{"id":1292,"date":"2011-05-14T17:54:50","date_gmt":"2011-05-14T16:54:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.albionfc.co.uk\/?p=1292"},"modified":"2011-05-14T17:55:44","modified_gmt":"2011-05-14T16:55:44","slug":"1292","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.albionfc.co.uk\/?p=1292","title":{"rendered":"The Big Interview: The Gaffer’s 2010\/11 Season Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

JM: So Jade, first things first. It must be nice to have someone else win the Henri Leconte award this season?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jade Barker: Well I think this season I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been low key on the HL front, I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think of too many things I may have done or said that warranted a vote.<\/p>\n

However, goading the team when saving penalties then to end up stuck in the net after keeping Vilem out and almost breaking my neck at the same time was very close.<\/p>\n

I think, Will delivered some beauties almost every week on HL, but it was justified that Barny dressed as Bill Oddie<\/a> imitating Dustin Gee, I mean Hoffman was classic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JM: This question is sponsored by Gary Newbon: Albion have just become Division 1 Champions. How good does it feel Jade?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JB: It feels very good, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not like a threesome with Catherine Zeta Jones, Halle Berry & Christina Hendricks, Red Bull, Viagra & duct tape with no work in the morning\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6..which is pretty good. However it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a total justification of what I believed the team could achieve over the last 3 years. We have learned from every game we have played what it takes to improve & win. We were extremely close in 2010 & with the strength, desire coupled with the spirit & drive to keep winning this has made this feel quite special.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JM: Back in October 2010, the team had picked up just 6 points from 5 league games. Did you ever start to wonder if it was going to be a tough and trophyless season?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JB:\u00c2\u00a0Every season is tougher than the last, the determination & expectation level increases for each team, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s whether each player has the drive & ability to succeed & deliver these objectives competitively every week towards the ultimate goal of 3pts, the next round, the trophy. The 4th game of this sequence we were poor all over (Including me) & did not make it a credible game, except for the substitutes. In all the other games we battled & created opportunities which with hard work rewarded us with wins. I never felt it would be trophy less, but the team had to learn quickly to maintain belief, concentration & focus. Dave, Jindy, Will, Stew, Vilem have delivered experience<\/a> vital to getting us here, but for this and the talent of the squad we may never have enjoyed the wins against Whitehorse, De Novo & Southbank. The Albion spirit of Kobs, SJB, Nolans was evident a few times this season, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s why we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re champions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JM: Other than capturing a trophy, what pleases you most about this season? And what’s the one thing you’ll remember most?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JB: The consistent ability to respond to challenges, be that Bill & Barny\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s absence through injury, Jim\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s absence, coming back from losing positions or our maturity & pride in doing things the right way at the club.<\/p>\n

We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve never been a 1 or 2 man team or a one season wonder, the lads have shown this. Apart from the trophy I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll remember how much this club means to the players that play & have been associated with it past & present. The awards night was pretty high up there, I was glad to see everybody there having a great time & with some reward for their efforts, for me the stories to winning are often better than the win itself. From last season to this was a good story & also Huracan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s story<\/a> was uplifting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JM: What could have been done better? Where do you think there is room for improvement?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JB: We could have been more ruthless with players & ourselves with feedback during the season for poor performance & personality. I have a lot of faith but on occasion that faith may have been best served in getting other players involved sooner. It may have turned draws\/defeats into wins. Tough one, as we are not here to motivate players, but to get the best of players who are motivated & spirited yet possess the attributes to grow themselves, their team mates & the club.<\/p>\n

Improvements can be made with honest assessments of ones performance. Players need to challenge themselves harder with their own physical performance & constructive criticism as only then can they get the best from themselves. The team will benefit by continued honesty & it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s inspiring to see the improvement an individual can make once they push themselves physically & mentally to their optimum. Duncan could also write a match report.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JM: What have you learnt as a manager from this season?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JB: You mean aside from using Dave as a navigator<\/a>, using the toilet after Jindy or Stewart<\/a>, or visiting Myles\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 barber<\/a>?<\/p>\n

I have learned that winning the league will not satisfy this team & that they will be hungry to achieve more particularly in the cups next season.<\/p>\n

Albion players recognise they set an example for many of our opponents in this league & that our way has been the right way, the Albion way. Players have really driven themselves & their bodies into the ground, Stewart & Steve exemplify this, Dave, Jindy & Rich have been injury free & Nick has really continued to develop & become a key personality & player this season. Vilem also looks like Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JM: On to next season, what will the club be looking to achieve both on and off the pitch?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JB: We enter the season as Champions in the 50th year of Albion\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s existence our first aim is to defend our crown & to win every competition we enter on the pitch. It will be tougher but we will have a strong pre-season with 2 or 3 additions & I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m confident if players remain poor in injury & rich in desire then we give ourselves a great chance. Off the pitch we will celebrate our anniversary where possible with everyone who was\/is connected to The Albion. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s very important that as custodians of this club we deliver another 50 years & we thank Roger, Dave, Neale for all their hard work to date. We will look to deliver more Charity work & also set a legacy for our selves in Sunday football. Hopefully Will can still touch his toes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JM: Getting a bit personal now, where on earth do you get those hats from? Because I want one of course <ahem>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

While magicians pull rabbits out of hats, I pull hats out of rabbits.<\/p>\n

Seriously I get them all over, wherever I lay my hats that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s my home, but unfortunately it keeps stopping at the same place. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m cultivating my thirties look from The Sting<\/a>*.<\/p>\n

*Not to be confused with tantric loving, Geordie of the band Police<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JM: You’re known for your superstitions<\/a>. Did you wear your trusted tracksuit bottoms in every game this season?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JB: I believe I did, there was one training session where I did not wear them & I was particularly uncomfortable about this. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve had the same training top for 18 years also but that only gets worn when I am selected to play. Other superstitions I share are that I get nervous at the bench flipping in the changing room with Barny being a serial flipper.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JM: Lastly, just thinking about Asian midfielders<\/a> and free-kicks for a second – who scored your favourite goal this season?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pretty sure Michael Chopra scored one this season for Cardiff, can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t remember against whom.<\/p>\n

While Duncan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s goal was excellent, Jindy\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s goal pivotal v Navigados, Barny\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s goal equality for Gingers, I must say my favourite goal probably was Matt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s v Southbank. Pivotal as he was on fire, he was the smallest guy on the pitch, it defeated Southbank while Barny was still walkin’ here. However, Nick<\/a> is still the only one who really celebrates his goals.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Albion FC - 2010\/11 Division 1 Champions (and poor choosers of hairdressers)<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

JM: So Jade, first things first. It must be nice to have someone else win the Henri Leconte award this season? Jade Barker: Well I think this season I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been low key on the HL front, I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think of too many things I may have done or said that warranted a vote. However, goading […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.albionfc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1292"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.albionfc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.albionfc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.albionfc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.albionfc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1292"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.albionfc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1381,"href":"https:\/\/www.albionfc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1292\/revisions\/1381"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.albionfc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.albionfc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.albionfc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}