SEASON 2016/17.

                                          

 

So the season ends what was our expectation for its start?

Pre Season for the 1st Team was a first in terms of how conditioning training was put to the players. We wanted to have a fresh approach giving the players a better idea of how we wanted them to play by how we trained. Tempo – Repetition – Hard work to Never Give in. We looked sharp and ready for the season start and I was pleased with the effort the squad put in.

But it was the friendly’s that showed how far the team had picked up on all the changes. The Squad was put through a series of games not attempted before in terms of the teams they had been set up to play.

Playing against teams One and Two levels above, giving good performances and in some, way above expectation. New players coming in from the club system performed very well and showed promise with some insight as to what level they really are capable of.

 

Would we start well? The idea of my 1st season at the club was to get the teams confidence up implement a different thought process and compete.

We did that.

This season I wanted to compete and show we can win games. I wanted the players to want more, to win and hate to lose, for it to mean something!

 

Our start was no where near good enough “Harsh” but honest given how we had been performing and in preparation. We simply froze! Had we done enough? I have to take blame because I don’t think we had and it showed.

It did take us some time but we did show character and continued to try to play the way WE wanted. We were putting in good performances and teams that had been beating us by a big margin in seasons past weren’t doing that now.

We then put in a good run on the back of losing Claire Potter with a knee injury that we were devastated by. Our back Five were making gains with a togetherness not seen before at the club our foundation to build on.

WE STARTED WINING WITH CONFIDANCE!! Playing now with freedom listening and training well and in numbers. Just before Christmas disaster Again Injury rocked the team. This time Tina Potter I knew when I saw it this was going to be a long one out. We went into the Christmas beak losing Quarter Finalists in the County Cup to Nottingham Forest Ladies. It has to be said we collapsed after the injury in that game conceding four more goals to finish 0-6 to Forest but we gave a good account of ourselves for 70mins at only 0-2 down. So we called up Alyssia Griffiths Grey to the Back four. After the Christmas break we couldn’t find the rhythm we wanted yes we won our first few games of the new year and we even got into an eventual semi final of the League plate. But I wanted and hoped for consistency we were up down and in this league you have to take your chances the higher teams in the league will no longer look at us as easy points to gain games we played against the top half were narrow defeats by the odd goal, but we have to be realistic and say “We should have won moregames”! We expected points we again didn’t take chances and we seemed to accept it. Time for harsh reality and we had to put this to the players on two different occasions the last time we didn’t have to say much I stood and looked at the team for the first time and knew it hurt to loose. That was the turning point loosing to Nettleham in the manner we did was the best thing to happen to them. Now we might just get the players to be who they should be and accept nothing more than to give until they can give no more. 

 

My notable performances for this season unbeaten 4 game run just before Christmas. Coming back from 2-0 down after 12mins at Bedworth to 2-2 but narrowly losing out 3-2 at the end. A win and a draw v Kettering Mansfield Town well we got battered 7-1 away that was the 1stoccasion I had to tell some home truths and make changes as it simply wasn’t acceptable. The return game was it must be said from the players a desire I needed to see with only 10 fit players we took the game to them and very narrowly lost 2-1 clapped off the pitch so close to a draw never seen a winning team so glad to hear the final whistle. And finally the game we so wanted Mansfield Town Semi Final League Plate Decent crowd and we pushed and pushed them literally to the last seconds when Mollie Rowden smashed in an equaliser from fully 25yrds to send us into extra time! But it wasn’t to be and Mansfield snatched a last minute winner again we came off to applause. Those games for me have given a glimpse of the future. We may not have had a season I had hoped for but I am proud of the players for continuing to push barriers and put themselves into areas of the game they have never beenbefore both physically and emotionally. 

 

     I Can honestly say I am looking forward to Season 2017/18  

 

 

 

 

My Message

 

So the new season ahead 2017 / 18

I have to be completely honest and make no apologies for my expectation as a Person or Manager of the club, we cannot show the inconsistency of attitude , games, training or communication of this season if we are to progress in a forward direction.

 

Commitment, Desire and better communication and understanding must come from every single player to achieve the consistency expected. 

There are no excuses 100% of the above we somehow have to reach. 

As players you may have to push yourself more to attend training than ever before communicate more as to what your situation is both availability to play and train. Giving good notice for holidays even updates of injuries so we can assess you and make good use of our Sports Rehab assistant.

 

Yes we have lives away from football but as part of our lives we chose to put football into it,so let’s make it worth while give you’re all! I don’t want to be part of a club any club that thinks what we do is enough. We have to do more! I want to succeed I want to be part of a big club , one that can still have the fun side and family meaning that makes us different the so called big clubs don’t have that.

 

I believe we are the next big club! I wouldn’t have taken the job if I didn’t think we couldn’t be. Its not about me though I can’t do it the staff can’t do it with out you. So all players existing or new what do you want this season?

 

Let’s stop the talking and dreaming and let’s do this…..

 

Andy…..