|
GA
They are in good nick again, we have just been up to our new training ground that we are trying to develop up at Creighton. The pitch was fantastic, the weather is brilliant for football, a nice bit of rain and the pitch is perfect. We have had to drag them off the training field again, reluctantly because it was so good, we enjoy it just as much as them. But, for fear of anybody doing too much or getting injuries we have had to pull them off.
We are getting ready now for all the arrangements for getting lifts and pick-ups tomorrow. We are going to train at Reading tomorrow, maybe see our old friend down there, Nicky Hammond, and enjoy a training session down there. They are easy to manage at the moment, well certainly the eleven are.
You have got a few that still want to be getting in the team but they are as good as gold. They enjoy their work at the minute and the youth, because we have got so many young players in there, they just enjoy training and they have got loads of energy. Probably you could end up doing too much with them because of the way they are.
But, they are absolutely so low maintenance at the moment that we are just in there, we organise the work, we tell them what we want to do. We have done a little bit of shape work today compared to what Bournemouth might be like and the way we might do things. So, we have got that out of the way and then we have got into the football side of it and it has been brilliant.
PN
You talked after the draw against Brighton last Saturday, one of the things you picked out was saying you would work on the finishing this week. That was perhaps one area which you felt the team could improve on, how much work has gone into that?
GA
Every day, but that is not really anything other than the norm, because we know how important it is to get goals. I think we played far better at times against Brighton than we did against MK Dons. But, we had a 20 minute spell against MK Dons where we were absolutely unbelievable around the goal. We scored four goals and then all of a sudden people think it is a fantastic victory.
But, the first-half against Brighton was tremendous we thought and it just needed the goal to give it that sort of justification if you like. But, certainly delighted with the performance again, and you look at their (Brighton's) result at Plymouth on Tuesday night and you think that is maybe not a bad performance, never mind the result.
Because, they have obviously gone and won quite comfortably on Tuesday against Plymouth who we think are a good side. So, our game might be just one of those good ones in the long run.
PN
How difficult is it going to be on Saturday do you think?
GA
Very difficult, very difficult, we have had these watched three times already, and they have got goals in their team but they also leak goals. We know how they play, we know what they want to do, we know how they try to do things. That is why we have done some work today, which is again, the norm, but probably a little bit longer on that.
Then we will do it again tomorrow on our training session at Reading, and then hopefully we go into the game knowing what we are going to come up against and what we are trying to do ourselves. But, certainly we had a team meeting as well this morning which is not always the norm, we usually do it all on the training field. But, I have ironed one or two bits and pieces which I would like to get right for Saturday, both for and against, and we are ready again.
PN
Any players in the Bournemouth line-up in particular you have singled out for special attention?
GA
Yeah, I think a team that scores as many goals as that, you have got to give them an utmost amount of respect. We know the players in the team that are likely to cause us problems, but we think we have got good players in the areas to stop them. If we can do that, if we can keep a clean sheet on Saturday I think we will win the game, it is as simple as that. I don't think it will be a nil for us, if we keep a clean sheet I think we will win the game.
PN
What do you make of the job Eddie Howe has done down there in his two or three years in charge?
GA
He should get an award, he should get something in recognition of that. We were all, the four of us (Abbott, Paul Dickov, Alan Irvine and Gary Johnson), I think we were in the frame for the manager of the month award. But, I think Eddie should have blown us all away, I think Eddie should have got it.
Alan has got it and he has done a great job don't get me wrong in the first month because it is sometimes difficult coming down. But, he is at Sheffield Wednesday, let's remember where he is and what he has got to work with and look at where Eddie has been and what he has got to work with. For me he is the manager of the season so far, so top marks to him and long may it continue for him.
Hopefully he has a blip on Saturday and then I can keep patting him on the back. But, for me he has done a sensational job and he will get headhunted because it is very, very difficult to do what he has done, very difficult, I can assure you. Because, we have done it on a slightly easier basis, but there are certainly teams in our league that will have it a lot easier than Eddie has had it, and he has done a phenomenal job.
PN
With regard to your team, Paul Thirlwell, how is he progressing with his injury?
GA
He must be getting nearer to fitness because he has started chirping on a bit now. He has started having a bit of the banter back, he was a bit quiet for a few days but he must be getting closer now because he has started to chip away, and he has worn a pink shirt so that tells me he must be getting nearer team selection.
PN
So, we are looking at what? Maybe another couple of weeks away?
GA
Yeah, hopefully, yeah, we want him back as quick as we can. He has been a big plus for us this year, without setting targets I would hope by certainly a fortnight on Saturday then he will be somewhere near joining in again.
PN
And Danny Livesey, Kevan Hurst and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, how are they getting on?
GA
Hursty, we are going to leave him behind, he has trained brilliantly today but we are going to leave him behind tomorrow. Give him another proper day's training rather than a long journey and a short session tomorrow, but back in with us again on Monday.
Bridgey, another week or so or at least. So, they are two negatives but Hursty is certainly on his way back. Danny Livesey, he is probably another two weeks before he is going to join in with the light stuff at the start of our sessions.
PN
Your reserves had a run-out at Stockport in midweek, and two goals for Ben Marshall?
GA
Yeah, Ben is chomping at the bit, he has looked really good. So, he is one that we can maybe integrate, we have four games coming up in the next ten days I think haven't we. So, he is one I think that is pushing very close and hard.
PN
And for Stockport, one of your former trialists Yannick Salem got a couple of goals, what did you make of his performance?
GA
We really liked Yannick, it was down to us that we got him to Stockport. A fantastic kid, very much like Francois (Zoko) in his ways. He just got on the train from London and turned up, and got his own digs and did his own work and wants to be a footballer. So, we help people like that but we just didn't feel that at the moment he could be better than a few that we had.
We have got some excellent players in his type, in terms of the Francoises, the Hurstys, the Matty Robsons, the Ben Marshalls. So, we rang Paul (Simpson) and told him to take the lad and have a really good look at him, because he might do you some good. I am pleased he has got his goals and I hope he earns himself a contract.
PN
You are also taking a look at Amari Morgan-Smith at the moment on trial, what is the situation with him?
GA
We know about Amari from having scouted that level and he is another one that comes under the radar. With what happened at Ilkeston we tried to get him up as quick as we could, we were first in, we got to have a good look at him and he is going to come back on Monday and we will have another look.
PN
What did you make of his performance on Tuesday?
GA
Alright, he was alright, it is a hell of a jump from where he has been. What we can't do is carry players that we know won't get into our first-team. So, we have got to make that snap judgement in a short period of time in which we are under a bit of pressure from his agent to make a decision.
Which I don't think is right, because we need to get it right just as much for our football club as much for Amari. There is no point him coming here, us signing him and him not forcing himself into the team, that defeats the object. But, he has done alright and we are going to have another look, I would like a bit more time but if they don't give me that then we will do what they are asking, and make a decision on him early next week.
PN
Is there quite a bit of interest in Amari from other clubs at the moment?
GA
I think there is a bit of interest but nothing, Manchester United aren't after him I don't think so I think we can compete with the interest. It is making sure we get the decision right.
PN
His agent is pressing you for a decision, when are you likely to make that decision?
GA
I will honour that, I think his agent is daft, if you get the wrong decision then nobody wins, Amari wouldn't win and we wouldn't win. We could sign him on a 12-month contract tomorrow, but if he is not good enough to get in our team then he is going to be really frustrated for 12 months. He needs to keep playing and maintain his progression, so his agent has asked for Monday and I will tell him Monday.