Pre-match press conferences - Luton Town (A)

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Cappy

Cappy

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As always, if you watch the SUFC ones on the club website, you'll need to log in. I'll upload any Luton presser vids and SUFC YouTube clips as and when the clubs post them, but if you find something before me, please add it to the thread.

Wilder is live on Friday at 0900. Link below 👇

Sheffield United FC

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www.sufc.co.uk www.sufc.co.uk

I'll post some notes once I've watched it
 

Longer than I thought it'd be today, but it's a weekend game, so I guess the reporters have got to write a fair few words for their various publications.

Injuries & Absences:
  • Cannon left the game in a boot, how is he? "We will give him and Gus as long as possible to assess before we get on the bus"
  • "With Gus it was flagged up pretty earlier when he went down, so we hope it's not too serious". I believe he meant we managed it well through the game, before taking him off
  • If they aren't ready for tomorrow, they "will be ready for next week"
  • On Tom Cannon showing his character to insist on staying on after half time, "what he gives to us, he stretches the game and opens it up for us. He's come to score goals and he will do. He hasn't had any unvelievable clear-cut chances but there will be. We haven't brought him to be judged after 4 games, he's here for the long term. We understand his personality, mentality and character"
  • "It's a fair (big, he means) fee, so that's the way the game is going. To get a young English player for that fee I think is reasonable." Fans' quick judgement "has changed a little bit though with social media. It is instant. Quickly judged. Part of my job is to make sure we stay calm and focused and balanced in our opinion and we don't overact when a performance isn't where we want it to be." That last bit, he meant the entire team, not specifically Cannon
  • No other injuries following Boro
  • On Ollie Arblaster being out in the Middle East, I assume as part of his recovery - I haven't seen anything personally, "it was something we talked about. He's worked really hard. He's desperate to get back, but we can't rush him". "Get some sun on his back. He's made up that the team is winning games of football and played like we did on Wednesday night. He'll have watched that with a bit of envy" emphasising the mental recovery is important
  • Will he be back this season? "Let's wait and see, it's usually a 9-month injury"

Reflecting on Middlesbrough:
  • "The response of the players as a group [was important]. How did they want it to look? How did they want it to feel? We got that. They're fighting in training to start, then if you come on [as a sub], like Ben, he didn't have a sulk, [he played well]. There's always opportunity, and those boys are contributing
  • The pen and the fact it happens all the time, "You're always gonna get contact in the penalty area from a set piece. 99% of football people watching that would have said let it go, both got hold of each other. I didn't get it. I thought it was a poor performance by the referee all the way through to be honest. Some of the things he gave, the things he missed", pointing out how the supporters noticed it and voiced their opinion.
  • "My main objective at half time was to calm the players down because they were furious. Reset the mentality, which was fantastic in the first half. We did, and we went again"
  • He doesn't want the ref and the pen to distract form the fact that "It was an outstanding performance against a good team"

Luton:
  • "Luton Town is a difficult place to go. You have to have the tough mindset. Their home form is OK (Cappy: it's not). It's been a difficult season for them but we expect their best effort. Their support can be a 12th man when they get going, and I expect it will with the visit of us.
  • "I'm not looking at this as top v bottom, I'm looking at this as Sheff United v Luton Town"
  • Some fans may have thought we would be in the position Luton are, after last season? "50 points was the first target, then 70 for the playoffs, then we take it from there. I agree, a lot of our supporters would have seen this as a survival season after last year, but credit to the players in the way they have built that momentum, which we've had all season, taken the disappointments in our stride and moved straight on. It's all about putting runs together."

