John Calleja’s view from the top

?Our main aim this season was to see us improve over the course of the year and to keep that improvement as the season wears on and then see where we are so I suppose it?s more consistency I am looking for than anything else and if we have that the rest will take care of itself,? he says.
When watching the Berries it is apparent they are a close knit bunch and this is something else Calleja has worked on: ?It?s no good just having the players gel on or off the pitch because that?s only half the job done.
?One of the things we needed to be right was getting them gelling in both areas and I see this as a real boost to team moral and that reflects on how we go.?
The affable coach never let?s on just where his sights are set but he does point out: ?We play four of the top five teams in the next four matches (at time of writing) so being realistic we will see how much we have learnt and grown after those games.
?We have been in a good patch lately but a loss and how we react to it will be the measuring stick to go by, not that I want us to lose obviously,? he laughs.
?There are no easy teams in this league so without using too many clich?s you have to say you are only as good as your last match and a couple of lost games can see you pulled back into the relegation struggle and although a Top Four finish would be fantastic we just have to take one game at a time and not look too far forward just yet.?
With players such as Peter Peralta, Liam Austin, Chris Gaitatzis, Stefan Donevski and shot stopper Trinity Allen brought in to bolster the squad and the retention of Aheleas Kotsopoulos and Jack Sobczyk the Berries have been a force not many have reckoned with so far and this has often turned out to their detriment.
?The way we look at it is realistically we are four points off of fifth spot but only five away from second bottom right now and with only just over half the season gone the job is only half finished so we will just concentrate on the season game plan and continue to train and play to our strengths.?
The Berries have sneaked up the league without fuss so far so don?t tell anyone or they really might start taking notice of the lads from Lidcombe Oval.
-By Micky Brock