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Michael Skubala press conference | Bristol City vs Sheffield United · Bristol City

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um Michael, let's just do some some squad bits and pieces.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_00: So of the players who've been injured, is anybody back in contention for Saturday?
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_02: Um we've got close to Tully's close, but um yeah, not sure.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_02: Uh I need to go through today and tomorrow to see how he he he goes.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_02: But if not, he'll he'll be next week.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_02: Um Joe Williams, we think, is probably a week off, maybe a little bit longer, maybe a maximum of two weeks.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_02: So we've got some more news on that.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_02: So uh but again that could be quicker, so but we'll see.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_02: I'd say two weeks for that.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_02: Um I think we're there.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_02: Loop Mindali is obviously you know can can start and fit.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_02: Um I think we're I think we're about there.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: And then with Noah's illness, it's are you no are you at the bottom of that in terms of you know exactly what it is and it's being treated or is it still?
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_02: Noah's still not in training, um, so he's poorly.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_02: So we think we know what it is as a as a health issue, not an injury issue, it's a health issue.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but he needs to have more assessments to really um dig a little bit deeper into that with the doctors.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, he's quite poorly.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but we'll we'll hope for no more time.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_02: He's had some tests, but he needs more.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, which is is those are almost more frustrating than anything else because you you've been in football long enough to know it's this injury that usually means that amount of time on the sidelines, with something like this, it could be almost any amount of time.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and to be to be clear, Noah's you know through the international break of three weeks, and now Noah's probably trained, if I remember, two or three times in four weeks.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_02: So um not only is he poorly and ill, um we wish him the best and a quick recovery.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_02: Even when he's back, it's gonna take a bit of time to get back into training.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_02: So we expect him to be back.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_02: Um but yeah, it's um it's a health issue, not an injury issue.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, which is it and is is one of those things, and and you sort of have to deal with it.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: Any other knocks from Tuesday that's gonna cause problems at the weekend?
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_02: No, uh a few bumps and bruises which you'd expect from a from a game, but we're the rest of the squad's uh good to go.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: Which is is is good.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: Another home game, I guess particularly on the the back of uh of Tuesday.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sure you've you've sat and watched the other the the match again.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: Is is it more or less frustrating knowing that you you you've actually done 90% of things really well, but that doesn't really matter when the result goes the way it does?
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think um hugely frustrating after the game uh when the emotions are flying.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_02: I think when you look at it in a cold light of day, I don't think we could have done much more other than put the ball in the back of the net.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_02: You know, you look at the the goal we conceded, but the reality is we probably should have scored two or three.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_02: Um I think we're creating chances um across the last few games, but we're not scoring enough, that's for sure.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_02: So when you create the amount of chances with that we do um in certain games, especially especially Blackburn, we had enough chances to win that game of football.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_02: So I thought again for the first 30 minutes we were we were excellent, and we had the opportunity to to score, you know, if you like, and kill the game, and we didn't do it, and then all of a sudden a moment happens, and that's the frustration bit, and the lads felt that.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but then the second half we we tried again and we had again some big moments at the end to score and get a draw out of the game, but you know, it's you always have to look at what's what's happened, but we're trying to look at what's happening at the same time, and we're we're still growing, we're still going in the right direction.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_02: I know it's not about data and stats, but you know, if you come up with a game with that amount of chances, you know, you you're generally happy with the tactical aspects and the structure.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but as we need to keep working with the players on making sure we we deliver on those things because you're right, at the end of the day, there is only one stat that counts.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: And I think as an individual match, a lot of fans would have gone away from that thinking, you know what, it's football, these these things happen.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: The worry is that it's at home the results haven't been what you would want them to be, and you don't want that getting in the players' heads, you don't want them going out to Ashton Gate feeling you know not the way they do away from home, for example.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think um probably precludes me, if I'm honest, in terms of the form at Ashton Gate, if I was to look at that before I came here.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_02: Um and it's something we're trying to solve, but I do think it's something where the opposition come with a low block, the opposition come with a back five, the opposition come to make it tricky and work on the counter-attack, and we like I say, if we score first in that game, it's a very different game.