A look at the Posh as our season preview winds down before the big kick-off
BACK IN the Championship after an absence of just one season, the 2011-12 campaign was all about survival for Peterborough United – something they achieved with relative ease.
The loss of Watford fan Craig Mackail-Smith to Brighton for £3.25m might have been a blow, but as ever Darren Ferguson re-invested some of the proceeds shrewdly and the club continue to churn out rough diamonds at an impressive rate.
The most recent such example is Paul Taylor, a well-travelled but still youthful striker who is now on the transfer list having failed to agree a new contact at London Road. No one individual is bigger than the club and that message was re-enforced when star forward George Boyd and club captain Grant McCann were both transfer listed too. The message from Director of Football Barry Fry is simple, if you enter the last 12 months of your contract without agreeing a new one, you`re on the list.
Strengths: From an economic point of view, Peterborough must be one of the best in the division. They never shell out enormous fees, preferring to secure young, undiscovered talent from the lower leagues before developing the player and selling it on at a profit, much like Watford have in recent years. This creates a squad with few, if any, egos and a very clear business model which is obvious to all within the club.
Weakness`: This is not a desperately deep squad. Take out the transfer listed players – five in total, the aforementioned plus Mark Little and striker Nicky Ajose, and Ferguson Jnr is left with a very thin first-team squad. However, this is no different to normal at London Road and with youngster such as Kgoshi Nthle coming through, he will have to call upon the services of his academy prospects over the course of the year.
Best business so far: The capture of former Torquay United ‘keeper Robert Olejnik.
The 25 year-old stopper impressed at Plainmoor last season, his only season with the Gulls, having previously earned rave reviews in the SPL with Falkirk, where he chalked up over 100 appearances.
Born in Vienna, Austria, the 6`2 ‘keeper came through the youth ranks at Aston Villa before moving north of the border.
Star man: Temperamental winger-cum-striker Lee Tomlin.
At 23 years-old, the former Rushden & Diamonds attacker has impressed during a two-year spell with the Posh. Born in Liverpool, the 5`11 winger has represented his country at ‘C` level, international level for non-league players, during his time with Rushden.
Tomlin`s temper has often got him in trouble in the past, and to that end, has collected several red cards during his short career for aggressive offences.
In: Nathaniel Kingh-Percival (Wrexham) free transfer, Tyrone Barnett (Crawley Town) £800k, Shaun Brisley (Macclesfield Town) undisc, Danny Swanson (Dundee Utd) free transfer, Robert Olejnik (Torquay Utd) undisc, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Wolves) undisc, Michael Bostwick (Stevenage) undisc & Jonson Clarke-Harris (Coventry City) free transfer.
Out: Joe Lewis, Paul Jones & David Ball (all released).
Prediction:
wfc123: An indifferent summer at Peterborough United, a few senior pro`s depart, a few youngsters arrive. It`s worked for a number of years now & I can`t see that changing now. Another solid, comfortable season: mid to lower-table.
chrisgwfc: Did ok last season but fell away in the second half of the season. Haven’t pulled up any trees in the transfer market and may need a good start if they are to stay up again.
Along with The Tykes, Peterbough are my favorites for the drop… 3rd team still undecided…