It looks unlikely you’ll re-sign loanee Darcy Blake. Will Darren Jones and Kevin Feely be ample replacements at centre-back?
Certainly the reports from pre-season games would suggest they are forming a strong partnership, we shut out Coventry Tuesday. It is good to have a local lad back at the club who has been around at this level, and JE showed his man management skills in reversing Feely’s decision to switch to gaelic football. I also hear Blake is in talks with Oxford, while you cant doubt his class, I question the sustainability of trying to accommodate him.
Robbie Willmott featured in every single match last season. How important a player is he?
He’s being converted to right back. Certainly an energetic player who perhaps lacked that touch of quality in the final third, I think if he can work on defensive positioning he will make a strong RB for us.
Midfielder Yann Klukowski arrives from Forest Green; he’s 27, but has never played in the Football League before. What are your thoughts?
He has a good record at that level and you see how tough a league that is, rarely do those who come up go straight back down, time will tell but I am confident he can perform.
Mark Byrne worked with boss Edinburgh at Rushden & Diamonds. What do you hope he’ll add to the midfield?
Not having seen much of him I can’t really comment, however another seasoned pro who will add to the competition for places alongside others.
After Chris Zebroski, your highest scoring forward was Conor Washington, with just 4 goals. Could you do with better striking options?
That is the million dollar question which will decide how well we do this season. With Chris fit and Aaron O Connor also back from long term injury it will be interesting to see how we go, if we are coming up short I expect we will see some activity in Jan market
Rodney Parade is shared by two rugby clubs, which affects the quality of the pitch as you mentioned. Has the club tried to address this problem?
Yes, work was commisioned to implement better drainage solutions last year, but only half was completed before the season started! It is on course for completion the start of this season – fingers crossed it does the job as we like to play possession football on the deck.
With most bookmakers, Newport are at around 6/1 for promotion. Where will you finish?
Depends on the form of our strikers and us hanging on to JE, if our strikers are on form and we hang on to JE we will finish in playoffs.
TFL Verdict
Most of Newport’s signings have little Football League experience. Rather than going all out for another promotion, the club seems content with a period of steady growth. 17th
(Image from http://www.newport-county.co.uk/)