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Friday, July 5, 2007

Well, it’s been a tough time results-wise this season. We’re currently sitting in the bottom half of the table fighting for a place in the play-offs. Aside from the results, the atmosphere and morale is still high. We’ve had our moments this season but for the most part we’ve worked tremendously hard and played well.

We lack experience, both in age of players and also age of the team. By that, I mean that we have 25 new players playing together for the first time. And for how well we have played, we’ve made a lot of mistakes in areas where that experience and understanding is vital – the kind of areas where goals are scored and conceded.

Even sitting in 7th place however, I don’t think I can remember a day when the players have not come into training and given everything. The key for us is taking that intensity into our games, but that will come.

For me personally, there have been plenty of positives so far in the season. This is the first time I’ve known and been involved in a team with 25 new players being put together just weeks, even days before the start of the season. It’s quite right and understandable that people want instant success and I’m no different, but history tells us new players’ fitting into teams takes time.

Even at the highest level, new players joining big clubs (especially in different countries) take time to get used to the culture, the environment, the style of play and to get to know their teammates. It always amuses me to think how certain people talk about the careers of Henry, Bergkamp and Drogba, saying how great they are, of which I don’t deny. However, it wasn’t too long ago that those same people were screaming at the managers to send them back home because “they weren’t very good!” Anyway, I won’t digress, my point being players and teams take time to gel and come together.

Just recently I was lucky enough to be given time to go to England to take the second part of my UEFA A License at Lilleshal. It was great turning up on the first day to find out that attending the same course were the likes of Roy Keane, Gareth Southgate, Colin Cooper, Steve Staunton, Martin Keown, Mark Kinsella, Jeff Kenna, Ian Woan and Steve Claridge amongst others.

As the two weeks wore on I was more than happy with the content and experience I was surrounded by, that passing or failing came second. Thankfully I passed the course, but the real highlight for me was learning from and listening to Roy Keane. In his presence you start to understand why he has captained his country and one of the biggest teams in the world, won numerous trophies including European Cup, FA Cup and Premiership titles. Not to mention his first season in charge of Sunderland leading them into the Premiership!

As good as it was, I have to say that what they do over there is not too dissimilar to what we are doing over here. Apart from the obvious, the game is still the same.

This season the teams that have impressed me, mostly for their organization, are the top two: Richmond and Charlotte. We tied most recently with Charlotte, 2-2, but I have to say that they looked good and the game could have been very different. Richmond and Charlotte are both very organized, every player talks to one another and has an understanding of each other. It’s that experience and togetherness which again, come with time. But, not to take anything away from them, they can certainly play!

As for us, we’ve got a great group of players with a really good mix of personalities. A lot of changes were made last year, with players not being asked back and the club keeping up its tradition of moving players up a division with five going onto USL-1 this year. I have every faith that we’ve got the makings of a very strong team here. One thing is for sure; we’re going to keep on working hard to get there.

- Anthony Hudson

Anthony Hudson joined the Hammerheads for his first season as a player/assistant coach. He was born in Seattle, WA but spent most of his life living in England where he played as an apprentice for West Ham United. At the age of 19 Anthony signed a two-year professional contract with NEC Nijmegen in the Dutch First Division. His interests turned to coaching, bringing him to the U.S.. He currently holds a UEFA A License from the English F.A. and a USSF B license.