Homework so crucial to Latics prospects

NEW Athletic manager Stephen Robinson at SportsDirect.com Park

STEPHEN Robinson helped Northern Ireland achieve the improbable this summer.

Now, in his first managerial post, he is being asked to do similar with Athletic.

A bright, energetic 41-year-old who enjoyed a long playing career primarily at Bournemouth and Luton, the man from Lisburn started with what he freely admits was a "blank slate" upon being officially appointed.

That could be seen as a daunting prospect to some. There is no room for arguments often employed by struggling new managers who inherit misfiring players that a squad isn't really 'theirs'.

DECISIONS

Robinson will live and die by the decisions he makes and contract offers made over the next month are of paramount importance.

There is no emergency loan window this season in which to correct mistakes. Thorough research on players' attitudes as well as ability is essential ­- which goes some way to explaining why the arrivals so far have in the main worked with him before.

Josh Law, Connor Ripley, Lee Erwin, Jamie Reckord and Luke Woodland have come in and there will need to be plenty more to follow those players.

This will be Robinson's team ­- as well as Sean O'Driscoll's, Lee Turnbull's and Ian Baraclough's ­- and the work done in the player market between now and the window closing at the end of August is paramount to Athletic's chances of a positive season in League One.

The pre-season run of friendlies can hardly have ever assumed more importance for Athletic. The vaunted management team will need to see partnerships and a sense of purpose develop during the run of games, as well as increasing fitness levels ahead of the Millwall trip on Saturday, August 6.

Every position is up for grabs and some of the players who have departed since last season have left a void of proven quality within the squad which needs to be filled.

To go better than last season's finish of 17th, Athletic must find a new goalkeeper who can emulate Joel Coleman's record of 14 clean sheets; a centre-back pairing as effective as that of Anthony Gerrard and James Wilson; a midfield leader as combative and energetic as Liam Kelly; and a front line that chips in with goals at important times, as Athletic's did under John Sheridan.

That's not to mention every position in between.

Of course, what would also help significantly would be a strong start to the campaign. Last season, only one league victory arrived on home soil before February and two managers had paid the price for poor form ­- despite Athletic then boasting a relatively settled squad ­- by mid-January.

Putting out a side that is coherent on the pitch from the off will be a monumental task for Robinson and Co.

Particularly so, given a tricky opening to 2016-17 fixtures-wise. Three of last season's four play-off qualifiers are up against Athletic in August.

Supporters would also love to see a side providing real attacking intent.

By his own admission, Sheridan could not provide that last season, though he did bring in results.

PERFECT

Goals and excitement, as well as a few wins, would be the perfect antidote to what has mainly been a miserable summer for fans.

Robinson talks well and appears well-versed as to what is needed.

Over to you, boss . . .