Dickov far from happy

18 July 2010 17:07
"I am looking for performances and work rate which I feel I did not get in the first half" Latics new manager Paul Dickov was not pleased with his players performances when they went down 2-0 to Falkirk at Northwich's Victoria Stadium yesterday. He was unhappy with the way that they failed to build on their encouraging performance against Burnley. Dickov said, "After setting our standards against Barrow and Burnley, it was disappointing. It wasn't me or Gerry Taggart who set the standards or anybody else, but the players themselves. If we are to have half a chance this season, that is the level we have to strive for. I am not looking too much into pre-season results which are irrelevant, but I am looking for performances and work rate which I feel I did not get in the first half. I expect more in terms of closing down players and our work rate.""What we need to be is cleverer, show more responsibility in our decision making and to learn when and when not to close down opponents. That will come and I aware we are only three weeks into pre-season training. We have had only three games in the past week with most of the players only getting 45 minutes in each match and some not even managing that much time on the pitch. Bearing that in mind, I am happy how it is going, but I want to see things done better. I don't want to make sure this is gloom and doom and criticise the lads too much as we are still only three weeks in and the lads have been a different class. They have set the standards in training and games, and I don't want them to drop below them."

Source: FOOTYMAD