TT BLOG

Clive Hayward – @Byehorse

Clive blogs about Paul Wotton’s latest presser

A fairly low key press conference today.

Injuries & Availability

The Club revealed this morning that Callum Dolan’s knee injury is a bad one, and that he will be out for the rest of the season.

Personally, I feel that this is a big blow for us, as well as obviously being shattering news for Callum. I’m sure we all want to join in sending him our best wishes and let’s hope he can recover well and go on to have the sort of career his talent justifies.

We do have options in forward areas though, and Paul said that the 28 day extension of Kieran Wilson’s loan from Exeter is very timely.

Jordan Thomas also limped off last week, but he was able to train today. Paul said he is being assessed, but the mood music seemed positive.

Munashe Sundire isn’t match fit yet, but Paul said he thought it was likely he will be involved on Saturday.

Maidstone

The manager acknowledged that he was giving a boring answer, but said games against George (Elokobi)’s teams are always tough. He said he was sure Maidstone would finish the season in a playoff berth.

He was having none of the “Maidstone hoodoo”:

“If you believe in bogey teams what’s the point of turning up on Saturday”, and

“The results are there for all to see but I don’t think they are Paul Wotton’s bogey side and I don’t think they are the current squad’s bogey side, so that’s the way I look at it.”

Clearly that must be right. On the Yellow Army Podcast (due out tonight) Dave Thomas pointed out that the players simply don’t recognise Maidstone as exceptionally difficult opponents- it’s more fans who have all the bad memories. For what it’s worth, our record under Paul in all competitions against Maidstone so far (4 tight games) is Played 4, Won 0, Drawn 2 Lost 2.

Squad Movement (or Lack Thereof)

In direct answer to a question about whether the loss of Dolan might lead United to look to get more players in, Paul said: “I think we’ll be quiet” (during “the window”).

He also gave the same answer as last week when asked if he foresees any outgoings. He said he believes it’s not likely that anyone will be leaving.

Tactics/Selection

On tactics, he was at pains to say that he disagreed with comments (including, it must be said, by me on this week’s Gulls Eye View) that he had played two deep midfielders on Saturday. He advised us to watch the goals again, saying that the fact Dan Hayfield had got up on overlaps refutes that.

He was delighted to have been able to put Cody Cooke on against Hampton and Richmond, praising his ability to put it about and run at centre backs. He said that there aren’t many of Codie’s type around these days and said he’s a feared target man.