Home truths told as Maamria aims to keep drive alive
DINO SAYS MOST OF HIS PLAYERS HAVE RELISHED THE PRESSURE
DINO Maamria comes over as a nice guy because he is one, someone who clearly likes interacting with people and takes an interest in how they are doing.
But there is a necessary steel and resolve to Maamria the coach and it is starting to become more evident as he battles to turn around Burton Albion’s fortunes.
He spelt it out in no uncertain terms this week as he discussed where the Brewers need to go from here and what he expects from his players.
Maamria did not like what he saw from his team in much of the FA Cup game against Needham Market last week, although he was pleased with the displays of, mainly, Terry Taylor, Sam Hughes and Deji Oshilaja.
He senses that one or two may have fallen away a little from the effort they showed when he first replaced Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at the helm and while he understands why that might happen, he is not ready to accept it. People talk about a “honeymoon period” with new managers, when performances initially pick up but Maamria is not keen on the phrase.
“We had our usual de-brief on Monday and there were some home truths spoken about where we are in the League and how inconsistent our performances have been,” he said.
“Things have to change. Initially, you always get that little peak. I want that peak to keep getting bigger, the curve if you want to call it that. I don’t want to revert back to (where we were), I have to keep on top of it and keep on pushing for performances.
“I’m not sure it’s a honeymoon period. But it’s human nature sometimes.
“Players try that bit harder when they see the changes and positivity. Good players, good people enjoy that and they want to go on to another level again. That’s what I need from them.
“If any of them revert to type, that gives me a decision because I am not going to tolerate poor performances and poor application.
“The biggest thing I am trying to instil into the team is to keep driving those performances, not just on match-days but in training.
“I’m pushing them to the max every day and I want them to be comfortably uncomfortable, if that makes sense. I want to get them to that place because, ultimately, that is what is going to make us win games.”
He is not naming names with regard to the underachievers, although he does do so with those who he says have bought into what he wants. And he is clear that what he says in his press conferences has already been conveyed directly to the players.
“Some will struggle to keep up with the pace and if they do, we’re not going to wait for them. If they can’t get up to the pace, they won’t play,” he said.
“One or two others, who are not playing, they have to get up with the pace now.
“But some thrive on it, like Victor Adeboyejo, Sam Hughes, Deji Oshilaja. Those players are thriving on the drive and responsibility I’m putting on them. Most of the team have relished the changes and the pressure I’ve put on them.
“Terry Taylor has embraced the pressure, Deji looks a different player, Victor looks a different player to how he was at the start of the season. I can always go back to saying that we’re playing better, creating more chances, conceding fewer goals – there have been steps forward – but we are still where we are, bottom of League One, and we have to win games.”
Maamria’s coaching career to date, as we know, has involved several such battles and he knows that the January window will be crucial to the survival bid.
“I’ve been in this situation four or five times before,” he said.
“The levels have been different but they are the same in that the teams at the bottom have underachieved for a certain reason. You get some positive results, some not so good results and you need to get going. You have to get the most out of the players you have, maximise potential and then recruit well in January.
“When January comes, regardless of how good or bad our run has been, we will have to recruit better. It needs a rebuilding job and we will try to do that.
“I’ll never sit on the fence on anything, I’ll say it as it is.
“They know the message, I don’t gloss over anything. I’ll share it with the media, the fans and the players. We are here to win football matches.”
I’ll never sit on the fence on anything, I’ll say it as it is. They know the message, I don’t gloss over anything.
Dino Maamria