Parts are in place as Albion get back to work
ON Monday morning three weeks ago, Burton Albion had 12 contracted players, or so it seemed.
Fast forward to today and there are 22. It has been a breathless month for Burton Albion supporters and also for the club’s media team, putting together all those videos and press releases.
Sometimes it has seemed that not a day has gone by without another signing and sometimes is has seemed that way because it has actually been the case.
Assistant manager Dino Maamria had said in an end of season interview that he hoped they would have most of the squad in place by the time they returned for preseason training.
It had begun to sound like his comment was a little too hopeful but when the players reported back at the end of last week, sure enough, there was a full squad for Hasselbaink and Maamria to start work with.
The 10 players added in those three weeks are eight new signings and the confirmation that Kieran Wallace, offered a new deal, and Michael Bostwick, who had had his deal extended, were still with the club.
On top of that, four of the club’s successful Under-18 side have signed first-year professional deals. One of the first-year pros last season, Ciaran Gilligan, ended up with 22 first team appearances, so none of those four should consider themselves out of the running if they impress.
Even discounting the four firstyear pros, Hasselbaink and Maamria are close to having two players for every position and there looks to be an excellent mix of experience and youth, of specialists in a position and players with versatility. The loan market remains untouched. There remains the possibility of adding five players that way but there is no need for the Brewers to jump in just yet in that area.
Expectation levels are riding high among the supporters after what Hasselbaink achieved last season and a note of caution is necessary, because good as the recruitment looks, a lot of big clubs are spending a lot of money this summer.
It would still be a surprise if the Brewers took the division by the scruff of the neck and challenged for promotion but, of course, they did when Hasselbaink last started a season with them in League One.
Let’s have a look at what the management duo have given themselves to work with so far.
GOALKEEPERS
This is the stable, unchanged area, so far. Ben Garratt’s new deal was one of the quickest announcements of the summer, justified after his form, while Kieran O’hara remains under contract.
You would not rule out Hasselbaink
bringing in another, as he did last season with Dillon Barnes on loan, and the rumour mill has linked Burton – and others – with Gavin Bazunu of Manchester City, who was on loan with Rochdale last season.
DEFENDERS
Three weeks ago, the only contracted defenders we knew about were John Brayford and Tom Hamer but now we know Bostwick was still under contract too. It was still an area that needed considerable bolstering but that has happened.
The first one in was Cameron Borthwick-jackson and the big hope is that he will give the Brewers the regular specialist left-back they have needed for a long while. He has competition, though, because seventh arrival Frazer Blake-tracy is also a left-back.
Deji Oshilaja, in from Charlton Athletic, brings wide experience and can play either centre-back or rightback but with Hamer now able to return to his natural right-back position, having covered left-back for much of the time last year, Albion are well covered in that position.
They are well covered in defence generally, too, if Michael Mancienne is counted as one of the defenders but he could, as last season, play either in front of the back four or as a centre-half.
MIDFIELDERS
Two signings in the last week – Tom O’connor, released by Southampton after loan spells with Gillingham, and Conor Shaughnessy, released by Rochdale – have both been seen as defenders who can also
play in midfield earlier in their careers but Hasselbaink has suggested he sees them both playing in midfield for Burton.
They certainly look like they can bring strength and athleticism in that area and Hasselbaink had already picked up Bryn Morris, released by Portsmouth, who he previously had on loan at Burton as an 18-year-old.
Hasselbaink rates Morris highly but the player’s career has drifted and this is an opportunity for him to fulfil the potential that made him the England Under-19 captain a few years ago.
With Gilligan, the mercurial Joe Powell, Danny Rowe and Wales Under-21 captain Terry Taylor also in midfield, it is an area now brimming with competition.
Burton may not have directly replaced Sean Clare and Ryan Edwards – who we presume will not be returning – like for like but the options are many.
WINGERS/FORWARDS
Jonny Smith was the go-to man for an attacking outlet on the wing after arriving in January last season and Burton fans will want to see him fully fit and firing this time around.
Omari Patrick, in from Carlisle United, will also be seen as a winger, hopefully on the up at the age of 25.
Louis Moult is an out-and-out striker of great experience, giving Burton two of those alongside Kane Hemmings, and it is interesting that Hasselbaink says he thinks they can play together. Burton do not often play with two strikers.
Josh Parker is still on the books, with a year to go on his contract, and can play centrally or on the wing.
And then, of course, there is Lucas Akins and we know he can play on either flank or down the middle. Hasselbaink knows exactly what to expect from him.
Again, there now look to be plenty of options.
It is, obviously, unlikely that the rate of arrivals will continue from here. There are only so many players you can have in a squad.
Now the hard work starts. The players who were with Burton last season will know exactly what to expect from a Hasselbaink pre-season, having had a mini one in January.
The players who have come in will know the score. They have come because they want to work with Hasselbaink, however hard that work will be.