MSFL Preview - Week One
With the big kick-off fast approaching, TJ assesses the hopes of the MSFL teams ahead of Sunday morning's start...
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**OPENING LEAGUE FIXTURES**
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**CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP FORST ROUND**
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PREMIER DIVISION:
Reigning champions Neasden A are unsurprisingly looking to claim a clean sweep with coach Darren Yarlett saying: "Our aims are the league title, the two Jewish cups, to go through the league season unbeaten and a good run in the non-Jewish cups."
Signings over the summer have seen Lee Platt, Richard Baum, Paul Lenchner, George Fierstone, Elliot Greene, Rob Lerner all brought in, while in terms of the key names to look out, Yarlett says: "George Fierstone is one to watch, Lee Platt's looked sharp in pre-season and Kyle Bentwood will be huge for Neasden. We'll also be getting a full season out of Sammy Ross who is back from University."
Commenting on the strengths of the side, Yarlett sums up by saying: "I think three double-doubles says it all to be honest!"
Faithfold A manager Zuriel Solomon has also earmarked his side for challenging everything that's on offer saying: "We want to go for the league title, two cups and have a good run in the non-Jewish cups."
Bringing in Ben Law and Alex Kaye, he says the whole squad working together will be key for the success of the side.
Hendon A manager David Garbacz says his side have "strong aims for the season" having come so close last year. He says: "Last year we missed out on the title by one point and came runners-up in one cup and semi finalists in another without ever really reaching top gear. This year we've strengthened the squad and there is healthy competition for places all over the park.
"Whilst obviously giving lots of respect to Neasden and Lions and the rest we are confident of giving them a big run for their money this year and hope to go one better than last season."
Bringing in four players from their folded B team, they've also added the Kon brothers - Rafi and Ben - to their midfield.
Saying brotherly love is their big strength, he adds: "We now have five sets of brothers in the squad which will inevitably leads to a great spirit and togetherness and we’ll use that to the full. We'll be strong and competitive and will be pleasing on the eye."
Lions B manager Dan Levy is expecting a very positive and competitive season, saying: "The A team are much stronger this year which will make the Bs and subsequently the Cs stronger too. Last year was disappointing but I foresee us consolidating and steering well clear of the relegation battle this season."
Having made a number of signings across the whole club, Levy adds: "For us, the team is more important than individuals. We have a number of very exciting players coming through from last year's U18s with commitment and work rate being our main strengths."
NL Raiders A return to the top flight after several years and joint-manager Danny Caro says: "Everyone at Raiders believes that we can hold our own. While most of our rivals have bolstered, we're keen to give the boys who performed so well an opportunity to show what they can do. We're certainly not just going out to make up the numbers."
Signing goalkeeper Danny Berliner and welcoming back Adam Jocelyn, Jamie Wolfson and Danny Bloom will boost them, while Caro hopes the spirit and unity within the team will be a major strength.
"Our team ethic helped us clinch the title and with competition for places around the park, we will win as a team and lose as a team. Everyone at the club is looking forward to the new season. The hardest task will be to select the starting XI for the first match."
Neasden B manager Ryan Glynne says the objective of his side this season will be to consolidate their position in the division.
Bringing in Danny Daggers, Zack White, Adam Harvey and Danny Piler, he says the success of the team will be based on the while squad performing well - "everyone is looking to prove themselves - they all believe they can be key players."
Saying they have a few strengths and weaknesses which they're trying to iron out, he is though confident that they will be ready for Sunday's big kick-off.
Redbridge A's Adam Hakimi is aiming his sights high when saying: "We're aiming to challenge in all competitions we enter - the league and both cups.
"We've promoted some young, strong players from the B team and have players returning from season-long injuries."
Citing Ben Sollosi, Sam van Gelder and Lewis Walker as key players, he adds: "We haven't lost any players we wanted to and team spirit is at an all time high!"
