Raingod

Keep up the good work Theo .. always good to hear perspectives on the game. Am currently working in wales, so tomorrow night I will be at Pennydarren BGC vs Aberbargoed Buds!! So will be looking for forum and twitter updates on the towners!!

So is it another trophy for us by default if Tonbridge & Dorking both declined to play us ??????!!!!

Only seen the FCUM game, which I was impressed with. After the initial exit of players quickly, our fears were not realised with the rest of the squad remaining and good replacements have been secured. Talk of an "improved dressing room" is good to hear, along with the intention to improve our style of play. Bantick looks a great signing to me, and Billy looks on fire vs last close season when he first joined. Concerns - 1 defence still - would like to see a Harold Joseph/Vilcu type character alongside Wethers (how did HJ play against us?). Lack of cover for injuries there? 2. Looking at team line ups we don't feel to have played a settled 11 yet, with a number of trialists still playing last weekend. Betvictor have us at 16-1 for the title, and position us the same as Worthing and Cheshunt (!), finishing 10-12th. I believe this team can achieve play offs and anything less would be a disappointment - there are no "Billericays" again this season so feeling cautiously optimistic.. Did the club state its target for the season at the meeting? Prediction tomorrow: 1-1 (Bricknell) Predicted line up (based on minimal viewing!) McDonald, Muleba, Weatherstone, Rumens, Payne, Taaffe, Youngs, Thomas, Bantick, Bricknell, Charles.

Enjoyable first game back last night - looked sharp in the first half considering only wk2 of pre season. Bantick was fantastic, surprised on that performance he was at Step 4 last season. Played a part in all 3 goals, very confident. Josh & Billy linked up well,and we played some good stuff. Both were clinical in taking their goals, and we put pressure on them up top Solid from the returning Muleba and McDonald, and nice to see Livings back in the 2nd half. 2nd half was slower after loads of subs, but great to see Ryan and Mo back after injury (hope Ryan's early sub was just precautionary and that Mo is signing!) Great support for both sides, must attract players to want to play in front of a crowd like that for us. Yes we've lost some players, but feeling positive based on this first outing of the 19/20 team ..

Very good post Barney .. and I do feel some more optimism having seen the squad update .. just need Mo to sign ..! Re Ryan Blackman, personally think he is a great captain to have at the club. He always comes over to thank the fans at the end of away games regardless of the result/performance, seems to care as much as us fans do! And in the forgettable 17-18 season he had TWO opportunities to move to a higher level but stayed loyal to us! Only 8 days til the first game!

Corey joins Newport

Assuming WR is in the know .. I simply passed on what I’d read ..

Just heard on Twitter that Taaffe has left too ..

Aaron greene moves to Bishops stortford 😢.. and Taylor Hastings also joins them from Harlow ..

Friday 12 July FC United of Manchester (home, 7.45pm) Saturday 20 July Grays Athletic (away - Aveley FC - 3pm) Tuesday 30 July Barking (away, 7.45pm) Saturday 3 August Royston Town (home, 3pm) Doesn't feel we are testing ourselves enough so far? Glad I am away on the 3rd - don't ever plan to watch Royston again after the FAT exit in 2017!

According to Grays we are playing them away on 20/7...

Well .. what an eventful week .. I am on the "Andy in" side of the argument - as the target set was to achieve play offs or be close to. Yes I do think we massively under achieved with the team we had, and given the relative weakness of the league, but we were in with a shout until a few weeks to go. I have had a number of conversations with him and personally have a lot of time for him. i cant get to that many games - I think I have done 18 in the season - but as an out of towner do get to see most online afterwards. Can understand the frustration at the poorer performances. The great atmosphere at the Cup Final also makes me think Andy does have support from people not on this forum. If I was the board I would be publicly setting play offs as an absolute target next season, with an improved playing style also required, given this has been clearly raised by many. And that decisions should be made earlier in the season if this is not being delivered. I was expecting the squad to largely remain, with mainly the defence in real need of replacements, allowing us to start strongly, and Andy to build on the team he has created. Seeing three key players walk away from the club immediately at seasons end (including the vice captain that the manager gave his POTY trophy to!) does concern me greatly. Whilst I feel that Andy does deserve another chance next season to finish the job he has started, this was on the basis he could build on the squad he has developed. If he is unable to keep the squad together and it is ripped apart and we are forced to start over again, then I would have to question whether it was in fact time for a change. The blame for back to zero where we were 2 years ago would have to be laid at the doors of the management. Fingers crossed this does not happen and we can maintain the bulk of the team. Ryan B and Mark W both said on their end of season interviews they would be back next season, and Nathan is a more than acceptable replacement for Joe Yes Joe is a better stopper but his distribution has been very frustrating at times. Attacking players of the calibre of Bricknell, Faal, Davison, Youngs, Chaney, Taff, Sayoud, Greene playing together for a 2nd season should give us confidence. Up The Town!

MTH - MW out with an ankle injury according to report last week. COME ON THE TOWN - 45 minutes to get at least 2 goals to win and keep us with a chance of the play offs ..

Ricky Gabriel has left Braintree for Maidenhead ... I believe he was the last of the 14 players who left us that close season..