The mighty Stockport County!

[Bridgey@Stockport]

A sleeping giant they are not, but the mighty Stockport County have had a big fall from grace in the recent past.

Shafted by the Sale Sharks owner who bought them for their ground and then left them out in the cold to fend for themselves, they dropped through the leagues and hit non league with a massive bump. A few managers here and there and a stagnation for a while meant the club and supporters needed a change!

They were semi pro for a while but they have since been taken over by a man who has purpose, vision and more importantly a love for Stockport! Mark Stott has turned the fortunes of this special club around and in turn he has replaced Dave Challinor with a surprise appointment Mike Bridge.

Dave can feel massively unlucky, since he is responsible for getting Stockport going in the right direction, getting the right players in and playing attacking, attractive football meant the fans returned to match days in droves! Mark felt that Dave couldn't take them much further on their rise and has taken a punt with FFO Manager Mike Bridge.

Mike has had stints with Norwich, Benfica, Parma and Stoke. With a few more caretaker roles in between. He hasn't hit the heights he surely will have wanted in the game and is hungry to help his home town team hit the pinnicle of the English leagues. He inherits as said before a great team with some young gems who will definitely look to improve themselves at this club. He will undoubtedly look to improve the team before the start of the new season to see if he can carry on the meteoric climb back up the leagues.

Mike is very aware he has a reputation to rebuild, he has the knowledge and with the bit between is teeth is a match for anyone. Maybe he has been hindered with squad quality in the past, but he will need to change his ideas slightly and get stuck in in the auction. His morals will definitely be the cause his previous teams have failed to catch up.

Arguably, his transfers for his previous teams haven't been the best, when asked about this he raised a great point in regards to the best way to bridge the "Quality" gap in teams. He made a big decisions and stood by them to go "old" and bring loans in. His point was the older better players we're cheaper and therefore what his team at the time needed. The teams didn't have a "worldie" player they could cash in on and ultimately his rigid Auction stance caused him further issues.

Bridge has met with his new team a few times and can already see a massive difference in the team structure. He finally has players he can build a competitive squad around. Plus not only carry on the rebuild of Stockport, but the rebuild of himself too! Bridge would be open to trades if they were too good to turn down, his office is always open to offers!

Asked for further comment on how he feels he had this to say:

"You've not actually seen the real me in FFO up to now! I've been given a clean slate and been given a team I can help grow rather than be just a number. I'm so excited to get going Stockport will always be close to my heart and to get them where they belong in the football pyramid is my ultimate goal!"

His next job is to see the lads and work out how they will play next season. Work out a formation that fits the players he has. He is really happy with the squad and it's depth though, but with some cash set aside by Stott he will be fully backed to improve the side further.

When asked if Bridge was a risky appointment Stott said "Absolutely not, he's a local lad and knows when it means to the community. He will have my full support to be able to perform to his best ability. He has his objectives for this season and we will work as a team to achieve them!"

So, exciting times for Stockport County and a new massive challenge for Mike Bridge! Lets see how they get on!

[Bridgey@Stockport]

County Update!

With pre season well underway Mike Bridge has been busy in the back ground trying to strengthen his team for the season ahead. Unfortunately, things have not gone according to plan and there have been no major signings coming in, only a squad player of note coming in. County fans were left a little subdued when they heard their talisman K_Wootton had his head on the chopping block as he made a big move to Bayer Leverkusen. When quizzed about this Bridge defended his actions and said "Kyle came into training last week and asked for the transfer. I explained he was going to be our main man this season, but he was adamant he wanted a new challenge. I'm not one for standing in any players way! We will take the money and re invest!"

It looks as though County will try and replace Wootton after the auction. Looking to pick up a bargain after other teams take a player in the auction. Let's hope they do replace him as they look light upfront without Wootton!

[Bridgey@Stockport]

Gnonto signs for Stockport!

Stockport made big waves in the auction recently and the fans went wild. County were able to get their main target and replace their talisman Wootton in one fell swoop!

Stott the main financial backer for Stockport explained that most if not all of the clubs budget was spent on the young special player!

Bridge went on record to say “I’m ecstatic! Gnonto will develop so much at the club and has a chance of being a club legend! He fits in with the youth project we have here and with the young spine of the team. We will need to add to these guys, but we will do our best to get them to their ceiling!”

So, the future of the club looks to be in great hands with the potential of the squad. Let’s hope they start the season strong and push hard.

[Bridgey@Stockport]

Stockport County’s wheeling and dealings!

Since the auction ended Mike Bridge has been frantically looking through the teams in various leagues to re structure his squad.

Reports from the club have stated that he’s under the impression he doesn’t have the right players for the formation he wants to use.

Rather than use a formation he’s unfamiliar with to fit his players, he’s bitten the bullet and has pushed for further transfers. Players had to leave to make this happen as the financial backing for the club has stated all the budget was spent on the auction.

Bridge started by seemingly listing both Tom Ince and a cheap copy of Harry Kane. 9m came in from the Ince deal with him heading off for a dream move to Real Madrid. Bridge then used that 9m and Harry Kane to bring in a big upgrade in defence with the Andre Wisdom signing. He then shifted on a squad player in R_Haps to bring in a better squad Striker to support the first team strikers if injuries and suspensions hit.

