Dwight Gayle

Youngsters beginning to blend says Daggers boss John Still

Colin Munford Friday, September 28, 2012
9:00 AM

Dagenham & Redbridge manager John Still believes inexperienced side are learning fast.

Dagenham & Redbridge manager John Still feels his side are improving all the time, as they continue to adapt to life without experienced heads of the past.

Peter Gain, Jon Nurse and Mark Arber were all released by the Daggers at the end of last season as Still moulded a more youthful side at Victoria Road.

The experience lost may have hindered Still’s charges in the early stages of the League Two season, but he believes the team are still trying to blend together into a well polished outfit.

“We lack a little bit of direction, we need one or two more talkers in the team, but we have got to build them,” said Still after watching his side come back from 2-0 down to pick up a point at Rochdale on Saturday.

“We have gradually lost the heart of our team over the last 18 months. The Arbers, the Nurses, the Gains, that was the heart of our team and it is a big thing of what we do. We have to create a new heart.”

But the Daggers chief believes the side will gain an enormous amount from Saturday’s point.

“Today would have been fantastic for them as they finished the game on a high,” he added.

“But we need to keep working on the heart of the team. It is difficult because it isn’t a coaching or a training thing.

“It is a work ethic and a knowledge that when you go training you are trying to pass on nformation to people and gradually they will become strong personalities, that’s the key.”

Options remain limited for Still at the club, with the lack of finances to boost his squad, and in particular the defence.

In an ideal world he would be able to add some experience to the team, but while other teams add loan signings, the Victoria Road chief simply cannot as he prepares his side for the visit of managerless Wycombe Wanderers tomorrow.

“I am pleased with all of our squad, the one thing I cannot give them is experience,” said Still.

“I would like to go in and bring in two experienced players, but financially that is not possible so we have to create that ourselves.”