LCM Comment

The new season is now upon us, and LCM would like to take the time to have a look at the summer's activities and give you our insight into how things are at Sincil Bank.

The first thing to comment on is the departure of two fans favourites in the summer, Jamie Forrester and Alan Marriott. Firstly Jamie, whose departure wasn't at Lincolns request as he signed a deal at Notts County. Now there is little doubt Jamie still has the skill and knowledge to perform at this level, but the question LCM asks is did he have the legs and stamina to continue to do so for another season? Jacko offered him a new deal, but by that time it would seem Jamie had already decided to go. Conspiracy theorists may feel that if Jacko had let both Mazza and Jamie go he'd face a mini fans backlash, but by releasing Mazza and offering Jamie a deal that could be bettered elsewhere he cleverly gets rid of two unwanted players but doesn't look like the villain. LCM doesn't however take this view, we feel Jacko would have liked Jamie on board for next season.

Mazza's departure obviously caused a lot of debate amongst Imps fans, but unfortunately for anyone on Mazza's side the truth is that he has gone and won't be coming back. I am as bigger Alan Marriott fan as anyone, he may have been a bit small but he performed miracles in years gone by for City and sentiment suggested he might get a testimonial game against Spurs. However as much as sentiment is a part of football so is business and despite nine years service a new deal didn't represent good value for money in the managements eyes. Football can be a cut throat business and Mazza now finds himself looking for employment. Rumours are that Luton and Crawley were watching him, but as he's settled in Lincoln with a fiancée and a child he is unlikely to be upping sticks to move miles away. It is a sad situation but it's also one that won't change. Mazza as a keeper has had his ups and downs and recently looked shaky when commanding his box.

Mark Stallard was the other player to leave after a good spell at the club. His first season he had a stormer, but the second was blighted by the same injury problems that have nagged him over the last couple of years. How times change though, just a year ago Stallard and Forrester were the hottest strike force in League Two, and yet now one doesn't have a club and the other is facing a battle to convince his new team he is worthy of a two year deal.

Deserves Some Praise - Steff Wright

So onto the new signings. Firstly LCM would like to mention the role that Steff Wright has played in the summer's activity. Whenever things are bad at a club the board get a lot of stick, but when things are good it's down to the management team. However Steff and the board have backed Jacko, and they brought him here in the first place. Their judgement and continued support have helped Jacko put together a side capable of winning promotion and moving towards 'Goal 2010'. Over the years Lincoln have often settled for second best in the management stakes, or opted for a cheaper option than fans might like. Other than Keith Alexander no manager has really brought success to the club since Colin Murphy and even that success was hampered by a lack of investment. This summer has heralded a new dawn for Lincoln City, an effective and infectious manager backed by a board who are willing to spend and new signings who appear to have everything to play for. The board can be credited as playing a huge part in the success should we be facing League One football next year at this time.

Other departures include Adie Moses, Nat Brown and Ryan Amoo. Adie was a decent centre back who approached the end of his career and looked every inch the retiring pro. Nat Brown has singed for Wrexham in the conference, where he'll be comfortable. Ryan Amoo? I should hope the title 'professional footballer' might finally and justifiably be withdrawn in favour of 'postman' or 'insurance salesman'.

Stefan Oakes was the first of the new faces, and possibly the most important. For the last six years City have only ever really had two midfielders on the books competing for the central midfield roles, occasionally backed up by youth players. This year however we go into the season with Oakes, Kerr and Frecklington battling for two spots. Frecklington may be a real talent but believe me Oakes isn't shabby either, and him turning down Wycombe to come here is an unprecedented coup for the club. With Kerr signing his new deal to, life is going to be very tough for Martin Pembleton and Shane Clarke, both blooded at the end of last season. I suspect both will be limited to the occasional appearance from the bench and possibly a Johnstones Paint Trophy outing.

Jan Kovacs is another welcome addition, and another player who turned down a fresh deal at his old club to sign for us. Kovacs has a touch of the 'Dolph Lundgren' about him, big and strong. Last season we lacked that commanding centre back and leaked goals like nobodies business. The strong defences that took us to the play offs featured big men like Ben Futcher, Gareth McAuley and Jamie McCombe. Jan Kovacs will fill that role.

David Graham and Aaron Brown both come here citing Gillingham as their last club, and both have a couple of points to prove. Brown was made to train with the youth team by Gillingham boss Mark Stimson, and has a chance to put his career back on track. Brown does have some pedigree though having played a majority of his football in League One, and will bring a little versatility to the side. David Graham isn't versatile, but he knows where the net is having put 25 odd goals away for Torquay a few years ago, and netted 7 in 11 for Jacko at Huddersfield. His career has faltered recently, but if he is as hungry to get it back on track as he claims he is then City will have a real gem here. He's strong and isn't afraid to put himself about on the field, and the fact he's got a second chance at restarting his career may mean we see the best of him.

