Football Season Guide

Cambridge United survived by the skin of their teeth last season and they will be looking to avoid any sort of repeat this time around. Things seemed to get away from Mark Bonner as they unravelled before the arrival of Winter and was hugely relieved to have escaped relegation on the final day of the season. He will have learned a lot from the experience and has already reacted with several key players from the previous two campaigns having left over the summer. He won’t have wanted to lose attacking midfielder Harvey Knibbs, who has moved on to relegated Reading. Striker Sam Smith, who failed to match his level from the previous year, is expected to join him in Berkshire. Dimitar Mitov has been a big presence between the sticks, but missed much of the season through injury and has made the move to the SPL. Bonner will have wanted to keep hold of influential midfielder Conor McGrandles, but couldn’t afford to make his loan move from Charlton Athletic permanent. It is an illustration of the financial constraints he’s working under and he will have made the most of the resources at his disposal. Jack Stevens will be looking to establish himself as No.1 having failed to keep his place at Oxford United. Danny Andrew is certainly a shrewd addition with plenty of experience whilst Gassan Ahadme will be hoping to finally find a home having played for five different sides in less than three years. Bonner’s position seems secure and he brings the stability the U’s will need as they head into another challenging campaign.