It was abundantly clear that McMahon is a man that lives and breathes the finer intricacies of the beautiful game and, just as he had at the previous evening's Fans' Forum, he spoke with a refreshing sense of honesty and realism. While to a large extent the 36 year-old mirrors the excitement of our fanbase following a string of seemingly astute additions, he also recognised the fact that there are a number of sides besides ourselves that will also have both the ambition and quality to compete towards the summit of the division. In his own words, names on a piece of paper do not automatically acquaint to a great team, but he would not have taken on the challenge without believing that we are capable of becoming one. The interview is available both as an audio link at the very bottom of this post, or in the form of a written transcript. This, the second of two parts, covers McMahon's first few months at the club, including our performances between his arrival in January and the season's eventual curtailment in mid-March. I WANTED TO TAKE YOU WAY BACK TO LAST YEAR, WHEN YOU WERE IN ATTENDANCE FOR OUR HOME GAMES AGAINST BOTH BOREHAM WOOD AND BROMLEY. LOOKING BACK, DID YOU SEE ANY INDICATION THAT WE WOULD STRUGGLE AS MUCH AS WE EVENTUALLY ENDED UP DOING?DM: It's always difficult to tell at the beginning of a season how it is going to pan out. The Boreham Wood game in particular was very early in the season. You could see that Dagenham had some good players but sometimes it takes a while for the new players to settle down. Boreham Wood proved to be a very good side throughout the season, but as I said you can never tell that early on. The Bromley game which I covered for BT Sport I thought was a good game between two very good teams. There was good energy and good football played. You could see that Dagenham had some good players, but sometimes it takes a while for the new players to settle down. A few months on and you were Dagenham manager. How difficult was it to walk away from Macclesfield, the side who had given you your first managerial opportunity in the Football League?DM: I really enjoyed my time at Macclesfield - I loved it there. The fans were amazing to me, I loved the place and I loved my team. We were the youngest team in the country and I was the youngest manager in the Football League. We knew our sole ambition was to stay in the division as we had the smallest budget and it was a real challenge. It was difficult to walk away but I didn't walk away to come here - I was doing that anyway. Going into January with the problems the club had and the fact I had been paid late quite a few times, I promised my wife and two kids that if it happened again that would be the end for me there, and it was. It was difficult to walk away but I didn't walk away to come here - I was doing that anyway. You inherited a team that were in freefall, having lost 9 games from 11 going into the new year. Just a few weeks into your reign, though, and we'd beaten Notts County and Solihull Moors, while also pushing league leaders Barrow far further than most sides manage to. How were you able to get a tune out of a group of players that were struggling so much?DM: I just tried to make people believe in themselves. The club still had some very good players when I came in. Normally when you walk into a job it is because the group is under-performing and you have to pick up a team in a bad situation, very rarely will you get a job when the team is flying. There were many reasons, the club had been riddled with injuries for example but you have to put all that to one side and put your own stamp on things as quickly as you can. I'd known some of the players very well having managed them before so in that sense it was easy for me to settle in. I also knew the club well after working here for three and a half years and a lot of people here were still working behind the scenes then. It was very easy for me to come in and get comfortable straight away so I could get on with my job. Normally when you walk into a job it is because the group is under-performing and you have to pick up a team in a bad situation, very rarely will you get a job when the team is flying. We managed to register more clean sheets under yourself than in the entire previous five months under Peter Taylor. Given that you had exactly the same defensive players at your disposal, was there anything in particular you instructed our backline to do?DM: I only saw Peter's team play twice, those two games you mentioned, so I can't really pick apart what he did. I played for him at Stevenage, though, and he is a very good coach. We're probably different in our approaches and how we want to play. We tried to defend in the opposition's half, as high up the pitch as we could, and used our energy to get after teams. I think the players enjoyed that. We tried to defend in the opposition's half, as high up the pitch as we could, and used our energy to get after teams. I think the players enjoyed that. WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS on the fitness of the players? We TENDED TO CONCEDE MORE