Blog Archives

Stokoe: Playing In The Right Areas

29/12/2022

After the frustrating defeat to Aveley on Tuesday, Finlay Stubbs caught up with Casuals' attacking midfielder Luke Stokoe to discuss the game and his enjoyment of playing under manager Justin Fevrier.

Luke, it was a difficult game for us against a disciplined Aveley side. What are your thoughts on the match?

It was tough, the opposition started the game brightly and I think we matched it at times, but we conceded two soft goals from set pieces. On another day we could have gone 1-0 up, with me having a good chance, which I should have put away, and it could have been a different game.

It was the team’s first competitive game since 10 December when we beat Billericay Town. How difficult was it to adapt to playing at a competitive intensity again?

We’ve had two friendlies leading up to today, but it doesn’t entirely replicate a league game. So it was difficult to adapt, however there should be no excuses, the boys should’ve been at it today and I didn’t think we were.

With the squad having only just started to come together and you being at the club since the start of the season, what advice and support have you given to the group going into each game?

I have tried to make sure the players feel at home within the group. I feel when everyone plays with high confidence, everyone plays their best football, so if we can try and breathe confidence into each other, that is when we will play our best football.

We’ve had a new manager come in as well. How much have you enjoyed playing under Justin and within his culture?

It’s been really good. As a technical player myself I like to get on the ball and try to play football and develop that way, and that’s what Justin wants – playing in the right areas, creating overloads and playing through the thirds at pace. I have really enjoyed it, especially when playing through the thirds.

Tell us about your previous clubs and your career leading up to playing for Casuals?

Last season I was at Oxford City, where I spent some time out on loan at Kidlington FC and gained experience at step four level. Also, I have had a lot of experience in the Southern League so I know how competitive it can be.

How much have those loan moves helped you progress as a player?

As you progress higher up the levels, the quality improves which does test you but it’s always the physical battle that is tough and it’s the same sort of physicality as last season so you still have to adapt by moving the ball quicker. So I really enjoy the challenge of having to know I have to be at my best to do well at this level.

I have also heard you have a twin brother. Is there any sibling rivalry over who is the best football player between the two of you?

We both strive to be the best and then each other follows. But we are very competitive and we try to better each other by improving ourselves.

We’re in the midst of the festive fixtures now. How difficult was it trying to enjoy Christmas while staying disciplined in preparing for the game?

I’m quite disciplined in terms of what I eat, so I was careful. Obviously, I did enjoy the time spent with family and friends and I enjoyed the day but the focus in the back of my mind was preparing for today. I made sure I did some stretches and some foam rolling, also watching what I ate and drank was a high priority.

The next match is a big one, a local derby away to Kingstonian. How much are you looking forward to trying to bounce back from today?

Yes, I can't wait. We played against them already in the cup and unfortunately we didn’t play at our best that night. So I'm buzzing to be back playing and trying to get the three points next week.

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Fevrier: Culture is Key

13/12/2022

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Justin Fevrier was in upbeat mood after his Corinthian-Casuals side picked up their first away win of the season at Billericay Town on Saturday.

The 2-1 win, secured thanks to a glorious first-half free kick from Luke Stokoe and a poacher’s goal for Lewis Croal in his first start for the club, lifts the team to 19th place in the Isthmian Premier Division, and left the manager feeling positive about the progress we have made since he took over at the end of October.

“I think the boys were absolutely brilliant, from start to finish,” he said on the coach journey back from Essex. “I think we took the game to them and we were the better team on the day. There was pressure, that we dealt with well, but I felt that when we imposed our patterns of play on them, they couldn’t cope with us.

“I think a lot of teams now will take us seriously,” he added. “We’ve come in seven or eight weeks ago now, and had the season started then we’d be in a very different position, so I think teams are going to show us more respect when they play us because we’re a different team now.”

It was Fevrier’s third win in six league fixtures since taking over as manager, and when asked what he has done to trigger an upturn in results and performances since coming to the club, he revealed that the most important aspect of his work was setting standards for behaviour on and off the pitch.

“First, I introduced the culture and I’ve been implementing it by keeping reminding the boys of all the things they need to do to be successful,” he explained. “It’s working, they’re buying into it and the ones who were not buying in are not here anymore. The culture is really important – to live the values – and that’s why we’re getting results right now, because they’re working hard for each other. Maximum effort is the minimum requirement.”

