February 8, 2023...'Go Out There and F**king Smash It': The Message is Clear as Pre-Season Officially Gets Underway
(from York United FC website)

'GO OUT THERE AND F**KING SMASH IT': THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR AS PRE-SEASON OFFICIALLY GETS UNDERWAY

The 2023 campaign inches ever closer as Martin Nash looks to round out his roster.

TURNING THE PAGE

The message is clear: let's win everything.

The York United squad officially assembled for the first time earlier this week as pre-season got underway and the early signs are of an extremely motivated group that's hungry for the ultimate prize.

Some irritation lingers regarding how the 2022 campaign played out. After the first five fixtures, the team was second in the table. Over the entire second half of the season (14 games), The Nine Stripes picked up 23 points: the second-best tally in the league. And yet, owing to a debilitating injury crisis and subsequent tough spell from mid-May to mid-July, York still finished outside the top-four and missed out on the play-offs. In between, they managed to reach the Canadian Championship semi-finals where they were narrowly beaten by Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place.

For Martin Nash - in his debut season as a Head Coach - it was a baptism of fire, but it's a lot different this time around. For one, his entire technical staff is back for another season. That bond, continuity and chemistry - steadily built throughout a challenging first tilt together - has ensured that preparations for 2023 have really been underway since midway through last term.

Owing to the severity of the injuries, a group of reinforcements was required midway through the season, though Nash didn't just want short-term contributors but rather players who could become integral parts of the team. With the exception of youngster Ronan Kratt, the arrivals all ticked certain boxes: experienced, impressive pedigree, plenty of games under their belts.

Mo Babouli provided the sprinkling of stardust but Australian centre-back Tass Mourdoukoutas played every single second of every game once he signed in early July. Left-back had been a troublesome area since Diyaeddine Abzi's move to Pau FC in the French second division but Paris Gee settled in superbly, even registering a pair of crucial assists before injury disrupted his contributions. Kevin Dos Santos became a consistent starter and ended up with 14 appearances to his name, gamely bringing energy and vibrancy to the attack. And although Matthew Baldisimo struggled with injury immediately after arriving on loan from Pacific FC, it was clear he brought an intelligence and composure to the middle of the park.

EXPECTATION

Those five players return all for the new campaign and are backed by a string of intriguing new faces, some well-known to CPL audiences. Midfielders Elijah Adekugbe and Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé, as well as striker Brian Wright have impressed hugely with other clubs in the past few seasons and are sure to bring that domestic know-how to their new home. Left-back Lassana Faye, midfielder Oussama Alou and Liberia centre back and captain Brem Soumaoro all arrive from the Netherlands while former CF Montreal winger Clément Bayiha offers plenty of MLS experience and joins from HamKam in Norway's top-flight.

Another new signing, Markiyan Voytsekhovskyy, was voted as League1 Ontario's Young Player of the Year in 2022 and also included in the Team of the Year and is sure to see plenty of minutes under Martin Nash. The likes of Osaze De Rosario, Austin Ricci, Michael Petrasso, Roger Thompson, Max Ferrari, Niko Giantsopoulos and Eleias Himaras are all back too, still leaving some space for Nash to bring in a couple of more players before the 23-man roster is complete.

Competition for places is set to be intense, with Nash keen to carry more depth to his group than last term. Hamstrung by the limitations imposed by injury, he had to pivot from his preferred approach in some games. Simply put, the players just needed to struggle through 90 minutes however best they could. This time, it's different. There's a clear criteria that every player boasts and an expectation on them to deliver.

"In terms of who we are and the culture we want to create, we want you to be good people, first and foremost," Nash told the players during a meeting ahead of the group's first training session.

"We brought you in because you're good people, and good footballers. We don't want one without the other. We want people who are role models. You're going to show this club and this league in a good light."

"Every little thing adds up," echoed Angus McNab, York United FC's CEO/President and GM.

"You have a staff that respect you, who will work with you and make it fun. Let's go out there and f**king smash it, and have a great time doing it. Because there's nothing better than winning with a smile on your face and sticking two fingers up to everyone else. And I think this group can do it. I really, really believe that we can."

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