The B Team boss looked ahead to this weekend’s fixture and anticipates a difficult match against the Falkirk side but believes the challenges presented are important for the squad to face.
Speaking exclusively to RangersTV ahead of the B squad’s upcoming league match, he said: “We’ve had a busy week with the European game then leading to this game at the weekend. I remember back to the game we played them earlier in the season, where the first half we did really well with a good goal from Cole McKinnon, the second half almost flipped with East Stirlingshire challenging us more defensively and Jay [Hogarth] had to make some really good saves.
“It will be a difficult game and we will need to be on our top form to try and make sure that we gain control early on. It will be challenging on the pitch with the weather changing as well. We must prepare for all eventualities, and we have to be on top form to get a good performance and result.
“That’s why we came into this type of programme. We want to try and make sure that the games do challenge us, not just on a footballing level but tactical as well. The physical challenge is important for us as well because that’s trying to develop towards men’s football, and that’s important for us.
“If we make sure that we start the game properly out of possession, we’re aggressive and on the front foot to make it difficult for East Stirlingshire, then hopefully we’ll have more opportunities to play in their final third of the pitch. We know that we’ll have to defend our box, they’ve got good players who will challenge us in our defensive third. We will need to be on our top game to make sure that we get a positive performance and result at the end.”
McCallum added that the Light Blues are doing well to shift their focus between games and recognised the importance of setting individual and collective targets.
He continued: “This is the good thing at the moment because we’re jumping between different games, it’s good for their focus because they’ll obviously focus on the individual opponent but then they can look at the outcome of each situation. Our first hurdle at the moment is to get into second place and keep chasing Bonnyrigg Rose, we’ve set ourselves a target in the league and the Glasgow Cup.
“We have got targets, not just on points but in clean sheets and goals scored to put ourselves into certain individual challenges and tasks that the players can aspire to reach as well, not just within the group. It’s exciting and it’s good to see them focused, it was frustrating for the game to be put off on Friday [Dalbeattie Star] but what I was really pleased about was their focus reset quite quickly for the next game. It’s that stage of the season where you’re getting closer to achieving, it’s exciting for them and their focus has been excellent so hopefully, we can keep that pushing.”
The B team boss also reflected on the progression of some Academy players as they become regular participants in Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s training sessions, insisting their role is to prepare the youngsters for whenever that opportunity presents itself.
He added: “It’s an ongoing process, we don’t necessarily wait for those moments to happen. Even earlier in the season, we were talking to the B Team lads about their aspirations and what they’ll want to achieve that season in a short, medium to long term - that’s an ongoing conversation that we’ll always have with the players. Our challenge from a coach’s perspective is to make sure that the support and the challenges that we give the players is constant, but it’s also moving because if players reach a challenge that we set for them, we have to set that bar at a different level again.
“If you look at Alex [Lowry] what he has reached recently, not just reaching the first team training group but also getting his debut, his start and a goal, Leon [King] has done the same as well, Charlie McCann is training and pushing to get game opportunities. It’s moving for individuals, we’re a development group that’s competing in a league programme.
“The fact that these guys are in the B Team squad, the opportunity to get to the first team can happen because they’re in the building – that’s where the advantage exists. We’re pleased with the opportunities that have developed so far, we just want to keep pushing those lads to make sure that when the door opens, they’re ready to go.”
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