TEAM PREVIEW: Burton Albion – John McGrath would love to see his former side thrive

 

Burton Albion couldn’t have looked any better last season, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink came in, did the business and is already building an impressive looking squad as the club look to tackle League One this year.

Last Season: League Two (1st)

Manager: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

 

Squad

GKs: Jon McLaughlin, Dean Lyness, Remi Matthews
DFs: Phil Edwards, Shane Cansdell-Sheriff, George Taft, Damien McCrory, Liam Slade, Kelvin Maynard, Darius Charles
MFs: John Mousinho, Robbie Weir, Mark Shelton, Matt Palmer, Marcus Harness, Callum Reilly, Calum Butcher, Tom Naylor, Mark Duffy
FWs: Stuart Beavon, Lucas Akins, Dominic Knowles, Abdenasser El Khayati, Sam Austin, Timmy Thiele

 

Transfers

In: Calum Butcher (Dundee United), Darius Charles (Stevenage), Callum Reilly (Birmingham City), Timmy Thiele (Borussia Dortmund), Tom Naylor (Derby County), Mark Duffy (Birmingham City – Loan), Remi Matthews (Norwich City – Loan)

Out: Mickael Antoine-Curier (Released), Lee Bell (Released), Joe Doyle (Released), Stefan Maletic (Released), Jimmy Phillips (Released), Ian Sharps (Chester), Adam McGurk (Portsmouth)

 

First Six: Scunthorpe United (H), Barnsley (A), Blackpool (A), Peterborough United (H), Shrewsbury Town (A), Coventry City (H)

Likely Lineup: (4-4-2) McLaughlin – Edwards, Cansdell-Sheriff, Mousinho, McCrory – Weir, Naylor, Reilly, Duffy – Thiele, Akins

 

A word from…John McGrath

On promotion during his time at the club That was obviously the whole pinnacle of our season, to get promoted that year. The season before we’d gone to the play-offs, Cambridge United had beaten us over two legs in the semis. [In 2008-09] we just clicked, something clicked, we signed Jake Buxton, who’s at Derby County now, and I think he was the missing piece for us. We won 12 games on the bounce, which obviously culminated in us winning the league. [Getting Conference promotion] was probably one of my greatest achievements as a footballer. I’d won Championships before, I’d won League Two with Doncaster, but it was different at Burton. I was a mainstay in the team, I think I played 55 games, the previous year I’d played another 55, 60, and to be a major part in that Championship winning team is something that I’m really proud of.

The reason I went to Burton was because of Nigel Clough. After my first year there, I had a lot of interest to go elsewhere, but he was the reason I stayed. I think that was a massive attraction for a lot of players. Year after year, we never made wholesale changes, I think we added maybe two or three each season just to add a bit of quality to the squad. We had a group of players who probably on paper weren’t individually the best in the league, but collectively as a team we were outstanding. We all knew our roles, we had great backroom staff, and yeah, it was a happy time in my career.

On Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink I think back in the day, when Nigel Clough took over, that was a bold call. I think Paul Peschisolido was a bold call. I also think, giving Gary Rowett the job [was a bold call], because he was Paul’s assistant. Every call the chairman makes, it’s for the goodness of the club, and he obviously sees something in people. Now, I haven’t had the privilege to work with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, but a few of the boys [whom John played with at Burton] say he is exceptional at what he does, in his coaching methods, his training’s spot-on. He’s got the right character to be a manager. But the credit has to go to the chairman there, for picking the right people for the job.

I think [Hasselbaink] will undoubtedly go on to bigger and better things. That’s no dig at Burton Albion, it’s a League One, League Two club, with a good fan base, a great following, but I think he is destined for the big time. He’s a young manager, his playing career speaks for itself, I think he was linked this season with a few jobs in the Premier League and the Championship. It’s only a matter of time, but Burton Albion are lucky to have him, let’s hope they get off to a good start now in League One, and stay in there.