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and I think we have to learn and grow and develop, and it's something I'm working on with hard with the players on Ashlandate, how we not only create chances, but we keep solid as well because you know if teams are coming to hit you on the counter or or play in a certain way that's slightly different, and again, when we go away from home, we play slightly different to other teams, so it's something that we have to grow together, and I definitely think that's something with younger players in the group that have to understand and have to understand that you know these this level has a different style for home and away teams, you know, Tony Mowbray's different home and away, you know.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_02: So it's it's it's something that we have to keep growing with the group about and keep improving, and um and how we can you know turn that form if you like.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_02: That's what I'm more interested in, how we can turn that form, but I can't worry about what it's been, so you know it's about trying to keep improving and turning it.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, because certainly as an attacking unit, it it would seem you're at your best at the moment in transitions.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: That that's where you really look a very dangerous side, and and teams are coming out to try and minimise the number of opportunities you you get to do that at that point.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, for sure, and that's where the teams are coming lower because it you have no, it denies you the space, and I think we've been yeah, very good in transition, like you say, in moments of the game, and you know, we s we we look a real threat, and then we have to keep developing with the ball when teams are a little bit lower, and how we can break them down, and we haven't quite gelled on that.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_02: I'll find the synergy in the in what we're doing in those situations, but again, the hardest part of the game is scoring, and the hardest part of the game is then definitely breaking down a low block, so it's the stuff that we keep working on all the time, and it's the stuff that we need to keep improving on.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_02: But again, when you come back to reflect on that game, you know, we didn't create no as near as many chances away at Charlton, um, but we got a draw, you know, and we created loads of chances and get a loss.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_02: So it's important to keep reflective, but it's important to understand that we have to score goals.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_00: Just thinking back to your previous experience, I would imagine that would have happened at Lincoln teams, you know, certainly last season would have come and done the same sort of thing.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_00: Is is it almost a something's got to happen and the penny drops and everybody gets it, or is it just that constant word that sooner or later everybody gets to the level where you can do what you need to do to break down those low blocks?
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_02: Um sometimes things can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_02: Um, if you score at set pieces, teams think you're really good at set pieces, but actually you might not be that good.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_02: But then teams start to defend you because they think you're good at set pieces.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_02: That's that's how football works.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_02: We have to understand it's a random low-scoring game, but across the case of um 46, we're we're trying to put things in place that keep improving us.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but you're right, you can create an environment that that is that is hard to play at, it's hard to beat, and find a way to play.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_02: And I think you know, my job is to find that way.
• 6:50
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and it doesn't look need to look like the same as it did with the clubs.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_02: We have to understand that each club is different, each club has its own unique um strengths and and weaknesses, and we have to find a way.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_02: And the us and the players have to find a way to to drive that uh and deliver on that.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and but we are still looking at that, you know, we're still trying to improve on that.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_02: You're you're 100% right, you know.
• 7:11
  SPEAKER_02: When when when I went into Lincoln, we didn't have it all right in the first three, four months.
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_02: I think maybe one one game in eight, nine, um, but then you can develop a certain aspect across time and windows and and all those things to to become a force.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_02: And we're we're still in the early stages, if you like, of doing that.
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_02: Um, it's still early days, and I I do want to stress that the players are still adapting to the level, it's important to understand that.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so yeah, we've still got loads of work to do, there's no doubt about it.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_02: But when you look at the reflection of the scores and the amount of chances, I think it's we're not sitting here having a discussion if we score the goals we should.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, 100%.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_00: Um, it never gets any easier.
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_00: You've got Sheffield United at the weekend, and obviously Chris Wilde have been there and done it at this level, a little bit up and down this season, but but another tough afternoon in prospect.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and again, excuse me, every game is tough like for different reasons, and they've probably been up and down, but you see the change of form recently.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I thought last night when they went 2-0 down, they nearly got it back to two-all.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_02: So there is no easy game, and you have to be on it for the full 90.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_02: And I think at times, again, we haven't had a full 90-minute performance yet either.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_02: I think we've been electric in certain moments of the games, and then we've been a little bit under par.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_02: We're trying to put a group together and a team together and a squad together that understands the full 90.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_02: And that doesn't always mean being on top of the game and having to create loads of chances, it means how we manage that as well, in certain moments, and every team's gonna have moments.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_02: So, how do we manage that?