Rob Burch comes to City from the same club as Mazza did nine years ago,

Jacko claims he's a big coup - Rob Burch

and if he gives us the same commitment and loyalty then he'll undoubtedly be the signing of the summer. Burch is bigger than Mazza which was always one downfall of the City keepers. He doesn't have much league experience with only 12 games to his name, but he again is looking to make a name for himself and at 23 has got the time to prove it. Jacko rates Burch as a massive signing for the club, but LCM will sit back and see. With only a handful of games to go on I think it's fair to say that the first few might be edgy for Burch, especially with the Alan Marriott fan club waiting to pounce on every mistake.

The final signing so far is Frank Sinclair, and this is a huge signing. LCM have heard the odd moan about his age, but even at 36 we are getting a player who has played at the highest level against the very best players in the world. Let's not forget Sinclair played in the same Chelsea side as Zola and Di Matteo,

A massive signing for the club - Frank Sinclair

he played against players like Jurgen Klinnsman, Eric Cantona and Dennis Bergkamp. That sort of experience doesn't leave you, the knowledge you gain from playing against these players can be passed on to the likes of Danny Hone and Paul Green. Signing Sinclair is astute, it not only raises the profile of Lincoln City but it brings yet another pool of footballing knowledge to the club.

There are of course whispers about a striker who hasn't yet been announced. Names in the frame range from the realistic: Louis Dodds or Luke Beckett, to the increasingly unlikely: Michael Boulding, to the complete fantasy: Darren Huckerby. Fans are suspecting that this signing may be the most crucial City make. LCM says not so.

Despite the new faces coming in, this season will hinge on the performance of those left behind, and LCM feels that amongst those remaining from last season we might just have four of the best players in this division. Firstly Paul Green was our player of the year last year, and he looks every inch the sort of full back we need. He just kept getting better and better with sweet delivery and an engine that runs for 90 minutes every game. He didn't do so well under the two Johns, but once Jacko came in his game really picked up. With youth on his side Paul Green could become an excellent football player.

Lee Frecklington doesn't really need anything saying about him. Last campaign was tough for him with injuries and all, but once he's fit there is no better central midfielder in this division.

Dany N'Guesson is one of those wonderful talents that on his day looks like

The Eiffel Power - Dany N'Guessan

the best player in the world. He spent some time last season out wide on the left, sometime on the right and looked equally as comfortable on both sides. He's powerful, quick, and has an eye for a goal or two. He'll weigh in with five - ten goals a season and if Jacko can get him playing his best three weeks out of four he'll destroy everyone in his wake. I firmly believe Dany N'Guesson has the ability to play in the championship or higher, he stuck out like a sore thumb at Boston and at Lincoln he'll finally have the players around him to shine. I recall the game at Bradford on Boxing Day, the difference between the two sides was Omar Daley out wide for Bradford. He twisted, turned and teased our defence into submission, and I remember thinking 'if only we had him'. Time for Dany to take up that challenge.

Under rated Imps striker Ben Wright

Finally perhaps the most underrated player of last season, and hopefully the source of 20 goals next season is Ben Wright. Most people forget Ben has only had one season back in England after several years away, and he spent the first three months of last year as an outcast. Despite all that he still weighed in with 15 goals and I firmly believe he has it in him to break the 20 goal barrier. Ben is awkward to play against, and he knows where the back of the net is. The thing that holds him back is his lack of aggression, something its clear he has been working on. With David Graham and Iffy Onuora on the training field though that aggression is likely to put in an appearance and when it does I can see Ben scoring a lot of goals. This is a man who has played in Europe against the likes of Chelsea, and a player who is more than capable of playing at a higher level domestically.

In addition to the new faces and the existing players we also have a youth set up that other sides should envy. Danny Hone has the ability to become a first team regular, Lenny John Lewis will be knocking on the door of the first team as long as he stays injury free and Martin Pembleton, Gary King, Shane Clark and Owain Warlow are all just waiting to seize their chance. Whilst most of them will find a starting place a big ask next year, all are accomplished youngsters eager to prove themselves.

Of course in all of this I haven't mentioned trialists Sam Mullarkey and Stuart Giddings, or established City players like Scott Kerr and Lee Beevers. That is a testament to the strength of the new squad.

So where does this leave City for the new season? Well optimism is extremely high amongst the fans with almost 2000 season tickets already being sold, but the bookies aren't quite as keen. We are still 25-1 at Ladbrookes to win the league, joint with Exeter City! I think the bookies are missing a trick here, and although winning the league is a big ask I can't see that it's impossible. 6-1 isn't quite as tasty for promotion, but I think a top seven finish isn't just a possibility but it's almost a certainty. LCM is confident every year that Lincoln will do well, but confident we'll do it via brawn, aggression and the odd quality player. The current squad has quality all over the pitch, a beautiful blend of youth and experience, power and poise. The squad looks more balanced and complete than it has for many years, and now its Jacko's task to ensure they perform to their abilities.