Back to basics for ‘sensitive’ Harrogate Town

Town face a tricky Christmas period, starting with a trip to former Conference outfit Tamworth away on Saturday.

Weaver’s men then tackle three matches against Vanarama North’s top two sides inside a week, including the Yorkshire derby double against fierce rivals Guiseley.

The Town boss said no specific points target have been made over the period, however, he would revert back to a more aggressive style.

He said: “The game plan has been pretty straightforward. But if things don’t go for you, people take it personally.

“We have a bit of a sensitive bunch, which might be an unusual thing in football.

“We have wanted to do it the football way, but going back to the Tamworth game at the start of the season, we dominated physically. Maybe we have to do that and get people for that.

“We all want to get out of this league playing like Barcelona, but if you have people low on confidence, suddenly you have three or four players not wanting the ball.

“We are encouraging, not hammering them. But you can’t fill someone with confidence all the time. It has to come to a player. They have to go back to basics, real basics.”

Star midfielder Lloyd Kerry was left on the sidelines on Saturday, and Weaver admitted the former Tamworth man was low on self-belief.

Weaver also hinted that some players in his squad needed to buck up their ideas or further changes would be made.

He added: “I don’t want loads of new faces. I want people that are going to sign up to what we are doing. I don’t want that constant, here’s another player, and another player.

“But there will become a point where you think some players are not hitting the heights and not looking like getting back to his best form, so we have to change. You can’t keep losing.

“We will have to see how next week’s performance goes. We want a reaction.

“It’s been a difficult time because players are low on confidence.