Blog: Shrewsbury Town are shaping up for new season

Blog: With the new season looming Town's squad is nicely taking shape, writes Shrewsbury Town blogger James Pugh.

With several signings completed, one very close and the promise of more on the way – fans have got reasons to be optimistic ahead of the start of the new campaign.

Marvin Morgan is experienced and has a good goalscoring record, but has never had the chance to prove himself at a high level.

He has been brought in to replace Matt Harrold who did a good job for us last season, but in my opinion didn't score enough goals.

But is Morgan better than Harrold? I don't think there is much in it. Harrold has played at a higher level, but I think Morgan will score us more goals.

I think Joe Jacobson is a very good signing at left-back. He is still quite young, but has good experience.

I am sure fans would have been keen to see Mat Sadler stay with Town, but instead he decided to join Walsall. Sadler was very reliable but my only criticism of him is that he didn't get forward enough.

Reuben Hazell is another great signing. He may be 32 and coming to the end of his career, but he is an experienced pro and was captain of Oldham.

He will be a leader on the pitch and along with Cansdell-Sherriff and Sharps, I would say we have got the best central defenders in the league.

Young striker Terry Gornell also looks set to join and, considering his age, he has a decent goal-scoring record.

Along with Collins and Bradshaw, Turner is putting a lot of faith in the young strikers to deliver us goals on a regular basis next season.

We have got a talented forward line and I don't doubt we will get plenty of goals next season, but I worry we don't have a striker who will score us 20+ goals.

I think any team serious about promotion needs a prolific goalscorer and only hope it won't come back to haunt us come the end of the season.

Jon Taylor's decision to stay at the club was also another great piece of business by the club. Although his form dipped towards the end of last season due to tiredness, he showed plenty of ability, including having an eye for goal.

I was disappointed we kept hold of Steve Leslie. At best he is a decent squad player who can play in several positions, but for me he has had long enough to establish himself in the first team and has failed to do so.

To complete our squad I think we need a right-back and two central midfielders, including a ball winner and a creative player who will score us goals.

If Turner can get these players in then I think the fact we have been made one of the favourites for promotion will be justified.

Already our squad is looking better than last year, but let's not forget there are some big teams in this league, including Bristol Rovers and Swindon.

Hopefully Town fans have got over the disappointment of last season, are refreshed and looking forward to another roller-coaster of a campaign.