Badshot Lea manager Gavin Smith post-Gosport Borough
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00:00Gavin, pre-season against Gosport today, some biblical conditions, any thoughts on the afternoon?
00:07Really positive again, it's more progress from Tuesday night if I'm honest. I think they started with a real intensity which was good for us to have to deal with.
00:22Then we grew into the game and I felt we were excellent for probably 25, half hour where we looked really in control of the game which was good.
00:31To be able to do that against a step-free opposition is a positive. Some really good play, probably a little bit better decision making and some better shooting if I'm honest.
00:43We could have scored a couple of goals. We feel again that we've probably gifted them the first one. We're trying to get into the boys when to do things and when not to do things.
00:56At the minute they're still learning some of them of where to play. They're playing risky stuff and we give a simple ball away that maybe we shouldn't have and they've scored.
01:06That's the difference when you play teams from the level above, they're just clinical. When they give them chances, they're scoring.
01:11We felt we probably could have... Listen, I was disappointed. We said it's not about the results pre-season for us, especially the first four games definitely.
01:21As we build, we look to getting results maybe. It's about the process and getting people on board with what we do.
01:29But I was disappointed with the first half team that they did give them two goals and ideally we could have come in at nil-nil and had a really good half of football, real positive.
01:39Second half we've conceded a really cheap goal again from the corner. There's stuff to work on. You can't give cheap goals away.
01:51It's when three points are important. We've got to get it out of our system now. There's a long way to go in pre-season for us yet.
01:58A lot of players to come back, that's another positive. We had four or five players who I would consider a good squad.
02:10Babs is out injured, unfortunately. Lam is still injured. We've got another couple away on holiday, so Tuesday some will be back.
02:17I think there were actually six or seven missing, to be fair, who have all done really well in pre-season.
02:22High league opposition again and again, playing your football.
02:28With the turnover of players we had and the people we lost, you always fear, can we do the same things?
02:34But there's players out there who have got good ability and are really pleased with some of the performances and people being able to do and implement what we want to a really high level.
02:44Really positive.
02:46What was the message at half-time?
02:51Like I said, it's trying to drum into them now. It was a good performance, but you need to tidy up their mistakes.
02:59There are just a little bit of extra touch. Don't try and do it in one sometimes.
03:07When it's on, it's like playing keep ball. That extra touch helps you and makes you make a better decision because the pitch isn't great at the minute.
03:16It needs a bit of work doing to it. It's not bad. Obviously, it's churned up a little bit now with all the rain.
03:21But they're trying to do stuff in one, which is good. When it comes off, it looks good.
03:26But in our half of the pitch, that's not what we want to be doing, really.
03:30More three for four, players-wise?
03:35I'll be honest, it's getting tougher and tougher because what did we have today? We had 19.
03:40Like I said, there was a number away, six or seven.
03:45It's some tough decisions to make because everyone's doing well and doing what we want.
03:52If we could sign everyone and play everyone, it would be ideal, but that's football.
03:57We've got to make those decisions next week or so because I don't want to keep hold of people and stop them playing.
04:04But at the minute, they all look like they can do the job that we want them to do.
04:07And another good test on Tuesday against Chelsea?
04:11It's good for us. That's why we do it. See what people can do when they're under pressure.
04:18Maybe a little bit of knocking the levels, but to test yourself against higher teams is always good.
04:24The key will come when we play teams that are a league below us or the same level.
04:30How are we looking then? That'll be the deciding factor.
04:34Sometimes it's easier to raise your game against a higher level or they drop their standards maybe.
04:41That's obviously a good mix of pre-season, isn't it?
04:45Start hard, see what the players are capable of and then build towards the start of the season.