LASTSEASON
LEAGUETWO15thFACUPFirstRound
LEAGUECUPFirstRoundTOPSCORERAndyWilliams(12)LASTSEASON
LEAGUE TWO 7th FA CUP Fifth Round LEAGUE CUP
Second Round TOP SCORER Padraig Amond (23)FourFourTwo Season Preview 2019-20 81nEWPORT COUnTY nORTHAMPTOn TOWn
SEASOn PREVIEW
FFTVERDICT
9TH FFT VERDICT
11TH
The play-off finalists have been on
an upwards curve ever since Mike
Flynn took the reins in March 2017.
The club’s size means they aren’t
considered promotion contenders- making those budget-boosting
cup runs even more valuable – but
Flynn & Co. love to upset the odds.
An early recruitment drive saw 11
players, several from League One,
join the Cobblers before their first
game of pre-season, with Keith
Curle prioritising Football League
experience. Only four teams last
term lost fewer games; progress
hinges on turning draws into wins.This season will be different because
last season we were underestimated
and exceeded expectations; now sides
will see us as one of the teams to beat.
I won’t be happy unless Mike Flynn
signs a 20-year contract!
The one change I’d make to the club
would be to have our own stadium,
but only due to strain on the pitch –
I like Rodney Parade as a ground.
The best thing about the matchday
experience at Newport is that it’s raw
and pure, no frills!
The one recommendation for away
fans is to have a pint of Cwtch at Tiny
Rebel bar – local beer and great food.
The best away ground is called the
Jonny-Rocks Stadium in Cheltenham.
Our key player will be Padraig Amond
again [below]. He can score with both
feet and his head, he assists goals, he
covers the midfield and the full-backs,
and he motivates those around him –
he’s a model professional.
Save the date for Orient. For Justin. sThe opposition player I secretly
admire is Swindon’s Keshi Anderson.
Our most underrated player is Scot
Bennett, every season. He just goes
about his work quietly and effectively,
always delivering the goods.
Look out for Momodou Touray – he
won the Welsh Premier’s Young Player
of the Season award as well as three
end-of-season prizes at Barry Town
when he was on loan there last year.
The best away fans are Swindon’s.
Their fans are a good bunch and the
players are very honest, in my opinion.
The best Exiles social media account
is club photographer @nicnacnoopixs.
The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is
that he is one of the brightest young
managers in the game and already
has legendary status at County. Every
single player plays for him. He knows
what to say and when to say it.
If he left, he should be replaced by
Gary Brazil, academy manager at
Nottingham Forest – if the club could
afford him – or someone young and
creative like Kevin Nicholson, formerly
Cardiff’s under-23s boss.
We’ll finish in the play-offs – the same
as I predicted last year!The big talking point among the fans
is whether or not the owners will be
leaving, and – as always – wondering
when the stadium will be finished at
last, after years of delays.
This season will be different because
we’ve recruited pretty well so far and
will, I hope, be challenging for a spot
in the top seven.
I won’t be happy unless we finish in
the play-off places, at the very least.
We missed a huge chance to progress
the last time we were promoted, so
I’m hoping we can have some sort of
long-term plan.
The one change I’d make to the club
would be the stadium. It is awful.
Look out for Jay Williams and Scott
Pollock. Both 18 years old, they each
made a handful of appearances for
Northampton in 2018-19 and it’ll be
interesting to see if they are involved
more this season.
The best away fans are Plymouth’s.
They always travel well.The best away ground is at Leyton
Orient. I’ve always found it a decent
ground to visit, though that’s probably
because we won 4-0 the last time we
were there. To be honest, I don’t think
there are many stadiums in League
Two that stand out.
The pantomime villain will be Kevin
Ellison of Morecambe. Always Kevin
Ellison of Morecambe.
Our key player will be Nicky Adams
[above], who has joined us from Bury.
He’s a fantastic winger in this league.
The player I’d happily drive to
another club was Ash Taylor, but
luckily I don’t have to because he’s
gone back to Aberdeen this summer.
Our best celebrity fan is Shaquille
O’Neal, and I think Des O’Connor, too.
Save the date for the final fixture on
April 25, at Newport, when I hope we
will be celebrating promotion!
The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is
that Keith Curle [below] has brought
in some good signings so far and, as
a result, there will be expectation on
him to perform better than last year.
He joined midway through 2018-19,
but this is now ‘his’ team.
We’ll finish 5th.FAn FILE
MARTYN PHILLIPS
@ExilesAnalysisFAn FILE
JOE BALL
@jballie94