Post by admin on May 2, 2016 7:58:15 GMT
Braintree Town boss Danny Cowley lavishes praise on striker Michael Cheek and Iron coaching team
Braintree Chronicle By Alasdair Gold
DEBUT SEASON: Michael Cheek has been superb in his first season at Braintree Town
Last season Michael Cheek was catching the eye at Chelmsford City, a year on he is just two games from Wembley with Braintree Town.
The 24-year-old striker took a couple of months to fully adjust to the top level of the non-league game, but has not looked back since with 15 league goals in his debut season in the Vanarama National League, 17 in all competitions.
He added a brace in Saturday's 3-0 victory against Altrincham which sent the Iron into the play-offs and a two-legged affair with Grimsby Town.
While his manager Danny Cowley was keen to point out that Braintree are very much about the team ethic, he did reserve some special praise for Cheek and his journey this season.
"We had to work really hard on his fitness and his tactical understanding of the game. Now he's a brilliant defender from the front. He's our first defender.
"His hold play and link play was good today. He's never far away from a goal and I'm really pleased for him. This success though is not just about one person. It's about the group. We're all cogs in the wheel.
"The players have been amazing. I get a lot of the coverage and the kudos, but Nicky [Cowley, his assistant and brother] is equally as important as me, if not more so. His analysis of the games and his tactical understanding is unbelievable. We would not have achieved this success without him. It's not easy to say when it's your brother, but credit where credit is due.
"He's played a big part, as have the rest of the management team. Glen Johnson, Glenn Skingsley, Steve Gracey and Paul Barnes, they've all worked very hard to construct as professional environment as we can within the constraints that we have as a part-time club."
Cowley also believes that having their play-off first leg on Thursday, rather than the Wednesday it would have been if they'd finished fourth or fifth, gives them a bit more time to prepare.
"The extra day gives Nicky more time to analyse the opposition and get us ready. We'll both work very hard to try to get as much detail as we can on Grimsby," he said.
"We know how good they are. It took a monumental effort to go there a couple of weeks ago and get a positive result and it will take the same effort again to win over two games.
"You have to respect that players at the likes of Grimsby, Forest Green and Dover, they have the ability to find another level in the big games. I'm not sure our players can do that because they've been maxing out. I know they'll be trying very hard.
"We'll be massive underdogs. You've been to Blundell Park and seen the support, size and infrastructure of that club. It's frightening. We said before the Wrexham game, we turned up there and there were 5000 people there.
"You've only got to look at the size of the club. There's no way we can be nervous. We should be full of pride. It's been phenomenal."
Braintree Chronicle By Alasdair Gold
DEBUT SEASON: Michael Cheek has been superb in his first season at Braintree Town
Last season Michael Cheek was catching the eye at Chelmsford City, a year on he is just two games from Wembley with Braintree Town.
The 24-year-old striker took a couple of months to fully adjust to the top level of the non-league game, but has not looked back since with 15 league goals in his debut season in the Vanarama National League, 17 in all competitions.
He added a brace in Saturday's 3-0 victory against Altrincham which sent the Iron into the play-offs and a two-legged affair with Grimsby Town.
While his manager Danny Cowley was keen to point out that Braintree are very much about the team ethic, he did reserve some special praise for Cheek and his journey this season.
"We had to work really hard on his fitness and his tactical understanding of the game. Now he's a brilliant defender from the front. He's our first defender.
"His hold play and link play was good today. He's never far away from a goal and I'm really pleased for him. This success though is not just about one person. It's about the group. We're all cogs in the wheel.
"The players have been amazing. I get a lot of the coverage and the kudos, but Nicky [Cowley, his assistant and brother] is equally as important as me, if not more so. His analysis of the games and his tactical understanding is unbelievable. We would not have achieved this success without him. It's not easy to say when it's your brother, but credit where credit is due.
"He's played a big part, as have the rest of the management team. Glen Johnson, Glenn Skingsley, Steve Gracey and Paul Barnes, they've all worked very hard to construct as professional environment as we can within the constraints that we have as a part-time club."
Cowley also believes that having their play-off first leg on Thursday, rather than the Wednesday it would have been if they'd finished fourth or fifth, gives them a bit more time to prepare.
"The extra day gives Nicky more time to analyse the opposition and get us ready. We'll both work very hard to try to get as much detail as we can on Grimsby," he said.
"We know how good they are. It took a monumental effort to go there a couple of weeks ago and get a positive result and it will take the same effort again to win over two games.
"You have to respect that players at the likes of Grimsby, Forest Green and Dover, they have the ability to find another level in the big games. I'm not sure our players can do that because they've been maxing out. I know they'll be trying very hard.
"We'll be massive underdogs. You've been to Blundell Park and seen the support, size and infrastructure of that club. It's frightening. We said before the Wrexham game, we turned up there and there were 5000 people there.
"You've only got to look at the size of the club. There's no way we can be nervous. We should be full of pride. It's been phenomenal."