Overall from the outside in it seems Bridge will look to play 5 at the back, which some fans initially seem unhappy with. Hopefully with a better defence he will be able to put out a more attacking team. Fans don’t want the defensive football on show that he used at Stoke in his last job where he ended up getting them relegated.

Were sure there won’t be any further dealings at county before the season starts, but Bridge’s revolving door policy will mean that this isn’t nailed on!

[Bridgey@Stockport]

County Update!

Reports we're circling the media early on Thursday morning reporting that I_Touray, one of County's main defenders had been involved in a training ground bust up with an unconfirmed member of staff. Speculation was rife that this could be with the manager Mike Bridge, however, nothing has been confirmed with the club. A few clubs have stated they've been offered I_Touray in deals to seemingly get him out of the club.

With the clubs recent transfer activity, Touray's first team place is very much under threat. This has lead fans to believe he's trying to help the club push him out to get a pay off. With Bridge having 6 main defenders now surely he will try and replace Touray with a midfielder. One thing is for certain Bridge will look to drive a good bargain for the club whether it will be for cash or for the right replacement in a swap.

There isn't much time left in the final transfer window to get a deal done. However, things can develop very quickly in FFO world. Will he go or will he stay. Hopefully, he will show what kind of player he really is, stay and help develop the younger players in the team.

[Bridgey@Stockport]

Breaking News!

The news coming out of Stockport County this evening involving the swift release of both I_Touray and N_Powell. Both players having been replaced by midfielders L_Bras and veteran midfielder M_Hamsik.

On the way out of the training ground County manager Mike Bridge had this to say “ Touray and Powell, we’re allegedly leaking stories to the media about the squad. Not only that they were poor performers in training! They had to go and that is what happened. I told the chairman I want them gone and he backed me 100%. The guys that come in Bras will definitely be a squad player but will get minutes on the pitch. Hamsik is a proven international and will definitely be backup to freshen the squad up. Hamsik will cost us a minimal 500k and his wages. Such a steal for his experience!”

So, Bridge has managed to reduce the age of the first eleven, while improving it. He’s then added experience to the bench with older players requiring less minutes. The County fans can definitely see this pre season as a success and will certainly get behind the team in the upcoming pre season tournament. Paired with Inter Milan, Benfica and Atalanta it will be a massive test that the players and manager will certainly look forward to. Either way win or lose its minutes in the bank and experimenting with these players and formations.

Let’s see what the County boys can do!

[Bridgey@Stockport]

The real Hatters!

Stockport County the team (like Luton) who are nicknamed the Hatters started pre season with a humbling on neutral ground against European giants Inter Milan. The one sided 3-0 loss meant that after the first round of games County were bottom of the group.

The manager Mike Bridge had this to say about the game “This game was a free hit, not expecting to get anything from the game the lads gained massive experience and they’ll learn a lot from it! Yes were bottom but I expect the next two group games to be more competitive.”

Next up County played Atalanta, and the result was much more positive the ‘Real’ Hatters running out 4-1 winners. The fans loved the performance, which flipped the group. County going from bottom to second.

Benfica up next, it’ll be a close game and with qualification for the winners knock out stage still up for grabs, although a friendly tournament I can see this being very competitive and go all the way.

Good luck everyone in group C and good luck to all other teams across the groups!

[Bridgey@Stockport]

More questions than answers!

With Stockport County’s pre season comp coming to an abrupt end, after a great second game in the group. Mike Bridge has a lot of issues to address. From that great 4-1 result it’s been nothing more than poor.

A thrashing in the next game against Benfica and they ended up bottom of the group and moving on to play in the knock outs of the plate cup.

They were then put out by an experienced Wolves side. Meaning that the brief seasonal joy was extinguished.

Who are the best starting 11? What is the best formation?

These questions will need to be answered after the season starts, which is far from ideal! But if we know Mike Bridge he’ll give his all to get this team firing!

[Bridgey@Stockport]

Stockport County fire sale!

After the previous press conference the breaking news circling the club referred to County panic selling players. Seemingly related to the poor pre season, but we’re not too sure how accurate this is.

Rumours followed the ‘panic sales’ story relating to Mike Bridge losing the dressing room and the sales were to ‘quell’ the uprising/mutiny.

This isn’t the due day time Bridge has fallen out with his players, Kyle Wooton being the main name that springs to mind and also Touray and Nick Powell. Players who had a great connection with the previous manager Dave Challinor.

A concrete name being linked with the next exit is F_Downes, a defensive midfielder, who in the pre season has found himself at full back and not looking the best playing out of position. It looks like there is no way back for him.

County have had a few offers for him but nothing close to his valuation. If he does leave that will make ten players of the squad Bridge took over who have been pushed out of the door.

Let’s hope that if Downes does leave he’s replaced with a top player no matter which position the player comes in at. That said County are pretty safe in the keeper and Striker departments.

All this negative noise puts early pressure on Bridge to perform! Each player from the previous regime he pushes out means his excuses are dwindling. He can no longer blame the previous manager and his players, let’s hope he knows what he’s doing or at least can stick to his unknown ‘solid’ plan to take the team forward!