National League 23-24 Preview

[leewilson]

The Vanarama National League 2023-24 Preview

The last two years have really seen this preview rocket in views. Thank you to each and every one of you for reading, spreading the word and...

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Enjoy the 20,000 word preview I've put together above. Everyone will have differing views but hopefully it acts as a good guide as to what each team has done for the coming season.

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[Smiffy]

Southend United

Ins
None

Outs
Rhys Murphy
Jake Hyde
Steve Arnold
Shaun Hobson
Chris Wreh
Jon Benton
Henry Sandat
Tom Clifford

Potential Line Up



Squad brief: What a pre-season for Southend United! With the long-rumoured takeover by the Kimura Group not occurring, the club have been set a deadline of 23rd August to find a buyer to help pay the outstanding tax bill or else a 10 point deduction will be enforced. However, the club were recently able to pay £300,000 from their £2.5 million debts to keep their license that allows them to stay in the National League and participate in the season. With staff repeatedly not being paid on time and pre-season fixtures severely disrupted, it is credit to the Southend squad that they have patiently stood by and waited for more clarity over the situation rather than take the Kacper Lopata approach of having their contract terminated. Several members of the side have unsurprisingly left post-season with defender Shaun Hobson and goalkeeper Steve Arnold the most notable. As it stands, the Shrimpers are only allowed to register 16 players going into the new campaign. Collin Andeng-Ndi is the only goalkeeper on the club's books whilst the club have three contracted defenders in full back Gus Scott-Morriss along with centre backs Louis Lomas and Ollie Kensdale. There are a few more options in the midfield with Cav Miley, Noor Husin and Harry Taylor a resolute bunch with plenty of National League experience. Wes Fonguck and Jack Wood both offer a more attack minded option in the middle alongside Oli Coker who is fresh from a loan spell at Aveley last season. Up front, you would assume Harry Cardwell will lead the line alongside Callum Powell with Dan Mooney as an option as a wide forward or winger depending on the system that The Shrimpers line up with. That makes 13 contracted players available to be registered. You would envisage that the left sided Nathan Ralph and Jack Bridge will increase this to 15 with both likely to be initially registered on a non-contract basis considering they have featured in the Southend's pre-season matches.

Manager: As a player, Kevin Maher is a name that will be well known to supporters of lower league sides following a ten year playing spell at the club he currently manages. As a manager, Maher's credentials are less documented prior to The Shrimpers although he quietly impressed in coaching roles at several clubs including Bristol Rovers. His appointment as Southend manager in 2021 was unexpected at the time although it has proved to be a good decision with the team impressing on the pitch despite the turmoil off of it. With much uncertainty as to whether Southend would begin this league season, Maher has loyally remained as the club's manager fully cementing his reputation as a club legend.

Unheralded Gem: Jack Wood - Signed in January 2022 from Kings Langley, Wood impressed out on loan at National League South side Tonbridge Angels last season. An attacking midfielder with an eye for goal - Wood struck 8 times in 22 games and the 20-year-old is expected to be a key component of Southend's restricted squad this coming season.

Top Goal-scorer Prediction: Harry Cardwell

Overall Thoughts: After much deliberation, it looks as if Southend United will commence their season at Roots Hall against Oldham Athletic on 5th August. To date, it appears that the club have a quota of 16 registered players and are not allowed to add any more until the financial situation is resolved. On paper, Maher's strongest eleven looks able to hold their own in the division but there are so many variables to consider such as a lack of proper pre-season alongside the inevitable fatigue and injury issues that would develop across a long campaign. With that looming 23rd August deadline for the club to find a buyer to pay their long overdue tax bill, we are in the realms of guessing what will happen next. Will a buyer be found? Will Ron Martin take out another loan to prolong this never ending saga? Will Southend United incur a 10 point deduction? Trying to predict where the club will finish is a minefield but one thing that is known with certainty is that they are the least prepared out of the 24 sides about to begin this ultra competitive season. And with potential deductions and further uncertainties on the horizon too, Southend, through sheer logic, have to be one of the favourites to finish in the bottom four this season.

Prediction: Relegation (if the club makes it to April).