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Season 2008/09
10th November 2008
The modern day game no longer depends on a solid 11 players every week. That, I believe, is a fact across all levels of football. But the higher standard you play in, the more you realise the philosophy becomes more and more warrented.
Over the past couple of seasons, we have worked hard in adopting a policy of strengthening the squad, by only taking players as good, or ideally better, than we currently have. There is no room for sentiment in that method, if we feel players are not performing at the level they need to be at, we have a Reserve side in which they can find the form to compete at 1st team level. Naturaly, in the past this has led to some akward conversations and tough decisions being made, but the bottom line is, the right decision is only ever made in the best interests of Tarporley Vics. F.C.
One thing that I will say now, is that our 1st team squad is not quite big enough at
the moment, we are a couple of players short in key areas, this is an issue we need to address for next season, but for now, we are confident that the quality within the squad compensates for the number that actually play in it.
One thing we do have, and I think this is key to our overall development as a club, is a thriving Reserve team, who in the main, capture all of the local talented players. Through those early days and weeks, as new editions into the squad, they learn how important the club is to everybody associated, so there buy-in becomes relatively easy! Players see what we are about and instantly want to become a part of it. This is a really important element for me as and when we chase new players, either at 1st team level or that of Reserve, our task is simply to get them here, the rest of the process takes care of itself.
Though I am keen to reitterate that our squad is not quite big enough, it is with high hopes that we will begin to see a few of the Reserve team squad stepping into the 1st team shortly. At training we are able to differenciate between players who are 'Rough Diamonds' and those who are nearing readiness to take that step. The fact we feel we have good numbers in both of these categories, highlight the commitment we hold in our Reserve team set-up. These young players are what will secure the future of the Club!
On the domestic front, we have put ourselves right in the mix, only a point off top spot is a reflection of the hard work and desire from a group of players, who want to taste success. We know we will have a few ups and downs along the way, but if we can remain in the mix through the next couple of months, we stand a great chance of fulfilling those dreams. In my mind, there is no question, the key to us acheiving anything this term, will be displayed in the consistency we show, week in, week out. That consistency will only happen through utilising the squad to its full potential, by keeping players fresh and on there toes whilst not rushing them back from injury to soon. It is not the game infront of me that I base my team selection on, I look 3 or 4 games in advance, allowing the players to focus only on the immediate game in front of them, that way it is me who takes and makes the pressure decisions to get the shape and selection of the team right, leaving the players free to focus solely on the job in hand. So far, they have not let me down!
Consistency and commitment to the cause are key factors for us this season, I have undoubted commitment from this set of lads, so far, the consistency appears to be there too.
Steve Lloyd
Tarporley Vics. Manager
10th October 2008
Fair to say, the momentum has gathered pace during the 1st quarter of the season, the progress we have made in that time, is a really important element of what I beleive, is a critical stage of our 2008/09 campaign.
Starting well and finding that consistency early doors was a priority we put into our Pre-Season preperations and plans. When we look back over recent seasons, as with all clubs at this level, you have good spells, then you will have a blip, the recovery from that slump is what can mould your whole season, taking it from a challenge at the top end, a mid-table scrap or a battle near the bottom of it. Getting the points on the board early, allows you to minimise the impact of such a run. Sure to say, your aim will always be to not experience one at all, but if you do, your better equipped to handle it when you have a strong points haul in the bag that reflects a healthy one. It is during these times, the character of the squad needs to shine through, we have that character!
To be honest, we haven't really played to our potential yet, despite our pleasing points return, that really is a positive aspect so far. I can't pinpoint a game where we actually flowed through the contest as we were at times in last seasons run in. But what I have seen is individual improvement on many fronts from a variety of players new and old, whilst the 'Team at all counts' ethic burns as brightly as ever.
The wins at Poynton, Maine Road and Daten stand out for me, they were hard fought yet accomplished victories, at grounds that are not easy to claim 3 points at, we pressed all of those sides to the limit, got our goals and simply did not allow them through. That for me is a sign of our improvement, we are a side that is more than happy to dictate the play but equally happy to let the opposition have the ball, knowing we have not just the strength physically, but the right balance of players that are able to adapt to a counter attacking style, that has payed dividends thus far.
I have said before, this League is going to probably be tighter than ever before, alot tighter than last seasons race, I see the likes of Warrington Town and Whitchurch Alport as 2 teams that can make a real impact this time.
Alport had a slow start but they are a well run club who play neat and direct football, there form recently has been good, but as I have stated, that early points return is so key, and one they could regret as they play catch up so early in the campaign.
Warrington Town are always there or there abouts, they are a terrific club, however there weakness is when there 1st Team calls and key players are elavated, that is when historically they have dropped points, but again, there solid start shoud help to dilute that impact to some degree.
You have to take your hat off to the new boys in the League, Moore Utd, they have made a terrific start to the campaign, and sit proudly at the top of the table. It's always difficult to pass comment on a new team in this Division, but all you can say is, take a look at the table, they are not there by luck, the 'table never lies' as they say!
Currently, we quite rightly sit in this group, though all sides pose a threat in this league, it is the teams in and around you that you have got to benchmark yourselves against. For as long as we keep pace with these teams, we will not be far off. The danger at this standard is that every game though winnable, is equally loseable, you simply never play against a poor side. It takes one or two sides, as Us and Broardheath showed last season, to string along a consistent set of results, and that Top 4 or 5 can look completely different. That is why I keep pressing home about building your points total early, this is how you can keep improving your position, whilst consistency will sustain it!
