One of the various realisations that Daggers' relatively untested youngsters will confront this season is the intense and demanding nature of the Vanarama National League fixture list. Pep Guardiola, admittedly a name not usually synonymous with non-league, once expressed his frustration at playing four games in two weeks yet in the fifth tier, it's commonplace to contend with seven games per month and that's exactly the sort of gruelling schedule that the Daggers start the season with.
One of the advantages of this is that it gives teams a chance to build rapid momentum, but conversely it can also turn a blip into a fully-blown crisis. A quick turnover of matches is especially important when you're looking to shrug off a defeat, which is exactly the situation which will precede Dagenham's home clash with Maidstone on Tuesday evening - a contest which promises to be bright, lively and fast-paced. The game is our first home fixture of the season, and first under the floodlights. Hopefully the team can produce a performance as courageous as Saturday's at Boreham Wood, which laid the foundations for a campaign where we will only get stronger as our players begin to develop more. Disappointingly, the display - especially the late onslaught - failed to yield a point that we can be unlucky not to have attained, but it was a satisfying curtain raiser for Peter Taylor in his first match controlling the Daggers. Sixty miles from Hertfordshire, our next opponents Maidstone United were also getting their campaign underway with a home game against Hartlepool United, which resulted in a decent 1-1 draw. The Stones will be fairly pleased with what was a decent point and despite the expectation that they'll eventually be embroiled in a relegation battle, they boast talent such as Blair Turgott, who will cause our defence many problems. While the search for Michael Cheek's replacement striker continues, we will once again be reliant on Chike Kandi and Elliott Romain for goals, though neither of them offered much of a presence on Saturday as we failed to truly impose ourselves on Boreham Wood. We lacked movement and fluency, only coming close to scoring when we introduced Lamar Reynolds, who will be massive for us. Hopefully, Reynolds will be fit enough to make his full debut for the club against Maidstone. He, alongside a number of others, missed the season opener through injuries but upon their returns will bolster the strength of our side hugely. Ben Nunn and Luke Pennell will offer huge defensive solidity and bring some more much-needed experience to the side, while Blanchfield and Reynolds will inject energy to the team. We will already be forced into one defensive change following the sending off of centre-half Ben Goodliffe at the weekend, meaning our lineup will probably look something like this: Justham, Gordon, Pennell, Wright, Hoyte, Harfield, Robinson, Blanchfield, Reynolds, Romain, Kandi. I firmly believe that if we play like we did throughout the last twenty of Saturday's game that we can earn our first points of the season. Hopefully the team can produce another pride-inducing performance and continue our excellent home form since our return to the National League. A victory would be huge for us ahead of a winnable clash on Saturday against Maidenhead.
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Even though it's easy to feel deflated after an opening day defeat, what's important to remember is that we have a young bunch of lads who have immense faith bestowed upon them by Peter Taylor this season. Against Boreham Wood, our inexperience and naïvety showed at times but ultimately it will take time for the team to bed in and for a first competitive fixture, I'm fairly happy with what I saw from the team, who definitely displayed some positive indications for the next 45 games.
