Scunthorpe Utd: Knill - Pre-season provides a fresh start for Iron squad
PRE-season will be a fresh start for everyone at Scunthorpe United.
But boss Alan Knill has told his players they must use that time to impress if they are to stake a claim for a first-team place.
-
BIG FEW WEEKS: Iron defender Michael Raynes (left) must use pre-season to prove his worth to Iron manager Alan Knill (right).
The Iron return from their summer break on Thursday with Knill keen to run the rule over his charges.
Injuries and loss of form meant he was unable to cast his eye over the entire squad in his five weeks at the helm last term – something he hopes to change over the next few weeks.
The manager admits he already has an idea of his preferred starting XI for the trip to Wycombe on August 6.
However, pre-season training is a chance for players to change his mind.
"It's a good opportunity for everyone to stake their claim," said Knill.
"We've probably got a team in our mind who we would pick as the one to start with, but we're open to changes.
"We probably used most of the senior players last year but we didn't see much of the younger players, and people like Michael Raynes.
"I need pre-season to have a proper look at Raynesy."
Striker Matt Godden also falls into that category.
Still yet to establish himself in the first-team, the 19-year-old has made just five substitute appearances for Scunthorpe.
Knill though, is prepared to give Godden his support – provided he earns it.
"He's in my plans," said the United boss. "I didn't see much of him last season but everyone has said to me he's a really good player.
"At the moment he's been on the outside looking in but he has a chance in pre-season to come back and force his way into the team.
"Hopefully he'll come back fit because we've been told he's a really good striker.
"Others have been given their chance and done quite well."
In Knill's first summer at the club, there will be an element of the unknown for players returning to Glanford Park.
They can expect to be worked hard as the manager prepares for their assault on League One.
"I'm looking forward to it," Knill said.
"The players haven't had a pre-season with us before so they don't know what's involved.
"Pre-seasons of old used to be where you never saw a ball for two weeks. We're nothing like that.
"Chances are they will see a ball in the first two days. I think you get as much fitness with the ball as without."
So far, former Sheffield United and St Johnstone striker Jordan Robertson will be the only new face at pre-season training.
But Knill is hoping of strengthening his squad further this week, with Accrington Stanley ace Jimmy Ryan still a target.
28 Comments
View all
by RobinJackson1
Wednesday, June 29 2011, 8:26PM
“Best not say anything more to upset you 1500 club as you seem to set up your own version of 'SUFC internet police' as you yourself put it.
Anything that slightly upsets you gets you crying your eyes out and you go and report it to the administrators to get it removed. Be a man for once.
If you can't stand others disagreeing with you then dont use public sites.
I expect this to be reported by you and removed by the morning. That will certainly prove I dont work for the Scunthorpe Telegraph as you and your ilk seem to think.”
by Iron123
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 7:53PM
“He knows all that mate - you're wasting your time explaining it.
Plenty more opportunities to blame the fans next year when non-season ticket holders are faced with £20-£25 turnstile prices...when we are averaging 3,500 when top of the league, it'll be the supporters fault for not buying into the 'dream'....it would have been supporters fault for the 25 years of the membership scheme and supporters fault for not walking three miles to a ground hidden away near Gunness. Personallly, I believe we are very well supported in the face of the manner in which the club promotes itself - home and away I think (based on the local population) we do well to attract 2,000 - FAIR PLAY TO THOSE WHO BACK THE CLUB BECAUSE THE CLUB HARDLY MAKES IT EASY.
Any word on what happens if we go up with reguard the seating?”
by PStoff
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 6:49PM
“Robin, you are right two excellent signings today but you really must take your head out of your backside if you think the club and chairman are behind them. The chairman has put the brakes firmly on Scunthorpe United and single handedly undone the past five years by starving us of funds and as such players to keep us at our pinnacle.
We do have fickle fans, easily turned off my mediocrity but when it is given to them on purpose then you can't blame them. we have seen the absolute maximum number of fans we can muster in the 2009-10 season and they were keen to see more 2010-11 but, like me, they saw what was going on. The stayed away in their droves and will do so this season. Why did we not do something to keep them.
When one of the other directors was heard to have said "that's torn it" when we won the play off final two years ago he knew exactly what was to happen. Wharton wanted us down in 2010 but we scraped staying up so he made sure last season. He allowed our better players to leave, gave Adkins nothing so he could not replace them and as a result we lost our best ever manager.
He sold Woolford who was our leading scorer in January when we were flirting with the relegation zone and then fed us with the Conor Sammon white elephant which you and many others fell for. He has saved the club 400k because he doesn't need to seat the DRE (never intended to build the new stand - an admission made by Dave Beeby at the supporters forum) but bleats because we have lost over £3m in revenue now relegated.
I am sorry that you don't have the necessary vision to see what is happening and that you take what is said to you by the club's media team as gospel.
As said earlier I am impressed by the two new signings, not so impressed with half of the remaining team and feel that with these two, maybe Robertson as well, and some future additions and loans we can get mid table in League One. We won't get promoted again as the chairman will stop that, but I am sure the team will give as a mixed bag, ups and downs, roller coaster ride over the up and coming season. I have my season ticket this season as the last 12-13 seasons. I am off to watch my team, the team I support because I do not support the club, just the team, there is a difference.”
by Iron123
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 6:15PM
“I'm not interested in the silly online games/games/gangs/egos etc your ilk invents, in order to push yourselves forward as 'reigning supreme' as 'happpy clappers' or whatever you calll yourselves.
