AN ACE UP THE SLEEVE

Alan Lord on the new Stockport County

By Alan Lord

Anyone who has watched Kristian Dennis and Rhys Turner in the pre-season friendlies will be excited about the coming season.

Kristian has so much potential and has showed glimpses of that in the games he has played so far.

Rhys? Well he's so fast and is already a very good player - unbelievable for his age. He has pace to burn and I can't see many defenders living with him this season.

Then you look at Kyle Jacobs. He's been so solid in pre-season. Just watching him I already know he is a player who is going to give us 7/10 or 8/10 performances every game this season.

But, for me, one of the little gems we've uncovered this season is Iain Howard.

He is the kind of player who often doesn't get the recognition he deserves. He is the fittest player at the club and puts in a double shift every match. He has a phenomenal work-rate. He gives us a solid base on what is usually a weak side of the pitch.

Jordan Fagbola could have an amazing season for us. He had an amazing season for a newcomer last time out and will be even better for us this season - he's already showing the signs of it and will be a major player for us.

Stephen O'Halloran is a traditional left back but can also be used as a marauding wing back and is equally as comfortable in either role. He's a very versatile player.

Kieran Charnock has a wealth of experience and is the best competitive close-marking centre-back we've seen here for some time. We will get a competitive, stable and solid performance from him every match - he's our Mr Dependable.

James Tunnicliffe will show us his versatility this year too - while he's a centre back, potentially a sweeper in a three-man centre-back line-up, he can also play as a holding midfielder and maybe used in that role at some point this season.

Iain Howard

Ian Craney is all set to be a major player at the club this year. He gives us solidity in the middle of the park, is a great passer of the ball and is Mr Lively in the dressing room. He has incredible experience of the leagues too - invaluable to pass on to some of the younger lads.

Jamie Hand will add the 'devil' we need in the centre of the park. He absolutely hates an opponent getting the better of him and will never, ever give up. He gives us a real competitive edge.

Phil Jevons is a constant goal threat. He's a target man, a back-to-goal centre forward who will bring the young strikers around him into play and link many of our attacking moves.

"We'll continue to look at the trialists...because you never know when the next Alex Kenyon may just pop out of the barrel"

Brandon Windsor started out life as a centre half and converted to a centre forward. He's only 18 and gives us that versatility that we want from many of our players this time around.

We've got two great shot-stopping goalkeepers too. Ian Ormson has great hands and gets down quick and there's a lot more to come from him this year.

Lewis King is like having a goalkeeper and a sweeper rolled into one because he reads the game and the balls over the top or into the channels so well and is always there to clean up - a real smotherer of a keeper.

We'll continue to look at the trialists and maintain those links with Myerscough College - we had six Myerscough students in the team versus Cheadle Town - because you never know when the next Alex Kenyon may just pop out of the barrel. Most of them are maybe 12 months off the level we require but matches like the Cheadle Town game are perfect to blood them in and see how they cope.

For me they were confident and comfortable in that second half. And they all displayed good attitude too.

As for the team for this season - we are ahead of where I thought we would be training-wise. We have been doing lots of 'disguised running' in training and the players are all responding well. Over the next few games we will see the first team start to play more of those matches and the trialists start to filter away.

So that by the time of the St Mirren match most of the first team will be playing for about 70 minutes.

I think we need another defender, one that can possibly play a dual role and also be comfortable as a full back when required.

We need another midfielder too. And it would be nice to have another striker to give us competition up front.

One of the remaining signings may very well be made right towards the end of the window because sometimes you don't know what's available and out there till the major business of the pre-season is concluded. So it is wise for us to leave a little leeway to take that opportunity if it arises.

We are tracking a player right now, a forward, but I can't say much more than that because he is also being looked at by a couple of other clubs and I don't want to spoil our chances before the deal is done.

Animo et Fide

THE WORD OF THE LORD

Alan Lord - Cheadle End Punk columnist

Alan Lord has signed up as a columnist for Cheadle End Punk.

Today will see the Stockport County assistant manager's debut piece published on the new County blog - a look at the team's pre-season so far and Alan's unique insight into the development of our new players.

Alan also casts his eye over the current crop of trialists and reveals how he and Ian Bogie are looking at another new signing, to help lead the team to glory next season.

Come back later for the full detail of Alan's unique perspective on the Stockport County universe from his unrivaled position on the inside of Edgeley Park.

TRIALISTS GET ANOTHER CHANCE AT CHEADLE

Trialist Tom Donegan

Ian Bogie is giving four of the current trialists at County another crack at securing a contract in the friendly match against Cheadle Town tomorrow night.

