Ahead of the Carlisle United fixture Danny Cowley spoke of unfulfilled business this season whilst pondering the task facing The Imps in League One next year.
Promotion: The primary target of promotion has been achieved; based on the principles of hard work and sacrifice by everyone involved. This has not been about just 11 players, rather a unique journey involving as it has the whole community with so many people contributing invaluable hard work. To be honest, DC still felt a bit underwhelmed and unfulfilled after the Cheltenham performance. It was good to achieve the promotion when looking at the bigger picture but as a days work Imps can and need to do better than that and demand more from ‘ourselves’. He thought getting to L1 would feel better than standing next to a phone waiting for other results to come in. DC still feels there is work to be done – Champions, 2 points per game average and going unbeaten. Imps deserve to be top but ‘you’ don’t always get what you deserve. This weekend is an opportunity to put that right and given Imps away record it would be fitting to achieve the Championship on the road. DC really wants to win the Championship but in style. All year people have talked about the best team and players in L2 so Imps have kept quiet, working away so he would like to see what the league table ‘says’ on 4th May.
Carlisle: DC joked he had taken over travel arrangements and ‘they’ are getting a better hotel on the fringe of The Lake District this year. Travel up on Thursday with training at Blackburn. With some players having 50 games on the clock this season, playing well in April is all about mentality. Carlisle like to sit off their opponents remaining compact. They utilise a diamond or 4-3-3 formation to achieve that. They have everything to play for enjoying a good record against the top 3 sides. DC expects his side to attack the game with real vigour, drive, focus and energy as there is a big prize for them if successful.
Reflection on his Managerial Career: DC believes his subject knowledge and communication skills have improved (on the training ground and in the classroom). He has learned about player recruitment and places his ethos on managing people to get the best out of them. Whilst there is a lot of ‘copy cat’ learning within the football industry which is true for ‘us’, ‘we’ try to do it our way and remain true to ourselves – put our ‘own’ identity on it. DC felt he was a good fit for the club when he came in as the club had not enjoyed the success it deserved having lost energy and direction. He felt value could be added by applying hard work every day.
Next Season in League 1: Imps are in a much better position this time than last year – squad, club, infrastructure, training ground – but make no mistake this is a huge step up having to face real challenges to compete at L1 level. ‘We’ will have to add real value and the Summer will be tough requiring difficult decisions – City will need to box clever. It is going to need everybody on board and the supporters ‘with us’ to keep ‘our’ heads above water. Imps can still have realistic ambition and new opportunities to succeed.
DC takes the view there are 8 teams in L1 significantly better than the rest. There are also teams that are financially very well backed and budgets could be up to quadruple what The Imps is currently set at. L1 players are technically more efficient and there is more pace in terms of the players themselves and moving the ball. He noted there is more clarity and pattern to side’s style of play which may be a good thing as in L2 it is sometimes difficult when not knowing what opponents are going to do next. DC has technically aware players so it may be something that can be exploited.
DC is happy as always with the board as they are totally club orientated, trustworthy, loyal and have aligned interest in so much as wanting to do the best for the club. Conversations and an informative board meeting took place this week; there is clarity for next season. The season will be based on achievable and sustainable finances. Imps will be competing against a number of clubs who are happy to make short term losses. That cannot be the Lincoln City model as we cannot put this great club in any jeopardy.
DC is happy to return to the role of underdog as he is more used to that and doesn’t enjoy the expectation as much, some people putting him on a pedestal really doesn’t suit him either. DC joked that in spite of the big step up coming next season and the expectation this season he had liked having the players for the level this season though.
Player Contracts: DC confirmed he is a good way down the line with a number of player contracts but reminded people about his policy of trying to get everything into place before announcing the outcomes simultaneously although accepting that sometimes the club would take a decision to release the information at different times.
Writer: hulloutpost
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DC: "I've taken over the travel arrangements.":https://t.co/j3IIYatfId#CUFC #ImpsAsOne #CUFCImps
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