General:
  • On speculation about interest in Gus from Leeds for the summer. "He's our best player so there will be interest from big clubs. We don't want to be losing our players, and now isn't the time for [us to talk to any teams about] that"
  • He said the 11 may settle down once we get into the one game per week schedule, but he's happy to be rotating at the moment
  • Reflecting further on the Pompey game, he thinks he took what he thought was an opportunity to get minutes into the new players, perhaps thinking it'd be an easier game? But it didn't work from a performance point of view
  • He talked a little bit about the squad depth being good and having both the opportunity to rest players and also use the subs as impact in games
  • On having more options and whether that's good, because he had a fairly unchanging 11 in the 18/19 & 19/20 seasons "I like to have the consistency in the back 4 or back 5. Perhaps same in the centre of the park. But up top, you want options. Pocket players, stretch players, Kieffer with his physicality. Wingers who can go past people. People who can find key passes like Gus and Cal. Rhian does a bit of everything. Options is key and good. Let them freshen up. Cal was left out and came back flying. Jes was outstanding"
  • "All these guys buy into what we are about. Some might knock on my door [because they want to play] and I will tell them how it is. Alfie had to come out of the team. Went about it in the right way. He was struggling physically but now he's bang at it and absolutely [looking to force his way] back into the team"
  • Was there opportunity to make an impact when you came in last season or did you have to wait for the Summer? "Yeah, 100%. I [couldn't] manage in the way I'd have liked to have managed. At times I was babysitting, until I knew I had that opportunity to change things. The team was not set up to have a positive season. No criticism of the manager or coaching staff. I'm not saying we didn't fight to stay up and got the white flag up. Certain games may look like it did, but that's what the premier league can do to you. Arsenal at home. We fought and gave our best. Bournemouth where there were bodies everywhere, everyone saw that. "

Interviewers: Andy Giddins, Danny Hall, "Stu" (Stuart Rayner?)

No further questions or details on injuries, so as a reminder what was said in the recent pre-match pressers:
  • Kieffer Moore back involved for Luton
  • Femi Seriki Leeds
  • Shackleton is back in full training

UTB
 
Last edited:
Cappy said:
Longer than I thought it'd be today, but it's a weekend game, so I guess the reporters have got to write a fair few words for their various publications.

Injuries & Absences:
  • Cannon left the game in a boot, how is he? "We will give him and Gus as long as possible to assess before we get on the bus"
  • "With Gus it was flagged up pretty earlier when he went down, so we hope it's not too serious". I believe he meant we managed it well through the game, before taking him off
  • If they aren't ready for tomorrow, they "will be ready for next week"
  • On Tom Cannon showing his character to insist on staying on after half time, "what he gives to us, he stretches the game and opens it up for us. He's come to score goals and he will do. He hasn't had any unvelievable clear-cut chances but there will be. We haven't brought him to be judged after 4 games, he's here for the long term. We understand his personality, mentality and character"
  • "It's a fair (big, he means) fee, so that's the way the game is going. To get a young English player for that fee I think is reasonable." Fans' quick judgement "has changed a little bit though with social media. It is instant. Quickly judged. Part of my job is to make sure we stay calm and focused and balanced in our opinion and we don't overact when a performance isn't where we want it to be." That last bit, he meant the entire team, not specifically Cannon
  • No other injuries following Boro
  • On Ollie Arblaster being out in the Middle East, I assume as part of his recovery - I haven't seen anything personally, "it was something we talked about. He's worked really hard. He's desperate to get back, but we can't rush him". "Get some sun on his back. He's made up that the team is winning games of football and played like we did on Wednesday night. He'll have watched that with a bit of envy" emphasising the mental recovery is important
  • Will he be back this season? "Let's wait and see, it's usually a 9-month injury"

Reflecting on Middlesbrough:
  • "The response of the players as a group [was important]. How did they want it to look? How did they want it to feel? We got that. They're fighting in training to start, then if you come on [as a sub], like Ben, he didn't have a sulk, [he played well]. There's always opportunity, and those boys are contributing
  • The pen and the fact it happens all the time, "You're always gonna get contact in the penalty area from a set piece. 99% of football people watching that would have said let it go, both got hold of each other. I didn't get it. I thought it was a poor performance by the referee all the way through to be honest. Some of the things he gave, the things he missed", pointing out how the supporters noticed it and voiced their opinion.
  • "My main objective at half time was to calm the players down because they were furious. Reset the mentality, which was fantastic in the first half. We did, and we went again"
  • He doesn't want the ref and the pen to distract form the fact that "It was an outstanding performance against a good team"

Luton:
  • "Luton Town is a difficult place to go. You have to have the tough mindset. Their home form is OK (Cappy: it's not). It's been a difficult season for them but we expect their best effort. Their support can be a 12th man when they get going, and I expect it will with the visit of us.
  • "I'm not looking at this as top v bottom, I'm looking at this as Sheff United v Luton Town"
  • Some fans may have thought we would be in the position Luton are, after last season? "50 points was the first target, then 70 for the playoffs, then we take it from there. I agree, a lot of our supporters would have seen this as a survival season after last year, but credit to the players in the way they have built that momentum, which we've had all season, taken the disappointments in our stride and moved straight on. It's all about putting runs together."

