A tenth-placed finish almost disguises the underwhelming drop-off that Preston North End have suffered at the end of this Championship campaign. Summer business is a necessity and the Lancashire side’s boss, Ryan Lowe is already looking ahead to the upcoming window.
Preston’s play-off hopes took a knock in the six-pointer against Norwich City in mid-April; a disappointing 1-0 loss to the Canaries left the Lilywhites with no room for error in their final run-in. However, Ryan Lowe’s men never recovered from that tense affair and subsequently went on an abysmal run of results. With six losses in their last eight games, and four goals scored over that entire period – all of which were against Huddersfield Town, questions are being asked of the 45-year-old’s tenure.
In preparation for this season, the ex-Plymouth Argyle manager had received a fair backing in the transfer market and the club utilised the foreign leagues exceptionally. The additions of Mads Frokjær-Jensen from Odense Boldklub, and Milutin Osmajic from Cadiz for a club record fee, complimented the successful loan deal with FC Basel for the services of Canadian winger, Liam Millar. The latter has been a fan favourite at Deepdale but looks likely to move on to a bigger challenge if a permanent deal can’t be struck for the 23-year-old.
This year’s policy appears to revolve heavily around squad depth, which is much-needed considering the midfield injury crisis PNE experienced towards the crucial end of the Championship campaign. In Lowe’s final pre-match press conference, he offered his view on the changes needed and the approach the club are likely to take. The former Bury striker also touched on the Premier League clubs that will be coming down to the second tier, and the successful upturn of Preston’s youth intake.
“I think it’s our fourth or fifth transfer window. So, we know that this summer is a big summer for us. We’ve done well in the recruitment department – we’ve got some good bargains in Mads and Milly, who we think are definitely assets for the football club.
“A couple of kids who’ve come through are definitely assets, so we’ve got that. We now need to go and find a couple of players, to freshen the squad up and make sure they compete with each other – to go that extra step next season. I think next season is a big season to try and achieve and to try and be better again.
“The teams that come down are probably going to be just as tough. We’ve obviously got to be a bit more consistent than we’ve been this year and the bumps in the road, we’ve got to get out of them quicker.
“It’s not rocket science, what we’re looking for. We’re looking for players who can play in a couple of positions, which we feel can strengthen us. We’ve got to make sure we’ve got strength in depth in the squad, with a little bit more quality.”
Writer’s View
Lowe is very optimistic that there is still room to grow for the club, and it seems as though next season could be the last attempt for the 45-year-old. Undoubtedly, North End fans have grown sceptical of recent performances and a lack of ambition in the recent January transfer market. But, if the club can pull off a fantastic summer recruitment, similar to last year’s, the Lancashire side could mount a real challenge for the play-offs and go that extra step.
Players who can fit Lowe’s wing-back approach are essential this summer, too many players have been shoe-horned into the formation, often at the expense of their individual quality. It could be argued that Millar’s attacking threat was somewhat nullified by the reliance on his defensive duties. The right fit for the right role has to be the solitary target for the upcoming recruitment.
