Home
Keeping first-choice players on their toes will be key to Wanderers’ Championship survival.
That is the view of Phil Parkinson, who has been hugely impressed by the attitude displayed by those players itching for a taste of action.
As he prepares to take on high-flying Fulham, Parkinson insists the Whites’ fringe players will still have a say in how the club’s season ultimately unfolds.
“I can’t emphasise enough that the players who didn’t play on Friday – the likes of Adam Le Fondre, Jem Karacan, Mark Howard, Andy Taylor – have been absolutely outstanding in training,” said Parkinson.
“I really feel that is a key thing for us in the rest of the season. I need them to help us maintain what we are doing.
“Obviously the lads who are in the team are in a good place, that’s easy, but when you are not in it you need to show the right attitude.
“We had that last season, and a big part of that success was that players who were out of the team trained so well. It’s so important.
“They know there are a lot of games coming up and that there will be a lot of opportunities. We have to keep fighting away to get the best out of the players at our disposal.
“There are some very exciting games coming up. And as we saw before the Sheffield United game at Christmas when we made changes, it was only the standards we’d set in training which enabled us to perform well on that day.”
Also excelling in their role are the Wanderers supporters.
Their turnout at the televised clash with Bristol City was just a shade over 14,000.
“I thought the support on Friday night was right up there in the top three or four atmospheres since I have been at the club,” Parkinson added.
“I know it wasn’t a massive crowd or anything but I just felt the supporters came and understood the week we’d had, losing a player and the disruption, but they got right behind us.
“Certainly in the second half they got right behind the team and lifted them and we need everyone pulling in the right direction, giving that extra bit.
“The supporters are making the Macron Stadium a place where our players enjoy playing.”
Source
That is the view of Phil Parkinson, who has been hugely impressed by the attitude displayed by those players itching for a taste of action.
As he prepares to take on high-flying Fulham, Parkinson insists the Whites’ fringe players will still have a say in how the club’s season ultimately unfolds.
“I can’t emphasise enough that the players who didn’t play on Friday – the likes of Adam Le Fondre, Jem Karacan, Mark Howard, Andy Taylor – have been absolutely outstanding in training,” said Parkinson.
“I really feel that is a key thing for us in the rest of the season. I need them to help us maintain what we are doing.
“Obviously the lads who are in the team are in a good place, that’s easy, but when you are not in it you need to show the right attitude.
“We had that last season, and a big part of that success was that players who were out of the team trained so well. It’s so important.
“They know there are a lot of games coming up and that there will be a lot of opportunities. We have to keep fighting away to get the best out of the players at our disposal.
“There are some very exciting games coming up. And as we saw before the Sheffield United game at Christmas when we made changes, it was only the standards we’d set in training which enabled us to perform well on that day.”
Also excelling in their role are the Wanderers supporters.
Their turnout at the televised clash with Bristol City was just a shade over 14,000.
“I thought the support on Friday night was right up there in the top three or four atmospheres since I have been at the club,” Parkinson added.
“I know it wasn’t a massive crowd or anything but I just felt the supporters came and understood the week we’d had, losing a player and the disruption, but they got right behind us.
“Certainly in the second half they got right behind the team and lifted them and we need everyone pulling in the right direction, giving that extra bit.
“The supporters are making the Macron Stadium a place where our players enjoy playing.”
Source