VOICE OF YOUTH
Posted on: Tue 11 Aug 2009
Watson prepares his team for busy season
With the new season nearly upon us and excitement running high at the club, we took some time out to speak with Youth Team Manager Dave Watson as Latics' young-guns prepare for a busy campaign themselves.
Watson's side face Leigh Genesis this evening in their final warm-up game for the 2009/10 Football League Youth Alliance North West Conference, and he gave his assessment on the work done so far.
"The players are developing into adults now and the more games they play the better at this point," said Watson.
"It can be tough for them at first, playing U18 and U19 football which can be difficult initially. But the only way they can adapt to it is by doing it on a regular basis, and I'm confident they'll do well.
"The recent trip to Scotland we went on was very good and we got a couple of games against Motherwell who we beat 1-0 and Celtic who beat us 1-0. In Scotland they play Under19 football so that was good preparation for us.
"They were really good performances from the players and a good learning curve for them as well. It was also good from a morale point-of-view; they got to spend a lot of time living together, so from that aspect it was very worthwhile.
"We as coaching staff had the opportunity to learn about the players; what their discipline is like, how they interact with people and generally how they cope with things.
"We'll have a mixture of young pros and kids playing tonight, so it'll be a step up for a lot of them. Leigh Genesis are a decent side and it'll be good experience for them, the more games they play, the better really."
With a new style of football sweeping through Wigan Athletic how does Watson's work reflect the new philosophy at the club?
"I like to do a bit of everything in training, ultimately I want the players to feel as comfortable as possible on the ball, and play so called 'beautiful football'.
"At the same time though you have to get them into learning certain habits; being able to sense danger, knowing when and when not to attack, and when to take chances.
"The games we play is where they learn these qualities as well as in training. You try to put certain ideas into their head to prepare them, but it's in a game-situation where they develop them.
"It's their decisions that count, and the better decisions they make the more chance there is of them becoming quality footballers."
With the new season nearly upon us and excitement running high at the club, we took some time out to speak with Youth Team Manager Dave Watson as Latics' young-guns prepare for a busy campaign themselves.
Watson's side face Leigh Genesis this evening in their final warm-up game for the 2009/10 Football League Youth Alliance North West Conference, and he gave his assessment on the work done so far.
"The players are developing into adults now and the more games they play the better at this point," said Watson.
"It can be tough for them at first, playing U18 and U19 football which can be difficult initially. But the only way they can adapt to it is by doing it on a regular basis, and I'm confident they'll do well.
"The recent trip to Scotland we went on was very good and we got a couple of games against Motherwell who we beat 1-0 and Celtic who beat us 1-0. In Scotland they play Under19 football so that was good preparation for us.
"They were really good performances from the players and a good learning curve for them as well. It was also good from a morale point-of-view; they got to spend a lot of time living together, so from that aspect it was very worthwhile.
"We as coaching staff had the opportunity to learn about the players; what their discipline is like, how they interact with people and generally how they cope with things.
"We'll have a mixture of young pros and kids playing tonight, so it'll be a step up for a lot of them. Leigh Genesis are a decent side and it'll be good experience for them, the more games they play, the better really."
With a new style of football sweeping through Wigan Athletic how does Watson's work reflect the new philosophy at the club?
"I like to do a bit of everything in training, ultimately I want the players to feel as comfortable as possible on the ball, and play so called 'beautiful football'.
"At the same time though you have to get them into learning certain habits; being able to sense danger, knowing when and when not to attack, and when to take chances.
"The games we play is where they learn these qualities as well as in training. You try to put certain ideas into their head to prepare them, but it's in a game-situation where they develop them.
"It's their decisions that count, and the better decisions they make the more chance there is of them becoming quality footballers."
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