'The screw starts to turn' - Jamie Tolley on Shrewsbury Town's next big step

Shrewsbury Town signed off their Isle of Man trip in style - now the screw starts to turn.

It is always good to get that first pre-season victory under your belt, and to do it with four goals made it the perfect way for Shrewsbury Town to end their Isle of Man trip.

For Joe Gbode, getting off the mark will have been a huge boost. As a centre-forward, the one thing you always want to do is score goals, so seeing the ball hit the back of the net in a Shrewsbury shirt will do wonders for his confidence.

He has arrived from Luton Town wanting to show what he can do and prove that he can find the net at this level. Every striker wants to score, and starting his Salop career with a brace is a brilliant way for him to begin.

I know Gavin Cowan has said results are not the main priority at this stage, and he is right that the process and performances are what matter most. But deep down, everyone in football likes winning games.

I have never really liked the word ‘friendly’ when it comes to football because, in my experience, there is no such thing as a friendly game. Players want to win, managers want to win, and supporters certainly want to see their team win.

So to finish the trip with a 4-0 victory was a real positive.

From everything I have seen and heard, the trip was about far more than just football. The main purpose was bringing the group together, allowing the players to spend time with each other and understand the standards and processes that Gavin talks about so much.

That togetherness is a huge part of building a successful team. You can see why Gav wanted them away together, because it gives players the chance to understand each other's personalities away from the training pitch.

Sometimes you see players who are quieter in the dressing room, but once they relax and get to know their teammates, you see a different side to them. That is exactly what these trips are about - building relationships that can then transfer onto the pitch.

From the outside, it looks like the Isle of Man trip achieved exactly what Shrewsbury wanted. The players bonded, supporters were able to connect with the squad, and finishing it with a convincing win was the perfect ending.

It was also great to see academy graduate Will Gray get on the scoresheet.

We all know what a talent Will can be this season, and his performances towards the end of last campaign showed why there is so much excitement around him. Seeing him come back fit, strong and ready to compete is really pleasing.

He will be fighting for a place in that midfield when the season starts, and getting on the scoresheet will only add to his confidence.

The arrival of Sam Proctor is another interesting addition. The key thing for him and Will Brook is that they will push each other.

It reminds me a lot of when Matt Cox came in last season. Sam is highly thought of at Aston Villa, and he will want to play as many games as possible and continue his development.

Will will have exactly the same mindset. Having two young, hungry goalkeepers competing for the shirt is a really positive situation for Shrewsbury.

They will challenge each other, support each other and, I am sure, have plenty of banter along the way. That competition can only benefit the team.

Now, with less than three weeks until the start of the season, this is where the screw starts to turn.

The bonding, team-building and getting to know each other has been important, but the focus now shifts. The games become more serious, the intensity increases and everything becomes geared towards that opening fixture.

This is the stage where you start to see things coming together. Players understand each other's movements, the ideas become clearer and the team starts to develop the identity Gavin is looking for.

It feels like a long time since we have been back at the Meadow. We have been fortunate this summer with the World Cup giving us something to enjoy, but nothing quite replaces being back inside the stadium watching Shrewsbury.

I am really looking forward to seeing the players back on home soil, wearing the new kit, with the supporters behind them and that optimism building again.

There are two home games still to come, and hopefully we will start to see the fitness levels improve, performances sharpen and this new-look Shrewsbury side begin to show what it can become.