Season Review 2022/23 – Season 5
Time for my annual season review. Another bash at the Conference National League and another solid if uninspiring mid table finish. To read up on how the season finished up then read my previous blog by clicking here.
An 11th place finish in the Conference National League is not to be taken lightly. Especially as we were predicted relegation and the board expectation was to fight bravely against it. I have to be pleased at this however I can’t lie. I’m getting increasingly frustrated at the lack of overall progress made at getting into the football league proper. Maybe its me and my tactics, maybe it’s the fact I’m not signing enough quality players, or that Telford aren’t of high enough reputation to sign better players. Whatever it is its beginning to become a bit stale knocking around in the Conference Leagues and being a bit of a yo-yo club. However before we dissect more it’s time for the usual awards and best players from this season
Awards
Mick Hoyle deservedly with 69% of the vote for player of the season. Fully deserved, an absolute goal machine this year as we shall find out later. He also got young player of the season as hes still only 20 years old. Midfielder Ashley Graham and Defender Dominic Smith finishing off the top 3 players of the season. Very recent signing Oliver Younger got signing of the season despite the price tag and less game time than all my pre season signings.
Let’s have a quick look at the top performers this season both from the awards and in my own eyes.
Mick Hoyle – ST – 50(1) Apps – 34 Goals – 8 POTM – 7.14 Avg
What can I say about Mick Hoyle. He’s our star man. An absolute goal machine. Some of his goals this year have been stunning, he’s got great movement, great pace and a knack of finding the bottom corner. I’m so glad I’ve managed to sign him onto a new deal. He’s now my top earner by some distance at 2.1k a week but he’s so worth it. He set a new AFC Telford record by scoring 30 league goals this season with 67% of his shots on target. And he’s now only a few goals behind Daniel Udoh and his all time leading league goalscorer for the club. One I’m sure he will break very soon into next season.
Ashley Graham – MC – 29(14) Apps – 5 Goals – 6 Assists – 6.95 Avg
In Ashley Graham I think I’ve found a great midfield playmaker. Especially towards the end of the season he began to really run my midfield with long range passes and some great interchange play probably due to his “plays one two’s” trait. Stats wise hes come on a bit since his move from Canvey Island at the start of this season. He also seemed very adept at slotting penalties away grabbing 5 pens this season.
Charlie Webster – MC – 24(21) Apps – 4 Goals – 1 Assist – 6.88 Avg
Although Charlie Webster doesn’t feature in any of the awards I think its interesting to highlight him. He made the team of the year alongside Graham despite very rarely playing together. Much more of an engine than Graham with less Technical ability but plenty of interesting attributes for an AM. Essentially hes come on a lot and I’m trying to figure out a way of playing the 2 of them together especially when I’m trying to break teams down. I think the 2 of them in central midfield could be an interesting duo.
The Young Bucks – Youth Development
Onto what is fast becoming my favourite part of the entire save! The youth development and prospects from my ever surprising and productive academy “The Young Bucks”. A hotbed of talent from the Telford area was clearly begging for a manager who loved to focus on youth and boy is it beginning to bear fruit. 5 Golden Generations in a row have stocked the youth squads with great talent. But talent that needs nurturing, training and real game experience. So how did this season’s stand out graduates of the academy develop.
Rowan Presland – DL
Ah Rowan Presland, highlighted a few seasons ago as the pick of his intake. He was a fresh faced 15yr old at the time with fantastic Mental attributes as highlighted below.
But he needed lots of work Technically. I did a number of things, have him train specifically as a wing back. I didn’t play that role but I felt it tried to improve as many Techincal attributes as possible. He also moved into the first team squad last year as sub left back getting some much needed game time. And this year he was almost 1st choice. Playing 24 times with 1 sub appearance. He managed 1 assist 1 POTM and a cracking 6.85 Avg rating. And what effect has it had on his attributes?
Hopefully this shows why he’s now first team left back. Not only have his key Technicals improved loads (Tackling, Marking, Technique) hes also improved massively in physical attributes and even added to those incredible mental attributes aswell. Next year as proper first choice and at still only 17 I will expect even more development from young Presland.
Richard Wright – ST
I used Wright later into the season when I moved to a 4-4-2 system to try and be more attacking. With Wright playing off Hoyle it worked very well. Bit lets look at where this prospect started from.
From the same intake as Presland he had a decent start in attributes mostly in the physical area. This is the first season he has had in the first team where he played 16 times with an additional 9 sub appearances. Scoring 9 goals with 2 assists at 6.92 avg. A very healthy return for the 18 yr old he has developed into.
And he he is after some first team exposure. Good improvement in some key technical areas such as Finishing, Heading and Dribbling. And his great Physicals have continued to improve along with Mental traits such as Off the Ball, Decisions and Composure. The run in the first team did him no end of good and his training as an Advanced Forward (again trying to increase as many attributes as possible) has clearly helped. Next year he will be in and around the first team again, although he’s nonowhere near dislodging Hoyle as main man yet.
Garry Hornby – ST
Last but not least is Garry Hornby. Garrys had no first team game time this year in fact he’s not been in the first team squad at all but all that may change. Now to see why.
15 yr old Garry here on intake day. I’m sure you will agree quite the prospect, well into double figures in Finishing, First Touch, Teamwork, Work Rate. Hes on track with many desirable attributes for a striker. Now let’s look at his development after a year in the under 18s.
Thanks purely due to training (advanced forward again) theres been improvement in many areas. Finishing, Heading, Composure, Technique, Pace, Decisions, the list goes on. So next season Mr Hornby will be steaming into the first team where hopefully he will become the model understudy (and potential replacement) for Mick Hoyle. I’m hopeful this youngster may prove to be the best of the lot!
Next Season
I feel next season is key. I really want to see a massive effort to try and get promotion or at least into the play offs and give us a chance. Without this I honestly think I’m going to get bored of knocking around the Conference leagues. I’ve had interest and interviews at other clubs already most notably Ipswich. So interest is there to move up and honestly, I kinda wanted the Ipswich job which eventually went to perennial underachiever Steve Bruce. Anyway I digress, back to Telford. A number of positions are really solid in my eyes so I think the majority of change needs to come tactically and from within, promoting and using the young players who have really done me proud so far. One position im interested in altering is one of my wingers to an inside forward. I feel that Hoyle needs more support up front but playing 2 strikers often leaves me isolated in midfield. Sacrificing a winger (probably right wing) to cut inside would help my top man out upfront whilst still allowing me 3 midfielders for creativity and cover.
I’m still looking forward to next season and seeing how the youth players progress but if the club itself fails to progress far enough I’m being honest in saying I may look for another club. Thanks for reading.
FM-Part-Timer 