General:
  • On speculation about interest in Gus from Leeds for the summer. "He's our best player so there will be interest from big clubs. We don't want to be losing our players, and now isn't the time for [us to talk to any teams about] that"
  • He said the 11 may settle down once we get into the one game per week schedule, but he's happy to be rotating at the moment
  • Reflecting further on the Pompey game, he thinks he took what he thought was an opportunity to get minutes into the new players, perhaps thinking it'd be an easier game? But it didn't work from a performance point of view
  • He talked a little bit about the squad depth being good and having both the opportunity to rest players and also use the subs as impact in games
  • On having more options and whether that's good, because he had a fairly unchanging 11 in the 18/19 & 19/20 seasons "I like to have the consistency in the back 4 or back 5. Perhaps same in the centre of the park. But up top, you want options. Pocket players, stretch players, Kieffer with his physicality. Wingers who can go past people. People who can find key passes like Gus and Cal. Rhian does a bit of everything. Options is key and good. Let them freshen up. Cal was left out and came back flying. Jes was outstanding"
  • "All these guys buy into what we are about. Some might knock on my door [because they want to play] and I will tell them how it is. Alfie had to come out of the team. Went about it in the right way. He was struggling physically but now he's bang at it and absolutely [looking to force his way] back into the team"
  • Was there opportunity to make an impact when you came in last season or did you have to wait for the Summer? "Yeah, 100%. I [couldn't] manage in the way I'd have liked to have managed. At times I was babysitting, until I knew I had that opportunity to change things. The team was not set up to have a positive season. No criticism of the manager or coaching staff. I'm not saying we didn't fight to stay up and got the white flag up. Certain games may look like it did, but that's what the premier league can do to you. Arsenal at home. We fought and gave our best. Bournemouth where there were bodies everywhere, everyone saw that. "

Interviewers: Andy Giddins, Danny Hall, "Stu" (Stuart Rayner?)

No further questions or details on injuries, so as a reminder what was said in the recent pre-match pressers:
  • Kieffer Moore back involved for Luton
  • Femi Seriki Leeds
  • Shackleton is back in full training

UTB
Click to expand...
Great summary. Thanks for the effort Cappy !👏
 
Cappy said:
Longer than I thought it'd be today, but it's a weekend game, so I guess the reporters have got to write a fair few words for their various publications.

Injuries & Absences:
  • Cannon left the game in a boot, how is he? "We will give him and Gus as long as possible to assess before we get on the bus"
  • "With Gus it was flagged up pretty earlier when he went down, so we hope it's not too serious". I believe he meant we managed it well through the game, before taking him off
  • If they aren't ready for tomorrow, they "will be ready for next week"
  • On Tom Cannon showing his character to insist on staying on after half time, "what he gives to us, he stretches the game and opens it up for us. He's come to score goals and he will do. He hasn't had any unvelievable clear-cut chances but there will be. We haven't brought him to be judged after 4 games, he's here for the long term. We understand his personality, mentality and character"
  • "It's a fair (big, he means) fee, so that's the way the game is going. To get a young English player for that fee I think is reasonable." Fans' quick judgement "has changed a little bit though with social media. It is instant. Quickly judged. Part of my job is to make sure we stay calm and focused and balanced in our opinion and we don't overact when a performance isn't where we want it to be." That last bit, he meant the entire team, not specifically Cannon
  • No other injuries following Boro
  • On Ollie Arblaster being out in the Middle East, I assume as part of his recovery - I haven't seen anything personally, "it was something we talked about. He's worked really hard. He's desperate to get back, but we can't rush him". "Get some sun on his back. He's made up that the team is winning games of football and played like we did on Wednesday night. He'll have watched that with a bit of envy" emphasising the mental recovery is important
  • Will he be back this season? "Let's wait and see, it's usually a 9-month injury"