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_02: And Sheffield and I had a very strong, experienced group of players.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_02: I know Pat Banford very well for my time at Leeds working with him.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_02: I know you know other players in that group very well, um, and they're very experienced players as well at this level, so it's gonna be another tough game.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_02: That but every game that we go into, we believe we put in a plan like Blackburn that we think we can put in a plan that um you know can win the game.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_02: And I think that's the most important thing.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_02: We always go out to win the game, um, and we'll do exactly the same.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you very much.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_03: Hi, Michael.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_03: I'm just intrude from like kind of you personally with the players when when there is that sort of frustration in the building after game like Tuesday, is that something you look to harness or kind of park?
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_03: You've spoken to us before about trying to be quite level.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I think in the moment the the players know know my frustrations, their frustrations, I think it's important.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_02: We're human beings, we care.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_02: I think that's the most important thing, you know.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_02: We it's no one is more disappointed, frustrated, angry, all those terms that you can think about after that game than us, than the than the players, you know, because I think the games you you know you know games where you've been outplayed and you'll have bad days and you shouldn't win it, and then there's other games where you think you should win it and you haven't, and I think that's probably the the bigger frustration.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_02: You know, we went to Charlton, we didn't think we did enough in that game, but you know, there's been other games this season where you could argue I think of a game Preston where we won the game, but we probably weren't great on the day, and you nick that one if you like, but um, and then there's games like Blackburn where you feel like God we've done more than enough to win the game.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so that's where the frustration comes.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_02: But I think then you have to take a step back the next day and you review it, reflect on it, and go back to work about what we think's good, what we're doing good, and we're doing some great stuff.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_02: You know, we're we're doing some great stuff on the pitch that's really exciting and keep developing, and when we need to fix the things that are causing us problems, um, and I think that's always been the same, and I think that's what the process needs to be in keep improving the team and keep um keep moving in the right direction.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_03: How easy is it sometimes to take that perspective?
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_03: I think I kind of asked you straight after WIS on Tuesday, I imagine it's a lot harder then than two days out when you've are you able to take that step back and think, you know what?
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, you have to, it's the job.
• 10:39
  SPEAKER_02: Like um, of course, we all want to win football matches.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_02: Of course, everybody wants to win every single football match that they they ever play, and that's the nature of the business.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_02: And I I I want to win more than anybody.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but also you need to make sure make sure that uh you take the good points so you keep developing on your good points and you you harness the things that need to improve and we keep developing the group.
• 11:00
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but again, I it's a new group, you know, it's not it's not a group.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_02: If you look at the champion experience, championship experience maybe Sheffield United have compared to us.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_02: You look at the championship experience that Blackburn have and compared to us, that doesn't mean they're more or less talented or their potential is more or less, it just means that we still have got loads of learning, and of course, you know, Don Ballard played very well.
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_02: I thought let's be honest, I thought his actual gameplay was very well, but he didn't score.
• 11:26
  SPEAKER_02: Like, and you know, he needs to take those chances.
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_02: He knows that he's he's more gutted than anybody because Dom just wants to score goals, you know that, and he's a scorer of great goals, but that's his development as well in in terms of you know, I still think adapting to the level, even though he's been in English football for a while.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_03: Is that a similar message to the players then?
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_03: That I guess because they're all gonna be disappointed.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_03: Cam's just said to us how frustrated he is.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_03: But do you do you have to remind them or do they know is that frustration bombers from the fact they know it's not a million miles away that's yeah, they can feel it, they're players, they feel the pain, but they also feel the good stuff.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and then it's for me to be objective with the coaching staff to keep showing them the good stuff we're doing and the stuff that's hurting us, and and that's the game, and then we keep going on the training pitch and working hard because that's the only way that you can fix these things.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_02: Um, keep trying to keep the group healthy, which is which is a challenge.
• 12:12
  SPEAKER_02: I think we're in a good place where I've managed to manage the group to a state where we've got not too many big injuries, whereas at this stage of the season that's what you want to do, and uh sometimes those challenges and changes are enforced, um, so you don't want to make as many changes, but you have to make changes either to to help the health of the players in the group or also because you're enforced into doing things so they don't get injured.
• 12:34
  SPEAKER_02: Um, sometimes you I know that we want more, if you like, uh settled team.
