Garry Monk knows the hard yards need to be put on the training pitch over the next nine days before we face Ipswich.
The manager could be forgiven for being content with the convincing 3-0 win last time out, but when asked by the Birmingham Mail about his plans for the international break, he said:
‘Work. As simple as that. We are nowhere near the situation we want to be in. Saturday was a step in the right direction but there is a lot more work in front of us.’
It`s very good to hear from the gaffer. One result doesn`t mean all our weaknesses have vanished overnight, and the aim will be to capitalise on the result we got against Hull.
You wouldn`t have guessed we hadn`t won in six weeks judging by the performance against the Tigers, and this is testament to the positivity from the man in charge. With a result in a bag, a bit of confidence can begin to grow, but it will only matter if we continue playing at the same level.
To do that, consistency is vital, and getting players working on systems and focusing on improving their own games in training will be an important part of performing consistently over a longer period of time.
A good team spirit can get you out of difficulties, but it is not a long term plan for high level performance. Players must know what is expected of them in training over an extended period. It not only ensures everyone knows what they are doing, but more importantly, they can begin to see the results of their efforts on match day. This doesn`t just boost morale in the squad, but also increases confidence in the manager himself, and that his techniques work.
As I said on a piece on our manager when he first took over, he is very methodical. He will leave no stone unturned in order to get results. I`m hoping that attention to detail will pay off in the next couple of weeks, and the results of the hard work will bear fruit with another three points against the Tractor Boys.