Reflecting on Middlesbrough:
  • "The response of the players as a group [was important]. How did they want it to look? How did they want it to feel? We got that. They're fighting in training to start, then if you come on [as a sub], like Ben, he didn't have a sulk, [he played well]. There's always opportunity, and those boys are contributing
  • The pen and the fact it happens all the time, "You're always gonna get contact in the penalty area from a set piece. 99% of football people watching that would have said let it go, both got hold of each other. I didn't get it. I thought it was a poor performance by the referee all the way through to be honest. Some of the things he gave, the things he missed", pointing out how the supporters noticed it and voiced their opinion.
  • "My main objective at half time was to calm the players down because they were furious. Reset the mentality, which was fantastic in the first half. We did, and we went again"
  • He doesn't want the ref and the pen to distract form the fact that "It was an outstanding performance against a good team"

Luton:
  • "Luton Town is a difficult place to go. You have to have the tough mindset. Their home form is OK (Cappy: it's not). It's been a difficult season for them but we expect their best effort. Their support can be a 12th man when they get going, and I expect it will with the visit of us.
  • "I'm not looking at this as top v bottom, I'm looking at this as Sheff United v Luton Town"
  • Some fans may have thought we would be in the position Luton are, after last season? "50 points was the first target, then 70 for the playoffs, then we take it from there. I agree, a lot of our supporters would have seen this as a survival season after last year, but credit to the players in the way they have built that momentum, which we've had all season, taken the disappointments in our stride and moved straight on. It's all about putting runs together."

General:
  • On speculation about interest in Gus from Leeds for the summer. "He's our best player so there will be interest from big clubs. We don't want to be losing our players, and now isn't the time for [us to talk to any teams about] that"
  • He said the 11 may settle down once we get into the one game per week schedule, but he's happy to be rotating at the moment
  • Reflecting further on the Pompey game, he thinks he took what he thought was an opportunity to get minutes into the new players, perhaps thinking it'd be an easier game? But it didn't work from a performance point of view
  • He talked a little bit about the squad depth being good and having both the opportunity to rest players and also use the subs as impact in games
  • On having more options and whether that's good, because he had a fairly unchanging 11 in the 18/19 & 19/20 seasons "I like to have the consistency in the back 4 or back 5. Perhaps same in the centre of the park. But up top, you want options. Pocket players, stretch players, Kieffer with his physicality. Wingers who can go past people. People who can find key passes like Gus and Cal. Rhian does a bit of everything. Options is key and good. Let them freshen up. Cal was left out and came back flying. Jes was outstanding"
  • "All these guys buy into what we are about. Some might knock on my door [because they want to play] and I will tell them how it is. Alfie had to come out of the team. Went about it in the right way. He was struggling physically but now he's bang at it and absolutely [looking to force his way] back into the team"
  • Was there opportunity to make an impact when you came in last season or did you have to wait for the Summer? "Yeah, 100%. I [couldn't] manage in the way I'd have liked to have managed. At times I was babysitting, until I knew I had that opportunity to change things. The team was not set up to have a positive season. No criticism of the manager or coaching staff. I'm not saying we didn't fight to stay up and got the white flag up. Certain games may look like it did, but that's what the premier league can do to you. Arsenal at home. We fought and gave our best. Bournemouth where there were bodies everywhere, everyone saw that. "

Interviewers: Andy Giddins, Danny Hall, "Stu" (Stuart Rayner?)

No further questions or details on injuries, so as a reminder what was said in the recent pre-match pressers:
  • Kieffer Moore back involved for Luton
  • Femi Seriki Leeds
  • Shackleton is back in full training

UTB
Click to expand...
Really appreciate these comprehensive recaps mate, they're getting to be a weekly highlight of the forum. Above and beyond.
 
Cappy said:
Longer than I thought it'd be today, but it's a weekend game, so I guess the reporters have got to write a fair few words for their various publications.