Tom Donegan, 21, the midfielder released by Fulham, Paris Bateman, 19, the defender from Crewe, 21-year-old Ryan Brooke, a centre-forward from Altrincham FC, Ross Fisher, 20, from Kilmarnock, and Sam Hibbert, the former County youth team member, will all be given a second chance to impress Bogie and his assistant Alan Lord.

Aliou Traore, formerly of Stockport Sports FC and Champion FC in Vanuatu, Fiji, won't be offered a second chance though and leaves the club still looking for a permanent deal.

Fisher, who impressed the most in the run-out against Northwich Victoria last weekend, is not available for the Cheadle Town friendly tomorrow but will be given his chance to secure a contract in the friendly against Nantwich instead.

The others will all appear at some point during the Cheadle Town friendly.

COULD ALEX MEANEY BE ON HIS WAY BACK TO COUNTY?

Alex Meaney

Rumours abound today that Alex Meaney could be heading back to Stockport County.

Meaney, 20, decided to see what else may be out there for him at the end of last season even after Ian Bogie offered to match the same contract terms he had during his first contract with the club last year.

The talented midfielder never really got the chance to prove his worth at Edgeley Park after injury halted his opportunities for most of last season during County's ill-fated relegation battle in the Blue Square Premier League.

But the club held on to the youngster - another talent unearthed by County assistant manager Alan Lord from the Myerscough College production line - after Help The Hatters agreed to pay his wages to see him remain on the staff list at County till the end of the season.

And while County fans may have only seen glimpses of his mercurial talent and passing ability, it is well-known that football bosses at the club still rate the attacking midfielder highly.

Meaney is also known to have a soft spot for County - especially for Alan Lord, who nurtured his prodigious skills from an early age through the Myerscough academy.

Strange then, that he turned down the same terms he was offered last season in a bid to see if he could ply his trade elsewhere.

Meaney's search for another club has been frustrating for the youngster, though. He played a couple of friendly games for Northwich Victoria and, we understand, was on the verge of being offered terms by a couple of other clubs.

But nothing suitable, for the player at least, has materialised. And it is that impasse that County staff have looked to exploit, according to our sources.

Following his no-show in the friendly match between Northwich Victoria and County last weekend, it seems the two parties are talking again. Softly, softly dialogue between officials linked to the club and the player himself have happened in the last couple of days, we are told.

And there is a real chance that the player could return to Edgeley Park to become part of Ian Bogie's brand new team for the new Conference North season, according to our sources.

ARE THESE PLAYERS BOGIE'S NEXT SIGNINGS?

Ross Fisher

It looks like County boss Ian Bogie may have hooked himself the utility player he has been talking about recently.

Ross Fisher, 20, from Kilmarnock FC is set to make his debut in a County shirt during the club's friendly match against Northwich Victoria today.

Fisher can play central or on the right hand side of midfield but, crucially, can also play as a centre half or right back.

Both Bogie and assistant Alan Lord have been stressing the need to sign players who can be flexible as the new County squad is expected to number no more than 19 players for their first season in the Conference North.

If Fisher impresses today and lands a contract at Edgeley Park he will clearly fulfil the utility role the management team is so keen to persevere with.

Ryan Brooke

Fisher is one of five new players being given trials by County at today's match including Tom Donegan,  21 - a midfielder who was released by Fulham at the end of the 2012–2013 season; Paris Bateman, 19 - a defender from Crewe; 21-year-old Ryan Brooke, a 6ft 1ins centre forward from Altrincham FC and Fijian born French attacking midfielder Aliou Traore, formerly of Stockport Sports FC and Champion FC in Vanuatu, near Fiji.

Paris Bateman

 

Tom Donegan

Aliou Traore

 

DANNY WHITEHEAD IN WEST HAM KIT

Danny Whitehead & his West Ham United shirt

According to reports this morning former County kid Danny Whitehead turned heads with an impressive appearance for West Ham United in their friendly against Boreham Wood last night.

Whitehead was included in the first team for the second half of the match, with some of the East London club's biggest star names, and came out of the game - which the Hammers won 3-0 - with much credit for his performance.

Even club captain Kevin Nolan was moved to words in an interview with Sky Sports where he singled out Danny for special praise.

Experts reckon the chances of seeing Whitehead's name in lights next season are maybe too much of a stretch for the youngster so soon into his Premier League career but, with a season or two under his belt at West Ham, big things are expected eventually.

Fingers crossed he makes the grade and, more importantly, makes Stockport County some much-needed cash with bonus payments and, potentially, a percentage of a decent sell-on fee at some point down the line.