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In United's matchday program for the league game against Walsall (29th November 2016), Paul Coutts participated in the Q and A (pages 20-25).Gives a great insight into Coutts pre Wilder, and hopefully banishes a few myths and misapprehensions:
Q: Did being transfer-listed in the summer give you added motivation to prove yourself to the new manager?
A: It was something I relished to be honest, I knew I just needed to get my head down and work hard. The gaffer is honest and straight talking, there aren't any grey areas with him and he phoned me on his first day in the job and told me what was happening; he had to make a mark on the squad I suppose. He let me train with the lads and give me a chance to prove myself and I've been rewarded. I've never been left out in the cold and I'll always be grateful for being given the opportunity.
Q: Would it be fair to say that you are currently playing your best football?
A:I would say so. It was my first full pre-season in three years in the summer so that was a massive help because I know from experience that you simply can't catch up once you've missed a pre-season. In the last two campaigns I was playing with painkillers and having injections for my knee.That means you can't train hard enough or frequently enough because painkillers are so bad for your insides, so you are never getting that level of fitness that you need to play to your optimum level.
Q: Do you feel your best form has coincided with your fitness, having previously suffered a career threatening injury at Derby County?
A: Yes. It took me a lot longer than I and a lot of other people anticipated following a knee injury that saw me on the sidelines for around 15 months.I couldn't train enough to get fit enough and it showed, I could feel it and people could see it.I was only able to coast through games at times, because I was way of breaking down, but now I'm able to try and influence games an it all comes down to fitness.
Q: You've struck up a very good partnership with John Fleck in the engine room, what do you put that down to?
A: Myself and Flecky compliment each other and we're doing well together, but we've also got 'Bash' who can slot in and Ben (Whiteman) and 'Reedy' are pushing hard too. I know John from our days together in the Scotland youth teams and we know each other's games inside out and that certainly give you a good start.We both like the ball and are comfortable receiving it from the defenders.That helps because if some teams drop a striker of to nullify one of us, the other one is able to dictate play.
Q: Since coming into the team at Millwall back in August, you've been a near ever-present, how important has consistency in team selection been to the current unbeaten run and allowing several players the chance to find and maintain their best form?
A: The manager said from day one he would reward hard work and graft and that's what's happened. We've all had to work extremely hard to get the shirt but once you have it you know your performances will determine whether you keep it and thankfully we've been doing very well, but you're only as good as your last game.We train how we want to play, we don't switch of and that shows when we come to play on a Saturday or Tuesday.
Q: Just how different is this season to last, there seems to be a genuine connection between the team and supporters this term?
A: The fans have always backed us in fantastic numbers and they are never afraid to vent their opinions It was boring to play last season, so it must have been boring and even more frustrating to watch from the terraces. We didn't have any options within the team, we didn't play with any identity or energy and we were sluggish throughout.We got stuck in a rut and never got out of it. Teams now fear coming to Bramall Lane, last season's opponents enjoyed coming here and fancied themselves to get something.
Q: You moved to Sheffield in the summer and were blessed with the arrival of twins, how are you adopting to parenthood?
A: It's been hectic away from football to say the least. But it's certainly given me an extra drive, I feel that extra responsibility to perform an be as successful as I can in a bid to support my family.Coming to work is like a rest. Being a new parent is fantastic but tough, especially having twins, but myself and Vicki support each other as much as we can and the lads sometimes pop round to lend a hand!
Edit: should add this isn't the complete QA. Left a few, now largely irrelevant questions out.
Q: Did being transfer-listed in the summer give you added motivation to prove yourself to the new manager?
A: It was something I relished to be honest, I knew I just needed to get my head down and work hard. The gaffer is honest and straight talking, there aren't any grey areas with him and he phoned me on his first day in the job and told me what was happening; he had to make a mark on the squad I suppose. He let me train with the lads and give me a chance to prove myself and I've been rewarded. I've never been left out in the cold and I'll always be grateful for being given the opportunity.
Q: Would it be fair to say that you are currently playing your best football?
A:I would say so. It was my first full pre-season in three years in the summer so that was a massive help because I know from experience that you simply can't catch up once you've missed a pre-season. In the last two campaigns I was playing with painkillers and having injections for my knee.That means you can't train hard enough or frequently enough because painkillers are so bad for your insides, so you are never getting that level of fitness that you need to play to your optimum level.
Q: Do you feel your best form has coincided with your fitness, having previously suffered a career threatening injury at Derby County?
A: Yes. It took me a lot longer than I and a lot of other people anticipated following a knee injury that saw me on the sidelines for around 15 months.I couldn't train enough to get fit enough and it showed, I could feel it and people could see it.I was only able to coast through games at times, because I was way of breaking down, but now I'm able to try and influence games an it all comes down to fitness.
Q: You've struck up a very good partnership with John Fleck in the engine room, what do you put that down to?
A: Myself and Flecky compliment each other and we're doing well together, but we've also got 'Bash' who can slot in and Ben (Whiteman) and 'Reedy' are pushing hard too. I know John from our days together in the Scotland youth teams and we know each other's games inside out and that certainly give you a good start.We both like the ball and are comfortable receiving it from the defenders.That helps because if some teams drop a striker of to nullify one of us, the other one is able to dictate play.
Q: Since coming into the team at Millwall back in August, you've been a near ever-present, how important has consistency in team selection been to the current unbeaten run and allowing several players the chance to find and maintain their best form?
A: The manager said from day one he would reward hard work and graft and that's what's happened. We've all had to work extremely hard to get the shirt but once you have it you know your performances will determine whether you keep it and thankfully we've been doing very well, but you're only as good as your last game.We train how we want to play, we don't switch of and that shows when we come to play on a Saturday or Tuesday.
Q: Just how different is this season to last, there seems to be a genuine connection between the team and supporters this term?
A: The fans have always backed us in fantastic numbers and they are never afraid to vent their opinions It was boring to play last season, so it must have been boring and even more frustrating to watch from the terraces. We didn't have any options within the team, we didn't play with any identity or energy and we were sluggish throughout.We got stuck in a rut and never got out of it. Teams now fear coming to Bramall Lane, last season's opponents enjoyed coming here and fancied themselves to get something.
Q: You moved to Sheffield in the summer and were blessed with the arrival of twins, how are you adopting to parenthood?
A: It's been hectic away from football to say the least. But it's certainly given me an extra drive, I feel that extra responsibility to perform an be as successful as I can in a bid to support my family.Coming to work is like a rest. Being a new parent is fantastic but tough, especially having twins, but myself and Vicki support each other as much as we can and the lads sometimes pop round to lend a hand!
Edit: should add this isn't the complete QA. Left a few, now largely irrelevant questions out.
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