Injuries & Absences:
  • Cannon left the game in a boot, how is he? "We will give him and Gus as long as possible to assess before we get on the bus"
  • "With Gus it was flagged up pretty earlier when he went down, so we hope it's not too serious". I believe he meant we managed it well through the game, before taking him off
  • If they aren't ready for tomorrow, they "will be ready for next week"
  • On Tom Cannon showing his character to insist on staying on after half time, "what he gives to us, he stretches the game and opens it up for us. He's come to score goals and he will do. He hasn't had any unvelievable clear-cut chances but there will be. We haven't brought him to be judged after 4 games, he's here for the long term. We understand his personality, mentality and character"
  • "It's a fair (big, he means) fee, so that's the way the game is going. To get a young English player for that fee I think is reasonable." Fans' quick judgement "has changed a little bit though with social media. It is instant. Quickly judged. Part of my job is to make sure we stay calm and focused and balanced in our opinion and we don't overact when a performance isn't where we want it to be." That last bit, he meant the entire team, not specifically Cannon
  • No other injuries following Boro
  • On Ollie Arblaster being out in the Middle East, I assume as part of his recovery - I haven't seen anything personally, "it was something we talked about. He's worked really hard. He's desperate to get back, but we can't rush him". "Get some sun on his back. He's made up that the team is winning games of football and played like we did on Wednesday night. He'll have watched that with a bit of envy" emphasising the mental recovery is important
  • Will he be back this season? "Let's wait and see, it's usually a 9-month injury"

Reflecting on Middlesbrough:
  • "The response of the players as a group [was important]. How did they want it to look? How did they want it to feel? We got that. They're fighting in training to start, then if you come on [as a sub], like Ben, he didn't have a sulk, [he played well]. There's always opportunity, and those boys are contributing
  • The pen and the fact it happens all the time, "You're always gonna get contact in the penalty area from a set piece. 99% of football people watching that would have said let it go, both got hold of each other. I didn't get it. I thought it was a poor performance by the referee all the way through to be honest. Some of the things he gave, the things he missed", pointing out how the supporters noticed it and voiced their opinion.
  • "My main objective at half time was to calm the players down because they were furious. Reset the mentality, which was fantastic in the first half. We did, and we went again"
  • He doesn't want the ref and the pen to distract form the fact that "It was an outstanding performance against a good team"

Luton:
  • "Luton Town is a difficult place to go. You have to have the tough mindset. Their home form is OK (Cappy: it's not). It's been a difficult season for them but we expect their best effort. Their support can be a 12th man when they get going, and I expect it will with the visit of us.
  • "I'm not looking at this as top v bottom, I'm looking at this as Sheff United v Luton Town"
  • Some fans may have thought we would be in the position Luton are, after last season? "50 points was the first target, then 70 for the playoffs, then we take it from there. I agree, a lot of our supporters would have seen this as a survival season after last year, but credit to the players in the way they have built that momentum, which we've had all season, taken the disappointments in our stride and moved straight on. It's all about putting runs together."

General:
  • On speculation about interest in Gus from Leeds for the summer. "He's our best player so there will be interest from big clubs. We don't want to be losing our players, and now isn't the time for [us to talk to any teams about] that"
  • He said the 11 may settle down once we get into the one game per week schedule, but he's happy to be rotating at the moment
  • Reflecting further on the Pompey game, he thinks he took what he thought was an opportunity to get minutes into the new players, perhaps thinking it'd be an easier game? But it didn't work from a performance point of view
  • He talked a little bit about the squad depth being good and having both the opportunity to rest players and also use the subs as impact in games
  • On having more options and whether that's good, because he had a fairly unchanging 11 in the 18/19 & 19/20 seasons "I like to have the consistency in the back 4 or back 5. Perhaps same in the centre of the park. But up top, you want options. Pocket players, stretch players, Kieffer with his physicality. Wingers who can go past people. People who can find key passes like Gus and Cal. Rhian does a bit of everything. Options is key and good. Let them freshen up. Cal was left out and came back flying. Jes was outstanding"
  • "All these guys buy into what we are about. Some might knock on my door [because they want to play] and I will tell them how it is. Alfie had to come out of the team. Went about it in the right way. He was struggling physically but now he's bang at it and absolutely [looking to force his way] back into the team"
  • Was there opportunity to make an impact when you came in last season or did you have to wait for the Summer? "Yeah, 100%. I [couldn't] manage in the way I'd have liked to have managed. At times I was babysitting, until I knew I had that opportunity to change things. The team was not set up to have a positive season. No criticism of the manager or coaching staff. I'm not saying we didn't fight to stay up and got the white flag up. Certain games may look like it did, but that's what the premier league can do to you. Arsenal at home. We fought and gave our best. Bournemouth where there were bodies everywhere, everyone saw that. "

Interviewers: Andy Giddins, Danny Hall, "Stu" (Stuart Rayner?)

