Ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Enfield, we sat down with our gaffer…
He spoke to us about Tuesday’s win, the use of “life experiences” in football, and more…
Here’s what he had to say on the following subjects:
on Tuesday’s performance:
We learnt lessons from last weekend, and attacked more consistently and for longer periods. Winchester are a tough cookie, and we worked hard to make sure we got a second chance; we took full advantage of that. As I was saying after the game, I felt we could have been even more ruthless and scored more. That’s the next step for us now. We’ve had really good spells in all of our games, but now we need to punish teams.
on being more “ruthless” in games:
Our next step is to get that cutting edge in front of goal, and there’s a few things a player can develop to be able to do that. There’s a technical side to being ruthless, but there’s a mental side, too. The players are so desperate to do well, so the main thing is for them to not only keep getting in the right positions, but also back themselves. It’s just about having more intent in the final third.
on our increasing confidence:
We saw Brooklyn and Keelan score their first goals of the season on Tuesday, as well as Ezio scoring his second in two games, so that will help build their confidence. That’s all it takes, just a moment to take the tension away, to help us relax.
on Keelan O’Connell:
I have known Keelan for a very long time, from when he was at Bournemouth. He’s a very talented player, and a certain style of play can bring the best out of him. The way we play certainly helps that. He can certainly chase the ball and win it back for the team, but it’s also important to try and get the best out of players like him. He just needs an extra boost of confidence.
He had a tough time at the end of Bournemouth with injuries, and now he’s finding his way in non-league football. I’d like to think that the hardships he’s gone through has shaped him into a stronger player and person.
on Jordan Maguire-Drew:
He was a big signing for us. We have a really unique talent, someone who adds to the group. What’s especially pleasing is that he’s integrated so quickly. He didn’t have a pre-season, so we’ve been building up his fitness. The best is still to come!
on the players overcoming individual adversities:
Football is about using life experiences to improve, and that’s what everyone here at Weymouth does. We’re all on a journey together where we aim to improve, both as footballers and people. What this club has done so well over the years is provide a platform for players to rebuild their careers and mature into stronger men.
on the players’ on-pitch chemistry:
These things take time and consistency. We’ve not managed to have that, with our injuries, but all we need to do is keep showing the attitude and commitment that we are showing, remain humble and make sure that we work extra hard to catch up. We have a huge game tomorrow and we must make sure we put in a strong performance.
on Enfield Town:
There are no easy games and anyone, on their day, can beat anyone. They, like us, will be cursing their luck this season. It doesn’t matter who you are, you have to turn up and take care of business. Tomorrow will be a hard game, and they’ll be feeling hard done by that they don’t have more points. They’re also ahead of us in the table, so we have to come out fighting.