Danny Cowley probably set a new personal best with a pre-match conference lasting almost half an hour. In typical style he didn’t dwell too long on last weeks matches being far more interested in the Bury game and details of how the squad is shaping up for the remainder of the season.
Yeovil: It was a very experienced, measured performance demonstrating excellent territorial control both in and out of possession. DC shrugged off Darren Way’s comments about Lincoln ‘bending the rules’. He was pleased Way was moaning as DC only worries when opposition managers are not. DC is not interested in a war of words, The Imps play hard and fair.
Bury: “It’s going to be a great game. We have to make sure our cause is greater than theirs. It’s probably our biggest challenge to this point”. DC highlighted the superb Bury home form and goal scoring threat. He detailed how Bury have 4 different types of goal scoring forwards who are well serviced by three excellent midfielders. DC confirmed that Scott Wharton may well be lining up against Imps which had lead to a days work on changing set pieces and restarts. This was not seen as a problem as DC has had to do it (successfully) in the past. DC had nothing but high praise for Scott Wharton as a player who had displayed exemplary attitude and application in spite of him not getting as many games as anticipated. DC confirmed SW’s situation was a simple victim of circumstance following the last-minute loss of Luke Waterfall and unexpected signing of Jason Shackell in the August window. DC had not wanted to see SW go but he had to be fair to the player and respectful of the excellent Blackburn. DC declared his idea of selling the game to Imps fans (despite TV) was to encourage the younger supporters to take in the game before enjoying a good night out in Manchester; naturally at 40 he wouldn’t be partaking as his night club days were long gone.
Squad Comings and Goings: DC has been after Jordan Roberts for quite a while and knows him well from his time at Aldershot and Crawley. JR is well thought of by Paul Lambert so DC sees this as more of a loan for game time to benefit the player and Ipswich rather than a potential permanent signing. JR can play in the 9 or 11 role which provides great flexibility. This signing covering the bases does allow DC to really look at the ‘market’ in the last 7 days of the window so that he can strike if something really grabbed his attention to make the squad better. If not then so be it – a small squad but full of ability. DC saw the player’s strengths as power, physicality, robustness, energy, pressing and a quality left foot for set pieces.
The Mark O’Hara loan was announced on the hour at 3pm. DC was careful to explain the reason why it had taken a while for the player to sign. MO is a quality player in demand from a lot of clubs in higher leagues than Imps. He felt the move to Peterborough in the summer had happened very quickly to the extent of possibly being rushed. With MO being a young player DC didn’t want to force his hand and had counselled him to take his time, gather the right information to ensure the move this time was right for him. This loan had potential for a permanent end of season switch but DC was under no illusion that MO would be a player in demand so it was an ideal scenario for player and club to see how things developed. DC described O’Hara as an athletic, forward-looking box to box midfielder with great pitch coverage, carrying a goal threat. His assets complemented the players ‘we’ already have. Importantly when DC looked in MO’s eyes he saw the same desire and focus that players like Sean Raggett have; he has first-class character.
Furthermore, with MO signing and the Bossie midfield option this really put four different formations on the table for the remainder of the season. DC was aware that going into the second half of last season Imps had no left side and were effectively forced into playing the same formation repeatedly. DC expanded his thinking by highlighting that statistically, teams suffer more injuries and suspensions in the second half of the season so he had looked at and planned to stop all things that could possibly prevent the club from achieving promotion.
DC took time to discuss the development of Ellis Chapman. Ideally, he wanted Ellis to make 25 starts this season and had done well as an under 18 player to have made 10 so far. Had City been mid-table then Ellis would be starting every week but as it is he needs game time on loan elsewhere for his development. EC is far too precious a player for the club’s future to enter into a move lightly and it will be hard to let him go so it will only happen if DC has carefully looked at the style of play and type of manager ensuring everything is right.
Miscellaneous: The press picked up on a previous DC comment that this had been the busiest period in his time at the club and mused whether he was now able to relax. In typical DC riposte, he retorted that “I don’t do relaxed”, highlighting that everything was now really focussed, driven and determined for the final pieces of the jigsaw to this season’s campaign. The next stage is to work really hard on transitioning the new players into the group.
Writer: hulloutpost
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DC: "We have got to make sure our cause is as great as theirs.":https://t.co/FF6r2lRhhW#BuryFC #Bury #ImpsAsOne
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