Quote Staffs FC="Staffs FC"Good idea to extend for a short period if people left it to the last minute then couldn't get through on the phones.'"
Undoubtedly.
We need to build a genuine, not token, pipeline of talent. Radford's record in giving youngsters chances and integrating them in the first team is good and further evidenced by our representation in England academy squads and inclusion in the Portugal camp.
Obviously we have experienced leaders in Eliis, Mini and Pryce, but I like that Radford has specific expectations of players in the group like Watts, Green, Rankin who need to be pushing their games too to become established senior squad players.
We needed half backs. We've signed two and have a couple coming through who could well make it.
Our disrupted pre season last year wasn't ideal, releasing Holdsworth in November for example, things seem way more settled this time round. 31 players of 34 have been in for a month, and our conditioning already seemed pretty good last year.
The launch and look of the new shirts has been really good, which should shore up some income lost from fewer pass sales.
Of course Radford's record last year wasn't acceptable, no one is in denial about this. Whether he's the man, I don't know. I worry about our cover for Houghton and lack of support play.
But I do think Pryce and Sneyd are a better prospect than Horne and Miller. That Mini will give us more than Tuson. That we have more/better options in the backs. That Westerman will be better for his International selection. That we'll see homegrown players being used proactively. And that Radford will be better for a year's experience.
Looking forward to 2015 - 6 weeks today is the first pre season match - let's hope it's one worthy of our 150 year landmark and as many fans as possible get behind the club to support this. COYH.