 20-05-08, 04:19 PM | #14 (permalink) |
| Backup To The First Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 132 Thanks: 16 Thanked 24 Times in 24 Posts Nominated 3 Times in 2 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0 | 
 Week 1: 28th Jun - 3rd Aug
The first thing on my agenda in the first 'official week' of the season was to sit down with my assistant, Dave Harrison, and confirm the captain and vice-captain for the season. With Dave being at the club last season I knew his opinion would be more valid than my own, so I went along with keeping Frazer Richardson as captain and appointing goalkeeper Casper Ankergren as vice-captain. The rest of Monday was spent training with the lads. I was starting to get to know the guys pretty well after a few weeks training.
Training continued throughout the week, nothing of note happening until the 1st of the month. Dave gave me his training report on players and I was glad to see Mark Kennedy working hard on his attacking play. Alan Martin our back up goalie was training to high standard, as well as young goalie Jonny Lund. Then a chill out with a paper and a cup of tea was in order, half of which ended up on the floor. Peter Reid had stated that he doubts I am capable of getting Leeds promoted. I didn't think such a great manager would make such a comment in order to stir me up ahead of our game in a day's time. I decided to pin up the page in my office so that if we got promoted, I could go slap Reid in the face with it.
The draw for the League Cup 1st round was sent to my be email from the FA. Rochdale away would be a tough game, but it wasn't anything beyond us and I felt we had a good chance of winning. The 1st proper meeting with the chairman and his board. Ken (Bates) felt the same as the fans when it came to the pre-season performances of Paul Huntington, but on the other hand they were happy with Casper Ankergren's form. They announced a profit of £1.65 million from the previous month, great news meaning our overall balance was now at £5,712,413.
The final action of a very busy day was Steve Beck reporting on Luton after watching them in their 1-0 victory over Linfield earlier in the week. He told me they would play a 4-4-2 formation on a small Kenilworth Road pitch. They would play a direct style of football, and their weaknesses are crosses in the box and vulnerable to pace at the back. He also said we will need quick defenders or defend deep to counter their quick attackers. Their biggest threat will come from the aerial prowess of Sam Parkin up top. Luckily for us some key players were missing such as Marcus Tudgay, Sam Ricketts and George Pilkington.
Saturday would be a big test for me and the boys. Away to Luton would always be a tricky tie, so it was important we came out with something, whether it be 1 or 3 points... |
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