South Manx A manager Craig Edwards says he hopes his side will be fighting for the title, having strengthened the squad over the summer, saying: "we also expect a good cup run - either way we're confident we'll get our first piece of silverware this year."
Ben Lampert, Dominic Cheniert, Mark Harris, Josh Greenham, Shim Ben Sour,
Edward Alexson, Ben Zloof have all been added to the squad, while Edwards also feels in terms of pace in the side, his side are the quickest of the league. He adds: "We are far stronger individually and more experienced than last year."
Southgate A say their aim for the season is consolidation in the league, and have brought in Toby Lustigman, Alex Norman, Adam Vellerman, Stefan Benfredj and Saf Offir to try and do that.
With the whole team being put forward as their key players, the strength of the side, in particular, has been put forward as their goalkeeper, and Ben Murrell.
Lions A complete the line-up.
DIVISION ONE:
Brady have a new manager at the helm in Joshua Rosenfeld and he's pinpointed promotion as his side’s aim this season.
"We're looking to push on from last year and our aim of course is promotion - otherwise what's the point of being here? We always expect the best from our side and believe there’s is no reason why we can't achieve our goal if we all work hard together."
Having lost all but three players of last season's playing squad, Rosenfeld says he has "a squad of 18 new boys who are fully committed and technically very good, and everyone involved is looking forward to the season ahead."
Chigwell Athletic manager Richard Slater says his side are aiming for the title. "There's no question about it", he says, "you have to aim high for sure. The boys finished strongly last season, managed to push us into the top four and gained promotion, albeit via the back door. We've strengthened the squad massively over the summer and now Glenn & I have assembled a squad I believe can win Division One, and a squad not far from where we were during 2001-2008."
The club’s all-time leading goalscorer Steve Summers returns to the set-up as does former captain Daniel Castle, while Adam Shafron, Russell Brill, Michael Witzenfeld and Dean Ben-Yosef are all returning faces. James Ryan and Sam Rosenthal are also joining up.
Talking about the strengths of his side, he says: "The spirit within the club is and always has been superb. There's been countless games over the past 10 years where the spirit, desire and togetherness have won us matches we had no right to win. That's something you either have at a club or don't, regardless of player's ability."
FC Team A manager Mitch Young says he hopes to be challenging at the top of the table and says a great achievement would be clinching promotion.
He says: "Division One is a massive step up to what we have been used to playing in and it will be a very tough challenge. I believe if we can get off to a good start then we will be in the reckoning, but the division will be very tight. As always we are also hoping for a decent cup run."
Ollie Segal, Dan Silverman, Jake Weiner, Jules Noti, Jon Breger, Adam Rones, Rich Sternberg and Richard Salmon have all been brought in from their Saturday team, while Justin Simons, Marc Hecht, Jason Wood and Yoni Benarihave also joined the squad.
Lions C’s Jamie Kyte says he's hoping for promotion at the end of the season - having achieved that at the end of last season. "I believe a realistic ambition is to get another successive promotion," he says. "At Lions we always say shoot for the stars and an optimistic outlook can never go amiss."
New signings see Danny Carr, Josh Colman, and Ilan Ben Zion join the ranks, with Kyte saying: "All players in our team play an integral part of our season. The unity is our strength, even though we have a much changed team. We’ve been gelling well in pre- season and we hope to continue this unison into the season."
NL Raiders B manager Rob Richman says he's hoping his side can build on last season's title-winning success, saying: "We'll try and continue our good form from last season and make sure that every week we go out and enjoy our football. We're under no illusions that division one will be a big step up but we are very excited by the challenge."
Dan Grossman will add strength to their defence, though Richman says: "I have full faith that the players who did so well for us last year will be able to make the step up to division one.
"We have a good nucleus of young players who get better every year, but the whole squad contributed last year and the same will be expected this season.
"We've good strength in depth with good quality players throughout the side.
Previously we were very reliant on a handful of players, but now have a squad that we hope should be a match for most division one teams."
