Bognor will provide no surprises for boss
8:30pm Thursday 7th August 2008
MANAGER Richard Dryden says his Worcester City team are not walking straight into the unknown when they kick-off their eagerly-awaited Blue Square South campaign at Bognor Regis on Saturday (3pm).
Eight players have been drafted in during pre-season for the club’s first venture into the Conference’s southern section since the non-league pyramid was restructured in 2004.
Similarly, Bognor have completely overhauled their squad during the summer and boss Mick Jenkins, assisted by former Worcester player Andy Awford, only took over mid-way through the 2007/08 campaign.
Dryden, however, has done his homework on the Nyewood Lane outfit as he begins his first full season at the helm.
“I know their formation and how they like to play. They have some good, experienced players,” he said.
“It’s a little bit like going into the unknown but I have got a rough idea of how Bognor play.
“We are going down there to combat that and hopefully we can come back with a positive result.”
The City manager has had seven warm-up matches to run the rule over the squad and appears to have a clear picture in his mind of an ideal starting 11.
It should be largely based on the team that started last Saturday’s 2-1 friendly victory at Rugby.
But there could be a place for new striker Marco Adaggio, who was on trial with Kidderminster, alongside Mark Owen with Matt Dinsmore playing on the left of midfield and Troy Wood dropping to the bench.
Dryden said: “I have got a very good idea of the line-up subject to injuries. I think it’s pretty certain how we’re going to start.
“I am very pleased with how pre-season has gone. I think we have got more and more confident in the games.
“People who know the game say when you change the squad it’s hard to get that continuity but I think we look a decent outfit.”
One player definitely missing, however, is captain Craig Wilding, who is serving the first of a two-game ban carried over from last season.
“He’s going to be a massive loss,” Dryden said. “People like that are not usually missed until they are not involved.
“He’s a good player and I know he doesn’t score enough goals but he does link up play.”