Graham Kavanagh...

[ThatJa]

JP

Very close against a very good Sheffield United team, but just couldn’t quite get the winning goal, what do you feel tonight?

GK

Very, very proud of the players, I thought they gave their absolute all. I thought they caused a very good Sheffield United team, who are probably the most form team in the country at the moment, a great deal of problems. I know at the end Nigel Clough was very pleased to hear that final whistle because I think we were the team attacking their goal looking like we were going to score.

But, it wasn’t to be, maybe a little bit of lack of sort of experience if you like in the key areas and that game know-how to get a goal. But, I can’t fault the players, I am very, very proud of them and again, as they have done in most games, they gave their absolute all.

JP

And you talk about that form, their tenth win on the trot, they have beaten Championship sides in their cup run, they clearly are a big threat, you must be very happy that it was a slender defeat even it had to be a defeat?

GK

Well, I am never happy to win games but there are ways to lose, and that is exactly the way we should be losing games if we are going to lose. Tonight we were very much together, showed a great deal of commitment, a great deal of work-rate for each other, sometimes a little bit of a lack of game know-how and experience. But, when a club like ourselves are missing three or four senior players who would play it is always going to impact on results and the group.

But, the young lads who have come in, the signings I have made, they have thrown themselves straight into it and they have played actually very, very well, so I was really, really pleased. But, I have to say all credit to a very good Sheffield United team, they were obviously nowhere near at the start of the season and Nigel has come in and done a great job, so good luck for the rest of the season.

JP

On the other side of that slender margin of course, you mentioned a few of the decisions and it was just a couple of decisions that might have actually got you this point here tonight, just little decision making in that final third?

GK

I thought you were referring to the referee [Carl Boyeson] to be honest, because he was absolutely useless, him and his officials. I probably shouldn’t be saying that but it is reality, there was a situation right at the very end of the game when it was a goal-kick, he waited on the call of the fans and they called it as a corner so he decided to give a corner.

It is difficult, it is always difficult coming to a big club, big atmosphere, big stadium, big crowd, you need things to go your way. I thought the application of the players was first class but we just couldn’t get over the line and one or two decisions may have gone our way on a different night.

Comes across as a bit of a bitter prick, doesn't he? Hope he enjoys League Two.

 

[sitwell]

You could probably narrow it down to the media training agency Carlisle use ,if you've got nothing to say , say it 10 times to make sure.

 

[TonyAgana]

I've never liked his face but don't read too much bitterness in that interview to be fair. Just standard cliches with a smidgen of ref-rant. And to be fair, we did decide it was a corner!

 

[SwissBlade]

I read that but just thought he was very honest. Didn't see the game but we let them back in late on as we tired. Also said the ref was crap which ties in with what others have said

 

[SotonBlade]

I don't see any issues with that interview if I'm quite honest.

 

[NottinghamBlade]

Assuming that we're talking about the bits you've highlighted:

1) We're bang on form and they caused us problems. We were glad to here the final whistle. Seems perfectly fair.

2) That was the right way to lose. Seems fair again. They had a few chances and could have snatched a draw against the division's form team.

3) We were shit at the start of the season and now we're doing well. I don't think anyone can argue with this.

4) The referee was shit. Maybe a bit of sour grapes here, but I've heard a lot worse from managers in the past.

If this makes him a bitter prick, then 99% of football managers must be bitter pricks too.

 

[yuley82]

I thought he spoke well and they could easily have nicked a point...

 

[itsinyerblood]

Could the OP tell us why he thinks Kavanagh is supposed to be a "bitter prick"? I read the interview. It's always possible I missed something, or perhaps it was a little too nuanced for my tastes, but could an explanation be provided for this accusation?
I'm always happy to further my understanding of the professional game, so I look forward to some insight on this matter.

 

[bramptonblade]

Thought we were in control for most of the game, as always they had a couple of half decent chances!. Never felt that we were really under the cosh and defended capably when needed. Fairly obvious the players felt the game was won and played the clock down.

 

[Grecian2000]

[quote="NottinghamBlade, post: 582955, member: 17204) The referee was shit. Maybe a bit of sour grapes here, but I've heard a lot worse from managers in the past.
[/quote]

You'd have heard a fucking lot worse from me last night after the bell end (and his cunting assistants) had made complete twats of themselves for the full 90 minutes. As a threesome (calm down Dazzler, not that sort) they were the worst I've seen for a good while (possibly ever) for sheer incompetence..

 

[South_Stand]

Tbf I thought the referee last night was a pathetic excuse of a referee. Not a cheat, just a terrible, terrible, terrible referee. I didn't see any bitterness in that interview!

 

[LSF]

Kavanagh's comments were pretty much on the mark. Ref was awful and seemed to have had a seizure at one point when he was required to make a decision!

 

[Maidenhead]

Can't see any issues at all.

He says we came, we gave it a go, but they were just a bit better than us.

Or that's how I read it and that's how I saw it too.