Season Preview 2004-05

Simmo: The highly-rated United boss has penned a new three-year deal

The Cumbrians kick off in the Conference with a home fixture against Canvey Island and for most fans its the first of 42 steps into the big unknown.

With little experience of visiting Conference grounds or knowledge of Conference players, next Saturday is either going to be a rude awakening or a pleasant surprise. The 22-team league, which has remained with the same name while all around new division names and sponsors have sprouted like weeds, has been going from strength to strength over the past decade and there is a body of opinion that it is actually stronger football-wise to the Third Division (or League Two, as Coca-Cola prefer it to be known).

I have to say I'm not one of those people. I believe the Football League remains ahead of the best the non-league can offer and I expect, or perhaps more realistically I hope, that we'll go some way towards proving that this season. There's no doubt the top six in the Conference would expect to get the better of the bottom six in the Third based on the same season's tables. But United's own finish of 40 points in the last 25 games of last season show that tables are not always the best guide to who to back in the following season. We have gone down alright, but we have gone down with what looks our best squad for five years, one that looked well capable of reaching mid-table or higher in the Third and so it is one that should be pushing at least for the play-offs in the Conference. Paul Simpson knows that will be the benchmark for success this season. Anything less will be seen quite justifiably as failure.

The pre-season goings on at Brunton Park have unsettled some sections of our support but I think we'll see the benefits of cutting costs and keeping together the key players from last season's squad as the months progress. Unfortunately we'll be without two crucial players in Simmo himself and Kevin Gray for the first match but the test will be a good one for the rest of the squad. The season is a marathon and not a sprint so the odd early setback can easily be recovered but with a relatively straightforward looking first month, it would be worrying if we weren't in the top six after the opening 10 games.

We have made two signings so far this summer and there are possibly another three still to come. But out of what I have seen up to now, these are the players who are going to have to play their socks off if we are to have a successful campaign -

THE SEVEN KEY MEN FOR UNITED THIS SEASON

MATTY GLENNON
Had a great season and pulled off some fantastic saves, climaxing in that dramatic penalty stop at Mansfield that put off relegation for a week. However pre-season knee injury threatens to keep him out of the first few games. Likely to be missed and we need him back asap.

KEVIN GRAY
The rock at the centre of United's re-moulded defence last season. Dominant in the air and solid on the ground, though obviously not the quickest around. Should adapt comfortably to the Conference, as long as he stays injury-free

PAUL SIMPSON
The player-manager recently turned 38 and injuries continue to dog him. A knee op keeps him out until September at the earliest. Last season whenever Simmo played, we always looked more likely to win games. He's still that important to us.

BRENDAN McGILL
Sure to be a major threat again due to his furious pace and dribbling ability. However Li'l Bren needs to be more consistent with his final ball. Bound to be working on that in the summer and if he continues to pop in 6-8 goals from his right wing spot, he'll continue to be a terrific asset.

WILL MCDONAGH
United lacked an inspirational midfielder last season but McDonagh may be the man to fill that role, if he can cut out his alarming tendency to give away the ball. His balance and fitness look first-class and he can also score goals although he managed only one last term. Needs to play a bit further forward with someone covering behind him.

KARL HAWLEY
Most eye-catching summer capture with eight pre-season goals. Hawley looks likely to partner Craig Farrell up front and the Cumbrians need two men firing on all cylinders having lacked a regular goalscorer for a number of seasons. At 22, he should get even better over the next few years.

CRAIG FARRELL
Missed a chunk of last season but still finished top scorer for the second consecutive year. If he shows his form of January to May, he should be close to 20 goals by the end of the campaign. However had a summer appendix op and has struggled to find his best form in the pre-season friendlies. His partnership with Hawley could prove crucial.

Finances being what they are, we have prudently trimmed the squad to what is likely to finish as 21 or 22 players and judging by other Conference clubs, this appears a sensible size. I'm reminded of Rushden and Diamonds who were bankrolled by Max Griggs and worked their way up the non-league pyramid and up into the league three years ago but who got relegated back to the Third last season and are now looking in a financially strapped situation. Only 2,699 attended their first match at the weekend and may their extravagent spending and subsequent fall be a lesson to those who think a multi-million pound investment at Conference levels is wise. The fact is you don't need to spend a fortune to succeed at either Conference or Third division level. With Simmo in the bank for at least another three years, we have the man in place to lift us forward. He won't need millions either as last season showed with a series of very shrewd signings.

As for the rest of the division, I quite like the look of Hereford who have a basic 20-point advantage on all the other Conference sides from last season based on their 91-point haul. It would be amazing if they didn't make the top 5 and of the more ambitious looking clubs, Stevenage Borough, Morecambe and Canvey have the ability to go close. Having said that, ex-league clubs have been dominant in the past couple of seasons so expect Exeter, York and Barnet to all be involved in the shake-up too. The Conference is a glorious melting pot of unpredictability. It's also unique in housing a club like us who will expect an average gate of at least 5,000 while the likes of Leigh RMI, Northwich Victoria and Canvey Island will struggle to get past four figures. Despite their disadvantage in gate revenues these clubs are mostly well run and enthustiastically supported and woe-be-tide anyone who underestimates the challenge we face this season. Let's hope it's just one season, too.

PREDICTIONS

Champions: Hereford United

Play-offs: CARLISLE UNITED, Morecambe, Exeter City, Stevenage Borough

Relegated: Leigh RMI, Northwich Victoria, Forest Green