ColumnGareth Taylor: There's an excitement in the air, we can't wait to get going
In his debut column, Liverpool FC Women head coach Gareth Taylor looks forward to Sunday’s Barclays Women’s Super League opener at Anfield and the season ahead.
It’s almost time for our first game of the season and what an occasion it promises to be as we host Everton on Sunday.
It’s always special to get the chance to play at Anfield and I want the players to relish this opportunity.
There’s a real excitement in the air. I have been in the building for three weeks now and we have come a long way in that period. I have got to know a lot of people during that time and we are hugely excited about the start which is upon us.
The girls have been fantastic and they have been really attentive and really understanding of what we are trying to do and what we are trying to achieve. They have been hungry to learn and they have all been really onboard, which is all you can ask for.
They have worked really hard in pre-season and especially the friendly draw with Manchester United was a really positive performance.
We did some good stuff in that game. The signs have been good on the training pitch and some of the things we have seen, it’s about trying to build on that and improve.
We were a little bit thin on the numbers in pre-season and that can hamper you a little bit at times, but we have brought in a few players before the transfer deadline, the recruitment team have worked tremendously hard and that will certainly strengthen us.
It’s been a pretty manic time but also one that has been really enjoyable as well.
It’s a nice game to start with against Everton, our local rivals in the derby, and playing at Anfield is going to be really exciting. It’s exciting for the players, our supporters and a proud moment for myself as well.
It was great to meet a lot of our supporters at Anfield on Tuesday and I would like to thank them for the welcome we received. We will need them as always on Sunday and I have no doubt they will be singing their hearts out. I’ve experienced that in the opposition dugout.
I’ve always been impressed with Liverpool and the supporters, they follow this team through thick and thin, and we are certainly going to need them throughout the campaign.
As I’ve said from the start, there is going to be a settling-in period, which is normal for any new venture.
We are well aware of the fact that we are at the very start of our project, it takes time to build things and we will need a little bit of patience from the supporters. Once they understand what we are trying to do and achieve, we will be stronger together for sure.
As long you can get to see some good connections on the pitch and that connection is really important between players, staff and supporters. This club has had a big history of having outstanding examples of supporters being with the team and also the city.
Why Liverpool has always impressed me is they are always really united in the good and the bad moments as a club - everyone sticks together.
We want to get off to a good start on Sunday, that goes without saying, and we want to use our home advantage.
It’s not always necessarily about the performance on the day, although I’m one who has always been big about performances because that is normally what takes care of the result.
But I think in these types of games - a derby - the performance can go out of the window a little bit and it comes down to earning the right to play.
They can be really difficult, a bit blood and thunder, especially when you expect plenty of high energy and challenges. We need to be ready for that and make sure we come out on the right side.
Thank you for your continued support.
YNWA,
Gareth
Gareth Taylor was speaking to Liverpoolfc.com's Steve Hunter.