RYAN Fredericks believes Gary O’Neil’s record in charge of Cherries speaks for itself – with the right-back hoping the interim boss “can stay for as long as possible.” Summer signing Fredericks was brought in by previous boss Scott Parker but handed a Cherries debut by O’Neil in 0-0 draw with Wolves at the end of August. Aside from hailing O’Neil’s unbeaten start to life in management, the 30-year-old also detailed how the interim head coach’s preparations for games left Cherries in the best possible position to pick up points. When asked for his opinion on the job O’Neil was going at Cherries,
Ryan Fredericks said: “I don’t think I have to say anything, we’re unbeaten since he’s been here. He sets us up differently for every game and every game it seems to just fall into place. Everything he’s saying to us in meetings and in training is exactly probably like for like what’s exactly happening in the game. So that gives us confidence. We don’t just see him as a stand-in manager, we see him as the gaffer and everyone treats him with respect, and he treats the lads with respect. He’s a good man manager, a great coach, and hopefully he can stay for as long as possible.”
Although Fredericks clearly appreciates O’Neil’s interpersonal skills, he also is impressed by the former Portsmouth midfielder’s tactical nous.
Ryan Fredricks continued: “I would probably have to say tactically, is his best quality. He’s pretty in depth with what he says and he’s not just giving us information for no reason. Everything he says carries a lot of weight and seems to carry out on a pitch. When the first few games he says his bit, and it’s gone exactly to the plan, you’re going to believe that. You’re going to trust it and now every word he says, we hang on to it and try and implement it on the pitch.”
