2018/19 was a season to forget for Cambridge United. A 0-3 drubbing by Port Vale set the tone for a season characterised by a fragile defence and a chronic inability to pose a genuine and consistent threat in the final third.
Lingering optimism was destroyed by a humbling FA Cup defeat to National League North side Guiseley and Joe Dunne was handed his P45 having failed to recreate the expansive, swashbuckling football which had become a cornerstone of his interim charge. In contrast to the underwhelming summer recruitment that had preceded 2018/19, the appointment of two time EFL promotion winner Colin Calderwood as manager was considered a coup for the football club.
His remit for the remainder of the season was survival, a task which was achieved in unspectacular fashion. In turn, focus shifted to pre-season. Key figures including Director of Football, Graham Daniels and Head of Football, Ben Strang confessed that previous mistakes in supporter relations and recruitment needed to be rectified, encapsulated by the slightly patronising twitter hashtag ‘NextChapter’.
From a fan’s perspective, the most exciting aspect of pre-season is the carousel of player recruitment. Many of the decisions regarding Cambridge United’s retained list appeared straightforward. Gone were the likes of Jake Carroll and Emmanuel Osadebe, two players who arrived with promise but failed to ever gain the affections of the Amber Nation or in the case of Osadebe, even consecutive league starts. David Forde’s departure was equally inevitable. Forde played one season too many and will surely hang up his boots (or gloves) after failing to recreate his impressive form of 2017/18 and subsequently losing his place to Dimi Mitov.
For what Gary Deegan lacks in raw footballing ability, his leadership qualities and commitment are impressive. For this reason, he probably just about warranted fresh terms; I wish him well as he recovers from Septicaemia. Conversely, David Amoo’s rejection of a new deal in favour of a move to Port Vale is disappointing. His direct style and willingness to challenge defenders will prove to be a big miss. Equally though, Amoo’s goal and fitness records were both relatively unspectacular.
Tom Knowles is an exciting prospect and potential replacement; an academy product who seems keen to hug the touchline, run past defenders and service the 18-yard box. The young winger is one to watch this season but with no consistent run in the team to date, I fear that the U’s may be left wanting on the flanks.
There is also no hiding from a lack of striking options. There really should not have been an appearance clause in Jabo Ibehre’s contract allowing him to stay another year following his return of just four league goals. New signing Harvey Knibbs could prove to be an exciting player. He appears strong and mobile but is yet to make his professional debut having been released by Aston Villa. I back Knibbs to outdo Ade Azeez’s 2018/19 total of two but I don’t think he’s the reliable 15 goal forward who we have been missing for some time. The club sorely missed the power of Uche Ikpeazu last year and it is disappointing if unsurprising that so far, recruitment in the forward line has stalled.
In terms of squad assembly, pre-season has been dominated by three midfielders: George Maris, Jevani Brown and Wes Hoolahan. Despite his rejection of a renewed long term contract, Maris is once more training with the club with an offer from League 1 or above apparently failing to materialise. Some fans have questioned Maris’ commitment since an aborted move to Rotherham last summer. Realistically however, Maris is an asset for any team at this level given His goal scoring ability from midfield. If there is any possibility that he may re-sign, it is a possibility which the club should pursue.
Despite potential optimism surrounding Maris however, the sale of Jevani Brown is a major loss for the club. From the moment he was plucked from non-league, Brown appeared destined to play higher than League 2. Although his failure to track back was often frustrating, Brown’s work rate visibly improved following Calderwood’s arrival. In two years, Brown assisted over a quarter of Cambridge United’s goals, and was capable of hitting the back of the net himself, most notably wonder strikes against Lincoln and Northampton. His departure to divisional rival Colchester is disappointing, but also makes business sense. The player had entered the last year of his contract and would surely have left for nothing next summer. The club also appear to have a direct replacement.
When Wes Hoolahan was linked to Cambridge, I joked that should the transfer come to fruition, I would travel to Plymouth away from my home in the North East. Low and behold, Hoolahan has been training with the club with a view to agreeing a contract, a deal which would be testament to Calderwood’s phonebook and powers of persuasion. At 37, ‘Wessi’ is well into the autumn of his career yet his application so far would suggest that he retains youthful enthusiasm for the game. On the condition that he signs for the club and can stay fit, his ability from dead ball situations and to score and assist should fill the hole occupied by Brown’s departure. Hoolahan training in the number 10 jersey and the club’s efforts to promote the player’s arrival as much as possible are surely promising signs. No one should expect Wes Hoolahan to play 46 games this season but I do fully expect some captivating play to reward my trip to Plymouth come February!
The release of the club’s pre-season schedule was symptomatic of the club’s desire to change the nature of pre-season to be better prepared for the early weeks of the season than in previous years. Gone was the plethora of fixtures against local non-league sides such as Dagenham and Redbridge, Chelmsford City and Royston Town.
In their place were games against sides from higher in the league pyramid including Leicester City. Although local non-league friendlies had their merits in terms of allocating game time and subsequent match fitness to as much of the squad as possible, tougher pre-season games and a tour (including games against Rangers and Hearts) test raw footballing ability. At the time of writing, all games so far have been played behind closed doors, however the club perhaps tapped into the commercial potential of England cult hero Harry Maguire’s appearance at the Abbey by welcoming fans to games with Leicester and Ipswich!
Inevitably, the lack of fan and media access to Cambridge’s early pre-season exploits has raised questions over formation and style. Rumours that Calderwood wants to play with three centre halves and wing backs (as he did when he was promoted from League 2 with Northampton Town) would certainly be supported by the arrival of Kyle Knoyle, an athletic full back and an exciting signing following his award of ‘Player’s Player of the Year’ at Swindon.
Albeit with a totally different squad, the system was briefly trialled and abandoned by Richard Money in 2015/16. Emerging club legend and sexiest man in the EFL though he may be, Greg Taylor is no Aymeric Laporte. Should he choose to pursue it, it will be interesting to assess Calderwood’s success with the system often adopted by Pep Guardiola.
Following the major boardroom shakeup of 2017/18 financial constraints have weighed heavy on the football club. Although the itinerant Paul Barry continues to prop up Cambridge United financially, vast operating losses and the evaporation of capital generated by FA Cup ties with Manchester United have dictated the necessity of budget cuts across the club.
The playing staff is minimal, encouraging the model of a tight unit of players complimented by academy products rather than vast spending on recruitment. This was a strategy which failed last year, but according to new signing Dan Jones, the atmosphere and camaraderie at the club is far superior to that of Notts County’s big-spending but ultimately doomed 2018/19 campaign.
Ultimately, Cambridge’s successful or otherwise balances upon two key factors. First, the recruitment of a at least one striker who can return double figures in the top scorer charts; second, Calderwood’s ability to manage and maintain not only a positive atmosphere but also to sculpt a robust League 2 outfit who can spend the season aspiring to flirt with the play-offs rather than the return of 2018/19’s League 2 coquette.
As a fan, I don’t know what to expect from 2019/20. Predictably, the likes of Bradford and Salford have spent big however Notts County and Accrington Stanley have proved that in this league, financial power is no guarantee of success. After the disappointment of 2018/19, a mid-table finish, with a healthy goal return would be welcome. Pre-season is a time for optimism and with a fair wind, additional recruitment in the forward line and the form of a certain Irishman, Cambridge could perhaps prove a dark horse for the play-offs.
