|
" It just keeps the whole thing going in the right direction doesn't it. I thought that the way the players approached the game was terrific and a lot of praise goes to them for that. I think that they are just starting to buy into what we are trying to do now. There is a good atmosphere around the place and there are a lot more smiling faces than there were. I think that we are starting to turn the corner now, I was really pleased with the way that we approached the game on Saturday.
" I just think that we are becoming a bit tougher all round, you build success on having a good foundation at the back. If you remember last season when we had a really good defensive record, that is when we had a lot of success. So we are looking to do that as well as continue to improve our attacking form. Whilst we would like to win 5-0 I don't think that it is going to happen every week but we will take the odd 1-0 along the way. As long as you get nil in your column you are going to be OK.
" We could have played last night, the pitch was perfect yesterday for the reserve game. It is not a great day today and it is not a great forecast for tomorrow. We are in the hands of the elements for that but I think that everyone is hopeful. I think that the pitch has been covered and we are all itching to get out and playing, we don't want a build-up of fixtures. It is important for everybody for a number of reasons that we get the game on.
" We went down there (Millwall) last week and we gave a really sterling defensive performance. We want to do a little bit better in the other areas in terms of going forward but I think that our boys will be relishing it. We had a good chat yesterday about that, the fact that we could go to Millwall and again it is a sign of progress if we can go there and just improve on what we did. A few people at Millwall won't be too comfortable with the draw I can tell you. "
" We will be favourites tomorrow but Crewe on their day have got terrific ability. I have just looked at the reports of their last few games, I have been doing it this morning and yesterday as well with Dennis (Booth). They have got some terrific players you know, they have got some real talent in that team and they might have been going through a similar situation to us that players weren't really performing as well as they can.
" They have got Dario (Gradi) back in charge now though, he knows the game inside out and I think that this a big tough game for us. We want to keep our momentum going but I am sure that they will be scrapping like mad to find a win to kick-start their season as well. So we really are going to be up and at it and it will be every bit as tough as every game we have played since I have been in charge.
" The priority is our next game and that is Crewe and we want to win this game big style. The appetite of the players is up for winning, it gives us that momentum to keep going and we will go to Swindon with a better chance winning on Wednesday than we would do if we are losing. Because it keeps that confidence, that belief and that progression that we are looking for. So my big priority is Wednesday night, I will look at Swindon after Wednesday because the next game for me is the most important one.
" You go to these clubs in the Conference and even below the Conference and they are organised, fit, strong and tough. On their own ground they can sometimes really cause you a lot of problems. You look at Leeds United who are a massive club with great resources, they have gone down to Histon and found life really difficult. "
" It wasn't until they actually started playing the game the Histon way near the end of the game, the last 20 minutes, that they actually caused Histon problems. Because Histon turned them around and got stuck right into them, and Leeds did find it very, very difficult. That is where I think that our Grays result takes on even greater significance, and we were really pleased with it.
" The third round of the FA Cup is the best draw in any competition anywhere in the world. Because you have got the big, the medium and the really small and the even smaller. They are all hoping for the jackpot, I think that it is like waiting for lottery numbers to come out, some get it, some get four numbers and the bonus ball and we got one number and no bonus ball. It is a fantastic time and you can see that the television is brilliant now, they address everybody up.
" We have got a draw that if we do manage to get through this Crewe game, and we are not going to underestimate that in any shape or form. We have then got a game that we can look forward to and do well, and then if you start getting past the third round then you have really got a good chance of getting four numbers, five numbers and the bonus ball.
