Michael Skubala reflected on the positives to be taken from the Barnsley game before turning his thoughts towards the midweek fixture away at Cambridge United.
NEW QUIZ: How much can you remember from last season’s match versus Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium? Have a go at the quiz at the bottom of the page or simply CLICK HERE (opens in a new window)!
You can discuss what Michael Skubala has said ahead of this match here, and get involved with our pre-match discussion!
Barnsley Review: MS noted there had been talk within the Imp’s camp about the character shown to push hard in the game in order to emerge with a point.
“I thought that was a major plus point for me, seeing that character and I’ve seen that quite a few times over the last few games; so I know they’ve (the players) got that in abundance really”.
Integration of Youth Players: MS initially started coaching men’s football at the National League level before garnering experience from different levels of younger age groups. He is looking for the right blend of players. It is nice to be able to support academy or youth players, enabling them to get an idea of what first-team football looks like and to give them minutes, but only when the time is right. Jovon (Makama) was held up as an example of a player who had been getting on the pitch, doing really well in a couple of games, with the process leading to him starting a game. Sometimes it may be helpful to play less experienced players to assist with the playing load but it is important not to lose sight of the need for retaining the senior players and ensuring the vital qualities they bring to a game are not lost resultingly – it has to be the right mix when thinking of allowing younger players an opportunity.
With there being a number of Imps players out on loan there is a network of staff that keep an eye on their progress including Tom Shaw. Individual clips of those players are also fed back to MS enabling him to remain fully linked in.
“I think most of them, if not all of them are doing really well. They are progressing which is great to see”.
Spread of Goals: MS observed that Lasse Sorensen has been a rich source of goals and assists, usually from counter-attacking play. As the style of play develops his expectation is that it is more likely that the forwards like Jovon, Jack Vale even Danny Mandroiu and one or two others will start to chip in more with goals. That will come when the side are able to sustain more attacking positions in the opponent’s half of the pitch.
That work remains a slow process with the ongoing necessity to prepare from one game/opponent to the next.
“It’s a bit of a whirlwind, game, to game to game”.
Cambridge United: The ‘U’s’ will present as a very fast counter-attacking side that can see opponents get caught out. They work from a base of two very strong and experienced centre-halves in the shape of Michael Morrison and Ryan Bennett.
Following Cambridge’s recent run of results, they are not in the league position they want to be. Given that and in the knowledge that Cambridge defeated Lincoln last season, MS can only see the game being a very tough fixture. Whilst every game has a story to tell individually, he foresees an opponent who will be ‘up for it’, requiring the Imps to initially maintain focus and concentration quite possibly on the ‘horrible’ aspects of the game. Then when it’s the turn of his side to have the ball, MS wants the team to look to do some damage.
“If we have ambitions to keep pushing, I think it’s a game we have to go and get some points out of, away from home”.
Writer: hulloutpost
Skubala: "I think it's a game we have to go and get some points out of, away from home."https://t.co/l16dK4Z4mt#CamUTD #WeAreImps
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) November 27, 2023
