With the Championship season beginning this weekend, Sports Mole casts its eye over newly-promoted Yeovil Town's summer and their prospects for the 2013-14 campaign.
In:
Joel Grant (From Wycombe, Free), Joe Jones (From Leicester, Free), Kieffer Moore (From Dorchester, Undisclosed), Billy Clifford (From Chelsea, Six-month loan), Michael Ngoo (From Liverpool, Season-long loan), Danny Seaborne (From Southampton, Free), Alan Tate (From Swansea, Six-month loan), Liam Davis (Oxford, Free July)
Out:
Reuben Reid (To Plymouth, Season-long loan,), Dominic Blizzard (To Plymouth, Free,), Ben Gordon (To Ross County, Free), Richard Hinds (Released), Gavin Williams (Released)
Last Season: 4th, League One
Manager: Gary Johnson
Three key players:
Alan Tate - For a promoted side, possessing some experience of the division that you have moved up to cannot be underestimated. He may have struggled to break into Swansea City's side in the Premier League, although he was not helped by injury, but Tate was a mainstay of their defence as they rose through the Football League and into the top flight. He also had a loan stint with Leeds United last season and showed during his brief stint at Elland Road that he is more than comfortable in the Championship. Tate is the type of defender who is no thrills and is fully aware of his limits. He will take no chances, which is what Yeovil will need to do if they are to survive in the division. Extending Tate's loan deal until the end of the campaign may also help.
Ed Upson - Now 23, there was a sense last season that Upson was starting to mature as a footballer. Often playing in the centre of midfield, the former Ipswich Town trainee earned a large number of plaudits for the performances that he produced. He also ensured that he would be a hero of the Yeovil faithful for years to come when he scored the winning goal in the playoff semi-final against Sheffield United. The promotion also provides the Bury St Edmunds-born player with the chance to prove to Ipswich that he can cut it at this level.
Paddy Madden - In his native Ireland, Madden had proved himself to be a clinical frontman in League One. However, he went even better last term, hitting 25 goals in total. The 23-year-old always seemed to score when it really mattered - in the 2-1 win over MK Dons or the only goal of the game at Coventry City for example. None were more vital than his strike in final of the playoffs against Brentford, though. He has been linked with a move away before the end of the window, but it is mighty important that Yeovil keep him at Huish Park. For his part, he will need to be equally as deadly in front of goal if the Glovers are to stand any chance of staying up.
First game: Millwall (A), Complete fixture list
Sports Mole says: Offer anybody connected with Yeovil 21st place at the end of the season and they would snap your hands off. Survival is the name of the game as far as Johnson and his team are concerned. They may say differently in public, but in truth, if they are a Championship outfit this time next year, they will have done remarkably well. The experienced manager deserves credit for the signings that he has attracted to Somerset - it has given the club a much better chance. Nevertheless, it still promises to be a difficult season for the men in green and white.
Predicted finish: 24th
