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Michael Skubala press conference | Stoke City vs Bristol City · Bristol City

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um well let's just do a quick update on um on injuries, illnesses.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: Um Lauren is is he gonna be available for for selection?
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, available for selection.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_02: Um I think he'll he'll be challenged to do 90, but he he's definitely uh could be play some part, which is great news as well.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it gives you a a different option.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: Joe Williams Yep good.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_02: So it's excellent news for Joe because um he's been an important player for us and played a big part of you know this season so far, and we've managed to look after Joe and credit to the medical team, so he's available for selection as well, which is which is great.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_02: So we've got both you know good players to add to the squad and add to the selection, which is which is nice.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: And and with Noah, are you any further along in terms of having a time frame for when he's gonna be back in a year?
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, we know what Noah, you know, Noah's poorly, we know what he's got.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_02: Uh it's obviously private, I don't want to speak about what it is, but um he's back in the building.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_02: Um, he's still got some more tests to do.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but we're hoping next week he'll start some individual training and probably join the group in a in a couple of weeks.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_02: So um we're really glad that he's on the mend.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_02: And it's really it was actually really nice to see Noah back back here this morning because everyone's missed him and I feel really sorry for him because he was just getting going at Watford and then and then this happened.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_02: So like we're just really pleased to to see the young man back smiling a little bit because he's he's had a tough time, so it's great.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: And it's nice to have some sort of positives in terms of of time frame for that and and the other two back and available.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: And I think the the those two in particular are a lot of the physicality that you have in the sort of midfield and and forward areas, and and I think probably safe to say that you missed a little bit of that at the weekend.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_02: Um yeah, I think um you know we we probably got drawn into a game that do we didn't want to get drawn into.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_02: When we ended up playing a game, I think reflecting out we we didn't want to play, it was their style of game, and we needed to play more to our strengths.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I thought we played sideways too much, and we probably you know launched it into Dom too much without getting people around him.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_02: So I thought we got caught into a a fight that wasn't our fight.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_02: Um but yeah, they can definitely add something in terms of like what you say, some physicality to the squad.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but I think all of us, all of them can add that as well, all the lads can we can do better at that.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but you know, we want to be a team that plays fast and forward, and I didn't think we quite did that well.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_02: Well, we didn't do that well enough on Saturday.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_02: Um but yeah, it's nice to have Joe ready for selection back because he's a very experienced player, which I think around some of the younger players is a good thing.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but again, we have to look after Joe.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but he was he started the season well, and we expected him to be out for four to six weeks, and we've got him back in ten days, which is really positive.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_02: Uh Tolly as well is now back, and he's an exciting player who's still learning, but he's he started the season very well along with Dom.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_02: So it's good to have those those options.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: And I you mentioned the word experience there, and I think that that was that was a big key at the the weekend.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: You're up against a team with with bucket loads of it at a higher level than the the championship and and going through the squad.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: You've got pockets of experience, but you've got a lot of youngsters in there, and and they've got to learn quickly about playing your game and not the opposition's game sometimes.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think we you know, I don't like the word always, but I think we have to understand it's still a taking it's a journey we're going on.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_02: Um it's a process, if you like, of integrating players and they have to know each other and the relationships.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_02: And um, I can't always pick the the players we wanted to pick because of the situations of injuries and and changes, but we have to, it takes time.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_02: Like, you know, those players have been together for a long time.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_02: Some of the players now, you know, the clubs that have come up have been together for a long time as a group of players.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_02: We've made um, you know, a lot of sign-ins that are still knitted and still growing.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_02: Like you say, not only um are they getting to know each other, they're getting to know how I want it to look and how I want it to be.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_02: And I don't think it looked like anything I wanted it to look like, or the fans wanted it to look like, or even the players wanted to look like on Saturday, that's the reality.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but I will say at Blackburn, I thought we looked good, we didn't score, but it's more what we want it to look like, and we have to get back to a performance uh level that we want the game to look like, and it's really difficult because you can be drawn into games that the opposition want it to look like, which is what happened on Saturday.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but yeah, we we keep learning, we keep driving forward, and we keep trying to improve.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_00: And that is ultimately a kind of a whole team theme, but but I always think there are key players that can can almost drag teams out of that and and make players reset a little bit, and and it's finding those in your group that can be like, stop doing this, get back to what we have.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_02: It's really difficult because sometimes out there the game looks easier than it is, and you need the experience, you know.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_02: I think, like you say, like Joe's very experienced at that, the amount of games he's played at this level, Rob Dickey, who we've missed, is another one that's very experienced at that, you know.