Are Bromley ready for the new challenge?
With a little over two weeks until Bromley’s League Two curtain-raiser at Harrogate Town, Andy Woodman faces a unique challenge.
EFL regulations dictate that the transfer window will close at 11pm on Friday 30th August. Andy might be entering his fourth season in the Bromley hot seat, but this is the first time he has encountered such a scenario.
Non-league clubs have the luxury of dipping into the market at numerous points during the season. In the Football League, that safety net is pulled from under you, meaning newbies like Bromley must adjust to getting their business done early.
The question is whether Andy Woodman has added the necessary quality and depth to sustain a challenge on multiple fronts.
Let’s look at his work so far.
Goalkeeper
A top-quality goalkeeper was always going to be needed, both to challenge Grant Smith and to offer injury cover. Andy has often stated his desire to have two number ones at the club and I suspect he feels he has achieved that in recruiting Lincoln City youngster Sam Long.
You may recall that Sam had a brief loan spell with Bromley two seasons ago. Injury curtailed his stay, but he clearly impressed Andy Woodman, who knows a good keeper when he sees one.
Since then, Sam has gone on loan to Falkirk in Scottish League One, where he made 25 appearances in a season that culminated with promotion to the Scottish Championship.
He is only 21 years old, but Bromley deemed him good enough to warrant paying the undisclosed fee that prised him away from Lincoln. I expect Sam to play a fair amount of games this season given the number of competitions Bromley find themselves in.
FBWL Verdict
Sam Long: Good signing
Central Defenders
This publication has already spoken at length about Omar Sowunmi’s signing and how it was a no-brainer decision.
Since he returned to the football club, Bromley have strengthened the centre-back area with two youngsters.
Promising Millwall player Karmarl Grant returns to hopefully continue his fine form at the back end of last season. He comes loaded with pace, forward thrust, and impressive positional awareness.
The other new arrival is an Arsenal youngster who Andy Woodman likely crossed paths with during his time at the Gunners. Taylor Foran is a tall, imposing centre-back who prides himself on putting his body on the line.
Much like last season’s Arsenal loanees, Alex Kirk and Kido Taylor-Hart, I sense a move to Bromley will come with a learning curve for Foran. He may have to bide his time to get a chance in the first team.
These signings bring Bromley’s central-defensive cadre to six bodies.
Six does not go into three, but with two of those six over 35 years of age, squad rotation is likely to play an important part in the season. Throw injuries into the mix and it’s fair to assume that everyone will get a chance to shine at some point.
I don’t think anyone can say with certainty who Bromley’s starting three will be, but rest assured that two of the three will be expected to carry the ball. Make of that what you will.
FBWL Verdict
Omar Sowunmi: No-brainer
Karmarl Grant: Good signing
Taylor Foran: Unknown
Full-Backs
Bromley retained left-sided defender Besart Topalloj to compete with Idris Odutayo (and possibly Myles Weston). However, Josh Passley was the club’s only right-sided option, making it the most likely area for improvement.
The loan signing of Danny Imray from Crystal Palace seems to be the answer.
Josh Passley is a very competent full-back, but ultimately Andy Woodman wants two players for every position. In Imray, he will have signed someone who can push Passley to raise his levels.
The highly-rated youngster arrives at Hayes Lane off the back of a very successful season for Palace’s U21s and is tipped to eventually break into their first team.
At 20 years old, he fits the profile of players Woodman likes to go after: youngsters with a great upside who can add pace and attacking impetus to Bromley’s play.
Imray provided 9 goals and double-figure assists last season. If he can replicate that form in 24/25, he will be worth his weight in gold.
FBWL Verdict
Danny Imray: Excellent signing (on paper)
Central Midfield
A lot of Bromley’s existing midfield options were retained for the new season, but this area of the pitch still needed more versatility.
When Lewis Leigh returned to his parent club Preston North End in January 2024, the Ravens made very strong overtures to try and bring him back to Hayes Lane permanently.
Ultimately, those attempts failed. Instead, Lewis was sent on loan to Crewe Alexandra, who went on to reach the League Two play-off final, only to lose to Crawley.
This summer, however, Bromley convinced Lewis to turn down a new contract at Preston in favour of a move down south. It may prove to be a fantastic piece of business for all involved.
At just 20 years of age, Leigh is an outrageous talent. He seems comfortable in both the 4 and 8 roles, and possesses 360-degree passing ability. It will be interesting to see who he partners in midfield and how he is used.
There is an argument to say that Ben Krauhaus has still not been replaced. My personal view is that Leigh should be tried further up the field, perhaps as a #10, but it remains to be seen if that would get the best out of him.
If Lewis Leigh isn’t the answer to the Krauhaus conundrum, who will be?
FBWL Verdict:
Lewis Leigh: Excellent signing
Strikers
Fresh off a 20-goal season for Gateshead, Marcus Dinanga has made the move to Bromley. He brings pace and an eye for goal that should ensure Bromley can stretch defences in more than one way.
Hopefully, he can take some of the goal-scoring pressure off of Michael Cheek.
With six strikers on the books, assuming everyone stays fit, Bromley have an embarrassment of attacking riches. More to the point, each of them adds something different to the mix.
Michael Cheek: The talisman.
Levi Amantchi: Goal-scoring target man.
Marcus Dinanga: Goal-scorer/Goal poacher who plays off the shoulder.
Olufela Olomola: Off-the-ball, channel-running workhorse.
Louis Dennis: Link-man between the strikers and midfield.
Soul Kader: Youthful handful with an eye for goal.
With only Dennis and Olomola carrying extensive Football League experience, Woodman’s strike-force will be under scrutiny. But it cannot be argued that he hasn’t given himself plenty of options.
On paper, this should ensure the Ravens won't struggle for goals in 24/25.
FBWL Verdict
Marcus Dinanga: Excellent signing
What next?
There is one month left before the transfer window closes.
I mentioned the Krauhaus conundrum earlier. Do Bromley still need another ball-carrying number #10 or a midfielder who can play behind a front one or two?
Corey Whitely is the obvious answer, but what if Corey gets injured? Louis Dennis? Okay, but who comes off the bench when Louis tires?
Another apparent hole in the squad is the lack of wingers.
On the whole, Bromley do not play with wingers, but I do wonder if Andy Woodman still plans to recruit in that area.
Say, for example, Bromley wanted to switch to 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2. What are their options on the left and right? Myles Weston on the left, perhaps, but who would be the right-sided equivalent?
The Ravens don’t have a particularly competitive budget by League Two standards, but if they are serious about holding their own in their inaugural season, the flexibility to switch shapes during and between games may prove vital.
If Bromley fans want to continue to be spoiled rotten and see even more success on the pitch, further reinforcements will be required.
Where would you strengthen? Any names on your shopping list?
Get at me in the comments section below.
Please note all match photographs in this article are by Martin Greig - please follow him on Twitter here
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We’ve got a young guy from Swansea coming as well apparently called Cameron Congreve?
Great stuff as always, Mach. I saw the lineup last night and 'Trialist A' seemed to be playing in a nominal front 3 with Cheek and Dennis, curious to see who it is and if we sign them.