The Manager Speaks

[Mickey O'Neil]

Manager Speaks

Posted on: Wed 01 Aug 2007

Good morning everyone

It was a very good work-out against Cheltenham Town at the Walkers Stadium last night. When you have these types of games, you are always hoping that the senior players adopt a positive attitude and that they did.

They showed a great attitude and helped the younger players - fair play to them.

The younger players also came in and did well and it was a good all-round exercise. It was a good night.

It was an opportunity for those players that haven't been playing, or not been playing enough and perhaps for some who haven't been playing as well.

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They all needed time so I wanted to see them again and give them another opportunity to be out in the middle and get minutes under their belts.

The important thing for me is to keep them motivated, keep them on side, try and treat them well, support and encourage them and try and get them to play to the best of their ability.

I don't make them run around the training ground until 5pm at night because I try and treat all the players fairly and with respect.

The second half was more like I'm after - you have to pass the ball with a purpose, it shouldn't be like watching paint dry.

It was also a good opportunity for me as well. I sat right at the back of the Main Stand and stayed away from the technical area to let Steve Beaglehole look after matters on the touchline.

I was able to just watch everyone and I wouldn't say enjoy it, but make notes on everybody.

A lot of young players got a taste of the action last night and it's quite clear that there is some exceptional young talent here; you don't win the Academy League with average players.

A few of those lads have got a real chance. They held their own against a Cheltenham side that was nearly their first team.

We are definitely on schedule ahead of our first league game. The three week hill, if you like, was last Saturday at about 5pm; they managed to get themselves to that hill.

It was a long, hard week in Scotland and we all needed to freshen up.

That's why we needed to get home and take time out, and as a result the first-team squad were much brighter and sharper in training yesterday morning.

I've given them all a day off today and then tomorrow it will be normal preparations ahead of Saturday's match against Portsmouth.

We have no major injuries so it's just a case of ticking over. And so far it's going well.

Another of our new signings Hossein Kaebi arrived on Monday night even if it was a little bit later than anticipated.

I was hoping to give him 20 minutes last night, if he'd have arrived in the afternoon but he got stuck in traffic on the way up here from Heathrow.

But he is training this morning with our fitness coach and will be joining in with us tomorrow and on Friday and we'll assess how he is going to fit into our team, and integrate with our players.

I taught him his first bit of English last night 'Bye, Bye' as he left the building so we've got a bit of work to do there but we've organised interpreters for him and he is, you can tell, a very amiable man even though he doesn't speak a word of English.

He is friendly and has always got a smile on his face. He is a determined, solid character and it's going to be interesting working with him. And we'll see if we can get him some involvement in the game on Saturday.

Patrick Kisnorbo also joins us for training tomorrow so you could say for me personally it's like having two more new players which is fantastic and as we speak I am still working on other deals but as of yet nothing has come to fruition.

Take Care

Martin

[THEBIGJOHNSTEADER;]

Manager Speaks

Posted on: Wed 01 Aug 2007

Good morning everyone

It was a very good work-out against Cheltenham Town at the Walkers Stadium last night. When you have these types of games, you are always hoping that the senior players adopt a positive attitude and that they did.

They showed a great attitude and helped the younger players - fair play to them.

The younger players also came in and did well and it was a good all-round exercise. It was a good night.

It was an opportunity for those players that haven't been playing, or not been playing enough and perhaps for some who haven't been playing as well.

Article continues

Advertisement

They all needed time so I wanted to see them again and give them another opportunity to be out in the middle and get minutes under their belts.

The important thing for me is to keep them motivated, keep them on side, try and treat them well, support and encourage them and try and get them to play to the best of their ability.

I don't make them run around the training ground until 5pm at night because I try and treat all the players fairly and with respect.

The second half was more like I'm after - you have to pass the ball with a purpose, it shouldn't be like watching paint dry.

It was also a good opportunity for me as well. I sat right at the back of the Main Stand and stayed away from the technical area to let Steve Beaglehole look after matters on the touchline.

I was able to just watch everyone and I wouldn't say enjoy it, but make notes on everybody.

A lot of young players got a taste of the action last night and it's quite clear that there is some exceptional young talent here; you don't win the Academy League with average players.

A few of those lads have got a real chance. They held their own against a Cheltenham side that was nearly their first team.

We are definitely on schedule ahead of our first league game. The three week hill, if you like, was last Saturday at about 5pm; they managed to get themselves to that hill.

It was a long, hard week in Scotland and we all needed to freshen up.

That's why we needed to get home and take time out, and as a result the first-team squad were much brighter and sharper in training yesterday morning.