No further questions or details on injuries, so as a reminder what was said in the recent pre-match pressers:
  • Kieffer Moore back involved for Luton
  • Femi Seriki Leeds
  • Shackleton is back in full training

UTB
Click to expand...

I don't expect Hamer to be playing tomorrow or against Leeds.
 

lazyfecklessblade said:
We’ll give Gus as much time as possible for Luton. Hope this is

yep.. the second he said ‘might be on the bus for Saturday’ we’re not seeing him for 3-4 weeks
Click to expand...
Maybe not a great idea to leave him on the pitch as long as we did. Yes, he’s probably one of the best players in the League so getting as much game time out of him v Boro may have been the plan, but would be a big blow losing him for 2-3 games.
 
Luton's pre-match presser video:

www.lutontown.co.uk

Matt previews Sheffield United - Luton Town FC

Watch the manager's press conference ahead of Saturday's game on LTFC+
www.lutontown.co.uk www.lutontown.co.uk

A few notes directly from their website:

Matt Bloomfield says the Hatters could welcome back a host of senior players for Saturday’s game against Sheffield United at Kenilworth Road.

Alfie Doughty, Isaiah Jones, Amari’i Bell and Shandon Baptiste could play a role as the Town host the Blades looking for their first victory in nine games.

When asked if the likes of Doughty and Jones could feature against Chris Wilder’s high-flyers, Bloomfield said: “Possibly. We’ve got good options and competition for places.

“The recruitment in January was fantastic and we might have one or two faces back for Saturday.

“Shandon’s trained and he’s happy to be on the grass smiling again. He’s a really good player but he’s not match fit yet and we don’t want him injured again.

“We need those with Championship experience, and those boys have been there and done it. They have the know-how and experience.”

Having returned from Sunderland on Thursday and with the Sheffield United game followed by another game next Wednesday, the manager confirmed the squad will be used to its fullest over the next week.

“With the quick turnaround, it’s important to have some freshness.

“It’s an ideal opportunity to make a few changes and freshen it up a bit. It’s how I’ve always done things in the past so it’s inevitable there will be a couple of changes to the team tomorrow.

“But the game is also important because it’s an opportunity to bounce back and right a few wrongs and I’m looking forward to being back at Kenilworth Road.

“We want to give the fans something to cheer about, a result to cheer about. We want to get the crowd in the game, impose ourselves and I absolutely believe we can.”
 
Cappy said:
Longer than I thought it'd be today, but it's a weekend game, so I guess the reporters have got to write a fair few words for their various publications.

Injuries & Absences:
  • Cannon left the game in a boot, how is he? "We will give him and Gus as long as possible to assess before we get on the bus"
  • "With Gus it was flagged up pretty earlier when he went down, so we hope it's not too serious". I believe he meant we managed it well through the game, before taking him off
  • If they aren't ready for tomorrow, they "will be ready for next week"
  • On Tom Cannon showing his character to insist on staying on after half time, "what he gives to us, he stretches the game and opens it up for us. He's come to score goals and he will do. He hasn't had any unvelievable clear-cut chances but there will be. We haven't brought him to be judged after 4 games, he's here for the long term. We understand his personality, mentality and character"
  • "It's a fair (big, he means) fee, so that's the way the game is going. To get a young English player for that fee I think is reasonable." Fans' quick judgement "has changed a little bit though with social media. It is instant. Quickly judged. Part of my job is to make sure we stay calm and focused and balanced in our opinion and we don't overact when a performance isn't where we want it to be." That last bit, he meant the entire team, not specifically Cannon
  • No other injuries following Boro
  • On Ollie Arblaster being out in the Middle East, I assume as part of his recovery - I haven't seen anything personally, "it was something we talked about. He's worked really hard. He's desperate to get back, but we can't rush him". "Get some sun on his back. He's made up that the team is winning games of football and played like we did on Wednesday night. He'll have watched that with a bit of envy" emphasising the mental recovery is important
  • Will he be back this season? "Let's wait and see, it's usually a 9-month injury"

