Hello and welcome to my latest Blog here on the Official Website.
It's been a while since I've had the time to get something done due the hectic schedule but it's great to get the season back underway.
Over in Holland we had a great week and worked on a lot of things on the training ground in terms of how Chris and Mick want us to play this season. We have three new boys in the squad who all bedded in well over there and I'd like to welcome Paul, Fabian and Evan in to the squad as well as Andy Rafferty who joined earlier in the summer.
The start of the season hasn't been great for me on a personal note with being out of the team but we've had a decent first week in terms of results. It's been very similar to last year in that we drew on the opening day and then won in the Carling Cup.
Of course we all know that we started promisingly last season and faded so we have to make sure that we keep to the standards we've seen in the majority of our opening three games.
Saturday was disappointing due to the face we gave away a two-goal lead against Swindon Town and we have learn from that because we should have taken all three points really. When you're two goals up it should be enough but I think we invited a little bit of pressure on ourselves in the second half and it proved difficult to get out from the back.
The whole team have to defend as a unit and hopefully that makes it less tiring on the back four who were constantly having to work to keep the ball out at the weekend.
Having said that, Swindon did very well and their second half performance reminded me a little of what we did to Stockport at their place last season. I don't think they will come from two goals down too many times this season so it's a little unfortunate that it happened against us.
You have to say that Adam Boyd has done very well in recent games scoring in each of the last two fixtures. He's doing the business and he'll stay in the side as long as that is happening so it's up to me and the other strikers to fight for our places.
I'll keep pushing and pushing because I want to let Chris know that I can play a big part for the team this season. It's a long campaign and throughout the course of it people will come in and out of the team and you'll get injuries and suspensions - although hopefully not many!
What I have to do at the moment is make sure I handle the disappointment of being out of the side in a positive way. I know Peter Hartley was upset to be left out against Sheffield United but he's still been fantastic in training and shown a great attitude because he knows that's the best way to go about catching the management's eye and pushing Sam Collins and Gary Liddle. I'll be doing exactly the same to try and win my place in the side.
This weekend we face a mammoth trip to Yeovil for our next fixture. To be fair, I've got a Nintendo DS now so I expect Mario Kart will be getting a bit of a doing! I've got a couple of levels left to complete so hopefully I'll find the time during the 55 hours or so down to Yeovil! And if that runs out then I have a few puzzles on there that need some work so I'm sure I'll find the time in the wee hours of the morning coming back after the game!
Hopefully we can be coming back with a positive result though. We know we need to compete both home and away this season and get results at places like Yeovil if we can. We all know each other's games quite well at this stage now and we're growing as a team I think.
I'd like to wish Neil Austin all the best as he fights back from injury. Thankfully the problem wasn't as serious as we had feared it could be and he's now back doing some work in the gym so hopefully he'll be back soon because we know what a key player he is for us.
Finally, hair cuts have been a topic of conversation up at the training ground recently. It started when Armann Bjornsson turned up with some Vinnie Jones style do before the first game of the season. It's weird because Armann is one of the nicest men you'll ever meet but I think he'll be growing his hair from now on because he took a lot of stick for it!
It's all good fun though and spirits in the camp have been very high - and they'll be even better if we can come back from Yeovil with all three points this weekend.
As usual, if you have any questions I'd love to hear them - just send in an email to media@hartlepoolunited.co.uk and I'll answer them in my next blog.
Speak soon,
Denis.
