Written before our trip to Hednesford, manager Jon Moran shares his thoughts on the previous month’s action across Nantwich Town…
By Jon Moran
Hello everyone and welcome back to my 3rd monthly managers update.
I think the best starting point is to wish all the Dabbers new and old a happy new year. I hope 2025 brings us further great memories, with continued success on and off the pitch. The continued support from all the fans has been pivotal in our uptick in form and we are all so privileged to be able to represent this amazing club.
December was an interesting month where we unfortunately only had the opportunity to play in 3 games following some postponements. Although unfortunate, this month yet again was a great learning curve for me and my staff. We are continuously working to improve this squad and ultimately get the best out of it, something I believe we have done quite well thus far. At the time of writing, we have just taken 3 points against a very good Newcastle Town outfit, managed by someone I admire deeply, Neil Baker. But before we get into that game, we should start with the strong performance against Vauxhall Motors, a team who are notoriously tough to break down. I thought we played well that day, we showed aspects of our fast flowing game, but also showed the spirit needed to get points in this league. We came from behind to pick up a point, which in reality may have been a fair result, but one I know as a group we were disappointed in. It is no secret that our form at the Swansway Stadium (DabberDome) has been strong and maybe our away form has not been as such. But it is important to remind ourselves that we took 3 points from Vauxhall earlier in the season, as well as taking 3 points from Runcorn, Newcastle Town and Kidsgrove and a strong point away at Clitheroe. While the away form is a target of mine to improve, the truth of the matter is that I look at each game as it comes and I have the same mentality no matter who the opponent is and that is to win.
We then went up against Bootle, who we were looking to get payback on after a tough first game of the season. This in my opinion was a tough game and could have been a serious banana skin. Bootle are a side who the league will know are very, very strong with very good players, who are probably in a slightly false position. So we had to be on our A game. We beat them 3-1, with their goal likely being the goal of the season. A comfortable victory, albeit, in my opinion, a below par performance. One thing I find really interesting is people’s perspectives on games. It may be because I am a slight perfectionist, or that I have extremely high standards, but I was disappointed that day and I made it quite clear to the players at half time, after the game and also in my post-match. I love winning. I really do. But I love winning with authority a lot more and that is something I am working to instil in this group. We have the winning mentality, now I want a killer’s mentality. A mentality that takes no prisoners and feels sorry for no one. It might sound harsh, and I know just how good our club’s reputation is, but I would find it an insult if someone told me my team was a “nice” team. Being nice doesn’t win you matches and certainly doesn’t win you leagues.
Then came the day I learnt the most valuable lesson since taking over as manager, Witton Albion away. The reality is, I spent most of Christmas Day watching clips and putting together a masterplan to go and defeat Witton. A masterplan that I threw out the window 20 minutes in. Football can be a lonely place sometimes and I admittedly felt quite lonely in that first phase of that game. It was the first time I stood there and doubted my group of players. While I will openly say that, I will also say that it wasn’t just my players that let the club down that day, I also did. I made mistakes and could have done things differently, but the one thing I won’t back up or condone, is a poor attitude. A weak attitude. Above, you will have read about me instilling a winner’s mentality and looking to instil a killer’s mentality, well that day showed me we have work to do. Which is fine. I want that to be the case, or else there would be no point in me being here. With all that being said, my approach to this group has and will remain the same. And that is the fact I fully believe in this group of players and know for a fact we are a very, very good side. Days like Boxing Day are a reminder that we aren’t where we need to be just yet, but then days like New Year’s Day show me we aren’t too far off. I sometimes forget that I am just a 27-year-old manager, with less than 20 games under my belt, managing a young squad of seriously talented players, with a lot to learn. The pride I feel representing this club and these players will never waver, even after tough afternoons. But these days are the days that help you learn and ultimately help you improve.
After Boxing Day I made the brave decision to change our structure/style of football, to one I have always believed in throughout my short coaching career and one I would pin as my “Identity”. For anyone who knows me, I am a thinker. I think about everything to the fine details and almost get wound up by them. The short-term view was to overcome the early challenge of picking a team that will go and win games of football and to convince everyone (including the players) that this group can go and do something special. Admittedly I gave limited structural detail to my players and just gave them the freedom to go and play their game. I now believe this group is good enough individually to make their own decisions on the pitch, however I want us all to be on the same page when we make them. I want to be in a position whereby, if one of the fans, or even I, went to one of my players and asked them to tell me their role and responsibilities, they would be able to tell me. I am not too convinced they have been able to do that thus far.