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_02: We've but we've got experience around that, and and it's sprinkled around.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and we've got some other players like you know, younger players that are starting to grow and learn that.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_02: So it's um it's about us taking control in those situations as much as we can and trying to trying to control the game in certain ways.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but that's that'll come that will come with a group when they're still learning stuff.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_02: Like you say, they're still learning how we need it to look and how we want it to how we want to play.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and it can go wrong, and when it goes wrong, it can look messy.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_02: And that was all the reality of it.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_02: But we're really excited about going to Stoke, you know, they've started very well, um, but we always look at every game and think if we can make it our feel, how we want to be, be us, and that us thing is still growing, you know.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_02: How we want to look is still growing with all the lads.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, we can we think we're a match for anyone, and we've shown that this season already.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_00: So it obviously it there's the the sort of the split between home and away, and uh uh not to to belabour that, but away from home, you have scored some goals.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_00: Goals have been a bit of an issue in terms of of the last few weeks, though.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_00: And looking at the squad and the numbers they've got through their careers, partly because they're they're young, they don't have the sort of the weight of it, particularly from the non-strikers, you're probably not getting that level of return that you need to take a little bit of the pressure off them.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think always you know you want the strikers to score goals, of course, but I think the team has to chip in with more, um, more assists, more goals.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I think that's partly as um, and I said it be you know, I like the teams to be braver in and around the box.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_02: You know, when we get there, can we play forward even though it's another 10-meter pass or 50 metre?
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_02: Can we get the ball in the box?
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_02: Can we create more chances?
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_02: So I think there's a there's a stage back to more goals, it's about how we can create chances and how we can you know still be brave and take people on and see if we can get you know more chances from that situation.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_02: So we're looking at that, we've been working hard on that all week.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_02: And uh the lads have been brilliant this week in training.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_02: There's been a real energy to training, um, and especially in those types of bits where we want to be more aggressive and even in the final third.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_02: So being aggressive doesn't mean just dueling or fighting, it means being aggressive with the ball in certain situations where we want to you know pin teams back or get defenders running back to their own goal.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so we've been working hard on that, and like you say, everybody's got to chip in with goals and keep improving all the time to add to numbers, and and trying to get players that can get a goal into the the team is is key at times.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_00: Sam Bell's one of those who hasn't had a lot of chances but has got a history of getting goals, particularly off the left-hand side.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: Is that something he he would add potentially that and a little bit of pace there?
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_00: Is that in your mind at all?
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_00: Because he he's not getting a lot of game time in the moment.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, no, it's in my mind.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_02: Um it's in my mind, and it's in my mind that you know we're talking all the time how we can improve these areas.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_02: It's not, you know, I hate to say it's our job to think about these things, it's not something we haven't missed, it's not something that I think is you know a stone that we're not trying to uncover.
• 7:11
  SPEAKER_02: It's it's not the easiest thing to create chances, because probably the hardest thing.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_02: I think it looks differently, different, sorry, away from home than at home sometimes, and the way the teams and opposition set up, you know.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_02: We want to be as good at home as we have been away from home.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but we think you know, every game we like we say we go into to try and hurt the opposition, and we we think we can do that when when we get it right.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_00: Next opportunity to do that is is Stoke, who've had a really positive start, and after a difficult couple of seasons for them, perhaps you know better than than some might have expected from them.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think um really experienced manager Mark Robbins.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_02: The team is set up very well.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_02: You know, they've got some real physicality and pace in their side off their off their wing backs, and they press in their 3-4-3 aggressively since they've changed to that system.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, they've got some good players in Galbraith, Devaney, you know, some some top players that they've spent a lot of money on to bring into that group this season.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_02: CC up fronts are you know really lively, um, but and they're good on the counter-attack as well.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_02: So and at home they've been very good, but you know, we look at it and we think we can hurt them again.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_02: We're positive and excited about how we can we can go and get a result there, um, and we want to take the game to them.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_02: That's the reality.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_02: We want to take the game to every team we play against, but also respect them.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, but we don't want to fear anybody.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and they like you say they've started the season very well.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but we started the season well, we've had a little bit of a you know, a couple of results we're not happy with, um, but that won't stop us from you know going again and trying to get after Slope.
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you very much.
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
• 8:38
  SPEAKER_01: Hi, Michael.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_01: Just in terms of other team news, does everyone come through Saturday?
