Palmer hoping to bring back winning mentality to Faukland

With Gregory Palmer returning to the fold at Faukland FC, the hope is that he can bring back a winning and aggressive mentality to save a team he brought to Jamaica Premier League from relegation.

Palmer got the best possible start to his second stint as Falklands coach as the team finally got their first win of the season on the 13th attempt edging out Chapelton Maroons on Monday night at the Ashenheim Stadium, Jamaica College. Neil Clarke’s 79th-minute strike was enough for the team to end a 12-game winless run, becoming the last team to win a game this season.

Leacroftt Lettman’s departure from the team after their first-round struggles opened the door for Palmer’s return. Palmer stepped away from the club last summer after guiding them to promotion. Now he hopes he will be able to bring a positive flair to the club in their bid to remain in the top flight, with encouraging signs already being shown.

“It’s about getting the players to get back to a winning mentality and attacking brand of football. We could see the short, snappy passes, and we want to have that and quick transitions, moving from the defensive third to the middle third to the attacking third,” Palmer said. So once we can get that and get them to understand that when you break the lines you press forward and pressure, I think we should do well.”

Faulkland have scored only three goals so far this season and conceded 22, the most in the league so far. But Palmer hopes their adaptability will be key to similar performances like Monday night

“Once you get a win, it’s always a good feeling. You get a draw, you are knocking on the door. Neil Clarke in a 4-3-3 system understands the pressing game because I think looking back at the games, they used some different systems,” Palmer said. “It worked well for us because if you are going into different games, you have to change the system.”

Palmer does not sugarcoat the task that he has as the second round begins. But with their first win under their belts, he believes that the mentality should shift to approach the remainder of the games as cup finals to save themselves from relegation.

“I think we have a lot to work on, and I think winning the game should lift the spirit of the players. A coach can only coach systems and styles of play. But what you saw was spirit and heart and the need for a win. So we have to approach every game like a final and try to get some points in the column,” Palmer said.