Dominating BBL is Eagles’ goal

Sep 21 2007 by Paul Gilder, The Journal

HE will not compare squads past and present, but Fabulous Flournoy’s expectations are as high as ever after the Newcastle Eagles coach insisted he has assembled a roster bent on BBL domination this season.

Flournoy’s side will open their Championship campaign against Guildford Heat at the Metro Radio Arena this evening and, with the American again aiming for silverware, the home players will be determined to beat the domestic game’s top dogs.

The Eagles playcaller has refused to set his side specific targets, although he has made it clear that adding to the club’s trophies is a must. Newcastle have won seven titles under Flournoy’s guidance and the 34-year-old has no doubts he has put together another winning squad.

“Things are going from strength to strength and our goal is to win as many trophies as possible,” said the New Yorker, who will attempt to steer his side to an unprecedented fourth-successive Play-Off triumph. “The players will have to realise that expectations are high and my patience is short. But I’ve told the players what I aspire to do over the next three or four years and everyone is on board.

“I believe we have a great opportunity this season, we will be putting our best forward and I’m relishing the chance to get started. To start the season against the champions is great. Guildford won the Championship last season and will be playing in Europe (in the Uleb Cup) this year.

“We want to be doing those things as a club.”

Flournoy’s signings promise a great deal. Lynard Stewart and Richard Midgley are newcomers, Charles Smith has rejoined the club following a season in Spain and Andrew Bridge, Olu Babalola, Jeremy Hyatt and Darius Defoe – all multiple medal winners in the BBL – have all agreed to return.

The roster looks strong enough to repeat previous feats in the BBL, although the man who built it will not make comparisons with his other squads.

“I don’t compare squads and teams,” added Flournoy. “Each team has to deal with its own trials and tribulations. Last season’s team was the one that had to deal with more than any other. We just had to go through so much to get the overall end-result.

“With some teams, it didn’t take us that long. A lot of lessons have to be learnt for you to get to where you want to be in the end. At the start of every season, I always believe the team I have is the best for that particular season at that particular time. I got everyone I needed to get at the time I needed to get them. That hasn’t changed. I think this is the strongest team I could have had assembled. We have to find out what will happen when we win a couple of games and lose a couple of games.

“We have to find out how we respond. There are a lot of lessons this team has to learn.

“Everything we’ve done until this point goes out the window and we’re all starting from scratch. But I’m confident we can start well. We couldn’t have a better match to launch our season.” Midgley makes his debut tonight after training with the squad for the first time on Wednesday night. And although the 24-year-old missed the pre-season trip to Norway because he was on international duty, he does not expect it to be a major problem.

“I’m still learning the players on the team and their characteristics, and I’m learning theirs,” he said. “But I kind of went through the pre-season with Great Britain. It’s definitely going to take a bit of time for me to adjust but good players tend to be able to play with each other fairly easily.”

This is the strongest team I could have had assembled . . . things are going from strength to strength