A season of progress - Redfearn says young side heading in right direction
leedsunited.com 19/3/15
Neil Redfearn believes that the 2014/15 campaign has been a "season of progress" with his young side continually improving and learning along the way.
Redfearn has guided United to an impressive turn of form since the start of 2015 and Wednesday night’s 3-0 victory away to Fulham saw his team climb into the top half of the Championship table on the back of a four-game unbeaten run.
The starting line-up at Craven Cottage boasted an average age of just over 23, including four homegrown Academy graduates, and Redfearn sees this as an indicator of the direction in which the club is heading.
"We’re building, that’s obvious," said the head coach. "This season has been tough and we’ve been in a difficult scenario.
"We’ve battled and fought our way out of it, we’ve had to tough it out.
"We’ve got a young side that’s had to learn through adversity, it’s been tough for them.
"But, to be fair to everybody concerned with the club and the supporters, they have seen the green shoots.
"They can see that we’re trying to do the right thing. We’ve got a young side getting better and better.
"It’s been a season of progress, I think. But we’re still in that planning phase and we’re looking to take this on to next season."
With just eight games of the season remaining, Redfearn now his sights set on chasing a top-10 finish after the win at Fulham was United’s fifth from their last six on the road.
"You want to look forward now," he said. "I think we got to a point in the season two or three games ago when we could start looking up rather than over our shoulders.
"We’re looking up now and we’re trying to catch the sides above us.
"If we can have a top 10 finish from where we were at, then it’s a great season.
"We’re in a far better position. We still know there’s a lot of work to do and they’re a young side.
"They’re going to make mistakes at times but the future looks a lot brighter."
Redfearn also hailed the vociferous away support backing his side at Craven Cottage, with a travelling contingent of approximately 3,500 packing out the visiting section.
"The amount that travelled again is phenomenal," said the head coach. "It’s a big club and it’s got this proud tradition.
"The supporters are really proud of the club being successful and they want it to be successful in the top-flight again.
"If this is the beginning of it, then great."
Neil Redfearn believes that the 2014/15 campaign has been a "season of progress" with his young side continually improving and learning along the way.
Redfearn has guided United to an impressive turn of form since the start of 2015 and Wednesday night’s 3-0 victory away to Fulham saw his team climb into the top half of the Championship table on the back of a four-game unbeaten run.
The starting line-up at Craven Cottage boasted an average age of just over 23, including four homegrown Academy graduates, and Redfearn sees this as an indicator of the direction in which the club is heading.
"We’re building, that’s obvious," said the head coach. "This season has been tough and we’ve been in a difficult scenario.
"We’ve battled and fought our way out of it, we’ve had to tough it out.
"We’ve got a young side that’s had to learn through adversity, it’s been tough for them.
"But, to be fair to everybody concerned with the club and the supporters, they have seen the green shoots.
"They can see that we’re trying to do the right thing. We’ve got a young side getting better and better.
"It’s been a season of progress, I think. But we’re still in that planning phase and we’re looking to take this on to next season."
With just eight games of the season remaining, Redfearn now his sights set on chasing a top-10 finish after the win at Fulham was United’s fifth from their last six on the road.
"You want to look forward now," he said. "I think we got to a point in the season two or three games ago when we could start looking up rather than over our shoulders.
"We’re looking up now and we’re trying to catch the sides above us.
"If we can have a top 10 finish from where we were at, then it’s a great season.
"We’re in a far better position. We still know there’s a lot of work to do and they’re a young side.
"They’re going to make mistakes at times but the future looks a lot brighter."
Redfearn also hailed the vociferous away support backing his side at Craven Cottage, with a travelling contingent of approximately 3,500 packing out the visiting section.
"The amount that travelled again is phenomenal," said the head coach. "It’s a big club and it’s got this proud tradition.
"The supporters are really proud of the club being successful and they want it to be successful in the top-flight again.
"If this is the beginning of it, then great."