Unfortunately today we just fell a little bit short in the end yet on another day could've snatched a point. By the time our next game arrives I'd expect us to look a lot sharper, with hopefully a replacement for Cheek in the side, and Reynolds starting. Losing Michael Cheek to Ebbsfleet that close to the season must've dealt Peter Taylor's preparations a vital blow so with the benefit of a few days to assess tactics and playing styles, we'll be more prepared for the next match. The general consensus amongst supporters was that we desperately needed a centre forward, which is terribly ironic. Romain and Kandi, to their credit, battled hard and got into some good areas but never really posed a significant goal threat, and had a tendency to drift out wide. So many times throughout the clash, a midfielder like Robinson would do brilliantly well to collect the ball only to confront an army of defenders, which is why so many passes were misplaced. We were crying out for a finisher with a bit of movement to drift into the open space. To be honest, it was a slightly low-key curtain-raiser which lacked fluidity and rhythm. Both teams, you could see, were so much weaker than last season and very few chances were created, compared to last season when Ferrier, Andrade, Whitely, Cheek and Okenabirhie were all on the pitch. Boreham Wood earned their victory mainly through a ten-minute spell in which they got to the byline and swung in several crosses. Such was their intensity during that period, it was inevitable they'd score, yet there was the hope that it would wake us up a bit. Once we introduced Reynolds and Blanchfield, the game completely changed. Lamar Reynolds is going to be an absolutely huge player for us and that's obvious even at this early stage. All of a sudden we were expansive, playing balls in behind and stretching the defence. Frustratingly, it seemed too little, too late. Just as we seemed to be edging close to a leveller, we were caught on the counter leading to Goodliffe being sent off, and that was that. It seemed like a definite red, reckless and unnecessary, Had the boot been on the other foot, we'd have been screaming for it. It was disappointing for Goodliffe because like all of the younger lads, he'd acquitted himself really well and shown a great level of maturity. Unfortunately, on this occasion, his inexperience really did tell but that's something he'll learn from. Overall, though it wasn't the result we wanted, now isn't the time to panic. Nobody was saying we'd win the league after last year's opening day win over Barrow so, conversely, this result shouldn't be read into too much. We have a youthful side, some looked slightly rusty which will wear off while many others haven't played much competitive football. Considering what has gone on this year, I'm okay with a narrow loss to the beaten playoff finalists. In the next few weeks, we will pick up points. Though we lost today it's easy to see we have the makings of a quite decent outfit, we just need more experience, strength and gamesmanship in our ranks. When our new captain Nunn returns and Reynolds starts, we will be a different team, like we were in the last twenty minutes today. The games come thick and fast so let's not get on the team's backs and offer more outstanding support against Maidstone on Tuesday night. There's a sense of trepidation mixed with nervous excitement as the Daggers get a new season underway against our local rivals Boreham Wood, in what marks a new era at the club. After a turbulent summer which yielded several departures, Dagenham have a fresh identity; a new manager at the helm, different backroom staff and an overhauled squad. Despite the team being young and inexperienced, Peter Taylor has already got us playing organised football in pre-season and his managerial know-how will lend itself well to what will be a challenging campaign for us, both on the pitch and behind the scenes.
With the pain from last season still cutting deep, our supporters are understandably pessimistic but Peter Taylor has injected new life into the club, especially during a time where hope seemed to have faded away. While we still can only afford to issue one-year contracts and are still asking for volunteers, the situation isn't anywhere near as bleak as it seemed just months ago. Infact, we've managed to assemble a squad better than our financial status deserves and have placed our faith mainly in young players, with experience intertwined into the side. Lamar Reynolds, our key signing, offers a bright spark to the team, and Taylor's other signings have also been astute. He's brought in Ollie Harfield at right-back, experienced Gavin Hoyte at right-back, Alex Davey in the centre, Harry Phipps in midfield and James Blanchfield, who's a central midfielder. In addition to this we've made many loan signings; Harry Donovan (CM), Ben Goodliffe (CB) and Will Wright (CB) join the team on a temporary basis and all offer something different to the side. Throughout pre-season the new signings have bedded in well and gelled much quicker than I expected. There were some niggles which make some players doubtful for the clash at Boreham Wood. Lamar Reynolds was taken off against Colchester after a scything challenge and he hasn't played a game since, with Taylor saying he might not be fit enough to start at Meadow Park. Another not to feature much in pre-season was new captain Ben Nunn who was also suffering from an