Boro add Beardsley

May 28, 2009 Leave a Comment

Stevenage manager Graham Westley has added Chris Beardsley to his striking options for next season with the former Kettering, Rushden and Mansfield forward joining the club on a one year deal. It follows the club’s decision to release Callum Willock last week after 18 months at Broadhall Way. Boro currently have 4 strikers signed up for next season and I expect GW to announce maybe one more before the transfer window shuts. 

Bringing in proven strikers must have been at the top of Westley’s priority list when last season ended, knowing that Steve Morison would be departing the club for a chance to play in the football league. With Willock being allowed to leave as well, Stevenage’s front line will look very different next season. Lee Boylan will be the only striker remaining at the club that started last season. Charlie Griffin, Yemi Odubade and now Chris Beardsley have joined him in recent weeks.

As for Beardsley his goalscoring record isn’t that impressive at this level, nor is it in the football league. I seem to remember him at Mansfield alongside Iyseden Christie at one point and since his days at Field Mill, he has played around the Blue Square Premier with clubs like York, Kettering and Rushden, where he previously worked under Westley. I don’t think he is going to be a predator by any means, but he could be a player that links the play and helps a quicker striker like Boylan or Yemi to score more goals. If he does that then he is as important as a 30 goal a season player. 

I think the in’s/out’s so far this summer indicate that GW is to play a more direct game next season rather than on the floor, pretty football. The departure of McMahon last season and Martin and Mills this summer indicate that Westley is definitely getting rid of the ‘ball’ players in his squad and opting to sign more physical players. 

The signings of Beardsley and Griffin who are more target men than anything else also show that the football next year will be to try and get it up directly to the target men and use the pace of Yemi and Cole to get in behind teams. To be honest, I think a physical, quick tempo game is the way to get out of this division. I don’t think you can afford to play on the floor football every game at this level and I think that’s where we went wrong at the beginning of last season as there was too much emphasis on the style of play rather than the results. 

Stevenage also confirmed the departure of youngsters George Brinkman, Zak Burke, Liam McDevitt and Elliot Buchanan. I’m surprised that these players have been released to be honest as I’ve been fairly impressed with Burke and Brinkman when I’ve seen them. As for McDevitt, I would of thought he would have been the one that could of made the step up to first team level out of all of them. In last season’s pre-season friendly against Gillingham he looked very accomplished against football league strikers and has been in and around the first team squad for about 2 years now. 

It was difficult to let these kids go but the gap from where they’re at and what we need to compete for promotion is just huge. Graham and his management team have had a good look during last season, but none of the lads have a chance of making it into Boros squad next season so it’s best to let them move on lower down, get regular first team games somewhere and develop in their own time” Wallace on releasing the youth players

I understand Wallace and Westley’s reasoning that there is a big gap between the youth players and first team, but that’s the club’s fault because of their youth policy. Not enough players are making the step up to first team level from our youth teams. I can only remember one in recent years, but others have come and gone when a lot was promised. Hopefully that will change in the years to come as it will be good for the club to have more players coming through the system for both on and off the pitch reasons. 

Oh and we have got Woking in a pre-season friendly on the 1st August.

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Mills rejects Boro for Mansfield

May 26, 2009 Leave a Comment

Gary Mills has left Stevenage Borough this afternoon, joining Blue Square Premier rivals Mansfield Town on a two year contract. It’s a move that I’m surprised has happened, but at the same time am not disappointed. The defensive midfielder was one of Graham Westley’s first signings last summer when he rejected a new contract at Kettering to move to Broadhall Way.

Mills struggled to find form for most of his stay at Broadhall Way and although he put in some good performances towards the end of the season I always felt there were better options available in the squad. Mills told the Mansfield website that he has rejected a 2 year deal offered to him by Graham Westley to sign for the Stags also on a two year contract with an option for a third. I said some weeks ago that Mansfield boss David Holdsworth obviously liked the Stevenage ‘blueprint’ last season and that’s been confirmed again today with the signing of Mills.

If I’m honest I never rated Mills, like many Boro supporters, although he did have some fans that thought he was ok. However, I don’t think anyone will particularly shed a tear now he’s rejected Boro for Mansfield. He never settled into the team in my opinion and I’m sure by the end of the season he wasn’t in Westley’s first 11 either. That maybe the reason he has decided to move north?

Will Westley replace him?

I don’t know. Currently we have Bostwick, Bridges, Murphy and Vincenti all playing for a place in midfield so I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t sign another midfielder. Bostwick and Murphy can do the defensive side of things and wide players like Byrom and Drury can drift inside now we have more cover on the wings with Yemi Odubade and Mitchell Cole signed up for the next two seasons. Saying that though the interview mentions that Mills rejected a new two year deal, which obviously means that Westley had some plan for him for the next two seasons and with Martin leaving last week as well a defensive midfielder could be signed at some point this summer.