I've given them all a day off today and then tomorrow it will be normal preparations ahead of Saturday's match against Portsmouth.

We have no major injuries so it's just a case of ticking over. And so far it's going well.

Another of our new signings Hossein Kaebi arrived on Monday night even if it was a little bit later than anticipated.

I was hoping to give him 20 minutes last night, if he'd have arrived in the afternoon but he got stuck in traffic on the way up here from Heathrow.

But he is training this morning with our fitness coach and will be joining in with us tomorrow and on Friday and we'll assess how he is going to fit into our team, and integrate with our players.

I taught him his first bit of English last night 'Bye, Bye' as he left the building so we've got a bit of work to do there but we've organised interpreters for him and he is, you can tell, a very amiable man even though he doesn't speak a word of English.

He is friendly and has always got a smile on his face. He is a determined, solid character and it's going to be interesting working with him. And we'll see if we can get him some involvement in the game on Saturday.

Patrick Kisnorbo also joins us for training tomorrow so you could say for me personally it's like having two more new players which is fantastic and as we speak I am still working on other deals but as of yet nothing has come to fruition.

Take Care

Martin

Come on Kaebi

Really hope the lad settles and impresses. Could be a big influence on our season

[lildave3]

Come on Kaebi

Really hope the lad settles and impresses. Could be a big influence on our season

Hope he picks up the language sharpish though.

[Ric Flair]

It's a shame, Kaebi hasn't had a full pre-season with us. I hope that he's fit enough to be given a good hour or so on Saturday to see where his best position will be in our team. He's likely to play against Cambridge next week as well.If anyone is thinking of putting Matthew Taylor in their Dream Teams this year, i'd wait and see after Saturday. Kaebi will butcher him.

Hope he picks up the language sharpish though.

Like Beckham did with Real Madrid!

[AyewJoking]

Given MA's style of play, he only needs to learn the words....fooking hoof it!!!

[Fez of Mahrez]

Given MA's style of play, he only needs to learn the words....fooking hoof it!!!

I think you're going to be surprised.

[Durnerz]

The only language he need know is football

[Fez of Mahrez]

The only language he need know is football

And "f**king hell Stearman, stop hoofing it you lanky twat"

[Toby or not Toby]

And "f**king hell Stearman, stop hoofing it you lanky twat"

haha

[Geo V]

Good to hear that Kaebi and Kisnorbo are back. They are regarded as first team starters and they both should be very important parts of the team although they both had poor Asian cup comps for one reason or another so there confidence may be low. Lets hope MA picks them up quickly.

BTW, good to hear MA is still trying to do a few deals. Lets hope one or two stick before the Pompey game.

[Daggers]

They held their own against a Cheltenham side that was nearly their first team.

No one but no one can doubt our credentials for lifting the Championship now. Oh yes.

Friendlies are meaningless - I don't think so.

I don't think so.

[Mickey O'Neil]

.If anyone is thinking of putting Matthew Taylor in their Dream Teams this year, i'd wait and see after Saturday. Kaebi will butcher him.Like Beckham did with Real Madrid!

Too late for me!!!

[Flynny]

No one but no one can doubt our credentials for lifting the Championship now. Oh yes.

Friendlies are meaningless - I don't think so.

I don't think so.

It was mostly the kids and the rejects, though, so it's not quite as silly as it sounds.

[Zingari]

so he taught kaebi to say bye bye ;

and milan to say buy buy

[Phube]

It was also a good opportunity for me as well. I sat right at the back of the Main Stand and stayed away from the technical area to let Steve Beaglehole look after matters on the touchline.

I was able to just watch everyone and I wouldn't say enjoy it, but make notes on everybody.

A lot of young players got a taste of the action last night and it's quite clear that there is some exceptional young talent here; you don't win the Academy League with average players.

I bet Thrac wet himself when he read this!!

[Durnerz]

I bet Thrac wet himself when he read this!!

Gettin the ol' Kleenex out i'd imagine

[Daggers]

Another of our new signings Hossein Kaebi arrived on Monday night even if it was a little bit later than anticipated.

I was hoping to give him 20 minutes last night, if he'd have arrived in the afternoon but he got stuck in traffic on the way up here from Heathrow.

But he is training this morning with our fitness coach and will be joining in with us tomorrow and on Friday and we'll assess how he is going to fit into our team, and integrate with our players.

I taught him his first bit of English last night 'Bye, Bye' as he left the building so we've got a bit of work to do there but we've organised interpreters for him and he is, you can tell, a very amiable man even though he doesn't speak a word of English.

*A-hem*