July 29, 2022...'The Message is Clear: You Have To Fight For Your Spots Now' - The Points A Must in Halifax (from York United FC website)

July 29, 2022...'The Message is Clear: You Have To Fight For Your Spots Now' - Three Points A Must in Halifax
(from York United FC website)

'THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR: YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR YOUR SPOTS NOW' - THREE POINTS A MUST IN HALIFAX

The third meeting of the sides this season sees The Nine Stripes looking for their first win.

Ahead of the team’s trip to Nova Scotia to face Halifax Wanderers this afternoon
in the Canadian Premier League, Head Coach Martin Nash declared no player is guaranteed
a starting spot.

The Gaffer revealed the team talk after the 3-0 defeat at home to Atletico Ottawa last Sunday
was straight to the point as he seeks instant reaction.

"It was an open and honest conversation. The message is: you have to fight for your spots now",
Nash said at Friday’s pre-match conference.

''It's no longer that we have limited options. We have we have a bunch of options and who’s
training best is gonna get a chance to play on the weekend."

Last week’s beige performance requires some remedial amount of work against an opponent they
have already succumbed to twice [both home and on the road] this term.

Stephen Hart’s Wanderers have gone four matches without a win since that shock 3-0 win
at Pacific FC in early June.

Nash said: "I think we got to be compact defensively. We've got to win the midfield battle.
That's where I think they're strong.

"But it's like any game in this league. You’re not going to be gifted anything. We just
can't give them anything so we're gonna have to go and work hard, move the ball quick
and it's one of those environments that every player should love to go play in a crowd.
I'm looking for the team to come up with a lot of energy, as we talked about this week.
We need to have that energy to be successful."

Isaiah Johnston remains suspended but anchorman Jordan Wilson returns to shore up the midfield.

Nash is expecting an improved performance at the Wanders Grounds - their second visit this term.

"I think at times we've played better on the road than we have at home for whatever reason.
So even though we haven't been picking up wins, we've had some good performances. I'm hoping
that the guys will be able to bring that energy that we need and that we had - I guess - for the
second half against Ottawa and for large parts of the season. We need that energy for us
to be successful."

OPPONENT WATCH:

Halifax Wanderers have newly signed striker Ludwig Kodjo Amla available for selection
against The Nine Stripes.

They go into the match sixth on the table with 18 points; four more than Martin Nash’s
side and a record of 5-3-7.

Wanderers big boys Sam Salter, Cory Bent, Zachary Fernandez, Eriks Santos,
Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé and Andre Rampersad are also ready to rumble.

Ridwan Ibrahim Asante

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