2015-16 | #2 | Pre-Season Review (2/2) - The Home Games

After a promising trio of away friendlies, the new look Robins returned to the newly named World of Smile Stadium - Whaddon Road to those that prefer to call it. With the prospect of more prestigious opposition, the boys in blue and white (STILL!) were set for their toughest challenge yet. Football League opposition in the form of Sheffield United, Bristol Rovers, and Cardiff City all came to entertain the fresh faced players on home soil for the first time.

Sheffield United
Prior to the game news broke of trialist James Rowe on the bench, a shock to most as there are already an overwhelming amount of midfielders in the team, although after the match Johnson admitted he had been in since the start of pre-season only to get injured, so it was worth the look.

Cheltenham started of a bit shaky, struggling to create anything or get any flow to their game, it wasn't a surprise to see that Che Adams tucked it home at the near post early on. With Mclennan out of position Downes struggled to get a header in and would have been glad to seen the half-time break, after a mistake-ridden 45 minutes from the Aussie. It was however all Cheltenham from that moment forward, taking a strong hold on the match as the Blades invited pressure.

With the Robins finally finding their flow, an array of chances just couldn't come to anything, and it was a question of when the goal would finally come. On the brink of half time an overhaul of Cheltenham players in the box allowed the opportunity to arise. Billy Waters, struggling to make anything of his chance gave the ball away, but the defender was quickly dispossessed and the ball was played to an unmarked Morgan-Smith in acres of space who equalised to send them level at half time.

The second half brought much of the same dominance from Cheltenham, taking a real grip of the game it was extremely pleasing against a top opposition. Many of the eleven were changed and Jordan Wynter made his return with around 20 minutes to work on fitness. Jack Barthram spent a whole 90 minutes on the field, and arguably his best display yet, along with Rowe who looked very, very lively.

It wasn't to be however, and after a failed clearance from a corner, a brilliant finish gave Sheffield what can only be described as an undeserved lead, and it was quickly added to after as Town pushed on for an equaliser. A counter-attack broke, and Baxter managed to control an awkward pass and slot past Kitscha for a 3-1 lead. Nigel Adkins would've been more than satisfied with the result, and it was a resilient effort from his team, and the difference in class eventually showed.

Bristol Rovers
Rivalry set aside for the pre-season, the opposition on this occasion was one in which most around club would be idolising after mastering the 'bounce back' effort last season. However it was Darrell Clarke who was left very red-faced and disappointed with his newly promoted Bristol Rovers.

In what was a mouth-watering affair, both teams failed to set a full set of subs for the game. With the goal happy Amari-Morgan Smith on the sideline with a slight injury, Zack Kotwica also spent his day playing for Evesham hinting that he'll depart on loan for added game time. In came trialist Rowe for his first start, pushing Billy Waters up to partner Danny Wright.

With the first proper attacking move of the game for the Robins, a free-kick floated in from just past the half way line, Harry Pell used his presence to head across goal for Billy Waters to guide it into the top corner from a volley. 1-0. From one well worked set piece to the other, Rovers quickly levelled from a corner, a fine move, but big questions will be asked of the marking and defending all round. Downes started slow again, but gradually asserted himself and improved as the game progressed.

Gary Johnson's attacking style was really starting to empower the opposition as the Robins continued to pressurise the opposition, Waters coming close again, and an Aaron Downes header was saved well. The chance finally arose however shortly after, a brilliant combination of passes around the defence and midfield opened up the chance on the counter. A lovely lobbed through ball from Rowe put Waters through on goal who didn't fail to finish with a driven strike into the far corner.

Taking the lead going into the break, the confidence shone through into the second half, especially from the fiery Waters. A ball through to him from Harry Pell, gave Mildenhall the temptation to come out and attempt to claim the ball, only to be dribbled past leaving him with no choice but to take down young Billy and rue him the chance of getting a hat-trick. However with a penalty awarded it was his chance to get his revenge, although it wasn't to be after a fine save from the experienced shot-stopper.

Rovers had the opportunity to get their own back, with what was a questionable penalty awarded, Matt Taylor stepped up in an attempt to claw back a second equaliser. Again it wasn't to be, Dillon Phillips scrambling down low saved well, and the same on the rebound, a fine effort from the young keeper, who has done well after a couple of edgy performances. Town held on well for their first win at Whaddon Road, and first game in the red and white.

Cardiff City

The final home pre-season game saw Daniel Parslow sign on for the Robins prior to the game, with Rowe, and young goal-keeper Rhys Lovett set to follow. Johnson expressed only one more addition was needed in what would be the mystery loan centre-back. However it was a surprise to see a trialist on the bench in JJ Hooper on the back of an 8-hour drive from Scotland.

In a tie that saw some experienced faces at Cardiff including Marshall, Noone, Doyle and Le Fondre. Local lad Bobbie Dale made a start up front in place of Rowe, along with Jack Deaman playing for a couple of other clubs as he looks to depart.

From the start Gary Johnsons highly attacking philosophy was highlighted again, the intent to get forward at every opportunity has been welcomed with open arms from the fans, and it's been a joy to watch the team play proper football. Dale started lively up top with Wright, both working well for each other to try get through, and it took 14 minutes for the flick on by the ex-Wrexham player, leaving Bobbie for a confident finish which was just what he needed to boost his confidence. Wright was unlucky not to double the lead with a powerful header from a free-kick that just needed directing away from the keeper.

In what saw a fairly quiet second half, the pace gradually slowed itself down. All throughout the game challenges were flying in, a pleasure to see commitment from the players in a game which some would say didn't hold a lot of meaning to being only pre-season. With the game slowing down, so did the attacking intent from Cheltenham, something the manager has raised, and has assured that he will get the team doing it for the full 90 minutes to kill off the game.

