Crewe Preview
As some teams are still contemplating the finish of this season, forward thinking Crewe today revealed their plans for the coming season.
League
After promotion this season, a realistic Crewe only have one aim for the new season, and that is to not get drawn into a relegation scrap. In what will be a tough division featuring the likes of Reading, Hull, Leicester and Doncaster, Crewe are said to be glad that they won't have to add Scunthorpe to that formidable list of opponents, having been demolished by them last season.
Cups
Following last season's Cup final appearance, Crewe manager Sean has warned the fans not to expect a repeat performance this season. After receiving all home draws last season(final aside), Crewe made very little money in the cups, and are believed to want an away tie at Manchester United, Liverpool, or Arsenal this season to help out financially. The club have also commited themselves to joining the EC106 Youth cup.
Departures
With the introduction of transfer budgets next season, Crewe will not be selling anyone in the close season, and will await the first day of season 9 to sell their transfer listed pair of Marcelinho and Perez. 90 rated Marcelinho was a key player this season for Crewe, but his £43,500 wages are said to be too much for Crewe to pay any one player, and Ajax look to be the likely destination as top bidders with 8.1million. 88 rated Gk Oscar Perez spent last season on loan at Colchester United, and his likely destination is Dynamo Kyev who lead with a £3.8m bid. Czech forward Jan Koller and Finnish midfielder Tim Sparv are also set to leave when their transfer bans expire. But Crewe are not intending to go down the route of fellow promotee's Notts County, who seem to be in the middle of a squad wise revamp
Arrivals
End of season arrivals Joe Allen, Paul Slade and Pawel Abbott are all unlikely to get a league game this season, but the club will be treating Eljero Elia as a new signing when he returns from loan following tomorrow nights play-off final for Wycombe. Elia was shipped out on loan the day he signed for Crewe in an attempt to aclimatise himself to English football.
Crewe are expected to bring in a midfielder to replace Marcelinho, but other than that they are not expected to be bringing in any other big money signings. Crewe manager Sean is known to be interested in Preston's Pocognoli, but with Assou-Ekkotta and Marcao in the squad, a move for another left back is highly unlikely. It is also well known that Crewe are interested in Crystal Palace's Rhys Williams, but know Mr Holt is highly unlikely to agree to a sale, and have no intention of stretching the exceptional working relationship between the 2 clubs by trying to tap up young Rhys.
Another player to have taken the eye of Crewe is young Georgian midfielder Irakli Klimiashvili, currently playing for Georgian champions FC Wit
Loans
Crewe used several loan players last season at various times, mostly on short term loans, however Russian winger Marat Izmailov stood out for the club on loan from Manchester United, with 4 goals in 13 games, and a string of outstanding performances. Once again Crewe are expected to be keen on aquiring a top loan or two at key points of the season.
Key players
Argentinian midfielder Sebastián Battaglia has been a sensation since joining and was installed as club captain following a string of outstanding performances, with key goals in several games for the club.
Cameroonian defender Benoît Assou Ekotto was a key player for Crewe last season, an ever-present early season, Crewe's form started to dip following a knee injury that put him out for several weeks.
Mario Yepes was a surprise buy for Crewe, but his experience help keep Crewe from total meltown at the end of the season. Crewe's management have privately proclaimed that Mario was the key to helping Crewe snatch their final few points in the season
Players to watch
Despite having yet to pull on a Crewe shirt, Dutch forward Eljero Elia has mad a big impact whist on loan at Wycombe, with 5 goals in 10 games, including ones against Crewe and Oxford.
Having arrived at Crewe with low confidence following an unsuccesful spell at Selhurst Park Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic will be hoping to make a name for himself in season 9. A Croatian international who once scored past England, Mario is a creative player who is expected to create many a goal this coming season.
