Simon unhappy with Oldham performance
Huddersfield Town Manager Simon Grayson told htafc.com that there is still a lot of work to be done on the training pitch ahead of the start of the Championship season after watching his team’s 0-0 draw at Oldham Athletic.
Simon was unhappy with the performance of his side and made no bones about his displeasure in his post-match interview:
“In the first half we seemed a little bit lifeless – there was no zest about us – and that didn’t change at all, so I’m disappointed with how the team performed,” Simon told the official Club website.
“As a group you have to work hard to close people down and when you have the ball you have to enjoy it, but we were too slow and ponderous with the ball and we didn’t close down with a purpose either.
“As I’ve said before pre-season is a means to an end, but the players have got to start picking themselves up because we have a lot of improving to do before the season starts.
“It was quite lifeless; as a spectator I thought it was quite boring. There weren’t too many tackles or many people making forward runs and they are the things we want to be doing as a team; we want to be a team that’s full of energy and zest and today that wasn’t about us.
“I wouldn’t have been bothered if we’d lost 3-0 today if I had seen things that I liked about the team, but there weren’t too many units of the team to get excited about. There is still work to be done.
“Hopefully today is another kick up the backside for the players, because as I’ve just said in the dressing room there are no places in the team guaranteed for the start of the season – everyone has that opportunity and to work towards.
“However, we have a good bunch that works hard and that’s what we’ll be doing next week. The players have to look at themselves and think what they need to do in the training ground and on match days to give themselves the opportunity to be in the team all season. We can advise them and work with them on the training pitch, but it also has to come from within.
“It was frustrating again today, but we know we’ll be right in two weeks’ time. I‘ve seen things like this many times before and we need to be using games like today like any competitive game to get the mind-set ready for the tough games coming up in the Championship. Pre-season games are there to remind you what you need to improve upon, both as a player and as a manager.”