For anyone who watched the Newcastle game, you will have seen some slight changes to the way we play, changes I think worked very well and caused problems, first half especially. I actually thought we were fantastic, and I don’t think either side would argue if the scoreline was 3/4-1. We have, however, picked up a seemingly bad habit of conceding early, which is almost the polar opposite to previous weeks where we have shot out like a gun and put teams to the sword within 20 minutes. This is all a mentality thing, the players have the same ability at 30 minutes as they do at 5 minutes, so it is something that as a group we need to identify and rectify sooner rather than later. Without giving away all my secrets to opposition sides, you will see a stronger focus on attacking/possession based play. As a club we are so fortunate to have a fantastic playing surface, something I don’t believe we have utilised enough, especially given the players we have in the side. I am really excited about this next phase in the team’s journey and really believe we are doing fantastically well. I am so excited for every game that we play and I know my players are. I just wish I can spend more than 2 nights a week with them! We have a lot of work to do as a group, and seemingly more work now. But this is work we are all so lucky to have the opportunity to do.
For even further insight into how I operate, I bought each one of my players a book for Christmas. A book I expect them all to read (even though we do have a couple of dyslexic lads in the team!!!). I am a firm believer in the mental side to sports and I know firsthand how important having a strong mentality is within football. I will be really open and honest in saying one of the reasons I didn’t kick on with my playing career was because of my mentality. I didn’t want it enough and ultimately learnt the hard way. But now one of the biggest responsibilities I have is trying to develop my players. Do I think I can make them better footballers? Certainly. But do I think I can make them better people? Absolutely. Do I think a book will be the answer? Not at all. But what I do see the book as is an expectation and standard I am setting across the group and maybe a message to my players about what I am trying to do with them. I am looking forward to the next few weeks to hear the feedback.
We now step into an important January, with arguably the toughest fixtures to date. Hednesford away will be a tough test and will be a good marker as to where we are as a group. There is no need for me to speculate as to the project Hednesford are undergoing, but as a club we are in different places, however as a Team, I would argue we should be very much on par if not better. I am looking forward to going back to Keys Park, a ground I know quite well from my brief playing spell there, but also a ground that in recent weeks has been packed with ~2000 fans. My players will be ready and raring to go, as will I.
Enough of the boring first team malarkey, it’s important I again shout out some of the fantastic work the club has been doing. I watched the Women’s team play a strong Altrincham side and what an entertaining game that was! It would be so good if we got some of the men’s first team fans down to watch the women play. They are doing the club so, so proud and I am so privileged to be at a club where the women’s game is being promoted as well as it is. Well done Ladies, keep up the good work.
I also watched an U21 game and again, what a great game of football. Admittedly the weather was atrocious and I think my feet have only just warmed up 3 weeks later. But I really enjoyed it and saw just how much work Ryan and his team have put in to develop that group. I have made it a public challenge of mine to help promote/support our youth set up, it is something I may or may not have done well enough thus far, but I promise it is a priority of mine. I have set a challenge to Ryan and his staff to encourage 6+ players in joining me in preseason next season, with a view to becoming a part of my plans next year. I also am keen to work with our other youth phase coaches, as at this point in time I have limited contact with them. Something I am not happy with on my part, but I will be working with Lyndon and Ryan over the next month to organise a session where I can share some of my thoughts and messages, but also listen to our coaches.
It has been another fantastic month for the club, on and off the pitch. We sit in a playoff position for the first time in a long time, with the one of the best home records in the league and the best home record at the club for 10+ years. I am really proud to be the manager of this club and I am loving every minute of it. I have had so many fantastic conversations with fans across the season so far and want to make it abundantly clear that I will always be an open book. Please come say hello to me after a game. I would love to have a chat and answer any questions (as long as they aren’t too difficult), as I believe having that connection with the fans is so important.
I also want to send a huge shoutout to Mr Jon Gold, a man who does so much work in the background, but also a man who has been so influential in my development. We all knew that as a coach I would be competent, but the doubt was always going to be the management expertise and skill set that admittedly you only really develop from experience. But Jon has been terrific with me. We speak almost every day and about almost anything! But the point is the fact this is no normal club. You won’t find many clubs placing trust in a 27-year-old and you certainly won’t find many clubs with a Chairman as supportive as Jon has been.
Thank you.
Now here’s to another fantastic year and to a year of much success. Have a good 2025 Dabbers, I will see you all very soon 🙂
#Upthedabbers