Name: James McNeill
Team captained: Halifax 3rds
How have your team’s performances been in autumn and spring term?
Unfortunately we didn’t play in the autumn, but we were unbeaten through spring term, playing very well with a weakened side more often than not as well.
What are your team’s strengths and weaknesses?
Our strengths are the solidity in defence and ability to play as a team, which are improving with every match we play in. Our weaknesses: well we are a 3rd team at the end of the day… and the conversion rate of chances is quite low.
How strong is your cup squad?
We should be pretty strong as we are Halifax and with a lot of the Uni lads coming into our 1st team we will have a lot of strength in depth in the college.
Who would you call your ‘key player’ and why?
Craig Dixon. He is just a work horse. Box to box all game every game. If he isn’t playing the team seems to miss him quite badly. Also he occasionally can score the odd screamer.
What are your thoughts on your team’s group draw? Which game are you most looking forward to?
Well we have Derwent 1sts and Vanburgh 1sts who are regarded as very good sides, but after that we feel we will be as competitive as any of the others and who knows? If we play well we could easily contend with any team. As the captain I like playing against decent opposition so getting a chance to play 1sts teams is always good.
If you could beat any team in the final, who would it be and why?
Our college 1sts because that would be the biggest upset imaginable… also it would show Halifax’s dominance to get 2 teams into the final.
If you could change one thing about the college cup, what would it be?
Put it on the 3G pitch.
Which team in world football are you most like?
Everton has drawn the most games in the Premier League this season… and they are doing quite well. We seem to draw a lot so we are most like Everton.
What are your expectations and ambitions for College Cup 2013?
As a team I think we expect to make the plate and give a good showing in that but isn’t everyone’s ambition to win all games they play?
Vision says:
Halifax 3rds are certain to be strengthened by the inclusion of Uni players in higher teams and are certain to be a difficult side to face. Saying that, they have been given a tough draw, with two of the stronger 1sts teams, Vanbrugh and Derwent, and James 2nds joining them in Group 4. They will fancy a scalp of the higher teams, but will likely have to settle for the plate.