GOALS AT CERTAIN INSTANCES OF GAMES PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL SO I WAS WONDERING WHETHER YOU DEEMED THE PLAYERS NOT STRONG ENOUGH IN THAT DEPARTMENT.DM: I never said to the players that they weren't fit enough. They were obviously a fit team to have played that many games before I came in. Were they as fit as I wanted them to be in terms of how I wanted to play? That's a different kind of fitness. I think they worked extremely hard for me in the seven games I had and I can't knock any one of them for their effort and professionalism. Were they as fit as I wanted them to be in terms of how I wanted to play? That's a different kind of fitness. I think they worked extremely hard for me. So far you've given the impression of an all-or-nothing manager who will throw everything at the opposition in order to earn three points. This was particularly evident in the Aldershot Town fixture where we ended with five attacking players on the pitch.DM: To go back to one of your first questions about how we managed to change things, if I end the game with five attackers on the pitch I'm sending the message out to my players that I want to go out and win. I believed we were good enough to go out and win away at Barrow, and I believed that my players could do it. We deserved at least a draw that day. Ian Evatt said to me after the game that he'd watched our previous games and told his players that he didn't think they'd be able to out-football our team. He was impressed with what we were doing. It would've been nice if we could've finished the season by finishing higher and kicking on, but it is what it is. I'm looking forward to getting my teeth into next season and know the players are too. The new lads are looking forward to the challenge, and some of the ones who have been here for the last couple of years might be looking to right a few wrongs. Ian Evatt said to me after the game that he'd watched our previous games and told his players that he didn't think they'd be able to out-football our team. He was impressed with what we were doing. It goes without saying that we won't be able to play like that all the time, but it did seem like we were making a lot of progress when the season was ultimately cut short.DM: I think we were getting there in the games we had, as disjointed as they were. We conceded five goals and scored nine, which wasn't enough. Fylde in particular was a game where, especially in the second half, we should've scored more. To be honest, we were better against Fylde than Aldershot, where I didn't think we were that great overall. We had the game totally in our control but I felt we got into a lazy mentality of thinking we'd always get another chance. You have to be a killer when you're on top. We had the game totally in our control but I felt we got into a lazy mentality of thinking we'd always get another chance. You have to be a killer when you're on top.
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It was abundantly clear that McMahon is a man that lives and breathes the finer intricacies of the beautiful game and, just as he had at the previous evening's Fans' Forum, he spoke with a refreshing sense of honesty and realism. While to a large extent the 36 year-old mirrors the excitement of our fanbase following a string of seemingly astute additions, he also recognised the fact that there are a number of sides besides ourselves that will also have both the ambition and quality to compete towards the summit of the division. In his own words, names on a piece of paper do not automatically acquaint to a great team, but he would not have taken on the challenge without believing that we are capable of becoming one. The interview is available both as an audio link at the very bottom of this post, or in the form of a written transcript. In this, the first of two parts, McMahon discusses the challenges of transforming us from a 17th-placed side to one capable of leading an assault on the promotion places, plus gives his thoughts on our summer recruitment so far. The retained list was released a couple of weeks ago. There were a few decisions that may have surprised supporters. How difficult was this process and how much deliberation was involved?DM: It's always tough when players leave the club. As you have alluded to, when I came into the club, we weren't playing very well. I want to turn the team, as quickly as I can, to one that can challenge towards the top end of the table. When you're trying to do that, you have to make tough decisions. I have to bring in players to make the team better, and I think our signings so far are good ones. Only on paper, though, because they still have to go out and perform. Will Wright is a terrific lad and will be back in pre-season training with us because I do like him a lot. However, it's not just those two (Wright and Kandi), because Bagasan Graham and Alex McQueen are both talented players and there are others too. Sometimes you have to let some players go in order to move the team forward. I want to turn the team, as quickly as I can, to one that can challenge towards