On working with Gary Rowett For me I got on great with Gary, I was captain of the football club and Gary was assistant manager [when first at Burton]. I think the link between the management side and the changing room was probably me and Gary. The manager spoke to Gary, Gary spoke to me, and I conveyed things to the boys. He’s done immense, what he’s done at Burton Albion. He came in as Paul’s right-hand man, took over, did really well, finished in the play-offs in his first season, and then obviously put the bulk of the team in place for that promotion charge. Obviously, he went to Birmingham City, but I think a lot of credit goes to Gary for pre-season preparations, because without a good pre-season you don’t kick on and have a good season. He’s very meticulous in his preparation, his squad selection, his scouting system’s really good, he obviously picked the right players. Jimmy’s then come in and carried the baton on, and gone over the line.

On the step up and recruitment The most difficult thing about League One is that four get relegated. Your initial target is probably fifth from bottom, sixth from bottom, and you work from there. It’s a hard league to get out of, but it’s also a hard league to avoid dropping back out of. There’s some massive teams who’ve come down from League One and they’ve fallen away to the Conference. I think recruitment’s key, I think if they keep the bulk of their squad together, that’s also key, because momentum speaks for itself. Maybe tweak it with three, four, five players with League One experience. All the things are in place – stadium, infrastructure, the Chairman has got a good head on his shoulders, and obviously there’s a good management team.

On St. George’s Park It’s amazing. When I first signed, St George’s Park was still ‘The England Centre’ – there were no buildings there, but there were twelve pitches, which were being looked after by full-time grounds people. Even back then, you’re talking eight, nine years ago, that was my attraction to the club as well. I remember sitting in the ground and Nigel [Clough] drove me up to the training ground and said ‘This is where we’ll be training.’ Now, you drive up there and it’s a facility that rivals anything in world football. I was down there last week, I’m doing my UEFA A Licence coaching, and you look at it and you think ‘Wow. What a facility.’ I’ve been blessed and lucky to have that as my training ground for six seasons, when I was at Burton. It’s a huge attraction for any player.

On what it will take to succeed If you have a proven goal-scorer, somebody who will get you 15, 20 plus goals a season, that is vital for any team, whether you’re staving off relegation or fighting for promotion. Also, you need a good solid spine; if you’ve got two good centre-halves, an experienced centre-midfielder, and a good goalkeeper I think you’ll go a long way. Burton have the crux of a good side, [especially] if they can add one or two, maybe an experienced Championship player who’s willing to drop down. Like I said, recruitment is going to be vital. If [Burton] can get their hands on a centre-forward, who can get them 15, 20 goals [they can make the step up to League One]. Those guys cost the most because they make the most difference.

The teams are huge. Sheffield United, for me, is a massive, massive club. I’m currently coaching the U15s and 16s at Sheffield United, and that is a club that’s got the infrastructure for Premier League football. The fans crave it. And suddenly you’ve got little old Burton Albion coming up to the Football League, and now they’re on a level playing field with [Sheffield]. I remember my second or third year in the Football League we drew Sheffield United in the Capital One Cup, and that was a massive draw for us, a huge fixture. Now, it’s becoming a common occurrence. There are some massive teams in [League One], you’ve got Wigan, twenty plus thousand every week, Sheffield United, twenty plus thousand every week, it’s going to be great for Burton, a great experience.

On playing at the world’s oldest club [Sheffield FC] Yeah, it was brilliant. I’ve been lucky to play for some great teams. I can always look back on my career and say I’ve played 20, 30 games for the first Football League club, the first club in the world. It’s great heritage, great history, albeit down the leagues. It’s something I’m proud of.

On returning to the club Oh god, yeah, I’d love to. It’s a club that’s obviously close to my heart. I played over 250 league games in six years for [Burton], and captained the club for four years. It’s a huge part of my career, I probably played my best football there. I’d like to think 98, 99% of fans would say I did a good job throughout my years there. To coach there would be fantastic if it ever came about. The Chairman’s renowned for giving young, good talent a chance. So yeah, why not? Why not set my aims high, and go back and manage at the Pirelli at some point?

 

The Offside Rule Podcast Prediction: They have a strong group, some full of confidence and Hasselbaink has made some good signings. They could really be a side to watch this season.

Key Player: Callum Reilly – He seemed to have plenty of talent at Birmingham, if he can it on a consistent basis at Burton he could be a real star.

One to Watch: Timothy Thiele – It’s always intriguing to see a Borussia Dortmund player leave for Burton, because it’s never happened! The striker will have a lot to prove and could be a steal.