{"id":5152,"date":"2016-12-09T08:44:12","date_gmt":"2016-12-09T08:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thehighertempopress.com\/?p=5152"},"modified":"2017-02-08T13:49:04","modified_gmt":"2017-02-08T13:49:04","slug":"fm17-hot-seat-1-3-back-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thehighertempopress.com\/2016\/12\/fm17-hot-seat-1-3-back-school\/","title":{"rendered":"#FM17 : [Hot Seat] 1.3 : Back to school"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Looking around at some of the bloated, out of breath shapes occupying the dressing room cubicles, it\u2019s fairly evident that preseason hasn\u2019t kicked off just yet. Rhys Bennett has strained his wrist \u2013 a likely consequence of bringing his hand to his mouth once too often over the summer \u2013 and Darius\u2019 food baby, so well disguised by his dark tracksuit, is there for all to see in the unflattering yellow shirt.<\/p>\n

Our programme doesn\u2019t start for another few days, but this afternoon represents an opportunity to run the rule over the players at my disposal. I keep it relatively simple; a straightforward 4-4-2, in the time-honoured tradition of Bassett brothers Dave and Mike. I don\u2019t waste time filling their head with nonsense about exploiting the flanks or where to stand on the pitch; I want to see how they play when left to their own devices.<\/p>\n

\"lineup\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to see any of you holding back today. Control the game and get the goals. We should be pasting these kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lewis Collins looks pensive. Drowning in a shirt two sizes too large, he looks about fourteen, but I\u2019m reliably informed that he\u2019s almost twenty.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut boss, aren\u2019t these our kids?\u201d<\/p>\n

They are indeed. Technically, it\u2019s our Under-23s, but in practice, only a handful can be considered men. The rest are still growing boys \u2013 and not particularly good ones, either, otherwise they\u2019d belong with the first team. I\u2019m from the Kevin Keegan school of thought when it comes to development sides; I\u2019d rather scrap the entire academy and spend the cash on Emile Heskey. That, unfortunately, is beyond my control.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s normally around three and a half thousand people here at the One Call, serenading the side or baying for blood depending on the scoreline. Today, there\u2019s a handful of coaches, a few physios and science types knocking about, and Brenda, the tea lady. John and his wife sit up in the box, miles from the pitch and the rest of civilisation. It\u2019s not your usual matchday atmosphere, that\u2019s for sure.<\/p>\n