determined to prove doubters wrong and lead the team to a more memorable season but his hands are tied and the squad looks pretty average a week before the start of the campaign. The club has been forced to let go of high earners like Brian Saah, Paul Carden and Simon Russell while several others are made available on free transfers but are yet to leave as there are no offers for them. Daryl Clarke, Simon Brown and Adam Miller are part of this group and the presence of such unwanted players in the group is certainly not making it easy for George who is working hard to develop a stronger team spirit. The transfer dealings are unlikely to cause a wave of excitement among the fans even though Kieran Murtagh has a good pedigree and is coming off a very good season at Woking. Michael Gash has a lot to prove after a few very poor and injury-plagued years and it is hard to see him getting back to his best form while Steven Connors has to be released just a few weeks after signing due to an unknown injury problem. Overall, the close season has hardly gone smoothly for the U's and even though there is still too much quality in the squad for them to be embroiled in the wrong end of the table, any genuine push for a play-off spot is just unrealistic to expect.

Target

Cambridge are in dire state and even though they really can not do any worse than last season, another campaign of mediocrity is likely to see them in mid-table.