Blackpool striker shares honest views on poor start to the season

Blackpool Gazette

Ashley Fletcher discusses Blackpool's disappointing start to the season.

Transcript

00:00Obviously in training, have you seen signs of what you can be?

00:03Are you seeing something different at the training ground than you've maybe seen?

00:06Yeah, exactly that.

00:08I think sometimes it's so difficult to replicate what you do on the training pitch into games.

00:16For us, it's just about finding the consistency.

00:19We've conceded too many goals for starters.

00:21We haven't really given ourselves a chance in games.

00:25That starts from the front as well.

00:26That's not just on the defence.

00:27That starts from myself, Niall, Dale and Blox.

00:31We're ultimately the first-man in defence.

00:34Probably haven't got some of the pressing right sometimes.

00:37It affects the back players.

00:39We have to look at ourselves as well as everyone else.

00:43For us, we just need to knuckle down, really.

00:46We can keep a clean sheet.

00:47We know they will score goals in this league.

00:50That's probably the base that we need to go from to start with.

00:53There's been a big turnover of players, which is the case at most EFL clubs.

00:56So, do you understand why that cohesion maybe isn't visibly there when you take it to the field?

01:01Yeah, I think it takes time.

01:02But I think we saw science tonight.

01:03I think players who played wanted to prove a point and get your name on the team sheet for Saturday.

01:10We all want to be playing.

01:11And like you say, the squad that we've got is so competitive at the minute.

01:15But again, the lads that came on Bowles and Dale, who else came on?

01:21Hayden came on.

01:23Who else?

01:23Albie as well.

01:24We look at the squad, it's really strong and they gave us an extra wind and the quality came out.

01:30So, everyone's fighting for spots.

01:32And believe me when I say there's no one who's hurting more than us in the dressing room at the minute.

01:38We're the ones that know that we're not playing well enough and we need to put it right.

01:42Obviously, we just don't believe that we'll come good with you now.

01:45Yeah, definitely.

01:46And again, it's a fine line between being disappointed but understanding that we're only five to six games in.

01:52And we really want to kick on now.

01:54And we believe that Saturday is a big game, of course.

01:57We don't want to put too much pressure on it.

01:58It's not season-defining, of course, but ultimately there's no point, like I say, getting a positive result like tonight.

02:04And then going into Saturday and not playing well enough.

02:09So, we're all focused with the game, of course.

02:12Obviously, a poor start is a poor start.

02:13But when there was so much pre-season hype, everyone looked at the squad and thought,

02:17wow, something's building here.

02:18And based on, obviously, times last season as well, for yourself and other players, how you improved,

02:22does that make the fall even harder?

02:25Yeah, no, listen, there's no getting away.

02:27We've had a poor start.

02:28We shouldn't be where we are with the players that we've got in our dressing room.

02:31But again, different factors, player part.

02:35Niall gets suspended for three games.

02:37I come up with an injury through and I'm out for a couple of games.

02:39Different players missing different, yeah, it's one of those.

02:43It's been a little bit spot-start in terms of cohesion and players and stuff like that.

02:48So, again, there's no excuse.

02:50We've got a big enough squad and a good enough squad that we should be playing a lot better than we are at the minute.

02:55But again, massive chance to put it right on Saturday.

02:57You mentioned your injury, obviously frustrated.

02:59You've been starting games and you drop out for injury and actually waiting to come back in the league now.

03:04So, how determined were you tonight?

03:06Yeah, exactly that.

03:08And now I came on Saturday for 12 minutes.

03:10I had a chance and should do a lot better.

03:12And then coming to this game knowing that I need to prove a point, I need to play well first and foremost.

03:17And I know that if I play well, then chances and assists and goals will come.

03:21But I did okay tonight.

03:22So, yeah, I'm looking forward to the weekend.

03:24If the manager picks me, then I'll be ready to go.

03:27If not, then I'm looking to make an impact for the bench.

03:29If not, then I'll be ready to go.

03:30If not, then I'll be ready to go.

03:31If not, then I'll be ready to go.

03:32If not, then I'll be ready to go.

03:33If not, then I'll be ready to go.

03:34If not, then I'll be ready to go.

03:35If not, then I'll be ready to go.

03:36If not, then I'll be ready to go.

03:37If not, then I'll be ready to go.

03:38If not, then I'll be ready to go.

03:39If not, then I'll be ready to go.

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