Michael Winehouse is the new manager of Redbridge B and says: "We're looking to for a top-four finish this season, with our squad being the best of last season's B and C sides. We have a strong team ethic. It's all change at Redbridge - which is great for the club."
Southgate Harmen B are a late addition to the division, and manager Mark Engel intends to enjoy the opportunity given to them. He says: "We're looking to enjoy the season with no pressure or challenges apart from what we put on ourselves. We've signed some great young players and are looking to grow as a team and improve individually. We've some exciting players, a good work ethic and a great spirit in the squad. Pre-season has gone well so far and hopefully we can continue this in to the regular season."
Daniel Amram, Jamie Myers, Marc Cohen, Michael Rhodes and Anthony Haymen have been drafted in, while Engel says their strengths will be “the team spirit, a good mix of experience and youth and a strong central midfield. Some of the players haven’t played at this level before, but this is a great opportunity for them to prove themselves."
Camden Park have gone through something of a revolution over the summer as while Justin Rockberger will be carrying on as team manager, team rep will be Jamie Lustigman.
The club have recruited a dozen or so 21-year-olds, which has been mainly down to Nick Kagan, who’s been with the club over the last three years as a "uni" boy.
There is though still a core of old boys with Rick Harris, Phil Caplin, Rob Kaplan, Rob Pearl, Lee Dicker, Darren Young, Lee Levenson and Gideon Barnett.
Montana Boca A and Oakwood complete the line-up.
DIVISION TWO:
Brixton Old Boys manager John Nitka says he wants to finish as champions and return to the top flight in two years time as that's where they deserve to be.
"Having been relegated - although not deservedly so bearing in mind teams who finished fifth in division two got promotion - we aim to finish the season as champions and then after a season in division one get promoted to the Premier league where we should be anyway.
"We've made a few new signings and now have a squad good enough to make the necessary challenge. We're a team so there are no individual heroes but we will all be heroes come the end of the season."
Rob Shooman says his Faithfold B side are aiming for promotion and possibly the title, having brought in seven new players from various clubs, from both within and outside of the MSFL.
Reflecting on his squad, he says: "They've all trained hard during the close season and are very much up for the start - we are very much a team this year.
"We're much more physically prepared this season, are more stronger and mobile and don't know how to give up or lose."
Hendon United Sports Club B side manager Chaim Gothold expects nothing less than a title challenge this year.
"Considering that the majority of the team will have played in the premier division last season, we would expect to be challenging for the title," he says.
Although they haven't made any signings from outside the club, they have brought in some C team players that he feels can strengthen the squad, while he believes Natan Weisenberg, Alex Neiss and Gav Noe are three players who are "way too good for this division."
Looking to the positives, he adds: "We have a strong nucleus, and should score goals for fun. We may struggle, however, if key players get injured."
Montana Boca B manager Nick Goodmaker says he wants to see his side challenging for the title right till the end of the season, and not trailing off top spot in March like they did last year.
He says: "We started strongly last season but came unstuck due to not having enough strength in depth. Luckily we still went up and I'd hope to be pushing at the top end of the table come the end of the season."
He's brought in Ryan Springer, Benji Lever, Marc Posner, Bradley Cohen, Andy Bord and Matt Elash to try and ensure that, while Ryan Springer and Bradley Cohen have been labelled as the ones to watch.
Norstar A manager Phil Peters is hoping for less rain and for his side to gain promotion - hopefully as division two champions having been pipped to the post for the title over the last two years.
He says: "We've brought in a bit of flair and width to add balance to the squad, with David Shamash, Adam Kaldor, Adam Goldsmith, Anthony Goodmaker and Simon Perlmutter all joning. As for any weaknesses…now that would be telling."
Lee Fegan says his Temple Fortune A side can enjoy great success in the division – and that they have a squad capable of achieving that.
Having brought in Scott Shindler, David Gance, Alex Lewis and Michael Goldberg, Fegan says: "Keeping all our regulars are amazing signings in itself. Every player will be key to us and we’re very pleased with the strength and depth we have in midfield.
