Ben Herd: Nolan's tackle was an absolute shocker and I think credit has to go to the ref for spotting it

English Football League / Ben Herd / 26 February 2009 / Leave a Comment

Shrewsbury's right-back Ben Herd talks personal targets, Matt Prior's own "Hobson's choice", going to the Carling Cup final and "that tackle" by Kevin Nolan.

A decent last week ended on a bit of a sour note with a loss to lowly Luton. You have to go way back to week 2 of the season to see our solitary away win.

Obviously, for a team with ambitions of reaching the next level, this isn't good enough. A few weeks back, the Boss put a graph on the wall to illustrate how many points and games we need to win between now and the end of the season.

It is very embarrassing, from a player's point of view, to have only won once away all season, especially when you look at the table and say to yourself 'if only' we had won a couple more on the road, we would be top of the league! (Then again if my Aunty had balls, she'd be my Uncle, as they say).

I recall my youth team days and one of many things that stuck in my mind was my coach telling us not to look back on our two-year YTS and say 'if only'. If only I had worked that bit harder or if only I had concentrated on improving one of my weaknesses.

I take heed of this saying to this very day and I believe that with the away games coming up from now until the end of the season, as a team we can't let ourselves look back and think 'if only'.

At the beginning of the season, our aim was to achieve promotion and I know certain players like Holty set themselves individual targets, such as a certain amount of goals to score. For me, as a defender, I wouldn't say I set obvious targets, apart from surpassing the previous season's clean sheet record, but I genuinely just want to improve my game as a whole and help the team reach its target - promotion.

I hope England wicket-keeper Matt Prior doesn't look back in a few months time and think 'if only', after flying back from England's tour of the Caribbean to attend the birth of his child. It's a bit of a tricky situation to deal with as a professional sportsman. The obvious dilemma you face is "do I sacrifice my place in the team to be by my family and risk someone coming in and doing really well, thus forcing me out the team for a prolonged period?" Or are there some things more important than sport, like being there for the birth of your child?

Thankfully, it's a dilemma I have yet to face, but thinking about it, I'd probably risk starting a domestic with my missus. However, I would definitely play on the Saturday and then rush to the hospital to see my new-born. Come to think of it, the only situation that would lead to me missing a game would be a close friend or family member being on their last legs.

Speaking of legs, and more to the point near-broken ones, that brings me on to the horrific tackle by Kevin Nolan on Victor Anichebe. Like many people I have spoken to about the tackle, at first viewing it didn't seem too bad, however when the "slow-mo" replay appeared it was an absolute shocker and I think credit has to go to the ref for spotting it.

I see there have been calls in the last few days for the FA to impose a harsher suspension than the mandatory three-game ban. It's a tough one from a player's point of view, because you don't wish your fellow professionals time out of the game due to suspensions. On the other hand, if it's a tackle that is potentially career-threatening, then I suppose a three-game ban isn't enough.

As I mentioned targets earlier on, I'm thinking surely Tottenham's target this season was European qualification. The Carling Cup which takes place on Sunday is realistically their only chance to fulfill this. Fortunately, I have a ticket for this one, unlike last year where I had to shell out nearly £300 for one off a dodgy ticket tout.

I must admit, I'm quite excited at going back to Wembley again and have just spoken to my twin brother, who's already planned our itinery for the day, and believe me it's an early start - leaving my home town St. Albans at 9am!

It's funny how football and superstition go hand in hand, and my brother hasn't bucked the trend as we are doing and going exactly the same places as last year. I usually don't bet on anything involving my team as every time I do, they muck up. However, I do fancy the Under 2.5 goals inside 90 minutes at [1.86]. Come on you Spurs!