the top end of the table. When you're trying to do that, you have to make tough decisions. Aside from those not retained by the club, we also said goodbye to defenders Liam Gordon and Manny Onariase. It must have been damaging to lose two players as well-regarded by supporters as those were.DM: It was difficult. When I came in, Liam was on loan at Dartford and the very first thing I did, after signing my contract, was recall him. He's a very good player who will do well in the Football League without doubt, and the same can be said for Manny. They were both terrific lads; good in the changing room, good characters, good athletes and players I hope to see do very well in the future. They were both terrific lads; good in the changing room, good characters, good athletes and players I hope to see do very well in the future. You've mentioned that our current crop of signings are impressive on paper, but by far the most exciting one - The marquee signing - is Paul McCallum. Was he the primary target from day one?DM: Yes, but it's one thing to pinpoint a player and another to convince him to want to be here next year. There were other teams in for players we signed, so we had to try and convince them of the project we've got here. You have to convince them how we're going to work, train and play, and how they're going to fit into all of that. It's certainly not just as simple as pinpointing someone and then getting them - there is a lot of work that has to go into that. It's one thing to pinpoint a player and another to convince him to want to be here next year. There were other teams in for players we signed, so we had to try and convince them of the project we've got here. The recent addition of Dean Rance makes it four players here that you have also managed at previous clubs. How much easier does it make it when you have players who have proven to you before that they can be relied upon to perform a decent job.DM: When you manage a football team, you want that reliability factor without a doubt. The four lads you mentioned are top characters as well as very good players. I'm a big believer in having the best people in the changing room as well as the best footballers - people who put the team's structure and goals above themselves and understand that it's not about egos. Those four (Clark, Deering, Rance, Weston) I have worked with and know very well, plus the ones we have retained from last season I believe to be the same. I'm a big believer in having the best people in the changing room as well as the best footballers - people who put the team's structure and goals above themselves and understand that it's not about egos. As well as ourselves there are a whole host of other sides who have done some good business at this early stage, Stockport, Solihull and Hartlepool to name a few. Are you confident that we will have enough to eclipse these calibre of teams?DM: It's far too early to say. We haven't even started pre-season yet and have no idea who is going to sign who in the coming weeks, or who is going to get injured. We don't know what is going to happen. It's too early to say we're going to be finishing above 'X/Y/Z' when we haven't kicked a ball or gone to training yet. The team finished 17th last season for a reason and it's a long jump from there to the top seven. Even if it's ten places to jump, that is big. We've done some business but lost thirteen players this summer. We've signed five so far and are still building; I'm still trying to put across my philosophy as my time here has been stop-start, with seven league games before COVID-19 happened. We're hoping to get back into training next week and then continue to build and aim to make up ground on those teams above us. There are a lot of strong teams that you mentioned plus the likes of Boreham Wood, Notts County, Torquay, Yeovil etc - very good sides who all finished way above us and who have all made their teams better as well. It's a big gap to make up but I believe we can do it, otherwise I wouldn't be here nor would I have signed the players I have. We need to go out and work hard because at the moment it's just names on a piece of paper. We can go through the whole team and say 'this player is good, that player is good' but we have to make it a good team as quickly as we can and start winning games. The quicker we do that, the better. At the moment it's just names on a piece of paper. We can go through the whole team and say 'this player is good, that player is good' but we have to make it a good team as quickly as we can. It is true that good players don't automatically make it a good team. After all, Fylde seemed to have assembled a tidy side last season and ultimately ended up going down.DM: Yep, Kosylo, Ryan Croasdale, Neill Byrne, Danny Rowe - they had a fantastic team. I don't want to put water on the fire because I am looking forward to next season and can't wait to get back on the training ground, but with 46 league games, cup competitions, injuries and up's and down's, it's a long way to get to where we want to get to. We have to take it one game at a time and, first