So far so good, but far to early to get carried away, I'm sure we will peak and troff, but one thing we will do, is fight like hell to be challenging for honours come May!
Steve Lloyd
Tarporley Vics. Manager
18th September 2008
For the 2nd season in succesion we have made a pleasing start to a Cheshire league campaign. It's not been perfect by any stretch, but being only a point off the top, tucked away in 3rd spot, is the ideal place to be. It is at this stage of the season where the advantage of a solid start really pays over the duration of a long & challenging season. Having some form of consistency to build on, allows you to gather some vital momentum, which is paramount when you set your standards higher than you have before. A good example of this reflects on the players attitude and commitment to the cause, when leading 3.0 in one game this season, the half time debate was somewhat far from satisfied, they were genuinely unhappy with there overall team performance. Having a group of players who refuse to settle for a below par performance, is a major plus. They share the expectations of how the game should flow, or to what tempo we need to play at, and are determined to ensure that they make it happen. Naturaly, there will be games where we will have to grin and bare it, ride our luck or even at times, be totally outplayed, but the importance of the players not losing sight of the level they need to be at, well, that is key if we are to push for proggresion this term.
I use the word proggresion quite alot, but that is how I see the club over the past 7 or 8 years. You 'Can't build Rome in a day' as they say, but you can make a controlled impact season on season. I am not a manager that will source 7 or 8 new players every season, I believe in building a backbone to the team with established & committed players who share the vision through playing together week in, week out, and strive to move the club forward with as much passion as I have. Couple that with developing young players within our Reserve team, and a sprinkling of new faces that tick the box on all fronts, it is those ingrediants that have created the formula to allow us to grow over the years.
The commitment and dedication of the players comes naturaly, from 'Day 1' they quickly realise the expectations, it is not just me who beats the drum, it is there newly found team mates, who like me, strive for the next level, simply because they too want to move the club higher. That blend and spirit is what drives a club like ours forward.
The Cheshire League Division 2 is such a tight league, no team will runaway with the title this season I'm sure, but there will be a band of clubs who will fight it out in what I believe will be more of a top 6 or 7, than a usual 3 or 4! That good start I mentioned is so important to us sitting in that group, that attitude and dedication from the players is key to ensuring we sustain our position in the mix, whilst building that early momentum and expectation, in the long term, is what elavates you from nearly rans, to front runners.
This season promises, we now have to deliver!
Steve Lloyd
Tarporley Vics. Manager
11th August 2008
The one thing you ask for at the start of every pre-season is total effort and full on commitment. The lads turned up in the 1st week of July and started how they meant to go on. Numbers have been superb, but it is the effort and dedication of the lads, week in week out, that has been the most pleasing factor.
Here we are only 2 days from the start of the season. I can honestly say, the squad is prepared, the players are fit and we have already had 5 really challenging workouts.
Starting at Curzon Ashton, though a heavy 4.0 defeat looks bad on paper, it was an excellent run out against a really strong side. On the day we fielded 75% of our Reserve squad and they performed admirably against such a team.
A week later, we took a squad of 20 to 1st Division Billinge, after a solid 1st half showing, we made the changes and after leading at the break, those changes disrupted our pattern of play as we went down 3.1. In pre-season, results really are irrelevant; it’s more about gaining sharpness and trying new formations or players. Those 1st 2 games, though we never like to lose, were invaluable because it gave us the platform to improve on with each game, and that is exactly what we have done. It would have been easy to have arranged 5 games, and won all 5 against mediocre opposition, but what would we have got out of it? Nothing! What we have got out of it, is a squad that have played in 5 highly competitive games, taken a tackle, kept a clean sheet and generally have been stretched, that is the kind of shape we needed to be in, as we approach Crewe F.C on Wednesday night!
Our 3rd and 4th games saw a step up in opposition, and 2 really pleasing displays. A 1.1 draw with ex-Malpas manager, Mark Jones Wem Town, saw us nearing top gear, in a game that both sides battled for 90 minutes. We then travelled to 1st Division Padgate, a side who finished in 4th spot of the top league last season. The display we produced in that 1st half, was excellent, we simply passed them off the park, playing confident and controlled football which saw us go 2.0 up, before being pegged back to a 2.2 draw, again, really positive, but more important were the lessons learned. It was during this game, against such quality opposition, all of the hard work in pre-season, was beginning to pay off. In our final game, we controlled proceedings against another 1st division side, Barnton, running out comfortable 3.0 winners; it is that performance that has taken us into the Crewe game, at the right level.
As always, at the start of every campaign, you have a squad of players all desperate to play, because they have all put so much into it through the summer months, invariably there will always be some disappointed lads. But a league season is a marathon, not a sprint, if players are not there yet in fitness or in form, I have no need to pick them, they can take a little longer, so when they do get that call, they are chomping at the bit to hold down a place.
Competition for places is key to delivering continued progression, rest assured, very few people would be able to guess Wednesday’s starting 11. The squad of 16 is strong and all desperate to play, nobody can feel complacent!
Steve Lloyd
Tarporley Vics. Manager
