Ahead of the Burton Albion home game, Mark Kennedy discussed two players enjoying a successful campaign and reflected on the game’s strengths plus the evolution of the Imps as the season has progressed.
You can discuss what Mark Kennedy has said ahead of this match HERE, as well as get involved with our pre-match threads: You can post your score predictions, discuss the starting XI, and predict the attendance!
We have also published a quiz about the last time the two sides met at Sincil Bank, which can be found HERE, or at the bottom of the page!
Transfer News: The transfer news from MK is that there is no news. “Massively busy, but I’ve got no news for you, unfortunately”.
It has been very quiet in spite of Mk and the club remaining in constant dialogue with other parties. He personally, along with other club staff has been taking in games and players recently. A common theme is that other clubs are reporting back that they are waiting on their own incomings and outgoings so MK expects to see a significant ‘domino effect’ once the moves begin; it will ‘kick off’.
Sean Roughan and Ben House: Both players are available for selection (Joe Walsh is 50/50). MK was highly complimentary of the impact that Sean and Ben have made this year. “They’ve both had brilliant seasons”.
On Sean, MK struggled to think of anyone else his age who may have had even close to the minutes, let alone more than Sean at L1 level.
MK was particularly effusive regarding what Ben brings to the team. It is a testament that Ben has been fighting with Tom Hopper (club captain, brilliant career, loved around the place) for the number 9 shirt with both players massively helping to push and complement one another. Ben scores big goals against big opponents, “I just want him to celebrate a bit more”.
MK recognised the excellent recruitment work undertaken take by the club to have identified Ben’s talent resulting in him being able to step up from National League to L1 seamlessly. From day one of arriving at the club MK thought ‘here is a player he really likes’. Ben is robust, tough, technically adept, two-footed, quick, and although MK sees him as a number 9, Ben is equally adept playing anywhere due to his skills and intelligence – which had initially posed a problem when deciding where to deploy Ben.
Regarding the two players, “If I was in the Championship I would be looking at Ben and Sean”.
Burton Albion: Reflecting on the away fixture against the same opponents. “It was definitely a poor day for us, no doubt about it; but that’s gone. I don’t think about it, I don’t talk about it”.
Evolution of the Tactics and Approach to the Games: Statistically, Lincoln are really impressive – don’t lose many games (72/73% unbeaten) none back to back, have had some good wins with big performances thrown in; all in all a tough nut to crack.
“We’ve just had too many draws this season. I think what we do have is an incredible structure and base to enable us to be competitive and be really tough to beat. I would just like to turn a few of the ‘D’s’ into ‘W’s’. I don’t think we’re far away from that”.
Mk doesn’t see it so much about releasing the shackles at home matches in order to achieve that. The foundations are built on structure, discipline plus tactical understanding out of possession which are excellent. Without those ‘you’ have nothing. It is in those areas that MK has implemented the biggest changes since the first quarter of the season; whilst as the side were scoring goals they were simultaneously conceding around two a game. MK feels things have possibly gone a little bit the other way but not through fault.
His aim is still to provide entertainment for the fans. “Certainly at home we want to get bums off seats, we want the fans to see an attractive style of football. We want to play in the right way”
With the exception of Charlton (a drab boring game) and to an extent Wycombe, MK feels the fans will have left the stadium looking forward to the next game.
Writer: hulloutpost
MK: "That's gone. I don't think about it, I don't talk about it."https://t.co/Tzdg4pFdrF#ImpsAsOne #WeAreImps #BAFC
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) January 20, 2023