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, obviously, end of a busy week.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, yeah.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_02: No, everyone's come through.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_02: Um, we're still just to mention as no, Rob Dickey's on his way back.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_02: He's probably, oh, I want to say hopefully things go well ten days away, which is exceptional news.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_02: So, you know, really pleased about that.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I don't want us to hold us to that because there's a bit more he's got to go through, but you know, we thought that might be uh obviously Christmas time, but so it's it's really good.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_02: We're healthy-wise, we're in a good place, you know, and I think we're getting players back, and it's really good news.
• 9:09
  SPEAKER_02: And we go into the winter period really healthy, and at times, you know, you have to change the team to keep players healthy.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, but now we have really good competition in the squad, and it's really exciting.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_02: And I like I say they've trained so well this week, the energy in the group is is good, um, and they're looking forward to the game, and so are we.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_01: Just in terms of that would be availability for selection, sort of 10 days, do you think?
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_01: We hope, yeah.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, because the like I say, the medical team, Paul Tanner, his team have done an excellent job in terms of you know his rehab, and Rob's been brilliant as well in his rehab, so we feel like we're in a good place.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_02: Of course, there can be setbacks, and you can't hold me to that because that's what happens in injuries, but we think um he could be yeah, he'll be he'll be close.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_01: Must be quite exciting for you as well, as you think of when him and Noah are back in terms of squad fitness, that's pretty much full strength.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_01: That's a that's a really nice place to be.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it is, and then the challenge is getting the rhythm in the group and the relationships built in the group.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I think we've protected the group up till now very well in terms of managing players, and you know, I think it's always a manager's challenge to change you have to change the team sometimes.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_02: Some have been forced, some are tactical, some are not.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but getting to a point where you can feel healthy, and and I think we're in that place now, which is exceptional.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_02: Now we need to make that count.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_02: And as we go into these months, we need now, you know, with the like you say, the depth of the group, which is important, we need now to have a real competitive group and lads that are striving to to push for the team and keep the shirt and perform well, and then from there we can kick on and and create some some good moments.
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_01: I think that ties into what you're saying about what you want it to look like and what the players want it to look like as well.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_01: I imagine when you have a more settled and in-depth group, that's easier to form when you have those options.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, uh definitely.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_02: It's easier.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_02: Every player is different.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_02: Everybody, every player in my eyes in this club is an exceptional player, it's a really good player to work, and they all bring something different.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_02: You know, um the profiles of the players are different, they offer something different.
• 10:58
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and for me, it's about them being the best versions of the self and and making sure that we we connect with uh on the pitch very well.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_02: And I thought we were this little bit disconnected on Saturday in how we looked, um, but we can get we can definitely get that through training and working together, and again, it's it's still a relatively new group, you know, it's still a relatively new um cohesion and building, and we have to keep working on it hard.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_01: In terms of looking back at Saturday, I don't want to dwell on it too much, but do you have to take that perspective when kind of reviewing a game like that?
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_01: Because I think fans will view things quite often as that sort of emotional lens where they will be frustrated.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_02: I think I think fans pay their good money, I think fans want to see us winning at Ashton Gate.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and I think they were exceptional actually on Saturday.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_02: I thought they were really good, they got behind the team.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_02: We had a spell where Elijah um comes on and he he you know he starts to get us up the pitch, and and I think we we're not happy with that performance.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_02: The lads aren't happy with the performance, and I'm not happy with the performance because we've performed better than that, so I know we can be better than that this season, but you have these performances throughout the season.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_02: It's a difficult game of football, and you have to you have to go again, and this is the nature of the championship, and we're really excited to go again at Stoke.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_01: In terms of a young group that are learning as well, they those sort of games, I think you've described it as a typical sort of championship game.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_01: That's a it's a good learning experience to have, I imagine.
• 12:12
  SPEAKER_02: Yep, but we have to learn quick, and and they're learning quick and they are improving.
• 12:16
  SPEAKER_02: You know, I look at some of the players that came in in the preseason now and and are growing, you know.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_02: I think Gibson Yah is a great example of that of what how he's growing and how he's getting better all the time, and he's adding a lot to the group.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_02: So I think that's an you know, whether he's in the team, out of the team, he's growing as a young man.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you look at Dom and Tolly when they've come through, we have to remember they've come from League One.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_02: It's they're not, you know, they're good and they look exciting.
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_02: Um we need to take more chances, of course.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_02: So there's still there's still players learning in there, but we we know it's about winning football matches, and we know they we have to learn quick.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but I think the future's exciting.
• 12:50
  SPEAKER_01: Can I ask you a little bit about Dom?
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, it's kind of the longest run of games we've seen of him without Tolly there.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_01: What have you kind of made of his performances?
