Selection headache is no worry for City supremo
Bath City’s added artillery will serve to make them a stronger force over 90 minutes. That is the view of Romans chief Jerry Gill as he reflects on his summer business after a goal-laden pre-season campaign. With 22 goals scored in seven pre-season games to date and just one defeat in the books, Gill could well face a selection headache come the opening National League South game against Dartford on August 4. A batch more of those goals came in Saturday afternoon’s 6-1 mauling of a young Bristol Rovers XI, who had initially taken the lead. The strikes were shared around too, with Sean Rigg, Andy Watkins, Robbie Cundy and John Mills netting alongside Adam Mann’s brace. Ten players currently signed on to the club have scored in all over the course of the friendly games. And with a stronger all-round squad comes a stronger bench, which the Romans chief believes will make them a threat right up until the final whistle. “I’m constantly in conversation with staff on the side as games are going on; ‘he’s doing well’ and ‘he’s done well there,’” Gill said. “It is difficult but that’s the problem I need. If you make signings and a lot of attacking players, you sometimes from the outset think how can I get them all in one team? “You don’t have to. All the best teams go up with options off the bench and I always look at that; you’re as strong as your bench is. “I said that about last year. I turned round too many times last year and couldn’t change it. No disrespect to the players, but I didn’t have the right personnel to change things. “We’ve got that this season. As long as everyone stays fit - we’re not a big squad - we’ve got options off the bench.” While the guns are firing up front, Gill still says there is work to do at the other end of the pitch. Nevertheless, he had plenty to rave about as the Pirates were well beaten. Gill said: “As you could see again, exhilarating play; some really, really good spells of possession; some effective play; lots of players running forward; lots of forward passes; thinking in the mid-to-final third; lots of space found by some really good football players, and some clinical finishing as well to boot. “I have to be purring about the attacking stuff. I still think there’s stuff defensively to work on. “We haven’t really had enough sessions to do it, because it’s game, game, game and we only get them twice a week. “I’ll look forward to doing some defensive phases with them for sure, working on some distances and making sure we’re really tight as a unit - and between our units and as a team. “Then I’m pretty sure with the players we’ve now got in the team, we’re going to score goals this season.” The Rovers game saw City wear their new kit for the first time, while it was also revealed that the players will boast permanent squad numbers for the season. Gill explained: “It’s just to make it a bit more personal, to make players feel good. “For me it’s trying to make it more professional every week, every day we’re here. “As I was a player, I liked to feel good before I went out and played, and it’s a feel-good factor. “I think the kit looks terrific, the squad numbers are personalised, then the kit fits them to their size and it’s their kit for the season. “It’s up to them to have that shirt when we start at 3 o’clock or 7.45. Just taking it up a notch again off the field.”
I have to be purring about the attacking stuff...