"Our strength has to be our team camaraderie; we're all winners and will not give up until we win. Our only weakness is we have no sympathy for our opponents."
Woodford Wanderers' Daniel Segal says his aims for the season is promotion, though they’ve brought in just David Green as they try to do that.
Citing Jamie Golding, Jerome marks and Darren Ezekiel as their key players for the campaign, goals have been put forward as their main strength.
L'Equipe manager Gideon Chain says he's excited for the coming season. "We suffered a number of injuries towards the end of last season which really affected our overall progress but we are now back to full strength, with a number of new signings, and a brand new management team including Joey Kolirin as first team coach.
"Our club has been built on exceptional team spirit and loyalty, as well as world class ability, and we will look to exploit this over the coming season."
The club have brought in a number of signings over the summer - Antony Wolf-Cowan (striker), Jonny Sacker (Left-back), Ben Kanter (Centre-back), Mike Silverberg (Right-back/wing) and Jonny Alexander (Goalkeeper).
In terms of key players, Wolf-Cowan, Yoni Conway and Paul Rubenstein have been cited as the names to watch.
Their full squad is: Gideon Chain, Daniel Cordell, Jonny Alexander, Antony-Wolf Cowan, Daniel Caplan, Yoni Conway, Jason Miller, Mike Silverberg, David Prager, Mark Singer, Ben Kanter, Jonny Sacker, Paul Rubenstein, Josh Lewis, Julian Bohm, Joey Kolirin, Peter Chaya , Ian Baron
FC Team B and FC Marylebone complete the line-up.
DIVISION THREE:
FC Heath and Rapid Banta have merged leading manager Ben Nathan to hope this will enable them to challenge for promotion.
He says: "The merger means we're starting from scratch, with the squad equally divided by Heath players, Banta players and new players. This should keep everyone on their toes and allow for a lot of competition for places which is only a good thing.
"Every member of the squad is a ball player and all are very comfortable with the ball at their feet. We aim to play football this year the right way and win promotion doing so. Our only weakness is that with such a new squad players don't know each other well enough yet, but it will only improve as the weeks go on."
Real Life captain Ed Lewin says his side are looking for promotion, saying: "This is a tough league to get out of but with our experienced squad we have the mental strength and the talent to win promotion."
Adding Nick Stone and Saul Weitzman to the squad, they're still on the lookout for a goalkeeper, and will once more be relying on Charlie Bernstein to find the back of the net.
Reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses, he says: "We've kept the core of the same squad for years so know each other well and the team spirit is great.
What we need to work on from last season is the consistency of performance. At times we were sublime and a handful for anyone - but too many weeks we let ourselves down being below par. Beaumont's challenge is to raise us to the highest of standards every week."
Rob Lerner has retaken the reigns at Holy Mount Zion and says: "after a pretty disastrous season last year, consolidation is the main aim. That said, we feel that with a bit of luck we can be in the top half of the table."
Having lost and brought in a few players in equal measure, he says: "I'm hoping for a positive impact from the new signings. Captain Dan Lowen, Yves Florentin-Lee and Eddie Walton will be our key names, and while our biggest strength is our experience, our weakness is our age."
Catford & Bromley are looking to improve on last season which manager Adam Lewis says was the worst in living memory. He says: "Having survived relegation due to the league restructuring, we're looking to rebuild the club, strengthen the squad and look to move back up the divisions.
"We're building our squad, have a few old players coming back from long-term injuries, including David Lee and Oliver Hitman, and in some ways they're better than having new signings. We've got a couple of players coming into MSFL football for the first time and I think they'll add some quality to our team. If we can get fit and organised, I think we'll be able to match most other teams in any area of the pitch."
"Our greatest strength is probably our spirit. We were very close to folding after the end of last season but the players we have now really wanted to fight to keep the club going. I'm happy that the players we're adding to that core will be enough to see us be much more competitive in 2010/2011."