With the inability to finish off the game the Bluebirds began to apply pressure, and with four minutes left they managed to equalise from a corner. The one cause for concern to take from all these games is failing to deal with defending set-pieces as a goal has been conceded in each game at home. For some reason Cheltenham have never been able to deal well with them in the past, and hopefully it hasn't gone unnoticed going into the season.

2015-16 | #1 | Pre-Season Review (1/2) - The Away Games

Before the new adventure in the Vanarama National League could begin for Cheltenham, the Robins had to undergo the complete squad overhaul and new beginnings, and it all starts with pre-season. Always a handy time for the new team-mates to make their first impressions on the fans, the manager and their other colleagues.

This season Gary Johnsons new squad would begin the pre-season travelling to three consecutive away games, Cirencester Town, Evesham United and Weston Super Mare. This giving the pitch at Whaddon Road (refusing to call it by its new name) an extended period to properly bed in, and gain that carpet like texture that can hopefully be sustained over the course of the new season.

Cirencester Town
Ten of the eleven new signings started at the Corinium Stadium, the two keepers completing a half each, also making an appearance was trialist Daniel Parslow from York. Johnson hinted during an interview that the first few games he will be playing two sets of eleven in each half and at this stage it's all about fitness and embedding the tactics and playing style.

The first half saw plenty of chances being created, and while everyone was trying to work out who was who, it felt as if there was a huge breathe of fresh air within the squad. A diamond style shape seemed to be the judgement of most, with lots of switching and movement all across the middle of the park, which saw bags of dominance and creativity. Also adding to the attacking options was the constant options of pace down the flanks of new wing backs Jack Barthram and George Mclennan.

All throughout the half Danny Wright was proving a real handful, a saved one-on-one opportunity, and then managing to dispossess the keeper, it was a surprise to see the teams go in at half-time at 0-0, Cheltenham could have easily been two goals better off.

Eager to impress, the youth academy graduates from previous seasons, shown an aggressive attacking manner starting the second half, Hanks, Williams and Kotwica all throwing everything at them. A collective team effort, the understanding between the more well-known players proved the clicking point, and it wasn't soon before the hunger and desire to make ends meet finally happened. Zack Kotwica linking up well with with his partner Harry Williams to slot home past the keeper.

As the minutes passed, the dominance well and truly clear, the change of quality showed, a well worked short corner, and then a dummy, saw Hanks lash one into the roof off the net. Not long after Vaughan completed the 3-0 scoreline with some great footwork, and a well hit weak foot drive. A real statement of desire from what can only be seen as the fringe players.

Evesham United
With Omari-Sterling James, and Jamal Lawrence not present trialing with Oxford City, youth player James McCarthy started in the first XI, in a flipped side from the Cirencester game. Unfortunately the youngster came off after 30 minutes, with what looked like a painful injury. On came Jack Munns, who played the most out of anyone this pre-season at 60 minutes.

It was again a fairly impressive showing from the youngsters, Adam Page stood out well on the left, and has set a really good impression upon the gaffer, gaining an assist to Harry Williams who comfortably put the Robins into the lead, and doubled it soon after from a pinpoint driven cross from Lee Vaughan. Paul Collicuts men managed to pull one back before the break, after taking their odd chance well.

The second half saw the same eleven that started at Cirencester, Munns well into the game, the midfield oozed class against a struggling opposition. With Kyle Storer firmly holding in the well organised diamond, all of the attacking midfielders, and strikers managed to get on score sheet, taking the tally up to seven by the end of the match. The quality was really on show, in terms of creativity, movement, and most of all the finishing, not one of those which would have described the Cheltenham team only a matter of weeks ago.

The power and stature of Harry Pell, organisation of Kyle Storer, creativity of wide players, finishing and partnership up top shows what a brilliant spine the team holds going into the season. One thing to question within this game however was the ability for opposition to grab another two goals. One a brilliant finish from a free-kick, the other Dillon Phillips would be disappointed with his efforts, and then a fumble from a cross not soon after. This however shows their is competition for the number 1 slot, with two equally decent keepers, it will be interesting which one Gary Johnson chooses after pre-season performances.

Weston Super Mare
After two positive displays from both sets of eleven, this final away friendly of the three was the point in where more educated and reasoned judgements could be voiced. It's hard not to be optimistic with the team we have compared to last season, and the start of this game only added the confidence and hope in the air for the coming season.

It took all of three minutes for Amari Morgan-Smith to begin the scoring, heading low and hard into the goal from a drilled Jack Munns free-kick. Add another three minutes to that, and Danny Wright fed his partner through on goal, slotting home with a cool finish for his second of the game. The attacking play in the first half was just as consistent in previous outings from the new signings, and it could have easily been five or six goals to the better come half time.

The scoring was wrapped up though on the 40th minute, Wright latching onto a goalkeepers error slamming it into the roof of the net. A player of his size and stature could be looking to cause some serious problems for defences this season, alongside the pace of his strike partner it has the shaping of a formidable force.

The second half saw some of the new signings get some added minutes as Johnson began to test their fitness ahead of harder opposition, and also if the oncoming players worked well with what looks to be a set eleven. Although no goals managed to find the net, the attacking style was forever present throughout the final 45, many fans would have also been pleased to see Asa Hall fit back into the set-up nicely after his four minutes all of last season.

Page, Williams and Bowen all played a distinguish role across the pitch, as well as Lee Vaughan who has come to life within the pre-season clearing off the line on this occasion, it will be interesting to see if he may be playing a part next season. On the other hand, the likes of Zack and Bobbie haven't really stood out despite their best efforts, and could possibly end up on loan elsewhere, along with Deaman.