Some thoughts from Weymouth assistant-manager Paul Maitland ahead of tonight’s pre-season friendly game at Taunton Town.
PM: “Tonight is an important part of the pre-season schedule. We’ve had the games with Yeovil, Exeter and Torquay and this promises to a different test against a good Taunton team. They have some good players and it’ll be a good contest, albeit with it being a pre-season game. “
When asked about new formed positive relationships with the clubs we have played so far in pre-season, Maitland had this to say.
PM: “Gaining these relationships with the likes of Yeovil, Exeter and Torquay are vital for non-league clubs and we hope to have very good relationships with the clubs at a higher level. I’m sure the clubs we have played have got something out of the games, we certainly have and we have learnt a lot from playing these sides. The games we have played have also attracted quite large attendances which is also a huge positive.”
Paul Tisdale (Exeter manager) and Kevin Nicholson (Torquay manager) both gave praise to the set up at Weymouth, the assistant manager was asked for his thoughts on this.
PM: “I think you do take the credit from the likes of Paul and Kevin. However, the games against their teams are glamour games for the players. The challenge is can they get the same praise from the managers in our league? It’s nice when managers have noticed when we are doing things well. It won’t be going to anyone’s heads, put it that way. As far as we are concerned the players have only done what we expected them to do so far but there is still plenty of work to do to get ourselves ready for 12th August.”
PM: “Early team news, we are hoping to have Harry McGrath back in the squad tonight, both Tiago Sa and Aaron Rodriguez will have fitness tests, we certainly don’t want to be taking any risks at this stage.”
Photo: Idris Martin