Manager Modraed Engham has not backed down from the club's high expectations in his first season in the top job. "Our goal for this season is very clear, and that is to be competitive" said Engham during a post-match press conference for the club's exhibition win over Uxbridge Town AFC. "We want to be an aggressive, forward thinking team that will overwhelm our opposition, while maintaining structure. Our system is going to be a tough one to implement, but I believe that we have the players here to have great success. And I am very much looking forward to seeing how they approach the challenges that lay ahead."
The expected starting 11 for the club as the season approaches looks like this:
In goal, Jacques Mathieu will hope to have another sterling season as he has become one of the consensus best goalkeepers in the world. Josh Diez joins the back four moving from the midfield to a wingback role this season, while Weis, Simon, and Pirotte continue to command a young and developing back line. The midfield trio of Wein, Kirk, and Morales should show a solid mix of youthful energy and veteran experience. Adonis Waldgrave will move into more of a winger role in his second BPL season, as the team's key acquisition Deontre Dunstan mans the other wing. Claudie Huntington will hope to build on his personal best 43 goal campaign from a year ago as he captains this ambitious club.
Red Star opens the season hosting Sworders FC at Aalststadion later this week.