Money talks

So it's time now to let the football do the talking! You have all worked tremendously during pre season and last Saturdays practice matches and Hog Roast attracted 55 players all hoping to be wearing a first team shirt for the first match of the season. If it was based on attitude and effort then you would all be in the first team. As I am only allowed to pick 16 some of you will be bitterly disappointed!   It's going to be tough, but as the saying goes,' when the going gets tough the tough get going', I believe it's more about mental attitude at this point in the season, you have to be mentally prepared and if things don't go your way stay positive and believe in yourself. If you do that then success will come your way! You can if you think you can!   I took 22 players to Dereham on Tuesday night for our first friendly of the season and everybody got 45 minutes and the same on Saturday at St Ives.   At Dereham we played a system what is new to some of you and I could not ask for a better response, everybody was disciplined throughout, even though some were played out of position, and we worked our socks off, in an organised way! We thoroughly deserved our result and I could not pick anyone player out from the rest, a good solid team performance.   At St Ives we were late on arrival our warm up was rushed and I turned up late after I realised my sat nav was taking me to St Ives Cornwall and not St Ives Cambridge! However, after all our poor preparation we still played exceptionally well in the first half against their strongest 11 and went in at half time 1-0 up. We made 11 changes in the second half and we were no weaker in the second half than we were in the first on quality of players, but we seemed to lose discipline and shape and deservedly lost 3-0.   So what was the difference between the first half and the second half? Simply organisation! Where in the first half we stuck to the system and played as a team, in the second half we had too many players wanting to impress and only think about their own performance. Lets get this straight from the start! You impress me when you do as I ask and play for the team, nothing else will do!   I am not looking for results in these friendlies just team performances and the  mental strength of my players and how they cope in different circumstances. Believe me our pre season is going to be difficult that's why I chose those friendlies, so I will be able to assess your characters.   We have done fitness tests and you are all above average so fitness should not be an issue, like I said it's all about football now, some of you may have to play out of position while we juggle things around to find the best players to play the system. The system and the team come first. If you think you are too good to play in a certain position or you don't like the system then tough! We have to make the best of what we have, if you are not good enough to play that system then we will have to look elsewhere!   There will be a mixture of youth and experience this season so we may have to take a few steps back to take one forward, but we will get it right believe me. Some of the experienced players may get frustrated early season but I am looking for leaders, just think back to when you first started out and the experienced players who helped you! Don't become the one who destroyed your confidence as a youngster!   There are some exciting youngsters at the club at the moment and with your help they could become future stars of the Ridgeons league, so watch out because they could be kicking or knocking you one day!   This season will be a transitional period while we build for the future, and the team that starts the season may not be the one that finishes it as we constantly look to improve, I am looking to build the club not just the first team. So if you find yourselves in the reserves or Under 18's (age permitting) you are still here as a future first team player, it may just mean you need a little longer to develop.  

When the going gets tough the tough get going!  

Mick Money  

Thetford Town