Maamria sure youngsters in Albion midfield will learn from their mistakes
BOSS SAYS PATIENCE IS KEY IN HELPING PLAYERS DEVELOP
DINO Maamria noted, more than once, that problems against Charlton Athletic last week started with gaps in midfield which the visitors exploited, first to take a 2-0 lead then to come back from 3-2 down for a draw.
But he is prepared to cut his young midfielders some slack as they learn and improve in the hurly burly of League One.
There was a lot to admire in the performances of Terry Taylor, who is now established in the side, Ciaran Gilligan, who returned from injury with an energetic display, and Everton loanee Tyler Onyango, who was much more involved in the Charlton game and played a key role in the second goal, especially.
All were missing, though, when Charlton centre-half Ryan Inniss strode through the middle to set-up his side’s first goal for Charlie Kirk.
And Albion lost possession at halfway before being caught out by a quick ball forward for the Addicks’ third goal.
“We play with a lot of energy but we have a lot of youth there (in midfield), we have to remember that,” said Maamria as he reflected on the game at his press conference this week.
“Terry Taylor is 21, Ciaran Gilligan is 20 and Tyler Onyango is 19. It’s a lot of energy in there but we’re lacking that know-how in certain periods of the game. “Those players will only improve. They all played well last week.
“Yes, a couple of times, out of possession, their positional play wasn’t all it could be but that’s a process and they will learn from that.
“Take Terry as an example. Look at where he was three months ago and where he is now.
“We have to work with these players, be patient with them, develop them.
“They will make mistakes but as long as they are learning, we are on the right track.”
Onyango struggled to get into the side when he first arrived on loan from Everton but is beginning to look the part and Maamria says the Brewers have a duty to Everton to manage him and others with care.
“Premier League clubs sign them because they have certain obvious assets,” he said.
“Our job when we take them on loan is that we have to harness what they have, work with them.
“They are young lads coming into League One for their first loan spell. They are going to be unsure of themselves and the environment and they have to know what’s expected of them.
We play with a lot of energy but we have a lot of youth there (in midfield), we have to remember that. Dino Maamria
“We have to take extra care of them – and all young players – and try to give them that confidence to go and express themselves.”
It is not just the young players who are developing, though, and while he fully appreciates that the job is far from done, Maamria allowed himself a small pat on the back for the overall improvement in Burton’s play in recent weeks.
Notably, that has included Victor Adeboyejo reaching double figures for goals and Deji Oshilaja becoming an essential component in the team, whether he has to play in defence, as last week, or whether enjoying the new roaming role in midfield that Maamria has given him.
“A lot of the players are performing at a level we haven’t seen before and that’s my job, to get the most out of them, to get them to max out,” said Maamria.
“Victor, Deji – their performances have doubled and that’s the work we do on the training ground and in the classroom and the confidence and self-belief we try to give them.”