Lastly neighbours Hitchin Town hope to announce a pre-season friendly with Boro soon. They have confirmed that they are to face Luton Town at Top Field already and plan to play Boro again this pre-season. Boro have been un-usually slow with regards to announcing the pre-season friendlies, but I suppose there is still a lot of time before the beginning of July.

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Roberts made captain plus Willock released

May 25, 2009 Leave a Comment

Pretty old news now, but there isn’t that much else to talk about now the season is more or less over. Callum Willock joined John Martin in being released from the club. Again the news was not very surprising and I expect Eddie Anaclet’s departure to be announced next week at some point. The summer so far has proved to be reasonably quiet compared to the last few we have had to endure. Last season Westley re-built what Taylor left and after a successful first season, GW plans to stick with what he’s got.

Willock never cemented a regular spot while at Broadhall Way, although his career at Boro started very well. Peter Taylor signed Willock from Port Vale half-way through the 2007/2008 campaign where he then scored on his debut in a 5-0 home win over Droylsden. However, the good start didn’t last long as Willock got a hamstring injury in the next game away at Farsley which ruled him out for a long period. That injury seemed to affect Willock’s settling in to the club and he never really got his place back.

There were rumours that GW would allow Willock to leave last summer, but he stayed on, although places up front looked very limited. The signings of Lee Boylan, Iyseden Christie, Craig Westcarr and Anthony Thomas looked to have numbered Willock’s days partnering Steve Morison. However Christie, Westcarr and Thomas all failed to impress and left before the January transfer window leaving Boro with just Boylan, Willock and Morison in attack. Willock though could never seem to break into the side. His finishing could never really be relied upon and he didn’t link up with Morison as well as Boylan. He was a good player to have in and around the squad, but he was also reportedly one of the higher wage earners and proved to costly to keep on. Best of luck to Callum in his next move.

Stevenage also announced last week that Mark Roberts will be the club captain next season. An obvious, but good choice by the boss. Roberts was the signing of the season when he moved from Northwich Victoria and stabilised a weak Boro defence. He was one of the main reasons behind Boro’s upturn in form after the New Year and will be a superb captain for Boro. As Westley said, he will lead by example and possibly take Boro to the next level. Although Morison did a good job, I never felt he was captain material whereas you feel Roberts will influence everyone at the club and help Boro get them few extra points needed next season.

Lastly the football league play-offs were played out this weekend. There was disappointment for Steve Morison’s Millwall as they lost 3-2 against Scunthorpe at Wembley with ex York winger Martyn Woolford getting the winner. Morison will be playing his football in League 1 next season against the likes of Charlton, Norwich, Southampton and Brentford. Morison will also be up against two of his former managers in Mark Stimson and Peter Taylor after Gillingham beat Shrewsbury to join Taylor’s Wycombe in reaching League 1. A Simeon Jackson, who else, goal was enough to give the Kent side a 1-0 victory. Be interesting to see where they end up next season if Jackson leaves in the summer.

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Martin Released

May 20, 2009 Leave a Comment

Boro confirmed today that midfielder John Martin has been released from his contract. It’s a disappointing end to Martin’s career after a fantastic start which saw him an integral part of the club’s amazing start to the 2007/2008 season under Mark Stimson, particularly impressing alongside Stuart Lewis in the Boro midfield. Martin started the season as a regular in the side under Graham Westley, but along with Daryl McMahon was transfer listed in November with the club in mid-table. While McMahon moved to Cambridge, Martin didn’t leave, although a move to Grays was rumoured. After the January transfer window shut, Martin moved to Ebbsfleet United on loan where he was going to stay until the end of the season, until an injury crisis hit Boro in April and Westley reluctantly recalled him. He came back and played 2 games, very well and that was the last we saw of John Martin in a Boro shirt.

I always rated Martin in the Boro midfield and think if him and Bostwick were given more time together then that midfield partnership would have been one of the best in the division. I think Martin’s creativity would go well with the box to box style of Bostwick. However, with poor results that partnership never really got a chance to flourish and Martin was told he was free to leave the club in November. He came back after a loan spell at Ebbsfleet in April and gave two very good performances, helping Boro get vital points in the play-off run in. He could really help take Boro to the next level I think, but as we all know when Westley’s mind is made up on a player then it is not going to change.

So where now for John Martin?

Talk of a return to Ebbsfleet has been mooted and is possible although the Kent side have some financial restraints for next season with the Myfc thing not working out quite as planned. Apparently the club only have a £4k budget per week next season? Another club that has been rumoured is Barnet, who lost Neil Bishop to Notts County today. Bishop was a defence midfielder at Underhill and has moved to Notts so he can relocate back up North. Paul Fairclough is a big fan of Martin and has picked him for past England C teams. Although Fairclough’s power is limited at Barnet these days, it’s still possible he may recommend JM to Ian Hendon and he could partner another ex Boro midfielder Mark Hughes in League 2 next season. Gillingham may be another destination if, hopefully, they don’t go up through the play-offs.

