Our Aims & Expectations for 2007-08
PARKDALE ROVERS F.C.
Aims & Expectations
“To create success, EVERYONE’S noses must be pointing in the same direction.”
Season 2007/2008
OUR AIM: - What do we want to achieve this year?
· To strive to establish ouselvs as a well respected side in the Division we are in and maybe even win a cup,, although a top six finish in our first season in the Premier Division will be a good platform to build on for next season.
· To enjoy our football and training sessions - it’s fun to play but it’s even more fun to WIN!
· To improve our fitness and skill levels as players, both individually and as a team
We’ve done well in our pre-season friendlies! The 1st team have got off to a good start but we need more commitment from all of our players.. If we are going to aim high and strive to win our league games, then we need to be clear from the outset what we’re aiming to achieve and what we expect from each of you. I know we said this last year but we're going to say it again:
“To create success, EVERYONE’S noses must be pointing in the same direction.”
We also said last year that the TEAM is greater than “the sum of its parts”. Practically speaking we have a lot more than 20 quality players on our books now and, with the best will in the world, we cannot pick all of you every Saturday: we are only allowed to choose 16.. Granted some players will not be available every week. Nevertheless, there will be some weeks when some of you will not make the starting 11 – and possibly not even the subs bench. This is where we need your commitment and support. We can promise you now that the team will never be picked based on friends, family, flattery – or even bribery! Quite simply, we want to build the team around the best committed players available. – and that will be based not only on regular availability but also attendance and attitude to training. We’ve got a much superior squad this season so we will try to keep as many players involved and try to play all three subs whenever possible. (That means three of you will have to come off!). However, if it’s a tight game and we don’t think the subs available would strengthen our chances then they may have to sit on the bench unless we get a comfortable winning margin! Know this: the bottom line is – even if it means having to disappoint one or two players, our aim is always going to be about at least trying to win every game or at the very worst securing a draw! So we ask for your patience and understanding when it comes to announcing the team. If anyone does feel aggrieved, please come and talk to the manager or assistant manager face to face in private – please don’t start moaning behind our backs and causing disquiet amongst the other team members. Let’s make it our No.1 aim to build upon and nurture the good team spirit which we’ve already started to develop here. Let’s all try to put the TEAM first – ahead of ourselves!
We hope to allow some of our younger, more inexperienced players to grow and develop as footballers and it is our intention to use games against lesser opposition to give them that opportunity where possible.
So get used to the idea YOU are in a GOOD SQUAD and everyone is playing for their shirt and NO-ONE is guaranteed a starting position. Put the team first and together we can make this a truly memorable season – for all the right reasons!
And while we’re on the matter of team spirit, let me ask each one of you a question…
Are you an Energiser or an Energy-sapper? How would you describe yourself? Someone who constantly supports and encourages your other team-mates, who inspires them to run that little bit further… or faster…make that tackle…take on that shot, etc. Do you energise your team-mates? Or are you an energy-sapper? Do you whinge and whine about every little mistake, do you criticise and get on other players backs when they make a mistake or perhaps make a different decision from the one you wanted? Do you sap your team-mates of energy…sap their confidence and undermine their determination to keep on fighting for the team. It’s not about how skilful you are. It’s about your attitude and the effect on the team. One wrong team player can sap all the energy from the group. If I ever think any of you are becoming energy sappers, I’ll speak to you first in private and we’ll discuss it openly. However, if that fails I won’t hesitate to drop even the most skilful player if I think it will benefit the team as a whole. As I said earlier the team – if we can be united together – will be greater than the sum of its parts!
OUR EXPECTATIONS: - What is expected of us this year?
Let’s make this a really good season by demanding of ourselves high standards /expectations…
We’re an amateur club – but let’s strive as far as possible to cultivate some “professional attitudes”.
These include the following:-
- Encourage each other and build team spirit by trying to foster a “no blame” culture. We either succeed – or fail – together. And we will ALL make mistakes and fail at some point.
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Respect –have and show respect for each other; try to agree to disagree in a non-confrontational way, as far as possible. Protect team morale at all costs!
- Attendance & Punctuality – Keep turning up to matches and training on time – especially when you’re not in the squad. Work harder and try to force your way in; don’t give up!
- Behaviour – Try not to argue or swear at the referee. Let’s try to avoid stupid bookings and sending-offs! Go into your tackles “hard but fair” and let’s not be afraid this year to be a lot more competitive!
- Match Preparation – Please try to be sensible on the Friday night before a game. I really don’t care if you get ‘hammered’ on a Saturday night but if you turn up having had a skinful the night before a game and out to all hours of the morning, not only are you letting your team-mates down, but it’ll show in your performance and you will probably find yourself watching from the sidelines and having to earn your place back in our team!
- Personal fitness/training. Training is not optional! So please try to get along to training each week – but don’t leave it at that. Take personal responsibility. Do as much extra fitness work as you can during the week – apart from Fridays – try to take it easy the day before a game!
- Communication - Mobile phones. Let’s have mobiles switched OFF during team talks. Please also use your mobiles to call or text me to confirm whether or not you are available for the next game. (Just a quick text reply “Yes” or “No” will usually suffice). If you are unable to train but would like to be considered for selection on Saturday, again please phone or text to let me know, before 6:00 on the training night. I would also like to be able to post the SQUAD on our web-site, prior to each Saturday’s match sometime after the training session –another reason to make sure YOU are there! So can everyone start reading the web-site for information!
- Club Finances. Because of our sponsorship deal with the Greyhound Pub and Newland Contracts, the good news is we can avoid increasing player’s subs this year. To keep it as simple and as fair as possible, I’m going to operate on a
