Crawley Town captain pinpoints areas for improvement after nine-goal thriller against Crystal Palace
Crawley Town captain Dion Conroy pinpoints areas for improvement after nine-goal thriller against Crystal Palace
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00:00We defended well, played against the top team on the inside and obviously the second half
00:04was a lot better. We kind of understood how to press, where to press, what passing lines
00:10to go through. Yes, just great tests and a good little run out and hopefully now we can
00:16take that into the next two games.
00:18Yes, after a frustrating first half, it seemed that the lads grew in confidence a lot in
00:22the second half and started playing some really nice football. It's nice to see some of the
00:25new lads picking up on the way that the gaffer likes to play, isn't it?
00:29Yes. I think everyone was on the same page in the second half. We were doing the right
00:35things in the first but we weren't really all there together. The second half was a
00:42lot better in the sense that we were really pressing as a team, as a unit, playing together
00:46as a unit and obviously you could see that. We were pressing them really well. They, at
00:51times, had no idea how to get out. Like I said, it's Crystal Palace. Luckily they're
00:57not in League One next year. That was a very good test for us and hopefully we can push
01:02on now.
01:03You referenced earlier in the interview a lot of new players. How has the squad been
01:06gelling over the last few weeks?
01:07Yes, well, really good considering we've got so many new faces. Everyone's gelling really
01:12well. New faces in this week, still getting to know the system and everything like that.
01:18It always takes time. It always takes time and training's been really well. The boys
01:25are really getting together every day, doing things after training and everything. It will
01:33get there and we'll look forward to the start of the season.
01:37Two more pre-season games to go. Is there anything that you and the lads have said that
01:41is a definite thing you need to work on or is it just a case of the gaffers getting more
01:44minutes in preparation for the start of the season?
01:46Yes, I think just getting used to each other playing and how the manager wants to play.
01:50I know we keep saying there's a lot of new faces and they've got to understand how the
01:54gaffer wants to play. Obviously every player is an individual as well so they have little
01:59habits that the boys that are still here, we've got to understand what parts of the
02:03game that they are good at. It will take time and I think we'll be really, really sharp
02:11come the start of the season.
02:12You must be relishing the challenge of leading the lads out as well.
02:15Yes, I'm honoured. I can't wait for the season to start and hopefully we can get off to a
02:21good one and recreate a similar year to last year.
02:27You're one of the few players remaining from last season. Do you take responsibility to
02:31lead these new players and to help them gel into the new team and to build a new team?
02:36Yes, of course. I think being one of the experienced players, even though I'm 28, I feel like
02:43I've got a responsibility to make sure everyone gets on and everyone gels well and everyone
02:48understands how the manager wants to play. But we've got a good group of guys. There's
02:54a lot of people that are good leaders here and not just players, the staff. It's a real
02:59good set-up. A lot of good people here so I think we'll be a really good side.
03:05Last season, Scott did an amazing job of building the team with lots of new signings. Are you
03:09confident you can do that again and go one step further in League One?
03:13100 per cent. Just look at the second half. We're playing the top Premier League side
03:16and we managed to score a few goals. Obviously, we gave away a few goals. They didn't really
03:21cut us open. They were more individual mistakes. You take that out of the game and I thought
03:26we did really well. We've just got to keep working hard every day and keep doing the
03:32things in the next couple of pre-season games and we'll be ready to go.
03:35There were some quality goals, especially after that first one from Heather Murphy.
03:38I suppose you're just looking to see more of that as the season progresses?
03:42Yes. We haven't played on the greatest of pitches in the first few pre-season games.
03:48The last pre-season game, the pitch was terrible. It's hard to see the football that we can
03:52play. Today, how we played out and played through the thirds and into play in the final
03:57third was really, really good. A great first goal. Hopefully, we can get a few more like that.
04:06It must have been great for you to test yourself against some Premier League players coming
04:08to the Broadfield Stadium. It's obviously a great occasion.
04:10Yes, of course. Like I said, they're the top Premier League side. Luckily, we're not playing
04:19them every week in League One.
04:20Nice one. Thank you very much.