An interview with the Senior Professional Development Coach
- Frankie Bunn reviews U21 win over Nottingham Forest
- Frank comments on Flo Bojaj's recent debut
- Bunn praises consistency of his side
Huddersfield Town’s Senior Professional Development Coach Frankie Bunn says the Club’s Under-21 players are ‘doing what they can’ to push for an opportunity.
Speaking to htafc.com after Monday’s U21 Premier League Cup win over Nottingham Forest, which was the Development Squad’s seventh straight victory, Frankie commented:
“I thought we were terrific in the first half. Again, our build-up play was excellent and 1-0 didn’t show how much we were on top.
“While the game stays at 1-0 you always feel a little bit vulnerable, but my half time team talk was one of the easiest as there wasn’t a lot to put right. All I asked for was a little bit more quality in the final third.
“Believe it or not, the 6-1 win over Coventry last week was the worst we’ve played for around six weeks. Coventry’s side was very young and you have to keep that in mind. Yesterday, the first half performance was outstanding with the ball and very good defensively.”
The 1-0 victory over the Tricky Trees means that the young Terriers will now travel to Middlesbrough in the next round of the competition.
Frank continued: “We had a great run last year, playing the likes of Everton, and it would be nice to do it again. We’ve come up against Category 1 teams before and we’ve never been out of our depth, so hopefully that will continue when we meet Middlesbrough.”
Bunn believes that learning how to win games, as Town’s Under-21 side is demonstrating it has, is an important part of a footballer’s development:
“Winning is a part of football, even from a young age. We might play for fun at nine years old, but when they reach 14, 15 and 16 they need to understand what winning is about.
“Winning breeds confidence, confidence brings about performance and ultimately that produces good quality players that can thrive at First Team level.”
One such player who has made stepped up to make an impression with Chris Powell’s First Team recently is 19 year-old striker Flo Bojaj, who grabbed an assist on his professional debut as Town defeated MK Dons on home soil.
“From where Flo has come from, we were all absolutely delighted. He is a pleasant lad and has been working hard,” Frankie explained.
“Flo is one of our own, as he’s come through our Academy. All over the country, football fans are the same; they like to see a young kid come on and impress.
“He had his ups and downs last season, but he took a grip of things this year and came back from the summer really fit. He’s put in consistent performances, hence he’s been in and around the First Team.
“Sometimes football is about dealing with setbacks and failure, but you also have to deal with success well. He’s had a sniff of the First Team, but his feet have to remain firmly on the ground. He still has to work on his good and lesser points to round him off.”
Bunn admitted that seeing Flo make his mark has given the other Under-21 players hope:
“I think the boys see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel and something that can be achieved. Hopefully we’ll have a few more (debuts).
“The players have to be patient, but they are showing a level of consistency in what they are doing at the minute. You never know when an opportunity will come in football, but when it comes they have to take it.
“They can only do what they are doing, which is putting in high quality, consistent performances.”
