Following FC Halifax Town’s goalless encounter away to Curzon Ashton, Pete Wild spoke to Kelly Gilchrist after the Pre-Season friendly, and gave his thoughts on the game.
“We didn’t hurt them as much as we should’ve done,” Wild said. “We obviously had a couple of lads who got knocks and niggles this week, so we didn’t want to risk them and we then had to shuffle people around; we started with young Cain Tailford from the youth team up front.
“Then in possession we didn’t have much of a vocal point, so in possession I thought we could’ve been better, I think that was the reason we didn’t hurt them as much as we should’ve done. We worked on out of possession all week and we were comfortable with that, I don’t remember an occasion they threatened us.
“But we could have been better on the ball – there was too much under hit, over hit and square passing, but I think that’s because we didn’t have our focal point of our centre forward today.”
Wild added; “It was a really good workout for us and half the team got 90 minutes, but I am disappointed that we might have picked up another injury with Jack Earing, in what I thought was a disgraceful tackle, but we will access that Monday morning.”
It was Town’s fourth Pre-Season game, and the Gaffer was open to suggestions he had some idea of his starting XI come next Saturday for the start of the Vanarama National League season.
“What today’s game has done, has solidified my mind and thoughts on the team for Saturday,” Wild stated. “We’ve got the Fleetwood Town game next Tuesday, but I am quite clear in my mind of what about 60/70% of what I feel will be my starting XI next week. But, that’s just for Dagenham and not to say that’s my starting XI going forward. I’m glad I can go home tonight and know what I want and who I want where.”
Wild added on what he learnt about his team; “I learnt lots today, like we worked on out of possession all week and I thought we looked structured and comfortable, and Curzon caused us a lot of threats which we are probably going to come across in our league. So, it was good to see how we dealt with the threats that Curzon poised us.”
Wild later gave an injury update on his players, saying; “Jake Hyde tweaked a nerve in his back, he was running with us yesterday, but it was too early to put him back in today. Jack Senior is the same, and he might not be ready for Tuesday, but he will be back on the training ground for Thursday.
“Same with Reuben Noble-Lazarus, he will be back training on Monday, we did pick up two or three unnecessary niggles last Saturday, and they haven’t settled down so that led to me changing my personnel today.”
Focussing on the squad, the latest addition, Neill Byrne, played his first match for the Club in the stalemate with Curzon, and the Gaffer gave his views on the centre half.
“Neill is an experienced centre half, he was obviously the Captain of his last Club and he is used to doing well in this league – he is coming to the prime of his career for a centre half – he is a really good addition. With him it now gives us five for three and that gives us real competition at the back, I’ve got real experience in that back three now and I can pick anyone of them to do me a job which is great. It brings together most of my positions now – I have competition all over the pitch, and when I look at the bench this year, I can see players who can come on and make an impact – seeing the game out or changing the game.”
As stated, the league season kicks off next Saturday, and Wild gave his thoughts ahead of Dagenham and the following first few fixtures.
“We don’t know anything concrete, but I am confident the game will go ahead, the dressing room is preparing for next Saturday and will until told otherwise, and I think we will be ready to go. It’s a massive month against teams that did well in this league last season, and it will give us a good indication of where we are at.”
Lastly, the Gaffer ended on a note for the fans – who unfortunately can not attend the opening games due to the COVID-19 government restrictions; “First and foremost, we are gutted you are not going to be there, hopefully, over the next few weeks you will see us grow and you will see a brand of football that you like. Hopefully, we can make sure this team starts on the right foot and make sure they can compete at this level.”
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