GNP SPORTS' MANAGER SHAMIR ALAM CONTINUES HIS ASSESSMENT OF HIS TEAM'S PRE-SEASON...

Sham's thoughts on both the 2-1 win v Walsall Wood and the 1-3 loss to NKF Burbage:

"Every player on Tuesday played to their maximum against Premier Division Walsall Wood which I know they have in them; there was technical excellence, plus a directness about them, there was fight and grit and tactically we were the better side. The players need to start believing in themselves a bit more though and if they do that we will be OK this season. 

The Burbage game was one of fine margins. We dominated the first 20 minutes but weren’t clinical enough. They dominated the last 25 of the first-half and scored twice. In the second-half we had the better chances and got a late consolation goal but it highlighted some things I needed to see before we go into our final week's training of pre-season."

It was a tough pre-season for GNP and Sham reflected:

"The boys have worked and performed extremely well, they know my expectations of them but they need to start demanding those high expectations of each other in training and matches and if we do that then we are onto something special. There isn’t a Division 2 side which has had a tougher pre-season than us and we know we are expecting a tough old season with everyone wanting to beat us, so this pre-season will prepare the players to have that emotional resilience they will all need come August 11th and beyond." 

Sham wrote about signings:

"The team's abit battered and bruised at present, so we have a few sessions this week then they will get a week off to recover their bodies ready to give everything on 11th August. I have got some help coming but 90% of the business I wanted to do was done early and all the players we wanted we signed. There is still one more signing we will be announcing in the coming days and then that’s us done, unless unless we were to get any leavers, etc. 

The prospective signing has unreal quality and GNP is the perfect club for him because we will look after him and allow him to flourish in this team. Some will say it’s a risk to sign him but he’s worth it. I feel I’m that manager he hasn’t had in years who will bring the absolute best out of him. When he needs a kick up the arse he will get it and when he needs to be told he’s one of the best in the MFL, he will be told that also!"

Sham's comments about the opening fixtures for his team:

"Couldn’t have been any worse and clearly the 'random' fixture computer isn’t a fan of us. First game of the season we are away at Coton Green, the second game is a midweek encounter versus Redditch Borough who finished last season by obtaining just about enough points to survive, so they will be buzzing. Title challengers Fairfield Villa and Northfield Town follow next and the 5th game is a small derby game versus last year's Division 1 strugglers Coventry Alvis. They should have chucked title favourites Feckenham in there also to make things worse but I’m sure we will get them away from home in September!" 

'Yours in football...'

Shamir Alam, Manager, GNP Sports...