In 100% CSP, sporting director Crawford Palmer looks back on the start of the season for Limoges. While he is being pushed towards the exit and he will leave the club at the end of the season, he seems to want to defend his record and that of the team. Before looking towards 2022. Interview.
In January, there will be 3 games left to complete the first leg. But at the end of the year break, the CSP was 6th in the French Elite basketball championship. What is your assessment of Crawford Palmer?
We can only be satisfied with the work of the manager and the players after a rather difficult start to the season with a lot of injuries and player changes. I had said that this team would not be ready until December or January. There, we see that there is a soul. That technically and tactically, we manage to find solutions. We have an atypical team in a championship where a lot of teams play the same way. It was wanted. We had several solutions in building the team. I think it is a strong choice even if it was discussed at the time to see even today. But we all know that it is through the results that we judge a team. We show that we are able to compete with very good teams. We still have periods of instability like in Orleans which was the first real non-match we did, but it can happen. Especially since we were deprived of Nicolas Lang and Gerry Blakes had just returned to the group. But it remains a defeat. All that to say that the season will be long. We will see how it will go with the Covid. So far, we have managed to manage this side well there too. For now, we are in our working order. I almost would have preferred that there was no cut but I know that our staff and our players need to cut because we are there every day (he insists). We are there every day. On match nights, the coach and assistants are already on the next one. They go to bed at 2 or 3 in the morning. The next day, even on a Sunday, they are there at 9 a.m. or even earlier to continue working. So they need to cut. But honestly, I’m proud of the team and the staff. All the work that is being done around. It’s up to us to remain solid. We made a few big hits but we see that everyone can beat everyone. The work is done but we must continue.
The guys are still united which is very important to build a soul
What can still be improved?
I think we have players who will continue to improve. We have young players see young players at this level of experience. We have been criticized for having a lot of mediocre players. These “mediocre” players are on the rise. And that gives us a lot of options. The coach can strum with his bench and that puts pressure. There is competition. But the guys are all the same united which is very important to build a soul and I think we are starting to build one.
He is a player who has qualities but he did not have the work that the others had for 3 months
In Villeurbanne, Gerry Blakes was not good either in defense or in attack. After the game the manager said it was his fault because he decided to put it on the scoresheet at the last minute. Despite this, can’t you expect more from a player like him?
In mid September, before he got injured, Gerry was not the player we see now. He quit for 3 months. And when he comes back, he no longer has his place. Someone (Massinburg) has arrived in his place and is performing. So I think he’s putting the pressure on himself. And it is not yet 100%. It doesn’t yet have the explosiveness it had before. He does not have the laterality he had before. He still needs time but he is in a complicated situation because he does not know from week to week if he will play or not. We decided to manage like that with Massimo, whether for him, for Pinkins or Spencer. If they are chosen to play, they must perform well. But Gerry, it was only his 2nd game in almost 4 months. He is a player who has qualities but he did not have the work that the others had for 3 months. To understand the patterns and the need for the ball to move in order to be efficient. Because we don’t have a player like him. He has a game that can be individualistic but that’s what we need without disrupting the work of the team. He has not yet found that balance. He has to find it. We trust him. He’s a good guy. He continues to work. He was asked to focus a little more on rehabilitating his knee to really be 100%. He sticks to it. But at ASVEL, there were good players opposite. We can forgive him some things, especially since we won the match.
I will do my best until the end
Our colleagues from the People’s Center announced that you were going to leave the club. It seems that it was the owner Céline Forte who decided to push you towards the exit. What can you tell us?
They want a different direction. Restructuring is planned. They want a different way of working. But we found an agreement. It is a common agreement. I think you have to be able to work with the confidence of your leaders. I’m also here thanks to Céline Forte. I am very proud to belong to this club. I love my team. I love my coach. I love my club. I will be there until the end of the season and I will do my best until the end.
But what is the relationship between the legal restructuring of the club, which concerns administration, and sports management?
This question must be asked of decision-makers.