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I would like a more settled team, but then you have to make the balance in the decision what's settled and what's not settled.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_02: And um, but I think we've got a good squad depth here, you know.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_02: And I think we've got a really good depth of squad uh that all can perform.
• 12:50
  SPEAKER_02: And I think, like I say, if we put two or three of those chances in and it you come in 2-0, then then it's a good day at the office.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_02: But you lose one nil when you should win, it's a frustrating day.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_03: I was gonna ask you about that because I think you know people have made note of the changes, Watford or um or even Tuesday night.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_03: You're always gonna want that more settled side.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_03: Is there that school of thought that if you look after now, February, those dark months, that that hard work's gonna be rewarded?
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think with every decision um in those things, there's a tactical decision, there's a um relationship decision, which was still which I understand is can be a challenge for some times, but then there's also looking after the health of the squad decision uh and making sure that when we push and we make risks that you don't you don't lose players for extra time.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_02: So that's always gonna be a challenge of management.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_02: You know, everybody wants to see Tolly backed two games ago, and you could probably force it, but you might lose him for two months, three months.
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_02: So do you do you wait for that or and make changes, or do you um or do you risk that?
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_02: Um but I think that's that's the challenge of management, and that's the stuff behind the scenes that is not always visible, is not always seen.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and that's always the can be frustrating for me at times, but that's the job, but that's football.
• 14:05
  SPEAKER_02: Um and then you have other instances where you know take Luke McNally for example.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_02: I could risk Luke McNally on Tuesday night.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_02: I could have played Luke McNally from the start, no problem.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_02: But he breaks down in that situation um and we lose him or he loses his career, what's the right decision?
• 14:20
  SPEAKER_02: You know, so it's it's it's important to understand that it's not just play him to the break and that's it, but it is also into important to think we've got to get a settled team as much as possible.
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_02: But I will say this that I've always have done made changes, especially on a three-game week, because I think the physicality of that um helps the team.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_02: And again, if you make the changes and you win at Watford, they're all good changes.
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_02: If you win 2-0 at Blackburn, they're all good changes.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_02: If you lose, then the changes get assed.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_02: That's that's the nature of management.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_03: I guess it's similar but different with someone like Rio as well, where he's not coming back from an injury, but this is such a new world to him where you are going to have to tread carefully a little bit with it.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and I think that's the bit that's the hardest bit, I think, again, in management.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_02: There's a lot sometimes a lot of like subplots to a team.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_02: Um and like Rio's been exceptional.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_02: You know that he's been exceptional for us since he's come here.
• 15:05
  SPEAKER_02: He's been what a you know, he couldn't have wanted to start his first loan better.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_02: And because he was being so exceptional and he it was his first outing in the championship, and every game is physically demanding, um, he started to get a little bit of a groin and an awareness there, and you could push him through.
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_02: Um, we obviously wanted to support him to go to um you know in the international break, and he wanted to do that, but he's gone there and he's still feeling it, and he's come back, and now you know you could argue we need to look after him.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_02: And again, we don't want to lose Rio for when we know we can manage it, we don't want to lose him for two months because we'd kick ourselves if we knew there was that situation.
• 15:41
  SPEAKER_02: But of course, at some point you have to risk Rio and you have to make sure that he's good to go again, and we're just trying to make get the balance.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_02: I'm just trying to get the balance of that right.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_03: I wanted to ask you about Lisav.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_03: I think a few others would maybe expect him to be on the left because that's where he was at Lincoln.
• 15:55
  SPEAKER_03: Is that quite always the way you thought you'd go with him on the right side of Rob?
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_03: No.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_03: No, no?
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_03: Why do we put him that side?
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_03: I'm not uh I'm not sure.
• 16:06
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, so because um Lisa's nattery left left side.
• 16:09
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 16:10
  SPEAKER_02: So being on the right of.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_02: Rob Atkinson is the left-footed natural left side.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_02: Do I risk Luke to play him or do I play Luke instead of Lisa?
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so I'm not being you know controversial, it's just again that's the the challenge of the squad because Rob Dickey's not in play.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_03: I meant more I think when they played together for a little bit of Link against Lincoln, it was Rob on the right.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_03: Rob Dickey.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_03: Uh Rob Atkinson when Rob went when Rob Dickey went down.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_03: I think the other way the other way around listen.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_01: Sorry, I thought you know.
