Ro-Shaun Williams talks to the press for the first time since January 2019. Ro-Shaun reflects on his time so far here at Shrewsbury Town.
Ro-Shaun tells us about how he has settled into the club so far. "I feel like I've definitely settled in. It's been a while since I first came and I've had half a season now, and obviously, I was back in Manchester on my holidays in summer, and now I'm back down here permanently, and I'm just trying to crack on."
Williams joined Town to develop as a player. "I definitely feel like I've improved in areas that I might not have worked on or challenged myself in at younger ages compared to playing in League One so yeah I have done that. Obviously, there's always going to be room for improvement in stuff I can get better at, I want to get better at, and stuff I'm good at I can keep developing them."
As a player, Sam Ricketts was a defender himself. Now with Sam being Ro's manager, he is able to learn first hand of the Gaffer himself. "Some weeks in training we'll do maybe one or two back three or back five, whether that's working on playing out from the back or that being defending crosses, long balls, second balls, stuff like that. The managers played at a high level so every time he speaks, and if I want to get to that level, I've got to take it in and listen."
Town's squad is full of great character, Ro tells us his thoughts about the squad he is part of. "The squad has definitely improved from last year. The games we've had, obviously Southend, I've been injured for a couple of games, but Southend was a freak game because of how many goals we conceded. Whether that's Max or Murph in net I think we've got two good goalkeepers and whoever plays out of me, Pierre, Omar and Ethan, I reckon the back three is really good and strong. Strong in the air, fast and quick. So I think we've kept a few clean sheets and we'll keep a few more this season. Up top, we've got good strikers, and I think the squads quite good and we've got a big squad, so the bench is good as well. That's important because maybe last season it wasn't as strong."
Shrewsbury hosts fourth-place Fleetwood on Saturday as they return to home soil. Fleetwood have had a good start to the season with a few wins under their belt. Their latest with a late goal over Rochdale and beating Liverpool U21's in The Leasing.com Trophy after beating them on penalties.
Ro tells us about how he's preparing to face Fleetwood on Saturday. "I think we'll approach it as we approach every home game; start it fast, dominate and show the fans what we believe in as a group. We've not lost at home in the league this season, and we've probably not conceded that many goals this season beside Southend. I reckon we want to continue to make our home stadium like somewhere you won't want to come, somewhere uncomfortable to come. A fortress really."
Making Montgomery Waters Meadow a fortress will mean something to the team. Ro tells us more; "it doesn't make a difference as a team; it just a stat. Like last year I think Barnsley didn't lose at home last year and Luton who went up had a good home record and the same in our league and the Prem. Liverpool doesn't really lose at home, and Manchester City doesn't even draw at home. The better you are at home, it makes a big difference at the end of the season with points tallying up where we want to be and what we want to do as a team."