Austria – a success

Last updated : 03 August 2004 By Tony Scholes

After they returned to England on Sunday the manager was able to report that they are further on than he anticipated in their build up for Saturday.

“At the end of the day, with where we are in pre-season training, I don’t think I could be any happier or any further ahead with our preparation,” said Cotterill.

“We are a day or two ahead of where I thought we might be going into the last week of pre-season. We have been able to try a few things in training and add a few set plays I didn’t think we would get stuck into until this week.


“The lads have worked their socks off and got themselves very fit. They are very quick and I think it has been a great trip, a really great trip.”

It is all preparation for Saturday now and he added, “Training will be toned down now because I don’t think we could have pushed the boys any harder.

“There is a new manager and we have a lot of new players, but all credit to the players because ever since day one they have been terrific, different class and I won’t change my opinion on them now.”

Cotterill’s only concern seems to be discipline and he said, “Our discipline needs to be bang on and unfortunately I don’t think we have passed that test.”

After Mo Camara reacted and had to be substituted on Saturday the manager added, “We get anxious and angry and then we don’t pass the ball as we would like to. The antics of the foreign players was very irritating but great for discipline.”

There are just four days left to the first league match of the season and there could still be an addition to the squad. Maybe we will be able to start the season with a full bench this time.