If you are so super-happy with everything at the club and the way things are going - what exactly are you on here for anyhow? Put your feet up and enjoy the summer instead - you're not the 'SUFC internet police'. All you achieve is turning articles on pre season training or transfers into farcical attempts to tell everyone to keep their opinions to themselves...that wont work Im affraid but the majority of supporters do have an opinion - whether you agree with it or not.
Leave your abuse - I'm off to the gym.”
by Iron123
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 5:39PM
“Sounds to me, that the likes of Oscar are the ones with the inability to discuss and debate - WHAT IS STOPPING YOU? WELL? Its only opinions on a game/club we both support so why cant you argue your corner without squealing in the fetal position that everyone is moaning/picking on you all the time?
Also - why the BS about people saying we have under achieved in the last few years? Off the pitch, in comparison to the ascention on the pitch we have struggled, as Wharton will testify - but I've never heard anyone express such views that we have under achieved on the pitch over the last five years...that said, I've never heard anyone say anything other than positive about Nigel Adkins - so what do I know? (what did you google search Tanner 'Adkins negativity'?).
This parellel Universe you chaps inhabit also includes the ability to 'shout down' others online?
The very fact you actuallly believe that you have a label - 'happy clapper' says alot...carry on moaning though, you are no better or worse than anyone else who watches United so lose the online egos and stop making stuff up - the TEAM has clearly over achieved in the last few years and now the reality of not cashing in when the times were good will home....hopefully we will sell 3,000 season tickets because the one thing not being mentioned, is that the last time in Div 1 it wasnt so expensive on the day. Ive bought my season ticket and I'll be going away too.
Up the Iron!”
by RobinJackson1
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 5:04PM
“Very accurately put Oscarmoggy. The other claim they also put forward when you disagree with the little clan is that you're either an employee of Scunthorpe United or the Scunthorpe Telegraph. I am neither.
They claim to want discussion but try to shout down anyone who has the nerve to disagree, which just happens to be the silent majority.
How must they react to the news of two new signings today when the claims were none would be made until August?”
by oscarmoggy
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 1:50PM
“rob tanner
You certainly did hit a nerve with the moaners. I also don't understand how they work out that the last five years has seen the club under-achieve, if they think that, what is their take on the 40 years previous. Another one is the fact Wharton hasn't put any of his own money into the club -why should he?. He's the Chairman not benefactor. Surley the club is better funding itself, living within it's own means without having to rely on a sugar daddy. If Wharton has made a loan to the club then he is perfectly entitled to have his money back.
Iron 123 called this site a forum, but a forum is a place to express opinion and to have a discussion. The moaners don't want that,if you don't agree with them your wrong, no leeway. They want to run this site like a dictatorship, if anyone disagrees they will shout them down, insult them and highlight their spelling mistakes. But like all great dictatoships, they are in the minority. There may appear to be a lot who contribute but in reality there's only a small handful who have several monickers, P'doff has about four, while this week 1500 club is Iron 123. So just as at GP, thankfully the happy clappers reign supreme.”
by robtanner83
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 12:36PM
“Sorry Iron 123. LOTS of people said "we need a real manager" after we were relegated and before we went down in 2008.
Here are some comments about Adkins from 2008 I found on google.
"I give him 6 games next season,"
"A decent manager could've seen that it just wasn't working."
" Adkns has been giving the same old "Little Scunthorpe" routine ... very tiresome and plain embarrassing."
"come on Mr Physio what planet are U from?"
"Nigel Adkins is a physio. Sammy McIlroy for the job"
I'm sure SET has lots of other examples of negative comments if you ask them.
Most Scunny fans thought Adkins deserved a chance in summer 2008 but that didn't stop his supporters (like me) getting abuse for backing him.”
by Iron123
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 10:41AM
“lol is that right tanner - lol, Adkins was the most popular gaffer in our history and yet you alone stood against the tide of hatred directed at him?
lol - give over man! If thats not hilarious enough you take on the full DRE in your guise of 'real fan' and yet beal about a few people disagreeing with you on an internet forum? If only all supoporters would just shut up, show no opinion and 'wait and see' ha ha ha!
*strokes chin*
ha ha ha!”
by robtanner83
Monday, June 27 2011, 8:49PM
“Thanks for your support AnonTaxPayer. It is sad that anyone who disagrees with the usual suspects who dominate this site is subject to abuse and accusations. I got the same in summer 2008 when I supported Adkins, and was told he "wasn't a real manager." Fortunately "Happy Clappers" outnumber "Moaners" on the terraces.
Preston had the "ambition" to offer Paul Hayes more money than us and then leave him on the bench. Their gamble didn't pay off. We have 2,000 core fans and no real catchment area and can't afford to make those kinds of mistakes.
Scunny is a great shop window for players who don't mind taking a pay cut and Premier league reserves who want to get noticed. It is a sustainable business model which doesn't guarantee a return to the Championship (even 30,000 Owls fans can't be sure of that) but guarantees survival.
Also, that same policy gave us 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010 four of the best seasons in our history.”