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| Manufacturing a sense of urgency |
Cellar Door find themselves coasting along in Div 6. We are mid table and looked reasonably fit in our first 3 matches, so it is easy to find myself hitting the autopilot and just clicking the form training button every so often.
The problem with this is that we are already on a schedule, a schedule that started the day we brought in this crop of players. Last season was my first full season with the team and we bought a large group of players aged 17-20. I have no intention of keeping those 20 year olds around, I got to them late, so they will always be a bit behind developmentally. The same might be said of at least some of the 19 year olds, but even with that cohort being at least partially a throw away, I have to admit that the 18 year olds will be central figures in the future of the team.
So consider that last season's 18 year olds are this season's 19 year olds. If I want the team to have the maximum amount of time to compete, I need to start earning promotion soon. If our 19 year olds make it to Div 5 this season, they will be 20 year olds in Div 5 next season. 21 y/o in Div 4, 22 y/o in Div 3, 23 y/o in Div 2 and 24 y/o in Div 1, leaving us with 25 y/o in the top tier.
Now I am a good manager, but I can't see myself making the climb in straight seasons. It took me 12 seasons with GR FC. Granted that was a conveyor team and I deliberately sold off the best players for peak resale, but even so, I would have been hard pressed to do it in less than 10 seasons. In 10 seasons, this team will be aged 30, and on their way down again. I need to be putting together a side that can not only develop their players optimally, but also to have the skill to earn promotion more often than not.
So looking at this season, I already am in a position where I need to be working towards the ultimate goal. Instead of bringing in a few hard training kids, we probably should have gone with a couple of high skilled veterans. Now maybe that isn't the case just yet, but that mentality is certainly necessary if I am to stay focused on the big picture.
And this is how you manufacture a sense of urgency.
See you next week,
Q
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