and foremost, be better than we were last season. It's a long way to get to where we want to get to. We have to take it one game at a time and, first and foremost, be better than we were last season. The 2020/21 season will be incredibly congested, so much so the Daggers will be opting out of the Essex Senior Cup. With that in mind, how crucial is it to have players that are capable of playing a lot of games in a short space of time?DM: You look for players with the character to go from game to game, players that have done it before. You go from Saturday to Tuesday and it's not easy, especially in this league where you can be at Hartlepool away on the weekend then be back here for a midweek game. It's a grind and sometimes it's not about having the best players but rather having the best mentalities. I think in regard to the players we've signed so far, we've brought in some really good men. Good personalities, good leaders, people who know how to go to a tough place on a Tuesday night and grind out a win. Do your job, get on the bus, go home. I think it'll be really important this season to have players with that mentality but also a club with that mentality. Training will come into that as well, it'll be important in pre-season to nail down how we're going to play really quickly. We could be going from Saturday to Tuesday 20 weeks out of 38, that's what's been pencilled in already but I would personally add at least five more onto that because of cancellations, cup fixtures, postponements etc. We're going to need to be robust and tough, mentally and physically. We've brought in some really good men. Good personalities, good leaders, people who know how to go to a tough place on a Tuesday night and grind out a win. Do your job, get on the bus, go home. You led Ebbsfleet to consecutive play-off campaigns so have experience of managing a team that were fighting at the top end of the division. How much could that come in useful, given that our owners have pinpointed a similar target for us next season?DM: Yes, but the club has been aiming for play-offs for two years and nearly been relegated twice. Our owners are unbelievable, I think they're terrific owners who really want the best for the football club just as we all do, but it's one thing saying that and another thing delivering it on the pitch. Like we've said, it's just names on a bit of paper. I could sit here and say 'I'd love to get promotion' but unless we get things right on the training ground, in pre-season and in games, then we won't. What I've seen with me already, at Ebbsfleet, Macclesfield and even here so far, is that my teams tend to mirror me as a person in terms of my enthusiasm, commitment and desire. Add quality to that and you have a good team, but we have to go and prove that now. My target is for us to be better than we were last year, it's as simple as that. There's no point in me saying 'we can do this/that' , we have to bring the right players in, train and work hard to do that. What I've seen with me already, at Ebbsfleet, Macclesfield and even here so far, is that my teams tend to mirror me as a person in terms of my enthusiasm, commitment and desire.
STEVE THOMPSON ON Lockdown and returning for Pre-Season
STEVE THOMPSON ON Regulations and Guidelines for Season 2020/21
DARYL MCMAHON ON PLAYING MATTERS
Overall, it was an enjoyable evening in which both Thompson and McMahon reciprocated the supporters' excitement for the upcoming season. It also marked the first opportunity for the fanbase to engage with our manager since he made the switch from Macclesfield way back in January, and the Irishman continues to seem like a man we can all get behind, certainly more so than his predecessor. The defining quote came from Thompson, though, when he declared that ''we will be there or thereabouts.'' The Daggers have had a vast plethora of strikers turn out for the club since we returned to non-league football in 2016, a significant proportion of whom will have evaded supporter's memories, such was their lack of meaningful contribution for the club. You can count on one hand the quantity of genuine quality forwards we've been blessed with in recent years, and even most of those weren't around long enough to leave a lasting impression. You would have to go as far back as 2006/07 to find the last Daggers striker to hit 20 league goals, which is the general benchmark for a terrific individual season. Jamie Cureton and Oliver Hawkins have come precariously close but it was club icon Paul Benson who last reached that tally when he bagged 28 goals to help the Daggers to none other than the National League title. Hopefully, that will be an omen. In Paul McCallum we have a highly sought-after hitman who is very capable of cementing his name in the same category as those above. Two years ago his 25 goals almost single-handedly fired Eastleigh into the top seven. Last season he admitted things didn't 'work out' yet he still accumulated a respectable 13 from 27 games, nearly double the amount of our highest scorer. The fact he managed roughly a one in two record despite an unsettled