Redbridge C manager Richard Bronzite says the aim of his side is to quite simply finish as high as they can. "Having no idea what the competition is like," he says, "I'm only hoping to finish as high as possible, but we’re always pushing to go further."
Something of a transitional stage with the C’s having had a major overhaul with the B side, Bronzite isn't quite sure what to expect yet, though says "the whole squad will be important, and we’ll perform as a team – one which hopefully has no weaknesses."
Under new manager Rob Silverman, Team JLGB are looking for a strong season and are expecting to be able to compete with every team in the division. Silverman says: "Anything less than mid-table will be very disappointing. We've made some impressive signings including Lee Bennett who has come out of retirement, Josh Danan from Redbridge Matt West from FC Marlybone, as well as Rob Levene, Adam Capal and Alex Skinner entering the league for the first time.
"Other sides will have to watch out for Matt West who I expect to be a maestro in midfield, the experienced and classy Paul Black who can run a game from midfield and the deadly Joe Cullum in attack. There's also no better finisher than veteran Neil Lux when 100 percent fit."
Confident going into the new season, he adds: "We have strength in depth and a very good player in every position, our first 11 would easily be competing for the title, but availability of players means this will not be the case!
"We have historically had a very strong defence and this will be tested this season without stalwart Fraser Levy. We were also the third top scorers in the entire league last year, so goals shouldn't be a problem!"
UJIA manager Darren Rolfe has pinpointed another title saying, having won the division four championship last season. He says: "Our aim is to win another title or gain promotion. We've signed a couple of players from Brixton and Neasden, while Matt Radstone, Oli Henry, Brad and Dave Cohen will be the key players for us this year. Our strengths are our new home pitch at the Hive and our great squad."
Glenthorne A are back in business this year with manager David Blitz saying: "Following promotion last season I would like to think we could do the same again. It's important that whatever happens we continue to grow as a club and push forward.
"We've managed to keep hold of most of our squad from last season and added to this with youth and experience. We play as a team and everyone is important to ensure success. Goals in this division are important so it is vital we keep our goal tally up."
Zig Zag manager Neal Cohen is another manager who has high hopes for his side. He said: "We are going for the title and have brought in Ash Ilsen, Paul Cowen, Ben Mandal and Phil Koffman over the summer. Josh Toff, Laurence Rosenthal, Dan Ezra, Josh Flax and Nick Levy will be our key names and our strength is we never give up. Too many fags before the game is one of our weaknesses though!"
Faithfold C and Norstar B complete the line-up.
DIVISION FOUR:
Several new teams will be making their MSFL debut this season, with Los Blanocs manager Joel Minsky saying his team can challenge for the title. He says: "As a new team consisting of a young squad with little experience at this level, our initial expectations were merely to produce a strong platform in the form of a mid-table finish - something to build on in future years. However, after promising pre-season results and being in the knowledge that our squad will mature game by game we are now in the belief that we can mount a serious challenge for promotion, and if we learn quickly enough perhaps even the title.
"Taking inspiration from the original Los Blancos over in Spain, we've secured the signatures of 25 of our very own Galacticos."
Adam Hersh and Dany Kon will be their main offensive threats, while Josh Hirschowitz as been labelled as their 'immovable force'.
"Our strengths and weaknesses are the fact that we have a new team with a young squad. Whilst our team is full of enthusiastic, determined and capable footballers, we are lacking the general experience at this level, but hopefully we should improve game by game in this aspect, as we have already seen in our progress over pre-season.
"Our strengths with respect to our ability on the field come in the form of our pace and wide range of attacking options. Once we learn how to make the most of such strengths, we should become a force to be reckoned with."
Shirley Park player-manager Dan Oade says his side will be aiming to push for promotion. A side who will be hard to predict, he says: "We have no strengths or weaknesses - we're completely unpredictable but are ready to roll!"