injury. Elsewhere, Blanchfield is a concern, but Pennell seems to be fully fit again after a slight problem. The buildup to the clash this weekend has been extraordinary as, just on Thursday, our preparations were dealt a huge blow with the untimely sale of Michael Cheek to fellow National League outfit Ebbsfleet, who beat off competition from Boreham Wood for his signature. However, incredibly, us selling Cheek two days before the season started was outdone by Boreham Wood, who were forced to sell their prized asset Morgan Ferrier to Walsall for 35k just yesterday, on the eve of the season. Therefore, it's been a panicked few hours for both clubs as they desperately try to find replacements. For us, not having to contend with Ferrier is absolutely crucial - it's honestly the difference between potentially getting a draw and collecting three points. Ferrier was probably the best player in the division but he's not the first name Boreham Wood have had to wave goodbye to in recent weeks, as duo Grant Smith and Bruno Andrade departed for Lincoln. However, Ferrier was a bigger player for them than Cheek was to us, so that puts us in a good position ahead of the game. That said, it'll still be tough. Every curtain raiser is because teams are itching to play competitive football and nail down their place in the starting lineups. Boreham Wood may have lost most of their main players but will still provide a stern test, especially at home where they were fantastic last season. They'll know a lot about us as well given that many of our players - Nunn, Davey, Harfield and Goodliffe - have featured for them in the past. This well also add more of a fierce edge to the game, which is something many Wood/Daggers games have had in the past. Last season, 8 goals were shared in the two matches, the year before it was 6, so there will certainly be chances. The only thing I worry about is the attacking prowess of Romain and Kandi. Both are decent forwards in their own right but aren't like a Michael Cheek who will bag goal after goal. However, I'm confident that we have the players capable of breaching their defence. After all, we have a young and energetic team looking to defy expectations this season. Well, this is the time to start. Dagenham are something of an unknown quantity at the minute so literally anything could happen today. It will be a highly competitive match played on an immaculate service which will serve both teams well. Hopefully we can capitalise on Wood's highly disshevelled summer to cap Peter Taylor's first game in charge with a victory. The opening day is so important as it sets the tone for the season. A win leaves you upbeat going into a demanding run of mixtures where momentum is key. Conversely, if you start off with a loss, it's hard to pick yourself up so quickly for the next one. That's why it's so vital to get off to a good start in Hertfordshire this afternoon. So the day has finally arrived. Here we are - a brand new season. Who knows where we'll be at the end of this one? The rollercoaster begins. Let's go! Optimism will dissipate, dreams will be made and hopes will be shattered. There will be rapturous scenes of ecstasy, distraught tears of sheer pain and slammed fists of frustration but, at the end of it, two teams will soar into the promised land of the Football League. As the Vanarama National League season edges tantalisingly towards us, it promises to be as pulsating as ever with several more ambitious clubs joining a division already as strong as it has ever been, guaranteeing nine months of unpredictable, unrivalled drama. Pre-season has whet the appetite but now it's time for the main, showpiece event, so take your seat for an exhibition of excitement-inducing talent and brilliant goals. It won't all be pretty, though. Just a few months ago, Macclesfield Town defied all expectations to win the league title and were later joined by play-off winners Tranmere Rovers, taking the places of Chesterfield and Barnet, who gracelessly tumbled into non-league. However, acknowledging how fierce this division can be, both sides have recruited experienced managers in Martin Allen and John Still respectively as they look to make an immediate return to league football, but they know how hard it'll be and have made the necessary signings to do well at this level. Entering the league via the other door are Salford City, Harrogate Town, Havant & Waterlooville and Braintree Town, none of which are in the National League merely to make up the numbers. Salford's summer exploits have been well documented owing to some frankly ridiculous signings including Danny Lloyd, Nathan Pond and Adam Rooney which have reinforced their ambitions to make it a fourth promotion in the five years that the Class of 92 have been in charge of the club. They become the latest in a series of well-backed teams to grace the division including AFC Fylde and Ebbsfleet United, who will both be looking to sustain another play-off challenge after falling at the first and second hurdles last time out. Harrogate already had a team capable of pushing for a top seven spot but have supplemented this with the impressive signing of Jack Muldoon from divisional rivals Fylde, just as Havant and Waterlooville have bolstered their squad with the addition of Alfie Pavey from Dartford, for whom he scored 22 goals last season. They, too, are potential dark horses. The one promoted side who probably will struggle is Braintree Town, who