AFTER 19 games of the current campaign, Newport County AFC have 31 points, exactly the same tally as last season.

So why are things going to go better for the Exiles for the remainder of the campaign? Here are 10 reasons.

1: The pitch

Let us presume that the winter will be as wet as last year, though that’s unlikely, but this time, Newport County AFC need not fret or worry that they are disadvantaged.

The summer drainage work has seemingly worked splendidly and the evidence so far has been highly encouraging indeed.

And even more encouragingly, the Exiles are better on the road this term and less reliant on fortress Rodney Parade anyway.

2: Squad strength

Despite some gloomy assessments when County made a poor start, this is a better balanced and higher quality crop of players than last term.

It’s not just shrewd signings – Joe Day (so far), Darren Jones, Mark Byrne and Yan Klukowski all falling into that category, but also some much improved performers.

Andrew Hughes, Adam Chapman and the fully fit Max Porter and Aaron O’Connor have also served to add steal and guile to the Exiles.

3: Squad harmony

We visit the facility formerly known as Baramber on a weekly basis for press conferences and having a home away from the training ground has been a masterful move from the County.

The players now eat together at breakfast and lunch and some of their table tennis games during press conferences have had the broadcast media almost in tears such is the volume of apparently the ultimate spectator sport. This is a group all on the same page. That wasn’t the case last season, largely due to nomadic training and partially personnel.

4: The experience of last season

Pick your own cliché about learning and growing through adversity, but a large proportion of the Exiles squad contributed to a second half of the season where Newport vastly under performed.

It is always beneficial to be treading familiar ground and County should have taken a great deal from last term, especially as they still managed to end the season well clear of relegation trouble, which didn’t always appear a formality.

5: The manager

It’s not just the players who will have learned a great deal from County’s slump last term.

This reporter has written time and again that Edinburgh has proved himself as one of the sharpest young managers in British football, but in comparison to some of his peers – I’m looking at you John Still – he’s a relative pup, both in age and experience.

Edinburgh was a rookie Football League boss last term and he unquestionably made some mistakes.

But the best ones learn and Edinburgh is one of the best ones. Maybe set to be the greatest manager Newport have ever had.

6: Goals

The Exiles were so reliant on the striking efforts of Chris Zebroski at times last term it was painful, but that shouldn’t be an issue this time around.

A fit Aaron O’Connor lightens the burden and while the Exiles are still looking for third and fourth choice strikers who can regularly fire, there is cause for optimism.

Shaun Jeffers is highly rated by Edinburgh and Rene Howe and Christian Jolley will both yet hope to make their mark. Add in the injured Danny Crow and Joe Parker and also consider that in Yan Klukowski, the Exiles now have a genuine goalscoring midfielder.

The only query on Klukowski was whether he could cut it a division higher than the Conference and three goals in four games has really given an emphatic answer.

7: Better defence

It was a bitter blow to not retain the services of Darcy Blake, not to mention the loss of Byron Anthony to an horrific broken leg injury last term, but County’s defence is improving.

They are exceedingly comfortable as a back three and Darren Jones has proved an inspired capture. With Ismail Yakubu as reliable as they come and Andrew Hughes and Kevin Feely both exciting talents, County have real strength at the back, complimented by great wing back options with the guile of Andy Sandell and the pace of Curtis Obeng and Ryan Jackson.

8: Weaker division

If we are brutally honest, the strength at the top of League Two isn’t the same as last term where so far only Luton appear to have the quality, revenue and momentum to match any of Scunthorpe, Chesterfield and Rochdale.

Even the sides you’d expect to challenge on budget and last season’s placings – Plymouth, Southend, Burton and Bury for example - have been inconsistent so far this term. Newport have been anything but. They started awfully but have been on form since the start of September.

9: Competition is fierce

Not only is County’s squad stronger in terms of quality, it’s also deeper.

The Exiles have two good options for every position on the pitch and their six midfielders vying for three spots – Porter, Byrne, Chapman, Klukowski, Lee Minshull and Mike Flynn – demonstrate that point perfectly. Few teams in League Two wouldn’t swap.

10: Formations and flexibility

The Exiles look both rigid and flexible this term and that’s encouraging in the extreme.

When County are assured 5-3-2 is their best option, they play the system excellently and every individual is a round peg in a round hole.

However, there is acknowledgement from the management that County were “sussed out,” in the latter part of last season and already the Exiles have shown during matches that they can and will change if they need too.

We’ve seen Newport switch to a flat 4-4-2, a 4-4-2 diamond and 4-3-3 during games this term and Edinburgh is also an occasional fan of 3-4-3. Such flexibility, with a tried and tested favoured formation, is highly encouraging.