Dear readers,

long Boston story post today! I am going to tell about League 1 season expectations and transfers now.

Season expectations

I decided it's not necessary to take risks claiming promotion season target this year. Top half finish is enough, just in case. Several league 1 clubs have, I would say, mighty squads. Though I bear a thought of promotion to the Championship in my mind, of course. Truly it's my main season target, just don't want to be sacked if I don't meet the announced expectations.

$550K for transfers given by board is already something. It's 10 times higher than the amount of money suggested before the last season. So I had a chance to spend the money buying several decent players. The margin between current wages and allowed $43.5K have inspired me even more.

 

Media news

Well, you see Boston United is considered as an outsider of the league. We'll see…

 

Boardroom talks

I tried to ask board to improve training facilities and stadium. Suddenly they're agreed that facilities have to be upgraded:

By the way, had you any positive answer requesting to buy a new stadium or expand an existing one? It's interesting to get some knowledge about it from your personal experience.

 

Transfers

Now the most interesting part of the post.

Players out

These guys were sold or left the team going on a free transfer:

Here are several first team players who had certain problems during the last season:

- Steve MacLean (MC). He wasn't so efficient assister as I expected. Quite poor ball tackling.

- Lubomir Michalik (DC). Absolute disappointment. Lubomir was the worst central defender of the team in the last season.

- Jan Sebek (GK). He wasn't fond of backup role.

- Cedrik Evina (AML). I sold him due to low passing percentage. Inside forward should be more accurate making passes.

- Alexis Nicolas (DMC). Blue Square North League player doesn't correspond to League 1 level. The same can be said about Sakali, Graves, Zenaba who have been in the team since the very start.

 

Players in

It was at first in Boston United story when I paid money for new players of Boston United. Previous transfer windows consisted of free transfers only.

Quite lengthy list of new players. Sure, some of them are just youngsters who were signed and moved to Boston Reserves. Though more than half of newcomers will be used in the first team…

 

Luke Summerfield (MC)

I hope Luke will become a good Boston playmaker replacing Sydney Plaatjies (MVP of the last season) in future.

 

Jackson Ramm (DR)

Loaned from Blackburn. Determined and good in physics. Suppose he will cover DR position efficiently. If not then the position will be take by his competitor Jean-Yves Capasso…

 

Jean-Yves Capasso (DR)

Decent French right back from Montpellier.

 

Resolving problem with central backs…

You remember I had a dramatic League 2 finish loosing the 3rd table position during the last 8 fixtures and falling back to playoffs instead. The main reason of the problem – conceding too many goals due to mistakes by central defenders. Therefore I decided to rebuild the centre of Boston defence.

Later I faced another problem: I can't get defenders of higher level than I actually signed. It's explained by not so high reputation of my club as I expected. So finally I resolved the quality problem with quantity method getting 4 new central backs instead of planned 2

 

Ben Chorley (DC)

 

Jean-Christophe Maras (DC)

 

Byron Webster (DC)

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Nate Short (DC)

 

Readers who blame me regarding low domestic player bias should be glad to see that 3 of 4 DCs are English. I am not sure about their roles in the squad… Everybody will be given with a chance to play in the first eleven.

Could you predict what 2 central back should be in the first squad?

 

Matthew Wright (DMC)

Stoke prospective young footballer loaned mostly for substitution bench. Though I don't deny he can displace Anzite (my main DMC) from the main squad.

 

Brian Obino (MC)

Rather creative midfielder whom I am going to use as a backup player with playmaker role.

 

Roy O'Donovan

I wanted a quick forward - I got him. Sure his Technique and Dribbling levels don't impress much; but I suppose this guy will add some tactical variety to the team.

 

Amadou Soukouna

I couldn't reject myself to sign this 21 years old striker. Soukouna can be sold for good money in future if he don't adapt in  the team.

 

Summing up summer transfers…

In the end I want to say that it was a decent transfer campaign. Though frankly speaking I hoped to get somewhat better players. But club reputation doesn't allowed to do that. Anyway it seems Championship promotion is pretty possible with this group of players.

And what's your opinion about Boston United chances in the 4th season?