MK: “That’s a big, big plus for me.”

Mark Kennedy gave his thoughts ahead of the Cambridge United match-up, before time had been called upon the summer transfer window.

You can discuss what Mark Kennedy has said ahead of this match HERE, as well as get involved with many other topics on our 100% Imps forum!

Home And Away Form Thus Far And Season Long Aim: MK took the view that away form has been better than home form to date. He felt that at times the play had veered away from the good football that was intended. There had been glimpses of decent play for half an hour or so at a time but on occasion, the Imps had gone too direct; perhaps under pressure lulled into the style of opponents. Direct football has to be part and parcel of the dynamic, but Mk feels at home the team have resorted to it too much in home matches.

“Maybe that’s the pressure of playing at home and playing in front of your own fans, whereas away we don’t seem to quite have that. There’s a lot more calm about it”.

MK considered the dichotomy of whether it would have been better to pick up two solid draws in the games versus Oxford and Peterborough to maintain the unbeaten status or take the positives from a tremendous performance at Oxford followed by a very poor defeat at Peterborough which actually gave the better points return.

“What I would say is over the course of the season so far we’ve been very, very good. Take the Peterborough game out……take that one game out, I think we’ve been very consistent. That’s a big, big plus for me”.

MK went on to outline what he hoped the team could achieve this year, putting it down to a continuation of the success that had preceded him for several years. What the club and previous manager had done is excellent and they have to be given credit for that.

“My job is to continue it in my way, and I think the big thing we’re really trying to get is the consistency in the good play….we’ve had it in bursts and in periods within games. It’s how can I make 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 70, 90 minutes in continuation”.

Cambridge United: MK is very familiar with Cambridge and sees many parallels between the Imps and their opponents.

“I just think ourselves we’re quite similar as clubs. We’ve got a beautiful small stadium that’s full every week. It’s colourful, bright, it’s a lovely pitch. There’s a fantastic atmosphere, there’s a real connection between the fans, the home support at Cambridge and the team”.

MK added the community, family-friendly environment further underscored the huge connections in the style of the two clubs.

MK has been very impressed by the job Mark (Bonner) has done at the Abbey Stadium. Over the past couple of years if the best manager was based upon consistency, then it would not be possible to look beyond Mark.

MK knows the style of play that Cambridge will deploy; it will be direct at times. He is expecting a tough game against a club ‘on the up’.

On the injury front, MK name-checked a couple of players. Max Sanders will start light training on Monday aiming to return to full training by the end of next week.

Jordon Garrick has had a scan which has revealed an (undisclosed) injury. It doesn’t look serious or long term and it is more about Jordon being able to operate within his personal pain thresholds, for which he absolutely will not be put under any pressure to manage one way or the other.

Writer: hulloutpost