20thmar05

Miles blasts his players for lack of desire

WITH only four Go Travel Kent League games to play, Phil Miles, the joint-manager of Slade Green, has blasted his players for their "Jekyll and Hyde" performances and their lack of desire in some games this season, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Small Glen outfit are sixth from bottom - in eleventh place - with 30 points but they did flirt with the top half of the table but for a brief period recently.

Miles told the club's website: "We really do flatter to deceive, the Jekyll and Hyde in us has come out to often this season and we need to take a long hard look at ourselves before the start of next season.

"It would be easy to criticise players, but as I've said before, I tend to have a look at myself first .  I ask myself questions and see if the answers are right before I look to apportion blame on others."

Miles and club officials have been left frustrated many times this season as it appears the team choose what games they are up for.

"All too often we give abject performances when it really matters," he said.  "On paper we have a very good side, but we all know that football isn't played there."

Miles believes that some of his players, that have collected winners medals whilst at other clubs, are just going through the motions at Slade Green and don't have the motivation to help the club climb up to the higher reaches of Kent League football.

He said: "We are certainly missing something, maybe it's the desire to be winners.  If you look at our side we have proven winners in it.  Wayne Barrett, Tony Gallagher, Dean Bowey, Mark Penny and Dean Kearley all have winners medals whilst at other clubs.  But maybe now they are at Slade Green there is no motivation to be up there with the best.

"I know that this management team certainly have the desire to succeed, but after some of the performances and lack of consistency this season, I am beginning to wonder if the players do."

The unhappy manager added some of the players care more about their social lives than  they do for the football club they are playing for.  If seems they are in a comfort zone because there is no pressure to win matches and challenge for promotion whilst playing for Slade Green.

"Don't get me wrong, all our players are fantastic lads, but sometimes I get the impression that they wake up on Saturday morning and think "Slade Green vs Ramsgate, oh well, roll on 4:45, lets go and party," he said.

"I believe we deserve more than that.  A lot of effort is put into the running of this football club and believe now is a good time for them to give us something back.

"We have always been a breeding ground for young players, there are many that have gone onto better things.  I'm all for people progressing and lets be honest we should never be happy coming second.  The management team are no different - we all want to be winners but at the moment I believe the players are letting us down.

"We are in a position a couple of weeks ago of looking to approach players for next season, but now we are of the opinion, let them come to us.  Let's see if the players actually want to win things and be part of something at this club.  The next few weeks will tell us that."