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_01: Because especially considering his size, he's really put himself.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_02: Dom is um a brilliant footballer.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_02: I think everybody could see that.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_02: I think at times we've we have, he has, we've been we've left him too isolated at the top of the pitch, and we need to get around him more.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but I think he's he's aggressive, he bumps people, he gives centre off hard times, and I think it'd be really good if you know we can get people closer to each other at the top end of the pitch, which we've been working on because we know we need it.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_02: Um but I think if Dom's in and around the box, he looks like he's scoring.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and that's probably the frustration bit.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_02: We didn't do that well enough on Saturday, but you know, it was moments where I thought um Blackburn and Charlton, he's done very well and he's led the line very, very well.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_02: Um but again you forget he's still 21, um, he's still young and he's still new to the level.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_02: Um and we have to be patient with those players.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_02: But I think I've been yeah, really pleased with Dom's performance and what a guy, what a character as well.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_02: He's a he's a cheeky chap and uh the lads love him, but he's he's one of those that you just can I say lovable rogue.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_02: Is that the right is that the right term?
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_02: But yeah, he's brilliant to work with.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_01: In terms of those chances, well, he has had the chances, I guess, from a manager's point of view, it must be encouraging that he's getting into those positions, and it's maybe that I know if Dom gets chances, he'll score goals.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_02: You know, he's he's not happy with himself, he knows he wants to feel he's the most frustrated young man when he comes off to it because Dom just wants to score.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_02: And I know if Dom keeps getting chances, and again, frustrated by that because we didn't give him enough chances at Sheffield United.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_02: But if Dom gets chances, Dom will score goals along with Tolly, along with Elijah, along with Sam.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_02: But I think they'll get chances, so we need to create the chances for for those players.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but Dom is as frustrated as me, as frustrated as the fans of not taking his chances, and he wears his heart on the sleeve and he's um he's been working hard on that all week.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_01: In terms of Elijah and kind of fitness, where I think you said he's been slowly building up, obviously, a full half at the weekend.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_01: Where is he kind of in that?
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, Elijah, to be fair, that's a good point.
• 14:34
  SPEAKER_02: Elijah's felt something a little bit, so I need to we need to look at that whether he's gonna be wake in the week in the weekend.
• 14:39
  SPEAKER_02: He's in a good place, though.
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_02: So again, it's that situation where you're building minutes up for a player.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_02: I thought he looked good when he came off the bench um and he offers something different to our front line.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but we've just got to see um yeah, see if he's gonna be available for this weekend.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_01: I wanted to ask about Luke McNally as well, because I think we've spoken so much about the fact he is playing and maybe not spoken enough about the way he's been playing.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_01: How impressed have you been with how he's got us straight back in?
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_02: I've been so impressed with Luke, I must admit.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_02: Another great guy.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_02: They're all good, you know, they're great to wear with, but Luke's like to have that come back.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_02: I've started him twice.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_02: Um I have to say, he's still you know not fully fit.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_02: Like, I don't mean, you know, but he's still two championship games in, right, in terms of his how long he's been out.
• 15:17
  SPEAKER_02: So he's not like firing on all cylinders yet, but I think once he's got more games under his belt, um playing a little bit more um Saturday to Saturday, you'll see even better things from him because I think he's a very accomplished centre half that can play alongside the other centre half.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_02: But and as again, adds more leadership to the group, which is nice in a calming and but aggressive way.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_02: And I think we'll see we're gonna start to see the best of him.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's kind of I think he's one where people maybe forget how much championship football he's played really because of how long he's been out and the fact it was quite soon into his city career, but before that, yeah, played an awful lot of this now.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and he's like I say he's experienced, but you can't expect him after 18 months, two years out to be firing on all cylinders after two championship games.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_02: That's not fair.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but again, I think he's been good when he's played, he's he's looked like steady, and he's he at times he looks like a Rolls-Royce with the ball, which is great to see.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, he's he's go he's coming along very well.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like I'm asking you about a fair few individuals here.
• 16:09
  SPEAKER_01: I just want to touch about um youhirakawa as well.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, I think the chance doesn't get taken on Saturday, and maybe a few people look at that.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_01: Where do you feel he's at at the moment?
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_01: Because it does feel like he's maybe getting into those positions and it's just that final action a little bit.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I agree.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you've been great since I've been here, another great guy.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_02: Like the lads love him as well, he's such a good character.
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_02: Um, he's um I think there's times when he's been really exciting for us with the ball.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_02: Um, there's times when he you know he gets me off his seat, he gets the fans, I think, off their seat as well.