• 16:40
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
• 16:40
  SPEAKER_02: So the game, sorry, yeah, that was to do with the shape of the team a little bit, but against Blackburn, we had um Rob Atkinson on the left and then Lee Sav on the on the right, because Lee Sof's got a great right foot as well.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_02: Um but there's no doubt that for me that Lee Sav's best position is is left, you know, left centre half.
• 16:55
  SPEAKER_03: So in terms of a learning experience for him though, as well, we've spoken so much about that.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_02: But I trust I trust Lee Sav can do a good job there, you know, he's a good defender.
• 17:02
  SPEAKER_02: So I trust in those situations that and if I were to put Rob Dickey on the left, I'd trust he, a Luke Mandali.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_02: So, you know, it's never a pure science, um, but they're good players and they can do it.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_03: Um I wanted to ask you I try to remember who now threw me off by asking the question.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_03: Um Gibb Gibson as well you mentioned that just winded on Tuesday in the end of the year.
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think he got he got an elbow, didn't he?
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, um but again as yeah, I thought Gibson had a good performance in there.
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_02: Um so and I think what he's shown is he he can he shows his physicality and his his power in the team.
• 17:32
  SPEAKER_02: Um but he's another one that's adapting to Saturday, Tuesday, which he's not experienced before, and the physicality of it, but he's coming on well as well.
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_03: I wanted to ask you about Tommy Horvath as well, just it feels like we've asked you a lot when he's not playing, it feels right when he is what did you kind of make of his like I guess longer than the cameo on Tuesday with his performance?
• 17:48
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I thought he um he he got longer than he's he's got for a while.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_02: Um he's working hard to get more minutes.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_02: Um I thought he looked clean and tidy on the ball.
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but like I thought in the second half we all could have done better with the ball in terms of forcing more um opportunities to to score.
• 18:05
  SPEAKER_02: Um but I know Tommy's quality.
• 18:07
  SPEAKER_02: Um there's no doubt his technical quality is is good, and it's again it's the challenge of where he plays, who he plays over, and it's the squad depth.
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_02: Um but for sure, you know, all the players are chomping and fighting for the competition, and that's probably again one of the good things about staying healthy is the competition is high.
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so yeah, him and a few other players are you know, you know, fighting hard to get a get a shit.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_03: Ended up a bit of an odd break for him, I guess, going away with on international duty but not playing losers.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_03: That that's a little bit of you that thinks could have could have lost.
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_02: I was actually I was actually hoping he'd play a bit more to be honest, because I think he needs a bit more football.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_02: So like I was actually gonna try and go out and watch him and support him, but um yeah, he didn't play probably as much as he wanted to, as much as we wanted to.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_02: But again, that's that's football.
• 18:51
  SPEAKER_02: That's that's a challenge for him and a challenge for him here to get more minutes.
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_02: But he's in a good place, he's he's ready to go, and I think he's a he's a top professional that trains hard every day.
• 19:00
  SPEAKER_02: Um, like all of them, they're an exceptional group to work with.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_02: They're um brilliant bunch of lads that that train really hard every day, very diligent.
• 19:09
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and yeah, they're all they're all fighting for a shirt.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_03: In terms of it feels again, I think I said it on Monday, but after this one, it's a bit of a gap between home games.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_03: It would be not I I know it's very much outside noise, but if you could kind of put that to one side any talk that fans have or we've we're asking you questions about the home form, it would it would feel like a boost, wouldn't it, to get it?
• 19:28
  SPEAKER_02: I don't think one game solves that problem, to be honest.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_02: So I don't think one win or one loss solves that problem.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_02: I think you the form is the thing we're talking about.
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_02: I think this is about over a long period of time.
• 19:40
  SPEAKER_02: I think one it shouldn't go either or for me in terms of you shouldn't get one win and then the forms change and one loss and the form is changed.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_02: We're talking about form here, we're talking about over a long period of time.
• 19:49
  SPEAKER_02: We're talking about months, you know, six months, a year, how we can create create something that we all want me, you, the fans, the players at Ashton Gate, which is important.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_02: Um but we'll keep working on it.