defied all odds to reach this league following a two-year absence but did it while finishing sixth, 17 points behind champions Havant. They had to win three away games against higher opposition just to get here which is an incredible feat, but have since lost their captain Okoje to Bromley and haven't made many additions. Another side predicted to struggle is Gateshead, gripped by off-field issues which has seen the majority of their squad replaced by hungrier young players, but since then things have dramatically improved for the North-West outfit after their takeover was finally completed so they may have more funds at their disposal. The battle at the bottom will be just as absorbing as the one at the summit with several other outfits tipped for a season of struggle. Dagenham's new manager, Peter Taylor, has openly said he would be happy with finishing 20th, yet his side are apparently looking to emulate Macclesfield and defy all the odds. Players such as Fejiri Okenabirhie, Michael Cheek, Andre Boucaud, Mark Cousins, Dan Sparkes and Charlee Adams left the club, the latter four all to John Still's new side Barnet. They've been replaced by an overhauled, organised team containing the likes of Lamar Reynolds, Ollie Harfield and Gavin Hoyte, while they also retained players such as Ben Nunn and Matt Robinson. While the squad is of a higher calibre than fans expected, Dagenham will most likely languish in the bottom half of the table alongside the likes of Eastleigh, Maidenhead, Solihull Moors and Barrow. Eastleigh should have a similar season to last having made few acquisitions while Alan Devonshire's Maidenhead will suffer having lost many of their best players from their last campaign including Pritchard. However, they are in safe hands, just like Solihull Moors are having recruited Tim Flowers as manager. The loss of Yates to Macclesfield will be felt but Solihull have kept the core of the squad which survived comfortably in May, yet they'll find it harder this time out. Then you have Barrow, who have pinned their hopes on an inexperienced manager and a team of younger players mixed with a useful blend of experience. Despite losing players including Makoma and Diarra, Barrow have managed to assemble a team capable of pulling clear of the bottom four. Halifax have suffered a few disappointing pre-season and will hope that's not an omen for what's to come, but Jamie Fullarton - the man who steered them clear of the drop-zone last term - is more than capable of delivering a successful year. Then there's Maidstone, another team who hovered dangerously above 21st place as pressure mounted on Jay Saunders. After a quiet summer with little signings made, another difficult campaign could be in store for the Stones. Beaten by ten-man Tranmere at Wembley in the play-off final, Boreham Wood looked to go one better and signed two good defenders in Manny Parry and Femi Ilesanmi, but were dealt heavy blows by the loss of duo Grant Smith and Bruno Andrade to League Two side Lincoln, which was then followed by Morgan Ferrier joining Walsall. In addition to this, star striker Ferrier was embroiled in a controversial saga relating to the behaviour of his new agent, meaning it was a turbulent summer for the Wood. Though Luke Garrard is an excellent manager, it will be hard for him to work his magic again this year and, as competing with the clubs around them becomes increasingly difficult, they'll probably be closer to mid-table than the playoffs. Another side to suffer play-off heartbreak was Sutton United but they've regrouped well under Paul Doswell, not only keeping Tommy Wright, but also adding good players such as Dan Wishart to their ranks. They'll be hoping to cause some more surprises yet again, though being part-time has it's challenges. Aldershot Town are always a team that are there or thereabouts. They've lost defenders Alexander and Reynolds to Barnet, both important players, but have strengthened with incomings including Luke Howell and Luke Wanadio. Wanadio joins from Bromley who were amongst a cluster of sides to miss out on the play-offs last season. Their hopes of going one better seem bleak because of the departures of many big players; Louis Dennis and Brandon Hanlan amongst them. Another club who just missed out were Wrexham, who always seem to just miss out. Despite being well in contention of winning the league, they somehow contrived to miss out on the top seven altogether. Their main problems were in attack and this has possibly been solved by the signings of Mike Fondop and Jordan Maguire-Drew, the latter on loan. This, coupled with their very accomplished defence, leaves the Welsh side ready to go again. Their opening day opponents are Dover Athletic, denied a play-off spot last year by goal difference alone. They've signed Inih Effiong but lost Mitch Pinnock, Ryan Bird, Manny Parry and Femi Ilesanmi so Kinnear has his work cut out. Finally, the last side are Leyton Orient who arrived in the league in turmoil. However, in Bonne they have a great striker and he has linked up well with many other players. The signing of Alabi seemed questionable, but he's a good hold-up player so can contribute to Orient's potential play-off push. With a full season, Edinburgh can get his London outfit to shine. My predicted league table is below.
KEY DEPARTURES OF THE SUMMER:
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May 2024
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