IT’S SO FAR, SO GOOD!
WE’RE ALL EMBRACING IT
FOOTBALL is a big part of my life and I thought I’d probably seen it all until this season. But I never expected to be having medical tests before we take part in the play-offs. It’s a new one for all of us. The test is a horrible experience. When they put the swab down your throat it makes you gag.
Then they have to push one up your nose until they feel resistance. I thought it would be just to get a bit of residue but this feels like they’re cleaning your brain!
We have to have tests every week. It’s a small price to pay to get our play-offs played. Results at Dartford have come back all clear and on Tuesday we were back in non-contact training, then later in the week to full contact.
It’s great to be with the players again. They look really sharp. We did some fitness tests and they surprised me how well they did. That shows me they’ve been working hard on their own for the last few months. I’m really impressed.
I’ve experienced the playoffs throughout my career lots of times but obviously this time feels completely different because of the long break we’ve had. It’s hard how to gauge the return to training and each club will find their own way. I’ve spoken to some very experienced people in the game and there is no single formula. We’re certainly not flogging our players. It’s just short and sharp with a bit of endurance work. The aim is to get in the best condition we can and the players have already got a good base. I’ve always felt these playoffs are a free hit for us at Dartford. We gatecrashed them really with a great run, where we took 2.2 points per game.
Flip a coin
When we joined back in October we were in the bottom five and thought the job was just about staying in the division.
So to have the run we had and now the play-offs to even be taking place, we are ahead of schedule. Our initial aim was really to steady the ship and be in the play-offs next season. Now we’re here, we’re going to give it our best. You can’t predict the playoffs at the best of times. I genuinely believe this year is like taking a coin out of your pocket and flipping it – heads or tails? A bit of luck on the day, injuries, fatigue – lots of things will play a part.
We had a conference call with the National League on
Thursday. One of the subjects of going straight to a penalty shoot-out if the scores are level at the end of the 90 minutes was discussed.
The league feel like they want to scrap extra-time. But they said if we want that to change then we should put our points across in writing. I know all the managers in the South have said we want extra-time to happen.
The games are going to be too tight. We don’t want them finalised on penalties if we can really help it.
We are going to be able to use five substitutes from six on the bench. If there’s going to be extra-time then it means you have to use them wisely.
Temperatures
Before that we’ll keep building up our preparations. We’re hoping to play Barnet, who are in the National League play-offs, this week. We’ve been going through the individual protocol stages and we’re ready to play.
Our general manager Jack Smedley is taking us through everything and doing a great job. No one can go through the building. It’s in one gate, out another.
We’ve got signs up everywhere, we have our temperatures taken, you have to fill out forms, sanitise our hands. It’s been really professional.
We’ll keep that up as we prepare to face a good side in Slough Town in a fortnight’s time.