The Shrimpers faithful are well aware of what manager Paul Sturrock has done since he turned up in July 2010 to replace a placed on 'gardening leave' Steve Tilson and a side suffering from a second relegation in five years that senrt them back down to the bottom tier of league football, and a mass exodus of players some of whom haven't been paid for months.
And he did it, according to an interview in Monday's Independent with Nick Judd by 'sticking to his unconventional methods such as sending young players off to do a day's work on a building site so they get a taste of the real world.'
The reward, all this time later, a 2-0 win at Macclesfield, the eighth in the last unbeaten run of ten, and a return to the top of League Two, not bad for a canny Scot who many felt his best days were behind him after the debacle in the Premier League with Southampton but has led clubs to five promotions, twice from League Two with a possible hat-trick awaiting in May, which he would consider the best of his long career.
Sturrock told www.independent.co.uk: "This would rank at the top. You have to remember, at the start of last season we started with four players and a transfer embargo. We couldn't sign anybody. I had to go cap in hand and convince players to join us. I'd worked with some before, players who trusted me, but it was a big decision [for them]. I had to persuade them to play without the safety of a contract. The club was on its knees and fans were disenfranchised with the board. We had to work hard to establish a relationship with them and the staff, who had been through a lot. It was a big challenge."
It certainly was but Luggy has taken it on with characteristic enthusiasm and the odd critisim about his more 'direct' tactics, but after recent campaigns, the majority of the Southend support are not complaining!
Sturrock said: "Not only that but players coming in had only played once before. We had to improvise. But at least this year we've had a pre-season. Now we have a squad to choose from, which creates competition for places. More importantly the players – and fans – are buying into his tactics. Over the years I've managed to structure teams to get promoted. I try to get balls into the opponents' box, which has worked before. I'm lucky the players have responded. Recent results have helped because they appreciate the formula works."
Let's be honest, it's not like watching Brazil, it's all about the three points!
He continued: "Southend fans appreciate we can't create a team that plays like Barcelona and win games. We play accurate balls to our strikers, like many top teams do. Some people criticise it, but our style is adapting and we have some good footballers capable of honest football. This is a tough division. A lot of players filter down from the Championship and 14 teams strengthened in the summer and feel they can get promoted. It's all about who can keep a solid base and churn out results. It's hard to build a team considering the wage cap and budget. It's not just about bringing players in; it's getting players you can afford but who can compete at the top of the division."
Sturrock might have been artound while but he's still learning, especially on his man-management style and admits to be working hard at it; "That's the biggest lesson I've found so far."
So even a veteran used to success can pick up new tricks, something for us all to take on board as well.
For the full article, and it's a great read: www.independent.co.uk
Source: FOOTYMAD
