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No blagging matter

- 04/04/2010

It is exciting times in the English Premier League, with no team clearly having an advantage over another and who finishes where seems certain to go down to the last game of the season. Column inches, talk and more talk of difficult or easy run ins and goal differences, possible points dropped is keeping supporters and pundits gainfully occupied. We too have our own Premier League to worry and occupy us! It is a shame because a few ‘perplexing’ performances early season has resulted in Canterbury having to play catch up since early December. Everyone has done admirably since then and thank goodness we are now in a position where we can justifiably still harbor lofty ambitions for the season.


A comment was made to me recently that we (Canterbury) were ‘blagging’ results; my response was that if we are in the position in June planning out the strategy for next season for a campaign in the Kent League looking at fixtures against Deal Town etc a few ‘blagged’ results will not cause too many lost nights sleep for us! However, with seven games to play I suspect that we will need 21 of the 21 points available! I believe that this will only be achieved if we all fully commit to the cause. I know that Dave and I could not be more concentrated on the task in hand.

With a strong squad, inevitably there will be disappointed players from week to week but I am of the belief that a team should be selected on a game by game basis that can be successful for a particular fixture. There has not been a team selection since I volunteered to ‘assist’ Dave that we have not fully agreed on. Behind the scenes during the week before each game we go through, I think every possible permutation to what we hope will provide Canterbury with the best chance to achieve our longer term objectives.

I would like to think that I treat every player with the same degree of respect and cordiality and I appreciate that as individuals they possess different skill sets and attributes. There is no doubt that some have been blessed with more talent that others but that does not mean that all can fulfill a role within a team set up. It is not that one player who is selected over another because of ability, more it is about being able to fulfill a specific role.
It is about being different rather than being better or worse.

Those who know me will be not surprised that I value highly the attributes of mutual respect, loyalty and commitment and these are what’s required in handfuls to make this a successful season. Ultimately it is the players who are the only ones who can turn ambition into reality for the club and the many who are active in helping the cause in the background from the board members who turn up week in week out, the supporters, those seeking to provide a new home for the City’s football team all deserve to be rewarded with effort and commitment by those fortunate enough to be selected to play.

I can understand that at times pressure will come to the surface, particularly for those on the pitch, but Dave and I will try and reduce this by not over hyping games and maintaining some degree of perspective. However, I know that these pressures are also felt by those working off the field of play as well as those on it and decisions are always made for the right reasons. So far we are all doing ok, more than ok; let’s stick together, team spirit has always been one of Canterbury’s strengths. Let’s use it and win those 21 points.

The Doc