Post by Mr Leeds United on Apr 20, 2005 14:45:58 GMT -5
United boss Kevin Blackwell has revealed he is calling his players back in early for pre-season as he signals his intent to challenge for honours next year.
Barely five weeks after the end of the season, a number of players will be called back to Thorp Arch to undergo various tests and checks on their weight to make sure they are ready to get straight into the hard work when the full squad is assembled two weeks later.
What happens over June and July, says Blackwell, will have a massive impact on the rest of the season.
"We have plans in place that will see certain players and some others come in on the 14th June," he said.
"I want to make sure that we are strong, well drilled and organised for what I think will be a long and big season for us.
"Every member of player and staff here have sat down and asked the question, where do we want to go? The answer is we want to give it a go for promotion next season.
"I know it is a dangerous thing for me to put up goals that high but now is the time to aim high because we have a decent squad that is starting to develop nicely.
"With all the things that have gone against this season, all the hurdles we've jumped over, we are sitting 10th and we can build on that.
"I am signalling our intent, we won't shout about it though but we will start to work very, very hard and pre-season for us started at Watford the other week."
Blackwell will be relieved to start pre-season with a full squad of players for once, having been left to pick up the pieces last July following relegation and the dismantling of the Premiership team.
"It would be great for me to come back here on the 27th of June when we officially turn up and have a squad of players to train.
"Last year I came back and I had five players in the squad that I knew were going at the end of the month; Nick Barmby, James Milner, Dominic Matteo, Mark Viduka and Ian Harte. They were all still training with us and until they went I could not sign anybody.
"Then to have just 13 people left doing a full pre-season does not inspire you into thinking you're doing the best preparation. Neil Sullivan arrived the week before the season started and we had Guppy, Hignett and Deane who had been training with us but only signed a few days before the start of the season and that wasn't best preparation.
"The lads have dealt with that and given everybody hope since February that we had a chance of making the play-offs, and that makes it a monumental effort by them and that's why I don't want people disappointed because we didn't quite make it."
Details of United's pre-season friendlies and tours will be announced soon
Barely five weeks after the end of the season, a number of players will be called back to Thorp Arch to undergo various tests and checks on their weight to make sure they are ready to get straight into the hard work when the full squad is assembled two weeks later.
What happens over June and July, says Blackwell, will have a massive impact on the rest of the season.
"We have plans in place that will see certain players and some others come in on the 14th June," he said.
"I want to make sure that we are strong, well drilled and organised for what I think will be a long and big season for us.
"Every member of player and staff here have sat down and asked the question, where do we want to go? The answer is we want to give it a go for promotion next season.
"I know it is a dangerous thing for me to put up goals that high but now is the time to aim high because we have a decent squad that is starting to develop nicely.
"With all the things that have gone against this season, all the hurdles we've jumped over, we are sitting 10th and we can build on that.
"I am signalling our intent, we won't shout about it though but we will start to work very, very hard and pre-season for us started at Watford the other week."
Blackwell will be relieved to start pre-season with a full squad of players for once, having been left to pick up the pieces last July following relegation and the dismantling of the Premiership team.
"It would be great for me to come back here on the 27th of June when we officially turn up and have a squad of players to train.
"Last year I came back and I had five players in the squad that I knew were going at the end of the month; Nick Barmby, James Milner, Dominic Matteo, Mark Viduka and Ian Harte. They were all still training with us and until they went I could not sign anybody.
"Then to have just 13 people left doing a full pre-season does not inspire you into thinking you're doing the best preparation. Neil Sullivan arrived the week before the season started and we had Guppy, Hignett and Deane who had been training with us but only signed a few days before the start of the season and that wasn't best preparation.
"The lads have dealt with that and given everybody hope since February that we had a chance of making the play-offs, and that makes it a monumental effort by them and that's why I don't want people disappointed because we didn't quite make it."
Details of United's pre-season friendlies and tours will be announced soon
