Roeder issues challenge to axed players
Glenn Roeder has challenged City's axed players to prove they are worth a place in his plans.Simon Lappin, Ian Murray, David Strihavka, Chris Martin, Julien Brellier, Michael Spillane and on-loan Jimmy Smith - who were all in the travelling party to Plymouth a fortnight ago - were all dropped from the squad for the weekend visit of Coventry.
By CHRIS LAKEY
Glenn Roeder has challenged City's axed players to prove they are worth a place in his plans.
Simon Lappin, Ian Murray, David Strihavka, Chris Martin, Julien Brellier, Michael Spillane and on-loan Jimmy Smith - who were all in the travelling party to Plymouth a fortnight ago - were all dropped from the squad for the weekend visit of Coventry.
Roeder insisted yesterday there was a way back for them all - but issued a warning to those without the heart for a fight.
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“Of course there is a way back for them,” he said.
“If any of them show an attitude that if they didn't play Saturday they would keel over they won't be here as long as they probably think they are going to be.
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“I want a reaction from those players who weren't involved because that will push the ones who are in the side to have to do better in training and carry on playing well in games, otherwise they won't retain their shirt.
“I expect the ones who are going to train today who didn't play on Saturday, they have got to be showing me they want to play on Tuesday, because there were a few didn't even make the bench that were involved at Plymouth and that is a bit of wake up call for some of them - it had better be.”
Roeder has increased the squad by four with the acquisition of loan players Martin Taylor, Matty Pattison, Ched Evans and Mo Camara and with just two players - Adam Drury and Matty Gilks - missing through injury, has plenty of options ahead of tonight's game at Blackpool.
“The important thing in having a big squad is putting pressure on each other to play well,” Roeder said.
“When you have a small squad, whether it be budget wise or injury wise, players get in a comfort zone, unless they are the self-motivated type, to push themselves hard in every game because they know whether they do that or not they are going to play next week, and that's unhealthy.”