I wish John Martin all the best in his future career.

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Boylan off?

May 18, 2009 2 Comments

Not much Boro news about at the moment as everyone waits to see who is on the ‘out’ list at Broadhall Way. I assume the club will announce who won’t be retained in the next week or so. It’s expected that Callum Willock, Eddie Anaclet and John Martin were 3 of the 4 players that GW said would be released or transferred. The fourth, Steve Morison has already gone.

There’s also a rumour going round that Chelmsford are set to sign Lee Boylan. It’s well known that the Essex club aren’t short of a few bob, but I can’t understand the motives if Boylan does go. I think GW rates him highly and always sees Boylan in his first 11. I can’t imagine GW letting him go cheaply and Chelmsford are still in the BSS after missing out on the play-offs this season. Could be an interesting one to keep an eye on?

Away from Broadhall Way and newly promoted Burton Albion have appointed Paul Peschisolido as their new full time manager. Gary Rowett also joins the club as his assistant. Peschisolido had a long career in England with clubs such as Birmingham City, Sheffield United and Luton and joins Burton after a spell as coach in Ireland. Cambridge boss Gary Brabin was linked with the vacancy at the Pirelli, but he now looks to be off elsewhere as the U’s have accepted an approach from ‘a much higher club’. The club in question is apparently Blackpool, a club he previously played for.

Finally, it looks like Mansfield manager David Holdsworth is using Stevenage Borough as his blueprint to bring success back to Field Mill next season. The Stags boss is interested in signing Martin McBride from Scottish side Stranraer after a short trial there last season.

“McBride is coming down with two others now he is out of contract. He is a very talented player and he wants to play for me. He reminds me of Andy Drury at Stevenage, who plays just off the striker or in a forward midfield role.” Holdsworth on the possibility of signing McBride

I think Mansfield could be a dark horse for promotion next season. Holdsworth has done a sound job since being appointed midway through last season and they are slowly building a good little team. Their supporters may be muppets, but Mansfield could be challenging the likes of Oxford, Cambridge, Luton, Histon and ourselves for promotion next time around.

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Torquay return to the football league after beating Cambridge

May 17, 2009 Leave a Comment

There was another good result at Wembley today as local rivals Cambridge United were beaten 2-0 by Torquay United, who returned to the football league after a two year absence. The Amber Army were the dominant force in the first half, but were not clinical enough in front of goal and were punished 10 minutes before half-time when a Chris Hargreaves long range effort found the net. It was a sweet finish from the former Oxford man who is out of contract this summer. Cambridge had a few chances in the second half to equalise, but Torquay wrapped it up with 15 minutes remaining when Tim Sills connected superbly to a Danny Stevens cross.

In my opinion, the game could of gone either way. Cambridge seemed to have the more possession for the 90 minutes, but couldn’t score, while Torquay made their chances count when they came and won the game. The first goal was always going to be an important one and once Torquay scored I couldn’t see Cambridge coming back to win the game. Chris Hargreaves controlled the game from midfield and popped up with the vital first goal just before half-time. It was a typical professional performance from the 37 year old. Another key position where Torquay won the game today was at the back and Chris Todd and Chris Robertson were superb. Danny Stevens was always a threat from wide positions and it was from his cross that Tim Sills, who could of easily been sent off in the first half, scored the second goal.

“The lads have given me everything since day one. We’ve got some good young players and there’s a lot to build on.” Brabin on Cambridge missing out on promotion

I have the feeling them ‘young’ players may have to be used a lot next season as they’re reportedly big budget cuts on the way at the Abbey Stadium. Cambridge are supposed to have spent ‘big’ this season in order to win promotion and missing out could cost the club big time. The loan signing of Scott Rendell, who didn’t turn up at Wembley today, is said to have cost Cambridge a lot in wages and a loan fee, while players like Lee Phillips, Courtney Pitt and Wayne Hatswell won’t be on small wages. There could be tough times ahead next season, although to be fair the same was said last season when the U’s got beat by Exeter in the final.

Best of luck to Torquay, back in the football league.

Some other lines from around the Conference and Oxford have continued to ‘strenghten’ for next season by bringing in two former Stevenage players in Jack Midson and apparently Dannie Bulman. Midson made 13 appearances for Stevenage scoring just the 1 goal, but moves to the Kassam Stadium after an impressive season with Histon. Bulman’s move hasn’t been confirmed by either Oxford or Crawley yet, but is said to be imminent.

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