FAN'S VIEW: CHELMSFORD CITY SEASON PREVIEW

Matt and Jack gave us a hand when we asked for answers to a few questions about Chelmsford City's season ahead.

HOW DID YOU FEEL THE 14/15 SEASON WENT FOR YOUR TEAM?

We had a slow start to the season but with the additions of new signings such as Tom Lovelock we looked a more dominant side, we dropped points against teams we should have won against and earned points against teams we shouldn't have. But overall we had an alright season, compared to the season before it was brilliant.

HAVE YOU BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE ADDITIONS MADE DURING THE SUMMER BREAK?

​I have been very impressed with Hawkes' signings. After letting Ward and Cheek move to Brighton and Braintree respectively we needed a new striker who was proven at our level. With Billy Bricknell coming back to MP then it will be good as he has a proven scoring record for us and hopefully he can fire us into the Play-Offs!

ARE THERE ANY AREAS YOU FEEL STILL NEED STRENGTHENING?

​Personally, I believe the defence isn't as good as it could be. We lost Mambo and Lovelock at the end of last season which was sad but we replaced them with Marvel Ekpiteta, Ashley Miller and Ashley Timms who are all brilliant players and can prove themselves.

ARE THERE ANY FIXTURES THAT YOU'RE PARTICULARLY LOOKING FORWARD TO?

​Personally as a City fan I will always look forward to the derby against Stortford as they are our nearest rivals (other than Braintree). But we will have to take each game as it comes and hope for a stand-out game nearer to the end of the season or in the FA Cup.

WHICH OPPOSITION TEAM DO YOU HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THIS SEASON?

​I think Margate and Maidstone will make a good impression as all the Kent teams seem to have a massive influence from money and they will certainly be up there with Dartford and Ebbsfleet. Other than those though I think Oxford City will be near the top of the league. They missed out on the play-offs last season by one point and they are a very physical team and so will certainly show off their quality and worth by putting up a fight this season.

WHICH PLAYERS AMONG YOUR SQUAD SHOULD WE BE LOOKING OUT FOR THIS TERM?

​Billy Bricknell is definitely one to watch, last time he was at the club he didn't score too many goals due to injury but he is back with a bang and will certainly be performing well this season. Ashley Timms is another to watch, previously at Hyde he joined the Clarets before pre-season and has played every game so far and has been a massive influence for our defence. He is a commanding presence which is something we didn't have last season.

WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'LL END UP AT THE END OF THE SEASON?

​I'd love us to get into the play-offs or even better but realistically I think we will finish just outside the play-offs. We have strong team but we don't have the financial backing that teams like Dartford, Ebbsfleet and Dover all have so it will be a struggle to finish in the Play-Offs. 

Up next, Jack.

HOW DID YOU FEEL THE 14/15 SEASON WENT FOR YOUR TEAM?

The 2014/15 season went well for Chelmsford in my opinion. We reduced a large chunk of our debt and managed to get 10th place, 7 places higher than in 2013/14. We also had some memorable wins against Havant (A), Farnborough (H) and Ebbsfleet (A).

HAVE YOU BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE ADDITIONS MADE DURING THE SUMMER BREAK?

I am pleased with the signings that we have made. We brought back a few ex-players in Bricknell, Henry and McAuley. Rory McAuley will help our defence from leaking as many goals as we did last season, Henry was very good in his spell at MP under Dean Holdsworth and Bricknell can hopefully score a lot of goals for us. We also signed Ashley Timms, a goalkeeper. One of our defensive problems last year was us using 5 different goalkeepers. Timms has looked good in pre-season so he seems like a good addition.

ARE THERE ANY AREAS YOU FEEL STILL NEED STRENGTHENING?

We still need a big, strong striker. Billy and Hugo are good strikers, but neither will get far challenging for headers with opposing defenders. They both like to play off a target man. We haven't yet replaced Cheek in that respect. Another winger wouldn't go amiss either, but the gaffer says he has new additions incoming.

ARE THERE ANY FIXTURES THAT YOU'RE PARTICULARLY LOOKING FORWARD TO?

Dartford home and away over the festive period. They always bring a lot to us and vice versa. The games are usually pretty good as well! I am also looking forward to the Ebbsfleet games.

WHICH OPPOSITION TEAM DO YOU HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THIS SEASON?

This has to be Ebbsfleet. The amount of money they have spent and the players they have brought in, they should win this league. But we said that for the last 2 seasons as well. I think they really should now as they have brought in a new manager who knows the league very well.

WHICH PLAYERS AMONG YOUR SQUAD SHOULD WE BE LOOKING OUT FOR THIS TERM?

Hugo Skepelhorn. This striker is quality. He is quick and has a good shot on him. He made his début back in Easter at home to Stortford off the bench and scored within 5 minutes! He can only get better with game time and experience.

WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'LL END UP AT THE END OF THE SEASON?

I think it will be mid-table mediocrity for us again. I would hope that we would push on from our 10th place finish last season, but the league is a lot tougher this time around with the likes of Ebbsfleet and Sutton not underachieving as they did last year and with Margate and Maidstone coming up from the Ryman. I reckon we will come 11th or 12th.