Midfielder reviews testing season
Ollie Norwood described last season as “a great learning curve” and admitted that there were plenty of tough and testing times along the way before the elation that surrounded the final day!In the first of a two part interview, the former Manchester United midfielder spoke to htafc.com about the season just gone.
Ollie on missing football
"I started missing it after about a week! I went on holiday for a week straight after the season finished and I have kept my mind off football slightly because I am getting married this summer, which I am looking forward to. When you get days like we have had recently all you want to do is go outside and play football; I am sure everyone is chomping at the bit to start getting ready for next season."
Ollie on the Barnsley game
"It was the weirdest experience of my footballing career. Hopefully I won’t be involved in anything like that again when your fate is still undecided with just 20 minutes of the season to go! We held our nerve in the end and that is the main thing. It was tough to watch during the second half especially as I wasn't in a position to help the team, but those are the moments that you want to be involved in as a footballer. We came through it well, though, and can look forward to being a Championship team again this season."
Ollie on the final five minutes
"There was a bit of sportsmanship involved, I suppose! It was what the fans wanted to see as it allowed both sets to start celebrating their survival. Both sets of fans could have a laugh about it after the game, but the first 75 minutes weren’t a laughing matter!"
Ollie on last season
"It was tough, but it was a great learning curve. I felt I was playing really well at the start of the season and then I had a dip in form and it is during the hard times that you really learn about yourself. It took a bit of time to work out how to get out of the bad form that I was in, but before I could I found myself being left out of the team and I only had myself to blame. I had to do more in training, do the basics and try and build my confidence back up. I loved trying to find the right formula and I think that by the end of the season I was playing well again.
"I don’t want to put pressure on myself, but next season I think that the fans will see a more consistent Ollie Norwood because I have learned how to deal with things and to not get too excited by the highs."
Ollie on opponents
"The three lads at Leicester were very good. Andy King, Matty James and Danny Drinkwater were very tough opponents and are all very good players. Watford’s on loan Chelsea midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah has done very well. There weren’t any easy games or opponents and I think that is one of the main differences between League 1 and the Championship. Every game was tough and I think that shows in our results; we never really comfortably beat another team. Hopefully a few of the lads will step on next year and move on to the next level."
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