Every manager has to be heard, and Barry Collins is no different! Every Thursday you can read his opinion on the previous match, and his views on the next one.
Collins' Countdown - Monday 26th July
Although I am not entirely happy about how the last week has gone, I have learnt quite a few things about management. I have learnt that a single loss can turn you into public enemy number one, while a win just a few days later can bring you a slight reprieve. I have also learnt to think more carefully about team selection in the future, and that a rollocking and a tough training session can make a squad think twice about playing badly twice in a row!
The Linfield defeat was a sickening blow for me, not so much BECAUSE we lost but the way we played. There was no unity between the players, it was as if they were complete strangers pulled together for a Sunday morning kickabout in the park. This caused a lack of understanding, which resulted in a lack of passing, and that provided us with a limited amount of goalscoring chances. Then there was the many half-hearted tackles, the relaxed marking and worst of all, non-existant passion. Linfield ripped us to shreds, and I mut admit that we were lucky to concede only two goals, because it so easily could have been five or six. And just to add to the trail of woes for the day, Graham Jones broke two toes and the largest bone in his foot. Everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery, but in the meantime Keith and I are left busy searching for a new keeper to stand in, while still desperately trying to rebuild an already depleted squad. We have former Welsh number one Bruno Cairns on a 10 day trial, so we will see how he fares, and we are also hopeful of completing at least two signings by Friday.
Any new faces would have to work hard to force their way into side however, after the boys' excellent performance against Glentoran. They made amends for the horror show four days previous by putting on a rugged, determined display to take victory against the tough Irishmen. I wasn't very pleased with the way they tried to antagonise us, but our players did not bac kdown and gave as good as they got. I was delighted with the way Dave Savage played especially - he was phenomenal. He didn't allow anything past him, and as captain he led the side well. No one will ever be assured of a place as long as I am in charge, but Dave has the no-nonsense, win-at-all-costs approach that we need in the side.
Now onto our encounter with Shamrock Rovers, 2nd place finishers in the Eircom Premier League last season. They recently lost in the final qualifying stage for the UEFA Cup, which is not a bad acheivement, but it does show what we are up against. I was recently asked the question: "If they can reach the brink of European football by beating sides from Finland, Russia and Portugal, how do you expect to beat them?" My answer to that question was: "With hard work, belief and plenty of goals!" Deep down I know that we could be in for a thrashing, but at the same time the Rovers lads will be tired and demoralised from their recent disappointment.
I was pleased with the way Reece Blackwell and Harold Mackintosh linked up in the last 20 minutes of the match against Glentoran, so I am going to start with those two upfront. I have been, and will continue to search for another striker or two, because we have just three at the moment, and with two of them teenagers it leaves us light on the ground. But if the above two can continue to hit it off and develop a good understanding, we will have found our first choice strike force.
Matthew Burns will continue in goal, because we are going to give Bruno a game on Saturday against Cork City. Jack Morgan and Bobby Holmes need a rest, so I will be playing Butch McGovern and Darren Nixon at the centre of defence. It seems a bit silly to put an unfit player and a 16 year old in the side against our toughest pre season opponants yet, but there is a theory to the madness. Shamrock are a patient, passing side, so they will not be putting too much pressure on the defence anyway. Unlike Linfield and Glentoran they play from front to back, so they will have to get through the midfield first, so I have decided to put Dave in again. He proved that when in comes to one-on-one tackling he is an expert, so he will provide cover for the unlikely duo at the back.
I would like to give Luke Jefferson a rest after his excellent performance at the weekend, but our lack of left-sided players mean that he will have to start again. I am on the verge of completing a few signings, and hopefully by the time you read this at least one of them will be completed. If that is the case they will join us in Eire later today, and we can play him at some point on Wednesday.
I am off to get some sleep now. I have had a tiresome day, not only did I join in with training today, I had to huff and puff to prevent Butch from punching a "stupidly annoying little bastard leprecaun" as he put it. Of course it was only a small man having a bit of fun by the hotel, but Butch was having none of it!
I will speak to you again after the Cork City match, hopefully having won three in a row!
Barry Collins
