Play like AC Milan!

In recent years our defence has gaping gaps in it, even relegation from the Championship did not plug the amount of goals conceded. Last season Crewe shipped 72 goals in League One matches.

New first team coach Steve Holland (pictured) has been working hard on improving our defence, the return of Chris McCready and the addition of Billy Jones should improve our backline.

As well as a change of personnel, Steve has brought in various new methods to try and significantly reduce the goals against column. One such method has been that Holland has introduced is showing the defenders clips of great AC Milan players such as Franco Baresi in action.

It is hoped that the players would take something from the clips and adapt it in to their game in the forthcoming season. Julian Baudet said "It has given a buzz to the place. He uses DVD`s of top teams like AC Milan to show us what he wants, and it does help when he picks out examples like this to follow"

Holland has indicated a shift in the way the team will play next season, the focus so far in pre-season has been all about keeping clean sheets. So far they have managed to do that at Quorn and at Forest Green, but bigger tests are to come in the shape of Derby and Stockport.

The management team are hoping that the work carried out so far will help them to reduce the number of goals scored. They are looking to concede less than 40 goals next season, it will be interesting to see if this is a realistic target.