campaign demonstrates the kind of player we have on our hands. His appeal is enhanced by the prospect of Ángelo Balanta playing alongside him. The Colombian was our best player by a country mile last season and quite simply was on a different wavelength to anybody else in a Dagenham shirt. His excellent range of passing and intricate movement was impressive enough and that was without a top striker to support him. A Balanta-McCallum combination is a truly mouth-watering thought. The last player of this calibre that Balanta played alongide was Conor Wilkinson, and that link-up play worked to very good effect. Add to that our new winger, George Saunders with 45 assists in the past two years, and a real blueprint for success is emerging. It has been a long time since we were regarded as a dangerous attacking team, but with the reported crossing ability of Saunders, the heading ability of McCallum and the overall ability of Balanta, we're going to have a lot more about us. It's too early to say whether we will be capable of challenging at the top of the division from October onwards, but this signing is an excellent indicator that we intend to. There are still many gaps in the squad that need to be plugged, a decent left-back to replace Gordon surely our biggest priority, but already this summer's recruitment has severely eclipsed last year's in terms of quality. That's the difference with Daryl McMahon. Huge credit must be afforded to those who managed to get this deal over the line, especially the American ownership group whose investment has enabled us to make signings of this magnitude. In terms of infrastructure and aesthetics we are in a much better position than when they arrived, and now hopefully that can be reflected on the pitch.
History tells you that a 20 goal-a-season frontman is required if a team has designs on promotion. Well, we've got one. The 2015/16 season was a catastrophic one for the Daggers as they unceremoniously tumbled out of the Football League. However, despite it being synonymous with disappointment and frustration, there was to be one overwhelming positive that ultimately originated from it: a then 16 year-old academy recruit by the name of Liam Gordon who, unbeknown to anyone at the time, would blossom into one of the most talented youngsters to grace Victoria Road in several years. His undeniable yet raw talent was nurtured in our youth setup for a further two years before he was finally afforded an opportunity in the first team in April 2018. A debut goal at Guiseley elevated his potential further and set the tone for what would prove to be a fantastic stint at the club in which he established himself as an exciting, supremely talented and above all else hugely reliable performer, evidently capable of playing at a higher level in the pyramid. Now, as is the case with every player who shines at this level, there comes a time where the player has to depart in order to truly realise their potential. While it is saddening to lose a player of Gordon's ability, that disappointment will be somewhat offset by the enjoyable prospect of watching another homegrown talent rise up the leagues, following in the footsteps of several others whose journeys to success started at Victoria Road. That, though, is the inevitable reality of supporting a lower league football club; the acceptance that the adulation of a player will ultimately be short-lived, their success in your colours tinged by the fact you are resigned to them eventually moving on. Ollie Hawkins, Fejiri Okenabirhie and Conor Wilkinson are prime examples from the the last few seasons. Football League sides come calling and their lure is difficult to resist. The confirmed destination this time is Bolton Wanderers. With excellent facilities and an ambitious manager who prides himself on intricate, free-flowing football, it should provide the perfect platform for Gordon to kick on. He leaves Dagenham having been a firm fan favourite and I can say with a degree of certainty that there will not be a single supporter who would disagree that he deserves this opportunity. Nobody will forget how he stepped up during a period of great difficulty for the club, producing some incredibly mature performances that evoked an immense sense of pride amongst the fanbase. On a more sour note, nor will anybody forget the inexplicable decision to loan him out to Dartford at a time when not only was he our best left-back by a significant distance, but when we were also lacking conviction in both boxes. We haven't been blessed with too many great players in the last three years, but Gordon has been exceptional from the moment he burst onto the scene from the academy. He has left a lasting impression on the fanbase for which he will be fondly remembered in the future. Having not long turned 21, with over two years of valuable first-team experience behind him, the future is certainly bright and Daggers supporters will be with him all the way.
He will forever be one of our own. |
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May 2024
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