Midgley aiming to win the lot

Nov 2 2007 The Journal

EAGLES’ talisman Richard Midgley has issued a warning to potential BBL contenders that his in-form team-mates plan to dominate the league this year – by winning every piece of silverware on offer.

Having not lost a game since their opening night defeat to the Europe-bound Guildford Heat, the Eagles will be searching for their eighth consecutive win this evening when they welcome the Plymouth raiders to the Metro Radio Arena.

The Californian point-guard may only have been on Tyneside for a couple of months, but he is intending to replicate his all- conquering Newcastle predecessors who completed the clean sweep 18 months ago.

“The plan is to win every game we play in,” said Midgley. “We want to do what they did a couple of seasons ago and win every piece of silverware on offer.

“I don’t know the history too well, but I think that we should be able to do what they achieved. You can speak to anyone on this team and they will tell you that we are playing nowhere near what we are capable of.”

Play-caller Fab Flournoy has already got his hands on one accolade this season – the Coach of the Month Award for October – but the New Yorker will be undoubtedly seeking further silverware.

Flournoy completed a perfect month when the Eagles narrowly dispatched former point-guard TJ Walker’s Cheshire team seven days ago, and racked up their sixth win of the season so far.

“The award is well deserved,” said Midgley. “We are top of the league and flying. But that reflects the team as well.

“The wins that we have had show the type of form we are in and what we are looking to achieve. Fab – and the team as a whole – should be proud of that award because it shows what we have done so far.”

The Eagles will want to complete an early-season double over the Raiders when Newcastle-born Gary Stronach comes to Tyneside this evening with his bulging roster.

A Midgley-inspired Eagles sunk the Raiders two weeks ago as the Great Britain star clinched a game-high of 22 points, helping the Tynesiders grind out a 76-69 win.

Despite the Raiders’ weekend loss to the Milton Keynes Lions, Midgley does not fear a backlash from Stronach’s aspiring BBL squad.

“We expect a tough game,” said Midgley. “When we played them at their place they had a couple of players who will scare a lot of teams. But if I’m honest I don’t even think we were at our best when we beat them last time.

“They are going to want to put one over us, but there is a lot more to come from this team and I think that we should be able to win this match.

“I’m relatively pleased with how I’m doing as an individual. I think that I can perform a lot better than I have been so far. I’m fit, I’m healthy so I will be looking to keep putting in the good performances.” The Eagles’ resolve was tested earlier this week following Tom Sherlock’s shock exit. However, the 26-year-olds’ departure from the Newcastle ranks is not likely to shake Flournoy’s men as they seek to extend their perfect run.

“I’m not sure what has happened with Tom,” said Midgley. “I think it was a mutual agreement. I didn’t know him that well, but I wish him the best in whatever he does, whatever that is.”