Football Season Guide

It was a disappointing season for Shrewsbury last season but they managed to do enough to stay in League One, finishing 18th. They were very streaky, picking up a number of excellent results but then going on a lengthy winless or losing run. The close season has seen a significant turnaround in players. Out have gone names like Vela, Davis, Ebanks-Landell, Pierre and Whalley who have been stalwarts of the team over the last few campaigns. In their place, Shipley and Bayliss are central midfielders that were never first-choice in the Championship for Coventry and Preston but have performed well at this level before. Dunkley and O’Brien are also competent performers at this level and should prove astute acquisitions. Of the remainder of the squad from last year they have held on to most of their key performers. Left-back Leahy was converted to a central midfielder last season and was a revelation, scoring eight goals and providing seven assists. Powerful forwards Udoh and Bowman (13 and 10 league goals respectively in 21/22) proved a handful last season and should again lead the line. Led by the experienced Steve Cotterill you would expect the Shrews to have enough to finish in mid-table especially with what look like valuable additions to the squad.