‘THEY ARE A RESPONSIVE GROUP WHO GIVE ME AND THE CLUB EVERYTHING...’
PORT Vale manager Darrell Clarke previewed Saturday’s game at Crawley at his press conference, fielding questions from Phil Bowers of BBC Radio Stoke, Mike Baggaley of The Sentinel and Stokeontrentlive, Staffordshire University’s Ninad Barbadikar and Hitmix Radio’s George Andrews.
I want to talk to you about resilience in the team. What have you worked on to try to instill that?
“It is the lads’ mentality, individually and as a group. We do a lot of work on that. We do so much work on the technical, tactical and fitness side of things but mindset is key in my opinion, making sure the resilience can be built, worked on in training and in individual and group meetings. Players have to be strong now. Criticism is everywhere you go, social media, newspapers, radio stations. The pressure on players to perform is there for all to see. So, you have to have that resilience as a player. Certainly the top players have that – because they have to.”
Is it harder to shield them now than when you started playing and social media wasn’t as big?
“It is, but also you don’t want to shield them too far away because I think we do things very professionally here as a football club and I think it’s very important that our paying supporters see….not only do they see players as team on a Saturday afternoon, but we have some nice lads, some good, young lads that do a lot of good things. So, getting that balance right, while still protecting them as well at the right times, is a key area.”
In games, such as Mansfield where you have gone ahead but then concede, teams in the past might have lost that game. so, what’s it like during the match to try to get them to that point where they are resilient?
“You can touch on it before the game and at half
time. You can affect that sometimes when a player is injured and we shout the group across and get some communication into the boys. You are always working on that sort of resilience. Another way is never taking your foot off the gas.
“That is important. When you have teams by the scruff of the neck, make sure you try to finish off the game. That is just as important as resilience.”
Over the last few games in particular, James Gibbons has really impressed. What’s he been like to manage this season, coming back from that injury?
“Outstanding. I felt for Gibbo last season. I came in, in February, and he broke down. Seeing his injury record, we have been careful with him. You saw on Tuesday night at Mansfield he was rested. He was fresh for Saturday and was one of our best players. His form has been very good.
“It is difficult to say to Gibbo because he is 100mph in training, he is always at it. I am trying to manage that and sometimes you have to make harsh decisions, pull him out of training sessions or pull him out of
a game at the right time to make sure you can have that continuous training period.
“He is doing that very well and is getting plenty of games in, and his performances are getting better and better. “As a lad, he is fantastic. He is another major contributor in the changing rooms. Another player that has been here a good few years, another one that leads by perfect example.”
Has he matured into that type of leader character that you want in the side?
“There are a group of them that lead in different ways. With Gibbo, it is the way he works every single day, but I also know the work he does speaking to individual players about knowing what the club is all about. He definitely deserves the plaudits he is getting.”
I know nothing has been achieved yet, but in terms of how you felt this season would unfold and what has actually happened, where are you up to? Has enough
progress been made?
“I felt it was a good group the first day we were in and when the squad came together in pre-season. I still feel that, whether I was speaking on the back of a couple of defeats or whatever it was. They are a really responsive group and they are giving me and the club absolutely everything.
“There might be dips in the road, but I think this group will respond well. I am absolutely delighted to be sat here after 14 games to see us in that position (second in the league), I really am.
“I think the performances have been strong. I don’t think there have been many games we haven’t deserved to win. That is important because sometimes, if you are winning games and not deserving it, that can paper over cracks. So, long may it continue but, yet again, I keep emphasising it, it is early days.
“I am sorry if sometimes I am a little bit heated after games Phil, but we have our way of how we do things and I hate people getting carried
away. I hate even hearing about it, we want to get our focus and we work very hard as a football club so the lads feel confident but they are ready to reset on a Monday.”
I want to ask you about that focus because it does require a lot of mental strength to maintain that, not just now, but to get you through Christmas and the final run as well. That must be a real challenge for a manager?
“It is Phil. It is relentless but I love it. It is draining and tiring, we put a lot of work into it, myself and I have a tremendous coaching staff here as well.
“So, everybody at the football club puts in a tremendous amount of effort but that should be a given. That should be expected because that is what supporters want to see, that professional environment being built here.
“It does get draining but I’m not complaining!”
Crawley next up and that’s the most important isn’t it? what you’ve done so far is history.
“It is, you are learning George (Andrews)! But still by taking confidence from what has been achieved.
“We have come back to win games and we have now won a game comfortably. I thought we won a game quite comfortably on Saturday, so you are ticking different boxes along the journey and that hopefully puts you in good stead for the future.”
Crawley on Saturday and away form has been good
“Yes, it has been decent, three away wins in tough games so we look to continue that. But, Crawley, we have a lot of respect for John (Yems) and Lee Bradbury, their management team. They are not in great form over the last three or four (games) but they were a bit like this last season, a bit streaky. They can hurt any team in this division, they have some very good players, some talented players, so we are expecting a tough test.”
You have had 11 different league goalscorers now. How important is that?
“Yes, I’m really pleased with it, Baggy. I said eight or nine weeks ago, when questions were coming about where are the goals coming from. I stated then we have to get goals from around the pitch. I mentioned Cheltenham because I think their leading goalscorer had eight when they won the league last year.
“So, we all have to contribute on that side and on the other side of the game, getting clean sheets. When you put them together, it is a real force.”
Can you give us an update on Leon Legge (he has been out for two months with a knee injury)?
“Leon Legge is progressing well and we are hoping he will be part of the group on Monday. But it is going to take a week or two, he is getting up his fitness levels.
How impresessed have you been with your options in Jamie Proctor’s absence. Do you think Devante Rodney can become a key player?
“Devante Rodney is a key player for us. All 24 of my players are key players. I’ve said before, we have built a squad here, not an 11. That is the way we go, every single one of them has exactly the same amount of importance to me. I know that through the course of a season, players receive individual praise. I get that but, for me, it is about the group.”