On
Vini, he was "assessed yesterday and today, so we will give him as long as we can. He had a bit of an issue about 10 mins into the Sunderland game. Got through that and the WBA game and our plan was he would flag it up if he needed to and he did (at Millwall)."
Wilder spoke with the doctors, who have worked in the Olympics, and they talked about sometimes players just have to get out there and perform through slight injuries, but Wilder said, "we aren't gonna risk him where it puts him out for 4 to 6 weeks. There are parts of the season where it's risk and reward, but we aren't in that part of the season yet, so if we have to protect him, we will. He wanted to get out there on Sunday and Wednesday so the attitude of the player is spot on."
Wilder said he is seeing
Tom Davies' quality every day in training and Chris will be delighted when he gets his first start, which sounded like it will be soon.
Is there are timescale on
Tyrese? He didn't answer it straight, but the question wasn't tight enough to pin him down. He didn't look like he was avoiding it though. He just said "he's not that serious", then went on to talk about
Anel, who rolled his ankle right at the end of training. They waited for the swelling to go down to assess it. No further pressing done on timelines for these two, sadly.
Chris talked further about how happy he is with those that play in the defence and those pushing to play and what a great group it is in terms of attitude and also quality. How "proud they are of their defensive record" and how the "whole team has an attitude to defend and desire to keep the ball out of the back of the net".
Regarding the WBA first goal, he said sometimes you "just have to accept that it was a great ball in, a good run and a good finish", but he "doesn't like it and doesn't really want to be one of those teams that accept it, but you have to hold your hands up".
In talking briefly about the Millwall game he said that everyone in the team is expected to be "defenders first and foremost, and that's the message that goes to them before every single game". He mentioned how "
Gilchrist has badges (bruises) all over his body from his blocks". This wasn't meant as a warning of injury/absence, just more badges of pride.
"We want to play out from the back , control that, and start from there, so they have to be good on the ball. Everyone has a job to do. Wide players getting back, making recovery runs. Midfield players shutting off passing lines, recovery runs. 10s and 9s getting into good defensive positions. But ultimately the back 4 and keeper will be judged on clean sheets."
Talking about
Cooper, his start in the team, his record at BDTBL, "We want to keep nudging the record up. We've worked hard for it. We want to protect him as much as possible, but when he has to make a big save he does", mentioning Sunderland, "We ask for a big moment (from the attacking players) and we ask for a big moment at the other end of the pitch (from Cooper)".
On Plymouth, "You can't get away from they are in a tough spot, but they'll be looking to puncture our home record". He talked about there being complacency or arrogance from the players, and asked the same of the
supporters. "We know we were in league one for 6 years. So we can't be complacent. 'I don't want any 'it'll be three or four nil'. We've got to do the job on the pitch and the supporters have got to help us get through this game on Saturday because if we take it lightly as a club, we get hurt"
On him winning Manager Of The Month, he said it's a good connected group of staff and it's really a coaching, medical and back office "team of the month"
Asked again about the competition to start, he was complimentary again, and seemed to take the opportunity again to mention the "youth" of the squad and how it's "good to give them experience", but is he again giving a message that he wants some experienced heads in the JTW?
He talked about
Sam McCallum and how good he is and delighted we have him. His leap was mentioned, but I think Wilder was playing it down so the NBA and AFL don't come calling
Back to
Cooper and the visit of his old club, "He doesn't get flustered or overwhelmed by anything, so it's just another day at the office".
Regarding the
takeover and any impact it has on the players, "Nothing to do with them. Absolutely nothing. They just get on and play as hard as they can, and they do"
www.sufc.co.uk
