Football Season Guide

York City

In


Yan Klukowski (mid), Newport County), Luke Simpson (gk), Watford), Richard Brodie (att), Stockport), Shaun Rooney (def), Dunfermline), Aidan Connolly (mid), Raith Rovers), Josh Robinson (def), Crusaders), Lanre Oyebanjo (def), Crawley), Clovis Kamdjo (mid), Forest Green), Alex Whittle (def), Southport), Ben Clappison (def), Hull), Simon Heslop (mid), Wrexham), Scott Fenwick (att), Hartlepool), Kaine Felix (mid), Boston), Ben Barber (def), Stoke), Matt Fry (def), Braintree), Daniel Nti (att), Worcester), Jack Higgins (def), Staybridge Celtic), Franklyn Clarke (mid), Dorchester)

Out


Michael Coulson (r)(mid), St Johnstone), Josh Carson (sp)(mid), Emile Sinclair (sp)(att), Luke Summerfield (r)(mid), Grimsby), Taron Hare (sp)(def), North Ferriby), Femi Ilesanmi (r)(def), Dave Winfield (r)(def), Ebbsfleet), Jake Hyde (sp)(att), Stevenage), George Swan (sp)(def), Kenny McEvoy (sp)(mid), Russell Penn (k)(mid), Carlisle), James Berrett (r)(mid), Grimsby), Bradley Frewster (sp)(att), Middlesbrough - end of loan)

York City prepare for a season in the National League after spending the last three seasons in the Football League. They were always facing a struggle in League Two but were able to keep their heads above the water in the first couple of campaign. Yet the Minstermen eventually dropped back into the non-league scene after a hugely disappointing and underwhelming last season where they barely showed resistance and defiance in the face of impending relegation. The team started poorly and was always up against it, even after Jackie McNamara took charge in November. The Scott struggle to reverse the fortunes of the Yorkshire outfit but he will be now full of determination to repair the damage and prepare the team as best ad he can. There was a massive squad overhaul in the summer and the manager will be dearly hoping that his extensive recruitment drive has resulted in the squad being refreshed, and with players hungry and eager to battle for promotion. Richard Brodie returns to the club he made his name a fair few years ago but he is only a shadow of the striker who was scaring the defences back then and his impact is unlikely to be huge. Another return player in Lanre Oyebanjo looks more of a coup while Simon Heslop and Matt Fry should bring toughness and grit to the squad. Yan Klukowski is a fine midfielder at this level too and his variety and creativity could bring something different to the team too. On the other hand, big players like Russell Penn and Luke Summerfield are off to pastures new and leave the midfielder rather bare. The weakest aspect of the squad looks the attack and McNamara will be praying to find prolific strikers as the season goes on for his team have any shot of a play-off charge.

Target


Should gravitate in and around the play-off spots but anything more than a place between 10th-13th will be a great achievement for a rather average squad that needs a lot of moulding.