Communication key for Ben Haim

18 September 2009 14:24
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Tal Ben Haim hopes a greater understanding between Portsmouth's back four will help to improve results.[LNB] The Israeli centre-half joined Pompey over the summer after falling out of favour at Manchester City.[LNB]He was handed his debut in last weekend's Premier League meeting with Bolton, but was unable to prevent Paul Hart's side from slipping to a 3-2 defeat.[LNB]Ben Haim was part of a new-look defensive unit which included Younes Kaboul, Nadir Belhadj and another summer arrival Anthony Vanden Borre.[LNB]He admits the quartet will need time to gel if they are to provide solid foundations for Pompey, but insists that will only come by putting in the hours on the training ground.[LNB]"We need to play a few games as a team and have a few training sessions together," said Ben Haim.[LNB]"Then the communication will be better because you can't play without good communication.[LNB]"Hopefully we can then get the results we need because it would make everything much better.[LNB]"We need to work on it and communicate in the training sessions - that's what the manager has done this week.[LNB]"Now we think the players feel much better and hopefully we can bring all that hard work on to the pitch on Saturday."[LNB]No excusesBen Haim was thrown into his debut almost immediately after returning from World Cup qualifying duty with his country.[LNB]He admits a long-haul flight was hardly the ideal way to prepare for his Pompey bow, but insists he never had any intention of missing the game. [LNB]"It was not the best preparation but I wanted to play," he continued. [LNB]"The manager asked if I wanted to play.[LNB]"I knew the situation wasn't easy but I wanted to play because it was a very important game.[LNB]"In football you need to get used to things very, very quickly. If you don't, you're not a good player. I've had one game and now I need to settle in.[LNB]"The manager and staff have helped me and I feel very good at the moment. Now I am ready and there are no excuses."[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports