Zone 14 and the Art of Defence and Attack (Update2)

After last Saturday's game at Wetherby Road it was time to reflect and look ahead. Unfortunately what happened OFF the pitch seemed to get more coverage than what happened ON the pitch. Can I just thank Hamil, Tricia and their great co-workers for their hard work before, during and after the game. After the game when the 1919 bar had reopened there was a nice, calm feel about the place as things returned to normal. Mind you most of us could not stop grinning at what we had just witnessed!!

I was at the FA Trophy game against FC Utd last season at Stalybridge Celtic's ground. I could say we lost 4-0 but in terms of an "Anatomy of an Embarrassment" the Harrogate Town team just over a year ago had No fight, No hunger, No poise and No control. Role on a year we are playing FC Utd at their new ground and after 30 minutes are 3-0 up and coasting. We lost 4-3 that day and ended up with ten men. They say that in life you learn by your mistakes. Since then we had one first half of purgatory at home against Stockport County and then the shackles came off, the sun started to shine and hey presto we have seen the type of performances that you can only dream about. Pass and move and defend as a unit. Especially Zone 14!!

FIGHT, HUNGER, POISE AND CONTROL. After following Harrogate Town for over 18 years watching our lads take FC Utd apart with 11 then 10 men was the best I've witnessed. The confidence flowing through the team was tangible. You could feel it. FC Utd were left chasing shadows as our recent 4-3 setback was well and truly put to bed. And how. The finishing was top class. Five different scorers and after spending most of the time with 10 men it was not our team who wanted the game to end!!

Can we win this league? You bet. We have the momentum, the players and the coaches. But most of all a group of supporters who never stopped believing. The encouragement is infectious and gives the team such a LIFT. We'll have a clearer picture where we are in the league at 9.30 on Tuesday March 8th after the Tamworth game. Nuneaton and Tamworth two long journeys. But every journey begins with one small step. This is our time.

The amount of ground covered by our players when we went down to 10 men was immense. Warren's sending off was questionable and a booking at the most. Will the club appeal? Mason Warren has come in and I can't think of a much better left back at Wetherby road. Dave Merris perhaps. Louie Swain is new in this position and is more comfortable when he has the ball in the opponents half. Can we hold onto Mason or will he head back to Rotherham now that Swain's suspension is over?

Keep fighting, stay hungry, be poised and keep in control lads. Get the ball back as quickly as possible when we don't have possession. Let the opposition do the chasing and defend our Zone 14!!

GENUIS IS ONE PERCENT : PERSPIRATION NINETY NINE PER CENT

Thought we utterly dominated the opposition in every position and from my vantage point in the first half watched FC double up on Emmett almost every time he ran at them.Personally think Mason is very solid and calm in his distribution of the ball. Could certainly do with him and Platt having their terms extended. What are your thoughts on distribution from the back as Crook rolled and threw out on a couple of occasions which immediately allowed us to attack at pace again?

Possession is key. If Crook throws the ball out wide or rolls it to Ellis to distribute we retain possession. However, it depends on several things whether Crook will do this. Namely, what the conditions are like. If the pitch is heavy or its blowing a gale then it can put the full backs under unnecessary pressure. Better to kick long. We are also playing a higher back line and squeezing up our back four so Simon wants the full backs tucking in and the ball hit long for Clayton. Crook can do this out of his hands or as we are pushing up higher now he can role the ball along the ground outside the box and hit a ball up to Clayton with a lower trajectory. This helps Paul to head the ball on or control it himself. Usually if Crook throws the ball out wide its because we have an opportunity to break quickly and their forwards have gone to sleep and are not doing their job.

Paul Clayton has been the perfect target for our side. He knows that having such quick, skilful, committed players around him now from the word 'go' if he wins the ball or forces his markers into mistakes then Thewlis, Emmett, Daniels, Kerry, Burrell, Colbeck etc will set up an attack and not give the opposition a moments peace. Playing a higher back line also helps our midfield as they have less ground to cover and we are also playing in the oppositions half most of the time. We are also catching the opposition offside much more now and dictating large parts of the game.

Great to see Crook build up the clean sheet stats too. His confidence has grown. He was brave a couple of times on Saturday diving at feet to collect the ball. I've said before I wish he would shout a little bit more at the lads infront of him. But all in all he's developing into a first class goalkeeper. Hope this squad can gel a bit longer and are signed up for next season.

Maintaining this squad or adding to it will be interesting when the dust has settled on this season. We either 'go again' or we get promoted. Would like to think that we could consolidate post promotion with this group but one game at a time I suppose.

Just had a quick look at Solihull's next five games. Four are at home. On Saturday (27th Feb) they have a local derby against Tamworth, tough one, and next Monday night (29th Feb) travel to Curzon Ashton who will be no push over. Next up (5th Mar) they host Gainsborough after hitting them for six on Saturday at Gainsborough!! Hope Gainsborough have some pride and fight for it. Then Solihull are at home AGAIN against Lowestoft (Sat 12th Mar). A bit of a trek for the Trawlermen. Then at the end of that five game stint they have FC Utd at home (Tues 15th Mar). Hope FC Utd have tightened up by then!!

We have Gloucester at home this Saturday (27th Feb). From what I can remember our pace will open them up. Then a week's rest before travelling to Nuneaton (Sat 5th Mar). We owe them after the 3-0 defeat they dished out at Wetherby Rd!! Then we head South again to take on Tamworth (Tues 8th Mar). Simon will have completed his MANIFESTO by then to see us through to the end of the season!! Then we're home on (Sat 12th Mar) against Telford who are fighting for their lifes to avoid relegation. Then our five game stint ends away at Worcester (Sat 19th Mar).

So Solihull have a more favourable set of games travelling wise coming up. Wow its getting exciting.

HUNGER-FIGHT-POISE-CONTROL : WE CAN DO THIS

COME ON TOWN : GFI (GO FOR IT)

I'm hoping Solihull kop for a few draws, can't see them losing many. Wouldn't wish injury on anyone but maybe a suspension might throw a spanner in the works. Otherwise, got to nail our games and look to the play offs with all that might throw up.

Gloucester at home on Saturday will be our fifth game this month. Solihull, I believe, will play only their third game this month against Tamworth. They certainly benefitted from their 'rest' at Gainsborough.

Another factor that can't be ignored is that Jack and Jordan have spent much of the season on the bench then coming on in the second half as impact subs. They therefore are reasonably fresh by this and with 13 games left they both still have to peak match fitness wise, in my opinion:) Their input and influence from the start in the last three games has been significant both in an attacking manner but also the shift they put in defensively. The balance of the team is spot on now giving it a very potent influence which is being picked up by our opponents by the way they are having to double up to stop, by any means at times, Jack, Jordan, Paul (he gets hammered off the ball, just watch the centre halfs marking him ; the refs don't), Brendan, Joe, Lloyd et al. Get the ball down lads and play. Enjoy yourselfs.

Hope a lot more of the locals come down and watch this squad. They are in for a treat.

Can't see anyone but Simon winning Manager of the month for February. Five games - five wins. Lets be positive and dream the dream. Continue to play like we can for the rest of the season then we can beat allcomers and win every match. Forgot to mention that we got awarded the NON-LEAGUE TEAM OF THE DAY FOR THE PERFORMANCE AGAINST FC UTD

COME ON TOWN

GENIUS IS ONE PER CENT : PERSPIRATION NINETY NINE PER CENT

Win on Saturday and Simon surely has to get Manager of the Month, even a draw should be good enough. Deserves it too.