• 16:40
  SPEAKER_02: Um and it's his final action that he sometimes gets you know he's clean with, and other times I think we can keep improving.
• 16:46
  SPEAKER_02: And again, he's probably one of those players that I'd like to see even braver with the ball in the final fair because it excites me, it gets me off this seat, it gets the things that you know.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_02: I think I want to see, you want to see, the fans want to see.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_02: But I think um more of us need to do that in the squad.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_02: We can't just leave it up to you.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_02: I think everybody has to do that in when they're playing.
• 17:02
  SPEAKER_01: I think I kind of asked you on Saturday about that bravery thing.
• 17:04
  SPEAKER_01: Is it a case of not penny dropping mix?
• 17:06
  SPEAKER_01: It seems too simple, I think.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_01: But is it that case of like once it happens a few times, you think you're gonna just see players build that way?
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and we'll get there, we will get there.
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and like you say, it's not it, it's easy for me sitting down there saying it and it's when you're watching it, but it's harder out there, I assure you that.
• 17:21
  SPEAKER_02: And breaking a team down is very difficult.
• 17:23
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but we've got good players in this group that can do that, so we're excited.
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_02: And again, we were working hard on that all week, so let's see.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_01: In terms of having the week in between games as well, after this one, does that give you that ability?
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe I think you mentioned last week in an ideal world you'd like to pick a more settled squad.
• 17:37
  SPEAKER_01: Does that give you that little bit of ability of ability to do that?
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_01: Assuming that everything goes well.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_01: Sorry, what do I do?
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_01: So that um last week you mentioned how in an ideal world, without the things you maybe had to manage, you'd like to be more of a settled squad.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_02: You've obviously we're now because we're the health as a squad, and we'll see now we're getting into that stage and that phase where we can look at that.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_02: But again, like I've never been a manager that um changes for the sake of changing.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, last season I think 43, 42, my centre halves and fullbacks played 42 out of 46 games, if you look at the history.
• 18:11
  SPEAKER_02: So I understand the um I understand the need for rhythm and I understand the need for settle, but also if I think the tactics are right to change the game, I'll change the game.
• 18:20
  SPEAKER_02: If I think it makes it it can help us win, I'll do that.
• 18:23
  SPEAKER_02: I have no problem doing that.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_02: If if I have to change shape, I'll change shape.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_02: If I have to play with two nines and a ten, I'll do that.
• 18:28
  SPEAKER_02: And it's it's always been my way.
• 18:30
  SPEAKER_02: Um I think the modern way is to do that.
• 18:32
  SPEAKER_02: And I also I also think the rotating the team is I've said it before, can look if you win it's great.
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_02: If you don't, if you don't win it, it's not great.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_02: That's football, and that's my decisions, and I'm happy with those decisions to get it right.
• 18:43
  SPEAKER_02: But as time goes on, the relationships, the fluidity comes, and sometimes time is is the thing.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so so I think everyone likes to speak about patience, don't they as football supporters, and then we're all the most impatient people in the world sometimes, aren't we?
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_01: I'm a football supporter, of course.
• 18:57
  SPEAKER_02: I won't tell you I support because I'm very impatient at the minute, but no, I'm only joking.
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_02: It's um yeah, it's football, isn't it?
• 19:02
  SPEAKER_02: You know, you know, we and we're in this business to win football matches, there's no doubt about that.
• 19:06
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but we all but I always think you know, I'm I'm patient with their development because I know what development looks like, I know what players need to go to get there, and that's why I'm saying, you know, you can be patient with players and their development to see the best of them, and we're patient, but we're also working on knowing that we need to win football matches.
• 19:21
  SPEAKER_01: In that typical way I feel every time I ask about home games, it feels like a long gap.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_01: Charlton feels an awfully long time ago now, but it looks like another decent crowd making the trip as well.
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_01: I'd imagine it'd be nice to reward them as well.
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_02: I think the new away fans this season have been unbelievable, you know, unbelievable support.
• 19:35
  SPEAKER_02: You can hear them, they're they're getting behind the team.
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_02: Again, I will say I thought the home fans at Ashton Gate last week were really pushing in the second half for the lads, but it's great.
• 19:43
  SPEAKER_02: And you know, we no one wants the fans to go home upset.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_02: And either me, neither the players.
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_02: You know, no player isn't giving everything for every game.
• 19:50
  SPEAKER_02: I can assure you that I'll see the numbers.
• 19:52
  SPEAKER_02: Sometimes it can look like that, agree, but every player gives everything here, and I think yeah, that's why they're a good group to work with.