" We said that we hoped that us and Barrow would both get good draws, they have got a cracker haven't they you know. There will be a massive crowd at Middlesbrough and they will make funds and a bit of finance. It is great, I am really pleased for Luke (Joyce) and Dave (Bayliss) that they have got a good draw. We wish them every success but we are probably a little bit jealous aren't we if we are perfectly honest, but that's life. We will just get on with it, we can't do anything about people putting their hands in bags and getting balls out so we will leave it at that. "
" He (Jakub Hottek) is a Czech Republic lad, he did well, he did well enough yesterday. He is a different type, he has got continental ability, when the ball comes to him he looks neat and tidy. He has got a definite lovely touch, nice build to him, a really good left-sider. You look at him in that game and you think that he has done OK, whether he will be strong enough and tough enough to go to the likes of Millwall, Leicester and Leeds away you don't know.
" You would have to see a bit more of him to see that, but he has certainly got a touch of class about him and technically a very, very good player. We have a problem with him because he has asked to go back to the Czech Republic, really by the sounds of it we are not going to see enough of him to make a better judgement. We had a strong team out yesterday against not such a strong Accrington side and he did OK.
" You go down to the likes of Grays like we did last week, and Millwall and places like that, you just wonder whether he would be tough enough and strong enough. I would like to see a bit more of him though to be honest, I am not sure if that situation can happen but we are talking to his agent to see if we can get a bit more of him.
" Newcastle will not allow him (Tim Krul) to play so we are going with Ben (Williams) who did very, very well on Saturday, terrific. He looks a brighter boy around the place as well, I think that the pressure has lifted off him a little bit and the reasons that we have done certain things I think are benefiting him. I had a good chat with him yesterday and he is a lot happier and more comfortable in himself and he understands what we are trying to do. "
" Lidds (Michael Liddle) is OK, he will come into contention for a place so I will have to have a look at that one later on. Chris Birchall though is a no because he wasn't actually registered before the second round anyway, and obviously the second round was on Saturday, so he becomes ineligible to play anyway, so that situation is irrelevant. He could be selected for the third round but obviously because he wasn't registered for the second round it is not a situation that we need to worry about.
" It was nice to see Chris Lumsdon on Saturday but he has had a knock yesterday, an injury again in the reserves and he doesn't look too good at the moment. It is on his ankle, it is nothing to do with the injury problems he has had so we are waiting for Dolly's (Neil Dalton's) report on that, but it was disappointing. It was really pleasing to see him play and really disappointing to see him come off with an ankle injury yesterday, so we will have to have a look and see how that bares up today.
" Again, we are just managing Paul (Thirlwell). It is a situation that is frustrating for everybody, he wants to play, he is desperate to play, but if we play him and he does anything that sets him back then we would be without him, and we don't want that to happen. So it is a case of managing day-by-day, week-by-week and hopefully we will have a look at him today and see what he is like.
" Then we will make a judgement today for tomorrow and then we will hopefully have him for the weekend. It is one of them, let's say that older cars need looking after a little bit gentler. These new cars are OK aren't they but he is an old car isn't he now. He won't like that but we have just got to look after him and that is under orders from the medical people. "
" I am fine, I am absolutely fine, I am really just pleased with the way that the boys have responded to what we have done. I know that we have taken the thing forward and I know that it can go further forward. I am just enjoying what I am doing and I am pleased to get a good response from the players. The people know my feelings, I have said that to everybody that I think that for everybody, the supporters, the board, the players, myself, the club, a quick decision is the right thing to do.
" I am not bothered about people knowing that, I have spoken to people here and I have said that I think that it is the right thing to do. Not because it benefits me or anybody else, I think that it benefits everybody so they are my feelings and I am just sticking with that. If they make a decision yesterday or tomorrow or today or in a month that is down to other people.
" The people know what I think is the right thing to do though, I have had positive feedback, really good feedback from everybody. So I have got to continue to do what I am doing and that is to get the team sorted out. The other things are in the hands of other people and I think that people are doing their best to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
" Players contracts are part of the reason why I just think that the whole situation needs to be resolved for a number of reasons, and that is another one of them. People are aware of that, they are things that have been flagged up and people are working hard to make sure that they make the correct decision. So let's have a bit of sympathy for everybody that we get the right decision at the right time to make sure that we take this club forward. "