Tottenham Hotspur and Watford draws mean Crawley Town's confidence will not be lacking - opinion

Are we enjoying the calm before the storm that the opening of the new season might bring?
Assistant manager Lee Bradbury sounded well pleased with their overall performance against Watford u23sAssistant manager Lee Bradbury sounded well pleased with their overall performance against Watford u23s
Assistant manager Lee Bradbury sounded well pleased with their overall performance against Watford u23s

Not if you consider the weather of late August which has been more than a little unsettled and nothing like calm.

The big kick off is just three days away but, although a handful of fixtures have taken place, the shortage of competitive action has been palpable.

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A few ties in the Carabao Cup were played last Saturday with Crawley Town fans most interested in the fate of reprieved Stevenage. It seemed their very brief exile as a National League club served them well as they took a two goal lead against League One Portsmouth in the opening ten minutes.

It ended three all in normal time and Portsmouth went through in the penalty shootout as Pompey keeper Scott MacGillivray saved three spot kicks.

The Reds will be keen to make their own winning start against Championship club Millwall and following their solid displays in draws against Tottenham Hotspur U23 and Watford U23 their confidence will not be lacking.

After the Watford game assistant manager Lee Bradbury sounded well pleased with their overall performance and particularly happy with Ashley Nadesan’s first goal of the season as he could well be our main scoring threat in the new campaign.

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Already the season has thrown up some aspects of good and bad. Arsenal have started top of the heap with two consecutive Wembley victories. Having won the FA Cup they have now beaten champions Liverpool in the Community Shield. Their league campaign starts with an intriguing local derby against promoted Fulham at Craven Cottage.

I enjoyed watching Chelsea beat Manchester City in the Women’s Community Shield match last Saturday. I’d love to see the equivalent Premier League fixture go the same way especially if City do manage to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona. There certainly does not seem to be any diminution in the number of top players in European leagues wishing to play in the Premier League.

Although the transfer window is open until October 5th there may well be a surge in activity this week as the big clubs try to settle their squads before the kick off. The Everton manager, Carlo Ancelotti, is obviously thinking big and if he can sign James Rodriguez as well as Brazilian midfielder Allan then perhaps the Toffees might begin to challenge their Merseyside neighbours Liverpool once again.

Local football also starts on Saturday and I hope to be able to catch up with my old club Ifield in the Mid Sussex League. There is also new interest in the next level up as Charlwood have gained promotion to the Southern Combination League. That will give them a local derby opportunity against Copthorne.

Personally I can’t wait for Saturday as I find that following football is rewarding at each and every level of the game.