Scunthorpe Utd: Togwell is in favour of more competition for midfield places
As the competition for places steps up, Sam Togwell insists the Iron's performances will follow.
With Damien Mozika and Jimmy Ryan not far off a return, and Josh Walker having been added to the squad, manager Alan Knill may soon have a few selection dilemmas in midfield.
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Sam Togwell says competition in midfield, something which has been lacking of late through injuries, will bring the best out the Iron's players
And Togwell accepts when that is the case, a drop in standards is likely to result in a demotion to the substitutes' bench.
"There will be a lot of competition," said the skipper.
"The gaffer's brought people in so it will be a case of if you're playing well, I imagine you'll stay in the team.
"It gives us extra competition in midfield and makes us work harder on the training pitch.
"If you're not playing well and not doing the jobs expected of you, then you're going to get the hook and the next man will go in and do what's expected.
"It does keep you on your toes, which can only be a good thing.
"It's not so much pressure.
"The pressure's getting the good results at the moment, making sure we get wins and play well.
"Individually, I suppose there is a little bit of pressure, but it's a friendly pressure.
"Everyone wants each other to do well in the team.
"It's not a case of, I should be playing instead of him, everyone's pushing each other to do well and take it to the next level.
"I feel I'm playing well.
"I think I've been a bit more consistent recently in my passing. I'm passing the ball well, keeping it well and breaking up play.
"I'm pleased at the moment."
For that to continue, Togwell is eager to avoid the injury curse which has struck several of his team-mates.
"Touch wood, I've been okay," said the 27-year-old, who has made the most league appearances for the club this term.
"Obviously everyone gets niggles but I've been lucky to manage them and play through them.
"Hopefully it continues because I feel like I'm playing well at the moment.
"As long as that continues from now until the end of the season, I'll be happy.
"Injuries have affected us big time.
"Ninety per cent of the squad have been injured at some point and missed games because of injury.
"It has been a problem, but once we get everyone fit we'll be okay.
"We've got players coming back to fitness now.
"There's no reason why as a fully fit squad we can't be ready to push up the league."
12 Comments
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by carllewis2010
Friday, January 27 2012, 8:31PM
“To many sicknote players with no bottle or desire to do the job,same excuses and silly player comments week after week.Club just plods on like a non league set up.Wharton if you are serious about keeping our club in league one ,get a goalscorer bought and a decent centre half also.If not please advertise for a new chairman with desire and ambition to make supporting SUFC something to be proud of."UP THE IRON"!!!”
by stevemillson
Friday, January 27 2012, 4:51PM
“See you at Lge 2 Barnet next season. Wharton will then be complaining about the Lge 1 player salaries SUFC will have to pay to those clowns recruited by Knill.
The momentum to the drop zone is unstoppable. PATHETIC !! No club is as bad as this.”
by PStoff
Friday, January 27 2012, 3:37PM
“Ricochetting dummies, what do you think?”
by AnonTaxPayer
Friday, January 27 2012, 2:53PM
“PStoff
"The level of injuries is unnaturally high which usually is a pointer to dissent.
Injuries because of dessent? Explain.”
by bartonscorp
Friday, January 27 2012, 2:13PM
“It is plain for all to see match after match, the mid-field is none existant, there is no link up what so ever between defence and attack, Togwell is probably the main reason for this, he runs about like a headless chicken. Look back at the goals conceeded by us when the ball is lost in midfield, which has resulted in conceeding a poor goal.
Our forwards are not as good as most teams, but if they are starved of balls being fed to them, they have even less chance of scoring goals. Going back to the mid-week match against Sheffield, those three goals must rank as being the result of the most bisar defending of all season.
The first one had their guy standing in the middle of our box and no one within five yards of him, Nolan standing in no mans land, not marking anyone, and keeping the scorer on side.
The second goal saw a floated corner come into our goal area, no one made any effort to attack the ball, the keeper just stood on his line when he could so easily have either caught or punched the ball, resulting in a free header, why ???????, the third one saw their guy just run 35 yards though the entire defence, without a tackle being put in, again Togwell just trotted at his side, all the way to the goal, never even suggesting that a tackle was going to be made.
It is no use Knill complaining 27 games into the season, saying how bad the goals are that we conceed every match, it is his job to put an end to some of the errors, he must be able to see what is happening and should drop these players and replace them.
February is make or break for us, and without 9 points from the next 4 winable games (on paper), we are relegated. We are lucky in some way, because there are also five other very poor teams around us, but usually each season, a couple of teams near the bottom start to put runs together, lets just hope that we are one of them, as hard to see as it is !!!!!!!!!!!!
ONE WIN IN OUR LAST 13 GAMES TELLS IT'S OWN STORY.”