TT BLOG

Clive Hayward – @Byehorse

Clive blogs about Paul Wotton’s latest presser

INJURIES & THE TRIP TO MAIDSTONE:

There is only one place to start this look back at the Manager’s weekly Press Conference. Three minutes in, and a clearly angry Paul Wotton had this to say about Maidstone midfielder John Gilbert, who has escaped ay punishment for a late, malicious-looking tackle on Sunny-Lo Everton in the opening stages of United’s hard fought draw in Kent last Saturday:

“We’ve been on the end of a disgraceful tackle. A tackle from behind that has endangered my player and he’s going to be out for three months so congratulations to that player who committed that tackle. Very brave. A very brave tackle.”

People in football have long memories, and I would anticipate that Gilbert will get a warm reception at Plainmoor later this season.

Wotton:

“Sunny Lo-Everton had a scan (on Wednesday) and he’ll be out for three months after that tackle. It should have been a red card but he didn’t even get booked for it, so we’re very disappointed with that.”

Dylan Morgan will definitely not play over the weekend and his ankle injury hasn’t been able to be assessed yet because it’s still too swollen. There is some room for optimism though:

“I’m hopeful it’s not going to be a 3 or 4 weeker”

Louis Dennis is at best 50-50. I think we may see him on Monday against Dover, but Saturday’s trip to Horsham may come too soon for the experienced striker.

There was mildly positive news of Callum Dolan’s thigh injury:

“Callum I don’t think will be (out) as long as we had thought. He’s progressing really well. Will hopefully be running again within the next week. Once you’re doing that then it’s just a gradual build up.”

INCOMINGS?

United are looking for possible loan cover.

“When you take out of a squad Sonny Fish, Callum Dolan, Louis Dennis, Sonny Lo Everton and Dylan Morgan, it’s 5 top, top players at this level isn’t it and arguably in the level above as well it’s frustrating, it’s a hindrance”

“We’re close on one & hoping to get a second one in, but if it doesn’t happen we’ll suck it up and get on with it.”

TOTTON

Of the Totton match at Plainmoor on Tuesday night, Wotton said:

“I thought it was a really physical game…the first half I thought we were excellent, the second half I thought we were excellent in a different way. Overall very happy with the 3 points and pleased with the performance as well.”

He was understandably pleased with the way his substitutions had paid off on Tuesday, He brought on Dan Hayfield at half time and singled him out for some praise:

“Dan’s got an abundance of energy. He’s waiting for his chance. He played every game for us last year. He was the one who could get forward, with his long ranging runs. He can do that all day for us. After 10 minutes we changed it again and he dropped back into his normal position- he’s a central midfield player but he’s very versatile”.

HORSHAM, AND PREPARING FOR DOVER:

On the forthcoming trip to Horsham, the Manager was, as always, at pains to point out that it won’t be easy:

“We played them in the Trophy last year and we had a tought game. They try and play football the right way, it’s on plastic again, it will be warm again and some similarities to the Maidstaone game, Hopefully we’ve learned from that.”

The team will go overnight to Horsham. Away travel for footballers has changed from Wotton’s days. He said that in his time it would often be fish and chips and a couple of beers on the way home.

He loved it.

Who wouldn’t?

Modern players!

Things need to be done properly now. The new generation and their coaches are much better clued-up on nutrition and recovery:

“Recovery will start as soon as the final whistle is blown at Horsham on Saturday. We’ve got a fantastic bus, so we can get straight into them with all the protein shakes, the right food, the rehydration…anyone who needs treatment instantly, we’ve got physios on the bus, we can get that done.”

Interestingly, he explained that journeys home don’t feature conversations with the players. They need “off time”, and the opportunity for talking to players about their performances is, for Paul, normally Monday mornings.

This Sunday is a brief respite between the two matchdays. It needs to be all about movement, massages, food and getting a good night’s sleep- because that’s the time when you properly recover.

NEXT WEEK:

After Dover there will be a proper rest: the whole squad will have Tuesday and Wednesday off before starting properations for the Hemel Hempstead game on August 30th.

But there returning to his most consistent theme Paul said that there must be a constant vigilance against complacency:

“I’m not a good enough manager & we’re not a good enough football team to go into any game thinking it’s easy. I don’t think I’ve ever done it in my life so my players definitely won’t do it”