Hello and welcome to my first Blog of the new season here on the Official Website. It's good to be back and I hope you enjoy reading what I have to say throughout the 2010/2011 campaign.
As usual, I'd love to hear from any of you who have any questions or comments so make sure you send them in and I'll get back to you in my next article!
Click here to send me an email.
Our first day back was on Thursday then, and it was very good really. We have a new Coach at the Club in Mick Wadsworth and also a new Fitness Coach in Darren Fowler so it was all very fresh and I think it went well.
We did a nice little bit of ball work in the afternoon which was good being the first day and I think that overall all the boys have started off well.
Darren gave us a good off-season programme to follow during the summer so we all knew that there would be no surprises when we reported back for pre season. To be fair, he's very good in that way - he's very organised and he lets you know what's going to be happening which makes a huge difference. If you know what's going to be happening then you know what you need to do and that you are going to be okay when you come back.
In all honesty, I only gave myself a week or two off once we'd finished at the end of last season. I wanted to get back in to working because I was desperate to strengthen my ankle which gave me a few problems during the course of last term.
When we were back home in Ireland, Cork City were good enough to let a few of us train with them to keep in nick so me, Leon, Joe and Roy O'Donovan were involved a bit there doing some work with those boys which was excellent.
I think when you come back for pre season there is always a buzz around the squad and that was certainly the case on Thursday. It was a lovely, sunny day which puts you in a good mood anyway (not the best for running on the track but never mind!) and we have a really good team spirit here anyway so it was good to be all back together.
We have a good work ethic in the squad here and we enjoyed the afternoon ball work where Mick Wadsworth showed us the high tempo style of play he expects from us.
Next week we'll be off on our tour to Holland which will be the first time I've been over there with Pools. I've been there to play in the UEFA Cup in the past (just through I'd throw that one in!!) but this will be the first time I've been for a training camp.
A few of the boys have told me what I can expect over there but I'm pretty happy with how it will be. We're not going over on holiday so it's not likely we'll be in the middle of Amsterdam! More likely we're in the middle of nowhere but that's ideal - we're there to work and ensure we improve in the new season after all.
It was exciting a few Thursdays ago when the new League One fixtures came out. I think like everyone else, the players were all looking at the website and thinking "Come on Mark, get the fixtures on there and give us some good ones!!" Obviously, you look straight away at when you're playing the bigger teams in the division, but you also start to try and map out which are the must-win games and where you think you should be picking up points! It's all exciting that week but then there is a bit of a lull in the final week before pre season when you know you're going to be doing plenty of running!!
Hopefully I can get a full season behind me when we kick-off again. Last season I had troubles with my ankle on a couple of occasions and it's the first time in my career really that I've missed such a big part of the season which was very frustrating.
It was important to me that I got back and played a few games before the end of last term just for my own sanity more than anything! But now I'm fit and raring to go again - I just want to get a full season and try to get some more goals because that's why I'm here.
Enjoy what there is of the summer - and I hope you're all looking forward to the new season as much me and the rest of the lads are.
That's all for now.
Denis.
