Mathews looking forward to new challenge
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After a highly publicised off season, an entirely new look Drogheda United are set to put the events of the preceding months behind them as they host Shelbourne in their first pre-season friendly on Friday night at United Park.
Not one player who was involved in Drogheda’s season last year will be on display as the club showcase a whole new roster of players signed within the last month.
Speaking to extratime.ie new Drogheda manager Alan Mathews said he is looking forward to the game despite not being able to fully prepare.
“It’s our first game and a chance to finally get on a pitch. We have been training for the last few weeks but that was hampered somewhat by the snow. Ideally you’d like some more time to prepare but we have organised a number of games over the next two weeks to give us some shape and organisation to the team.
“It will be a tough game for us and a good start to the season,” he added.
Expectations around the club are for the team to be as competitive as possible and Matthews states that it is performances rather than results that matters in these sort of games.
“We are looking to have a team which is going to challenge on all fronts this season. It takes a while for the players to bond and work as a unit, but we will certainly be working towards that over these games,” Mathews said.
Amassing a squad from nothing in just two weeks wasn’t easy for the ex-Cork manager, but he says the recruitment of new players still isn’t complete.
“We are a work in progress and we are still working to bring players in. There are a number of players that have come to the club, but like anything else it takes time and a lot of patience and effort. It takes a lot effort on behalf of a lot of players,” he said.
Mathews admits that managing Drogheda will be an entirely new challenge.
“Down in Cork I worked with a good staff and I managed international players and due to the decision of one person I was no longer in charge. But you move on and with Drogheda we have our goals and we know where we want to be and we will certainly work hard to get to that,” he concluded.
Drogheda take on Shelbourne at United Park on Friday night (kick-off 19:45) and Extratime.ie will be there to bring you all the news.
Not one player who was involved in Drogheda’s season last year will be on display as the club showcase a whole new roster of players signed within the last month.
Speaking to extratime.ie new Drogheda manager Alan Mathews said he is looking forward to the game despite not being able to fully prepare.
“It’s our first game and a chance to finally get on a pitch. We have been training for the last few weeks but that was hampered somewhat by the snow. Ideally you’d like some more time to prepare but we have organised a number of games over the next two weeks to give us some shape and organisation to the team.
“It will be a tough game for us and a good start to the season,” he added.
Expectations around the club are for the team to be as competitive as possible and Matthews states that it is performances rather than results that matters in these sort of games.
“We are looking to have a team which is going to challenge on all fronts this season. It takes a while for the players to bond and work as a unit, but we will certainly be working towards that over these games,” Mathews said.
Amassing a squad from nothing in just two weeks wasn’t easy for the ex-Cork manager, but he says the recruitment of new players still isn’t complete.
“We are a work in progress and we are still working to bring players in. There are a number of players that have come to the club, but like anything else it takes time and a lot of patience and effort. It takes a lot effort on behalf of a lot of players,” he said.
Mathews admits that managing Drogheda will be an entirely new challenge.
“Down in Cork I worked with a good staff and I managed international players and due to the decision of one person I was no longer in charge. But you move on and with Drogheda we have our goals and we know where we want to be and we will certainly work hard to get to that,” he concluded.
Drogheda take on Shelbourne at United Park on Friday night (kick-off 19:45) and Extratime.ie will be there to bring you all the news.
About P.J. Murray
P.J. generally covers Drogheda games at HD Park and can generally be found at any Dublin ground when of a loose end on a Friday night. View Full Profile