Boss Paul Simpson is working on a system to bring the best out of Shrewsbury Town’s most creative players ahead of the important Easter weekend double-header which could go a long way towards shaping their League Two future.
Simpson, hopeful of completing at least one loan signing before the weekend, has spent plenty of time on the training ground this week in a bid to fine tune a few ideas before Town travel to Dagenham on Saturday and host Notts County on Monday (both 3pm).
Despite tasting defeat in his first game in charge, Simpson felt there were positives to emerge from the 2-1 reversal at Macclesfield.
“What we have to do is find a system where our better technical players are going to get on the ball, people like Marc Pugh and Ben Davies, as we need to get them involved,” said Simpson. “Dave Hibbert also came into it in the second half at Macclesfield and showed what he’s all about. There were some good things that we took from the game and now we need to get some good results.”
Simpson, a skilful winger in his own playing days, has particularly high hopes that Pugh can build on his impressive display at Macclesfield.
“I want him to show people what he’s about. He’s an attacking type of player, an exciting player, and we need to get him confident,” said the ex-Preston and Carlisle chief.
“That’s the case with most of the squad and we’ve got to get them all confident in doing the jobs they’re good at.
“The downside of having so many young players is that they don’t always have that confidence and don’t always make the right decisions.
“We had three 22-year-olds and a 20-year-old in the back four last weekend, and young players need a little bit of help and guidance and hopefully we’ll be able to do that.”
Simpson is enjoying working with the players and has adopted a hands-on approach. “The first week’s gone very quickly and the players seem to be responding well to what we’re trying to do,” he said.
“I felt I wasn’t as hands-on at Preston in the end as I would have liked to have been so I want to do that side of it. That’s where the enjoyment is, when you’re out on the training pitch, and it’s been good so far, they’ve been bright.
“We have to get them lifted again for Saturday, get them sharp, lively, wanting to score goals and do the right things, and hopefully with the ability they’ve got the results will start to follow.”
Simpson has acknowledged the importance of a good points return over Easter and his players will have the rare luxury of an overnight stay ahead of Saturday’s game at Dagenham.
“If we can prepare the players properly then it gives them a chance so let’s hope that doing something different brings a different result,” he said. “They’re all big games at the moment and we’ve got nine biggies left.
“Dagenham is a difficult place to go to and they’ll be smarting after getting a bit of a stuffing off MK Dons so we’re going to have to be right. For 70 odd minutes at Macclesfield, we looked comfortable. We’ve now got to make sure we finish it off.”
Simpson added he was hopeful of bolstering his squad by signing two players on loan before the transfer window closes next Thursday.
“I’ve earmarked players but whether or not we get them remains to be seen. The chairman’s allowing me to do that which is positive news for the football club. We need experience and that would be my priority.”