Assistant gaffer Dave Livermore and Under 21 coach have talked about the return to pre season training and the hopes for the coming 2015-16 campaign from their respective positions within the club.
Speaking to the official site firstly, Livermore, manager Neil Harris’ right hand man, explained that an ‘all for one, one for all’ attitude would be fostered during our pre season plans this campaign as Millwall need the squad ready to battle and fight for each other.
Coming into that equasion is our training camp in Portugal which is the perfect time to really step up banter and individual relationships within the camp.
‘We’re looking to create a real sense of togetherness within the squad. We’re emphasising that everyone is there to support each other in everything we do, and the opportunity for the players to get to know each other better and spend time relaxing in each other’s company will be a vital aspect of the trip. If you look back to the successful sides Chopper and I were part of at Millwall, that camaraderie between the players was a vital ingredient. We spent quite a bit of time together socially as a group, and I’m sure that helped us when the chips were down on the pitch.’
With Harris already making a big play about the personality and character of players coming into the dressing room when discussing new signings, Livermore went on to add the importance of that given the characters we already had.
‘There will be times when our togetherness as a group will be tested during the course of the season, when things go wrong or players are out of the team. The work we’re doing now will hopefully stand us in good stead when those challenges come along.’
Moving on to newly appointed Andy Frampton as under 21 coach, working with Academy Director Scott Fitzgerald, he talked about the importance of instilling Millwall values into our youngsters so they could make the progression successfully into the first team as a number of youngsters did in 2014-15.
‘There is no doubt that you need to understand what it takes to be successful at this club, and hopefully I can help the manager, his assistant and the other coaches here in that respect amongst others.’
Having been with us between 2007 and 2011, making 111 appearances for the club and helping us to promotion to the Championship in 2010 and ending that season as our Player of the Year winner, Frampton said he was able to draw on his own experiences because he admitted he took him a while to find his feet with us, but once he did he ‘absolutely loved’ playing for the club and in his mind there was no looking back, which is why returning to us in a coaching capacity was such a ‘no brainer’ for him.
‘It is vitally important that we keep bringing players through here, and I think it will be fantastic for the club and the fans to see them coming into the first team. Part of my job, in addition to helping them develop as footballers, is to make sure they have an understanding of what they need as characters to be successful at Millwall and they are prepared for it when their chance comes along.’
Vital Millwall on:
Vital Millwall on:
Livermore & Frampton Talk Pre Season Return
