Solihull Moors’ George Carline spoke exclusively to Vital Solihull Moors editor Joel Cassidy, discussing Moors life, his international experience with England and the season ahead
Solihull Moors’ George Carline has spoken exclusively to Vital Solihull Moors editor Joel Cassidy, discussing life at the Moors so far, his recent international experience with the England C team and the coming season. Here’s what he had to say…
JC: You’ve been with the Moors for nine months now, what are your favourite
aspects of the club? And what attracted you to the Moors in the first place?
GC: ‘I think the club has real ambition and are putting in place good foundations to
sustain itself at this level. That’s shown in the amount of work behind the scenes
from getting the ground up to standard to the number of youth teams we have and
community work the club does.
‘Before signing I saw the Moors as good club that was on the up. When the
opportunity came about for me to sign for a fairly local club at the top level of
non-league football, it was an easy decision, I always want to test myself at the
highest level possible.’
JC: Solihull Moors is the third club you’ve played for under Liam McDonald, how
important to you is a strong bond with a manager? And what attributes does
McDonald have as a manager that have caused you to follow him to these
various clubs?
GC: ‘I think it helps if you have the same kind of ideas about the game but I don’t
think it’s the be-all and end-all. I think it’s part of a managers job knowing how to
treat the different personalities in the dressing room.
‘The gaffer is an ambitious young manager and having brought me from way down
the non-league ladder he knows I am ambitious as well. I think we work well
together and he knows what he will get from me every week.’
JC: Having made the jump from step three to the National League during last
season, how well do you feel you have adapted to this new level of football?
And how different is it playing at National League level compared to step
three?
GC: ‘I feel I’ve adapted well to this level and just continue to play my own game. I
try not to complicate things which I think has helped me make the step up through
the leagues over the last few years.
‘The difference between the levels is that you
know every team are going to be strong and fit in every position. With the amount
of full-time clubs in the league, every game is a huge test.’
JC: It was a 16th place finish for the Moors last season, what was your take on
the team’s overall performance during the season? Were the squad pleased
with the club’s final league position?
GC: ‘I think we competed very well last season and we achieved our aim which was
to stay up. To have hit that tough period towards the end of the season and still
finish where we did I think we had to be pleased, although we all know it could
and maybe should have been closer to mid-table.’
JC: With that tough period you referred to towards the end of the season, where the Moors lost six games on the bounce, how tricky was that period for the squad? And what changed (if anything)
within the camp to ensure the form turned around before the end of the
season?
GC: ‘It was definitely a tough period but in the dressing room we had every
confidence we would get out of it. I don’t think anything in particular changed, we
just had to continue to work hard for each other on the pitch and make sure the
basics were being done correctly.’
JC: What was your highlight of last season with Solihull Moors?
GC: ‘I think probably scoring the equaliser at Macclesfield before we went on to win
the game. It was a huge turning point in our season after it was looking like we
were going to lose our 7th game in a row.’
JC: Having ended last season on a high by gaining your first international
honours with the England C team, what was that experience like for you? And
how has that experience benefitted you?
GC: ‘It was a brilliant experience and gave me a taste of what full-time football is
about. It’s definitely given me confidence and even more hunger to succeed and
continue to progress in the game.’
JC: What do you think you can take from that experience with England and bring
back to club football?
GC: ‘As in my previous answer, my hunger to play and succeed in football has only
increased so hopefully I can show that this season and lead by example for the
Moors.’
JC: We’re well underway into pre-season now, what has your assessment been
of pre-season so far? And how positive do you think the preparations have been
ahead of the new season?
GC: ‘Apart from me getting injured against Walsall, it has been very positive for the
team overall. I think we’ve performed well in the games so far and everyone is
working very hard in training and for each other in games which is a good to see.’
JC: There’s been a number of changes to the playing squad over the summer,
what do you make of the squad ahead of the new season? How easy is it as a
player to adapt to changes to the playing squad?
GC: ‘Even though there are a lot of new faces at the club, there is a team spirit
there already. There’s no doubting the ability of the new lads and we’re also
working very hard for each other which is something that’s going to be needed in
every single game this season.’
JC: How well do you think the Moors can do this season? What can be achieved?
GC: ‘We want to continue to establish ourselves at this level. We will always have
aims within the dressing room and there is every confidence within the squad to
have another successful season.’
JC: Do you have any personal goals or targets ahead the new campaign?
GC: ‘I always have personal targets but usually keep them to myself! As long as I’m
contributing my fair share of goals and assists to a successful team I’ll be happy.’
JC: Chester at home awaits on the opening day, can we get off to the best
possible start against the Blues?
GC: ‘Of course. As long as we’re well prepared and focused for 90 minutes I don’t see
any reason why we can’t get three points.’
Thanks to George for participating in our latest Vital Interview!
Next week we will be interviewing new Solihull Moors midfielder Tom Tonks in our next Vital Interview ahead of the new season.