Reflecting on Middlesbrough:
  • "The response of the players as a group [was important]. How did they want it to look? How did they want it to feel? We got that. They're fighting in training to start, then if you come on [as a sub], like Ben, he didn't have a sulk, [he played well]. There's always opportunity, and those boys are contributing
  • The pen and the fact it happens all the time, "You're always gonna get contact in the penalty area from a set piece. 99% of football people watching that would have said let it go, both got hold of each other. I didn't get it. I thought it was a poor performance by the referee all the way through to be honest. Some of the things he gave, the things he missed", pointing out how the supporters noticed it and voiced their opinion.
  • "My main objective at half time was to calm the players down because they were furious. Reset the mentality, which was fantastic in the first half. We did, and we went again"
  • He doesn't want the ref and the pen to distract form the fact that "It was an outstanding performance against a good team"

Luton:
  • "Luton Town is a difficult place to go. You have to have the tough mindset. Their home form is OK (Cappy: it's not). It's been a difficult season for them but we expect their best effort. Their support can be a 12th man when they get going, and I expect it will with the visit of us.
  • "I'm not looking at this as top v bottom, I'm looking at this as Sheff United v Luton Town"
  • Some fans may have thought we would be in the position Luton are, after last season? "50 points was the first target, then 70 for the playoffs, then we take it from there. I agree, a lot of our supporters would have seen this as a survival season after last year, but credit to the players in the way they have built that momentum, which we've had all season, taken the disappointments in our stride and moved straight on. It's all about putting runs together."

General:
  • On speculation about interest in Gus from Leeds for the summer. "He's our best player so there will be interest from big clubs. We don't want to be losing our players, and now isn't the time for [us to talk to any teams about] that"
  • He said the 11 may settle down once we get into the one game per week schedule, but he's happy to be rotating at the moment
  • Reflecting further on the Pompey game, he thinks he took what he thought was an opportunity to get minutes into the new players, perhaps thinking it'd be an easier game? But it didn't work from a performance point of view
  • He talked a little bit about the squad depth being good and having both the opportunity to rest players and also use the subs as impact in games
  • On having more options and whether that's good, because he had a fairly unchanging 11 in the 18/19 & 19/20 seasons "I like to have the consistency in the back 4 or back 5. Perhaps same in the centre of the park. But up top, you want options. Pocket players, stretch players, Kieffer with his physicality. Wingers who can go past people. People who can find key passes like Gus and Cal. Rhian does a bit of everything. Options is key and good. Let them freshen up. Cal was left out and came back flying. Jes was outstanding"
  • "All these guys buy into what we are about. Some might knock on my door [because they want to play] and I will tell them how it is. Alfie had to come out of the team. Went about it in the right way. He was struggling physically but now he's bang at it and absolutely [looking to force his way] back into the team"
  • Was there opportunity to make an impact when you came in last season or did you have to wait for the Summer? "Yeah, 100%. I [couldn't] manage in the way I'd have liked to have managed. At times I was babysitting, until I knew I had that opportunity to change things. The team was not set up to have a positive season. No criticism of the manager or coaching staff. I'm not saying we didn't fight to stay up and got the white flag up. Certain games may look like it did, but that's what the premier league can do to you. Arsenal at home. We fought and gave our best. Bournemouth where there were bodies everywhere, everyone saw that. "

Interviewers: Andy Giddins, Danny Hall, "Stu" (Stuart Rayner?)

No further questions or details on injuries, so as a reminder what was said in the recent pre-match pressers:
  • Kieffer Moore back involved for Luton
  • Femi Seriki Leeds
  • Shackleton is back in full training

UTB
Click to expand...
Think he had to mention Arblaster being in dubai as all over his Instagram with Martha
 
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