MARTYN PHILLIPS
@ Martynphillips1
Last season was an important one for the club, as managerial stability under Michael Flynn came to an end. But the club recruited a very progressive and innovative young manager in James Rowberry [ above]. The big talking point is how we deal with top scorer Dom Telford leaving. This season will be different because the boss will be able to recruit players suited to his philosophies. The one change I’d make would be the entrance music. I’d have Enter Sandman by Metallica for every game. Our key player will be full- back Cameron Norman. He was key to how we attacked down the right last term.
The active player I’d love to have
back is Scott Twine or Finn Azaz – both loanees but the best players I’ve ever seen at Newport.
Our most underrated player is Aaron Lewis [ below]. He’s fantastic technically – a right- footed player with a better left foot than the left- footed players!
Look out for Harrison Bright, a young right- back with a Bright future. The opposition player I’d love here is Mitch Pinnock at Northampton. The opposition player who grinds my gears is Oliver Hawkins at Mansfield.
I’m least looking forward to playing
Bradford. I think they’ve recruited very well so far, and they have such good, technical attacking players that they’ll be hard to play against on the ground. The pantomime villain will be
Courtney Baker- Richardson, probably, when he plays against us for Crewe. But I hope not, because he’s a great player and I’ve a lot of respect for him.
Fans think our ground is called Dave
Parade. Plonkers. The thing my club really gets right is their community work. County in the Community do a brilliant job. The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is mixed following a disappointing end to the season, but he should have full backing. He turned a stale attack into an explosive one, bringing an exciting, high- tempo game to Rodney Parade. If he left, he should be replaced by
Chris Cohen, who’s coaching at Luton. I won’t be happy unless the club start selling the Hummel gilets! We’ll finish 3rd, fingers crossed.
FFT VERDICT
5TH
Although 25- goal Telford is gone, Rowberry’s fluid, attacking 4- 2- 2- 2 system should create chances for Offrande Zanzala, Chanka Zimba and others. Declan Drysdale, Sam Bowen and Aaron Wildig have been recruited from above to push the Exiles back into the play- off hunt.