Montgomery defends decision to invest in sunshine training camp
It’s always difficult to market to punters who are struggling through the darkest weeks of the post-holiday season. A sun break? For guys who work two hours a day, is this the ideal of every fan who has ever stepped through the turnstiles?
Nick Montgomery understands why some Hibs fans replied to news of this week’s training camp in Dubai with suggestions, some more polite than others, that players spend the Scottish Premiership break doing murder runs along Portobello beach. Possibly taking the odd nutty dook in the water as a sort of old-fashioned ice bath therapy, just for fun.
When it is suggested that the money spent on the week-long trip to more pleasant climes may be better invested in a new signing, Montgomery feels forced to clear a few myths. And emphasise the necessity of separating this group – a squad he inherited in September, long after all of their routines and working patterns had been set – for an all-immersive collective work experience that begins today.
“I think there is a lot of value in it, especially if we get a couple of new faces in,” said the former Central Coast Mariners manager, who plans to make FOUR signings before the end of the month. “We want to get the boys together and out in the park. This vacation was scheduled before I took on the role. I believe many teams will take advantage of this break.
“In terms of putting money in a player, I don’t believe it’s enough to get a quality player. Because they are absolutely not inexpensive.
“And the value in it is bringing everybody together. We can talk about a lot of things because, when you are in
“After the Motherwell game, we took a few days off to rest, as every club would have done. But we’re heading to Dubai to train hard and continue working on the areas where we need to improve.
“We are obviously heading there for something other than a gruelling training camp. And we hope to leave with everyone feeling rejuvenated. A little sun is always a fantastic way to rejuvenate the body, work hard, and prepare for the second half of the season.
Part of the issue with football clubs advertising these training camps to fans is, of course, historical. There have been too many negative instances, too many fire extinguishers released.
Outlining his goals for the second half of the season, the manager emphasised – not for the first time – the importance of adding quality and quantity to a squad that is critically lacking in goal threat, midfield backup, and defensive strength in depth. Addressing the needs of a group dealing not just with long-term injuries but also with the loss of important players on international service at the Asian Cup and AFCON competitions, he stated: “I spent a number of days after the Motherwell game contemplating on where we are as a team. I believe there has been significant growth both on and off the pitch, with each player improving greatly.
“Reflecting on the first half of the season, we could have had a lot more
“The ambition is always the same. Be competitive every week and aim to finish in the top half of the table. I don’t believe anyone has a divine right to predict that they will finish third or fourth – but that is where we hope to finish. Everyone recognises that the league is extremely competitive. So the second half of the season is going to be critical for everyone.
“That is why it is so critical to call in reinforcements. Because we lost nine first-team players last week. And I still thought we played great football against Motherwell.
“We need to bring in new faces and get some injured players back in shape. The international guys will return in however many weeks.
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