Sheridan maintains positive thoughts

John Sheridan

PREACHING positivity is key for John Sheridan, as he shapes up his squad to take three points at Blackpool tomorrow.

Four defeats have opened up the season so far and this week, the big news has been of potential investment in the club from Dubai.

Sheridan was careful to steer clear of the talk surrounding Abdallah Lemsagam - "I don't try to get involved with politics," he said - and even though he is clear in a desire to add to his player options before next Thursday's deadline, the manager says he will make the very best of what he has at Bloomfield Road tomorrow.

"I know what my job is and what I have to try to do," said Sheridan.

"I stay out of the way of things are concentrate on getting a winning team out onto the pitch.

"The start to the season has not how I wanted it to be, but I try not to beat myself up and to stay as positive as I can even though I'm a bit uncomfortable inside.

"Staying positive is the best way forward and how I am going to look at things.

"I am hoping things are going to turn around for us and that we start getting a few results.

"OFF-DAYS"
"Players have off-days and know when they should perform better - it's not up to the manager to tell them so all the time.

"They are men. They know if they are not at the top of their game.

"We need to do better as a group and we stick together.

"You have to be realistic and look at it. We have lost four games and it's not good enough."

Sheridan says he will leave it as late as he can before making a call on the players who missed last week's defeat to Wigan through injury.

He anticipates having a couple return from an injury list comprising Ryan Flynn (Achilles), Paul Green (Achilles), Craig Davies (hamstring) and Tope Obadeyi (hamstring).

It may again be a case of shifting men around to play out of their natural positions, but Sheridan also stated that in his mind, he has a clear idea of exactly how he wants his team to function.

"I know what formation I want to play and how I want to play," he added. "I just find it difficult with the players here at the moment.

"But I also expect the players here now to win at Blackpool. That's the way I work.

"The last thing I want is to move everyone round into different positions. But I am just trying to put out as strong a team as I can to get us the result.

"It's a bit of a derby game and we will have a good following. I don't want to think too much about the opposition as I am trying to get us playing the way I want us to play and to try to get belief in the team.

"We go there trying to win the game."