As games are switched, transfers are talked of and players return to training, there’s a lot to ponder this week as we move to within six weeks of the new season.
The changing of games from a Saturday to a Friday night is an inevitable feature of the early fixture changes and one that seems unavoidable. We’re more than likely to get more switches once the Saints have their way but for now it’s just the three changes to the schedule.
Most annoying reason for change was the problem that England play on a Saturday at the same time as we were due to kick off against Hartlepool United at Sixfields. Fair enough in a circumstance where something lies on the England game but when it’s a home game against Borat’s countrymen Kazakhstan you start to wonder what the big deal is.
Yes, a lot of Cobblers fans are big followers of England but I fail to see that they would prefer to watch England steamroller the minnows of Kazakhstan on a Saturday afternoon then see Town play a home game. Personally, I certainly wouldn’t have minded missing this international game if our game stayed put, particularly now I will more than likely miss the Cobblers game because it’s on a Friday night and I know there’s plenty that would feel the same that come from a distance to home games.
The Hartlepool away game, along with Bristol Rovers away have also been changed to Fridays, though the trip to Bristol is now on Good Friday at 3pm.
As transfer talk hots up we look to be biding our time in the transfer window and not trying to rush things. Managers and players getting back holiday in the next week or so should see an increase in activity as we continue the search for someone to work up top with Bayo.
One player who could make a surprise return to Sixfields is Mark Little after Wolves announced that they would not be having a reserve team next season. Little was outstanding at the end of last season and seemed to be happy enough at the club so Stuart Gray may take loan action again with the new set up at Molineux. You wouldn’t want to call the race for starting places in central defence though if that came off with Little, Chris Doig, Mark Hughes and Gabor Gyepes vying for three spots.
Stuart Gray has hinted that the loan market is something he may well use again later on in pre-season and he’s right to wait for that with managers still undecided on their first team squads.
The players return to training this week and begin the intensive six week period before the season begins. Adebayo Akinfenwa, Gabor Gyepes and Giles Coke will all benefit from the pre-season programme and hopefully come August 9th we will have a squad that is ready to go and hungry for success.
Up The Cobblers!
Danny
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