CHIPPENHAM TOWN BLUEBIRDS FANS FORUM

It's a bit of a nervous time... awaiting this new life in the SLP. With one or two notable exceptions  in Freddie and BRE, we go into 26/27 with  a very, very young, diverse and new side... coming from all points of the compass. Always nerve-racking, we have a new and very young goalkeeper... quite small (comparatively) although clearly confident and happy to play as an outfield player when necessary. Defensively we have looked  a little shaky and flat-footed sometimes in pre-season so maybe the  very new additions in Sanca and BRE will give us some steel.  Up front we have plenty of attacking intent and some physically big players, too.. most of whom look pretty mobile.  The midfield worries me most.  It would be good to see a proven ball-winner and distributor (in the Reece Fleet mould) emerge to take command.
The Bath City news is inevitably  unsettling  and just goes to show what serious money might be able to do to an indebted and underachieving club. In unfortunate contrast, we have  clearly had a budget reduction this season, and will have to make the best of it.  Given the sheer quantity of new faces, I'd fully expect us to take a month or more to settle down At the same time, I don't think we can afford to struggle to find our feet for too long.  This will be a major test of management.  Can they mould a group of youngsters  into  an effective and winning unit? it will be interesting to see where Lee Collier's influence lies in achieving just that, as his expertise seems to lie in transitioning Academy players to the Men's game . At the moment, I'd settle for mid-table.  Ladbrokes have Gloucester, Bath and Chertsey as frontrunners for promotion. At least we don't have that pressure. Good luck to the team!! COYB!!