Saturday 26 May 2012

Exclusive Interview with Peter Vincenti

I was lucky enough to get a interview arranged with Peter Vincenti exclusively for this blog. In this interview Peter talks about the last season, his targets for next season and reveals some facts about his team mates!


1) Peter, It has been a great season for Aldershot, a good league position and a terrific Carling cup run! What has been your best part of this season?


Peter: I will take a lot of good memories from this season. I always enjoy the opening day of any season and beating Bradford away was enjoyable and the 2-1 win over Swindon at home. Obviously the cup run was special and playing Manchester United will be something I will always remember but the best part for me was beating West Ham at Upton Park. The atmosphere was terrific and coming away with the win made it even better.


2) You chipped in with some important goal this season.  Do you see yourself as a striker or a midfielder?


Peter: I'm comfortable playing either position but I see myself more as a midfielder as that is the position I played growing up and it feels more natural to me.


3) What are your personal targets for next season?


Peter: I would like to improve my goal return next season. Their are other goals and targets I have both personally and for the club but I prefer to keep them private.


4) How pleasing was the impact young players like Adam Mekki had on the side this season?


Peter: It's fantastic to see the young players coming through and Mekki has done really well since coming back from loan and getting into the first team. He is an exciting player and there is plenty more to come from him. Other young players are also doing well and starting come through like Reece Connolly, Doug Bergvist and more recently Jordan Roberts. We've also had some of the younger ones train with us like Jack Barton amongst others who will progress and will become good players.


5) Signings such as Guy Madjo, Wilko Risser and Ross Worner have been really important this season. Would you like to see some new faces arrive this summer?


Peter: There are always going to be a few new faces coming in and some leaving us. It is exciting seeing the new players coming in and seeing what they will bring to the team. It will also increase competition for places and so its up to the current players to carry on improving everyday in training.


6) Now for some more laid back questions! Who is the loudest in the dressing room?


Peter: Although he is not a player it has got to be our goalkeeping coach Bayso (Ashley Bayes) ! The man is literally non stop and you can hear him from a mile away! I think he's 40 going on 18. He's a great character to have around the place.


7) Who is the team joker?


Peter: To be fair we have a few in the dressing room so you have to be on guard. There are a few jokes and pranks at the minute which are still unsolved so don't want to give the culprits away!


8) Who spends the most time looking in the mirror?


Peter: There are a couple of lads who take care of themselves. Josh Payne spends quite a bit of time in front of the mirror making sure everything is perfect and Aaron Morris has all his moisturizers in his wash bag!


9) Who takes training the most seriously?


Peter: Ben Herd! All the lads take it seriously but him more than others.


10) What boots do you wear?


Peter: Adidas Predators .


11) Who are your idols in football?


Peter: Kaka has been my favourite player for a few years now since I saw him play when he was AC Milan against Manchester United at Old Trafford. He was outstanding and by far the best player on the pitch that night and I have liked him since.


12) And finnaly, what is your favourite Shots chant?


Peter: "Keep the red flag flying high!" is one I  like. I also enjoy the humour from the fans. Like when were 1-0 down against Manchester United they started sing "We're gonna win 6-1!" which made me laugh!






Pete Vincenti











Danny Hylton and the Racism Saga - My thoughts

When I heard the news about Danny Hylton being given an 8 game ban for racism, I was shocked. Not because of the length of the ban but because of who was being given the ban. I would never have had Danny Hylton down as a racist, never. He seems like a nice guy, not one to be racist. Now let me give my opinion, racism is disgusting and appalling. I am struggling to get behind Danny Hylton because I just find racism so awful. However, he is a player at the club I love so I have to throw some support behind him. Friends of Danny Hylton took to twitter to say it was all a mistake, Danny would never be racist and I hope they are right.
      A few things confuse me about this whole thing. Why has he only just been sentenced on a incident that happened quite a while ago? Why did it take the FA such a long time to react? Also, where is the evidence coming from? The evidence always confuses me in racism. When Luis Suarez was convicted of racism by the FA the evidence came from no one else but the victim himself, Patrice Evra. I do not understand how the FA can only go on evidence from the victim. The victim could say absolutely anything, blow the incident out of proportion. I personally think more evidence is needed in racism trials. The message the FA is sending out regarding the length of bans for racism is also bad. Joey Barton was recently given a 12 game ban for being punched himself, kneeing somebody in the back then pretending to headbutt somebody? Yes, this deserves a ban and I am not saying that Barton should get away scott free. However, if you insult somebody on the colour of their skin, which is downright appalling, you will get a smaller ban than getting in a small scuffle with some other players. I am worried I am making out that Joey Barton has been treated unfairly here and that is not what I want to do. The FA were right to give Joey the ban, he assaulted other players, he lost his head. What I am trying to say is that I think the ban for racism should be equal to that of Joey Bartons.
      I hope Danny Hylton learns from his mistakes and comes back a stronger player but more importantly, a stronger man.



Follow me on Twitter: @Westlea11

Friday 25 May 2012

Summer Signings

Dean Holdsworth has already made it clear that he intends to bring at least 2 new players this summer with the two players believed to be two players who were on loan with the Shots this year. Sonny Bradley is believed to be Dean Holdsworth first target, the 20 year old having made a big impression after joining the Shots on loan from Hull City. The defender looked comfortable every game and it would be foolish for Dean Holdsworth to not at least try the youngster! However, shortly after returning to Hull he made his debut which makes it seem unlikely that Hull are going to let Bradley go anytime soon.
   The second player who could make his loan move permanent is Troy Brown. Troy did a great job when he joined on loan from Rotherham and I would not be surprised if he made the move permanent. He can can play in defence and midfield and also has Championship experience, which is important.
  Another player rumoured to be joining Aldershot is Lewis Chalmers. The former Shots midfielder was released by Macclesfield Town so he would be available on a free transfer, which is a bonus.

Sonny Bradley could be joining Aldershot permanently this summer



   Let us not forget that 3 players will be returning from injury and from loans away from the club and they could be just as good as making 3 new signings. Alex Rodman and Michael Rankine both missed huge parts of last season through serious injuries and fans would love to see them back. Alex Rodman had a very serious viral infection but he is nearing full fitness again and I cannot wait to see him flying down the wing again. Michael Rankine broke his leg halfway through the season just as Aldershot were lacking firepower up front and fans were worried Aldershot would badly miss him upfront. However, with Wilko Risser and Guy Madjo having both made a big impression upfront with a healthy return of goals, Rankine will have to try even harder to force his way into the first team. Returning from a loan deal is Bradley Bubb. Bradley scored a hatful of goals for Eastleigh whilst out on loan and will be dying to force himself into the Aldershot set up.


In terms of players leaving the club, I hope not as many players are released as last year! Jamie Young's future seems unclear after he gave an interview in which he said he felt a point to proove. He lost the nukber 1 spot to Ross Worner but impressed between the sticks when Worner went out with a back injury. Jamie is a very good number two and I hope him losing the number one jersey this year will only make him hungrier. Last year rumours circulated that a whole host of Championship clubs were interested in signing Anthony Straker. Whether or not the interest is still there remains to be seen but I hope Aldershot do all they can to hold onto Straker.  According to some fan forums Henrik Breimyr may make his loan deal to Norway permanent and this would not surprise me.
Jamie Young's future remains unclear