ANOTHER pre-season has wrapped up for York City, but not in a traditional sort of fashion.

Behind-closed-doors friendlies against Hull City and Leeds United will also take place this week, but eyes are turning towards York’s opening Vanarama National League fixture against Wealdstone on Saturday, August 5 (3pm).

With the Uggla family completing their takeover of the club, 13 new faces through the door, matches against Sky Bet Championship sides, it’s been an exciting pre-season for all involved.

With recruitment and tactics playing a major part in how the Minstermen have progressed throughout the friendlies, here’s the Press’ views on a successful pre-season.

1. Recruitment

Since the back end of last season, manager Michael Morton has been putting together a recruitment plan to help boost City up the National League table.

The addition of David Stockdale as Head of Recruitment, and as a player, and David Bujara as the club’s new Chief Scout is a way of making strides towards the ideal recruitment, and there have been signs of that throughout pre-season.

Morton has added players to the squad that are proven at the National League, players from higher divisions, and has even identified talents from the lower divisions.

Cedric Main, Finlay Barnes and Levi Andoh have all made steps up this season, and all looked hungry and bright throughout pre-season.

Stockdale and Alex Woodyard have all made moves from higher-division sides to join City, bringing in levels of experience and leadership that perhaps lacked at points last season.

Then there’s the likes of Callum Harriott, Zanda Siziba, Tyler Cordner, Callum Howe and Quevin Castro who all have experience at this level, with many playing at outstanding levels last season

The recruitment in total looks fantastic, identifying different players for different roles, positions and individual strengths, as well as scouting all throughout the leagues and abroad after the additions of Kevin Joshua and Dipo Akinyemi from Scotland.

2. Tactics

Morton was almost forced to use a 5-3-2 formation last season with the players and adaptability he had at his disposal, but we’ve seen Morton start to implement his style of play this pre-season.

Using a form of 4-3-3 formation, Morton has utilised a packed out midfield and pacey wingers to create his style of football in the off-season, with a full-back traditionally sliding into the backline to make a back three when City are on the attack.

With the players at his disposal, a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 sign of formation looks likely to be how York will set-up, with a nice mix of attacking and defensive players in midfield.

This formation will require a tremendous amount of running and fitness, but Morton countered that by putting his players on a fitness programme throughout the Summer that is designed for Premier League footballers, and it’s seen York flourish.

On top of this, the overlap of a full-back on one side has seen City bunch up in certain areas to create space elsewhere on the pitch, whilst maintaining a possession-based ideology.

If you ever spot Morton on the touchline with Tony McMahon, you’ll notice his trusty notebook in his possession, where he is no doubt writing out the tactics and identifying the opposition’s weaknesses.