Reds shaping up says Coley
SHELDAN KEAY
ACCRINGTON Stanley manager John Coleman says an emphasis on improving fitness will help his side during the next campaign.
The Reds are continuing their pre-season preparations having returned to training last week.
Coleman has been pleased with what he’s seen, and has singled out the fitness aspect especially, believing there have already been improvements.
“I’ve been really pleased with the way pre-season has gone so far to be honest,” he told the club’s official website.
“The lads have worked ever so hard and there have been no moans and they’ve just got on with it.
“We’ve had a couple of discussions about where we want to be and how we want to approach it and one of the key things we identified is fitness. That’s something we’ve worked really hard on.
“We’re trying to develop an ethos of the lads expecting to do well this season and this is all a big part of it.
“We want to go into the season full of confidence and determined achieve something.
“Fitness is important but you have to have more than just fitness or you’d to other aspects to shine through.”
Stanley have brought in several players during the summer, with Coleman still looking for more to recruit.
It is slightly different to how the squad looked at this stage last year, and Coleman says he’s happy with how things are going.
“Last season we had a lot of trialists and there was a lot of upheaval but the season before we had a steady squad to work with from early on so having a settled group isn’t new to us,” he said. “I think the more the players play for us the more they realise what is required of them and the style of football that we’re going to play.
“It’s probably going to take less technical work than it has in the past and certainly less work on the shape and such.”
Stanley were set to get their first pre-season match of the summer underway as the Observer went to press on Wednesday, against newly promoted Premier League side Huddersfield Town at the Wham Stadium.
Another home game follows for Stanley on Saturday, taking on an Everton XI.