Adding some Birmingham Jews to their ranks - including the three Bushell brothers - they've also coerced Nolan Burns and Scott Belasco out of retirement. Aron Jackson, Adam Redhouse and Ilan Shaki are expected to form a strong defence, Oade himself hoping to deliver the goals.
Oluseum Thomas is in charge of Inter Borehamwood and is confident that after a tricky start, they could flourish. He says: "I feel we will have teething problems as we begin to gel but the class I believe to posses in the squad will prevail. As we are a new team I believe if we play to our potential we will be there at the end of the season."
Feeling he has a 'good sized squad' having signed a complete new squad of players, he adds: "We have a great squad so my key players are everywhere. We’re a team who believe a good performance can only be counted when it is by a full team rather than individuals.
"I believe we have great strength in our ability and our weakness is concentration."
Having folded at the start of last season, Louis Taylor, manager of the re-formed Neasden C says it's side's aim to be winning the title this season.
"We're aiming to be promoted, hopefully by winning the title," he says. "Our overall aim is to get the enjoyment back into playing Sunday league Jewish football - none of the usual moaning, complaining and arguing. Well, not much anyway."
Richard Jacobs, from Rapid Banta and Aron Lewis on a free transfer are set to be their key players, while Taylor says they have an advantage over all the other sides in the division, in that "we have solid keeper in Ross Kester which is what all the other teams crave for. The trickery and delivery of wingers Dan Parnell and Joel Kanutin is also sure to put all opponents to the test."
Glenthorne B's Elliott Coulton says anything but the title will be deemed as a failure. Sam Rank, Kenny Ross and Eli Brent have been the names drafted in over the summer to try and realise his expectations, while he says Rank, James Law and Mitchell Ross will be the names to look out for.
"Our strengths are that we are a team with no big individuals. We don’t have any weaknesses."
Athletic Bilbaum manager Joshua Magidson hasn't set his sights too high, though does have his eye on silverware of sorts. He says: "After narrowly missing out on promotion last season, we're looking to take that extra step this year and finish in sixth. We also fancy our chances of winning the "best kit" award, "most original mascot" trophy and the "manager most likely to be a page three model" shield."
Edward Green, Magidson and Joshua Ejdelbaum will be their standout performers.
Blizzard Storm manager Seb Vandermolen is excited ahead of the new kick-off, saying "we are looking in good shape with a good squad morale. I think we can certainly step up from last year and mix it in the top half of the division.
"We've entered all the competitions this year, and I fancy us to have a great run in the Minor Cup should it return this year. Our division is going to be tough just like last year, on our day we are a match for anyone and proved that by taking four points off UJIA who went on to win the league."
Citing Adam Nathan as "a major transfer signing” from Faithfold B, and a star in the making", Michael Woolf and Alex Rubin also join the ranks, as do Lee Caplin, Jason Green, and Dean Shaw, while last season’s 20-goal man Joel Kutner is once more the man to watch.
Pinner JFC have a new manager at the helm in Vivian Emanuel and he hopes for an improved performance from the club who over the past few seasons, have struggled at the foot of the table.
He says: "My hope is that we can battle well within the division where for the last three seasons we have struggled against teams we should have easily beaten. I want to build a strong squad around what we currently have.
"We've made ten new signings this season and managed to keep hold of Jordan Segal who is a key player for me this season - anything up to 30 yards from goal and you can bet he'll hit the target. New signing Yaacov Goldin is one to watch, while Marc Peterman is a great player who is versatile and can play in midfield or up front.
"As with every year we need to strengthen and are looking for centre backs with experience and knowledge of how to read the game."
There's a change around at Jewventus with Gabriel John now taking charge, with Reuben John his assistant, Oliver Weingarten named captain, with Aron Tyler vice-captain.
Mark Martell, Jeremy Kornhauser, Serge Cowan, Robert Cohen, Gab Stone and Michael Lax have all been added to the squad.
Hendon United Sports Club C, NL Raiders C and Temple Fortune B complete the line-up.
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MILLET SPORT