The next fixture for Casuals is a six-pointer, as we travel to Essex for the second weekend running to take on a Bowers & Pitsea team that are one place below us in the table.

“This is a massive game,” said Fevrier, “but we have to just go again, do the same things, with the same work rate, play the same football, and look to get another result towards our next objective, which is to get out of the bottom four. Let’s go and get the three points!”

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Ricardo Thompson: “That felt like six points!”

5/12/2022

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After the tense victory over Brightlingsea Regent on Saturday, Finlay Stubbs caught up with Casuals’ skipper for the day Ricardo Thompson to discuss the victory, the influence of new manager Justin Fevrier and the togetherness within the newly formed squad.

Ricardo, that was a great win against Brightlingsea Regent. What are your thoughts on the game?

Honestly, we made hard work of it, but as the game went on we grew into it as a team and started to take in what the manager told us to do, which was to get the ball moving through the thirds and try to punish the opposition as much as possible. I think, as the weeks go on, the team will start to grow more as there have been a lot of changes with new management coming in, and things will start to progress from there.

How was the atmosphere in the changing room after that comeback?

It was crazy! Literally everyone was there singing. Obviously, we haven’t won in quite a while so it was a big win for everybody especially with where we are in the league and where Brightlingsea were as well, that wasn’t even three points for me; that felt like six points.

You started on left of the back three today rather than your favoured midfield position. Is that the first time you have played there and what challenges did you face?

I have played in many positions while I have been at Casuals and throughout my career. It was a bit of a different challenge having to deal with more one v one situations in wide areas, so that was my most difficult challenge but besides that it was pretty standard for me to play out of position.

Members of Fiel Londres were at the game, meaning we had backing behind both goals throughout the second half. How much support do they and the local supporters give to you and the team?

At Casuals, the 12th man is so important for us and without them it would have been very difficult for us to get the win. Especially when we are struggling, they are constantly cheering us on. When they come down to watch, with the drum and the chanting, it definitely drives us on, 100 per cent.

At half-time, you found yourselves 1-0 down. What was said in the changing room to motivate your team to win today?

That we have got to do better, literally. Across the whole pitch, everything just needed to be a lot better. We knew in ourselves as well that we weren’t making the right passes, the quality of the passes weren’t the greatest and the intensity we were playing at wasn’t good enough. The manager literally just came in and said to us, “We need to do better if we want to get anything out of today’s game,” and that is what we did in the second half.

How much has Justin helped the team and how much are you enjoying playing under him?

He’s given a lot to the team. Obviously some players have left, some players have come in. His mindset is about the culture of the whole environment the players are playing in, and literally just working from there. If he thinks that a player is not fitting into the culture and how he wants us all to play, they won’t be with us any longer and, as you can see, some players have left unfortunately. He has brought in some good players as well and I think having them here and having that consistency is important. If someone isn’t doing the right thing or taking responsibility, he will pull you up on it. By having this mindset, things are going to get better quickly for us as a team.

How much pride do you take as captain after a big win, and how much are you enjoying the responsibility?

I take a lot of pride in being captain. Obviously, Tucks (Jack Tucker) is injured right now, and he is the captain, I’m just vice-captain. While he’s injured, I take a lot of pride in it because as much as playing for Casuals is a big thing for me, being captain is a big responsibility and I help to carry the team through each game. Sometimes it does get frustrating, especially when you are not winning – you are thinking what I can do better. But each game I try to lift the Casuals’ spirits, especially with the new players that haven’t been here long, I just try to get them involved as much as possible.

We are back at home Tuesday night against a strong Bishop’s Stortford side. Are you looking to build on this win and start to climb the table?

Definitely. Bishop’s Stortford is going to be a difficult game – we played against them last season and they have a lot of energy. If we can stop their energy and match it, the rest will all follow and we can start to put a run of wins together.

I see you are wearing a Christmas jumper. Is it a big night tonight?

Yes! Tonight is our team’s Christmas night out, so we are going to have a few drinks at Boxpark in Croydon. Especially after today’s win, we will have a good night and enjoy ourselves – obviously not too much as we are fully focused on the big game Tuesday night!

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