PRE-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE: Alexander previews Sheffield Wednesday match

Hey Graeme, good to see you again. Um, two games, two wins. I mean, I said to you after the >> the game on Saturday, strong start to the season, but in terms of reflections now, um, you must be really pleased with how you've got underway. Uh yeah, like you said, it's only two games and one in two different competitions, but um yeah, I think the players have built up the the sort of understanding of the game through preseason. I think preseason was really productive for us. Um then you you come into the obviously the first game of the season, a little bit of rustiness, which is expected. Um but I thought Saturday was a real good test for us and um and we come through it really well. Watched the game back yesterday. um some bits we can we can do better uh a little bit um at 2-0 I thought we could have managed the game a little bit better without them getting a couple of opportunities so that's something we'll look at but over the 90-minute piece we we would deserve winners um I'm glad we got what we deserve from it atmosphere was brilliant the players sort of another step forward so yeah it's um a lot to build on >> is it pleasing from the sense that Whilst there are familiar faces within the group, there are obviously new faces within the group, new faces in the starting 11 on on Saturday as well, that there's that understanding of what the new faces need to do within the setup, the structure, and that's [snorts] clearly from the off anyway, starting to show and and provide what you want. >> Yeah, it it's twofold really because look, we have a wear plane and and um everyone is affected by each other. So it's not just uh so it's not just the the new players uh coming in and understanding what we're about. Um the players that we've had before have got to play next to these players. So there's a there's a an understanding that needs to be made between them about what they're good at, what they bring to the game. The slight nuances between different players which is um it's always there for for any uh football team. So I think it's it's both sides of it with the the the players who have been here before learning about what the new guys bringing and um and forming those sort of uh understandings you know what they're capable of you know what what McCauley's capable of in possession you know how he wants to defend within our structure obviously it's uh there's not much uh wrigle room in that sort of aspect to be fair to do your own thing you know it's it's quite um it's quite clear what we need to do but certainly in possession the the options we want to offer players in possession. It's down to their quality and their their decision making, their intelligence to to pick the right pass to to to um to show what they're about. And different players have do do have different attributes. So, I've been really pleased with how quickly those guys have settled in. I knew they'd settle in off the pitch really well cuz we got a great group anyway. But on the pitch, you know, we I know for a fact we do things a little bit differently that go against what you might have done regularly for other teams, not not just one team, but regular. And we have to sort of break those habits down and out and and and then they have to trust it >> and then the results sort of give them the confidence. Now, this is um this does bring success. Just speaking with Callum now actually regarding that very point where you know you can be told to play a certain way and learn about that certain way but the winning validates that certain way to an extent and gives confidence and the like and looking at his position alongside the dynamic with with Anthony as well. I know central midfield's been a big talking point through the summer. um >> not for me as >> well and quite and on that point really >> it to see them performing in the way that they have done albeit yes two games but a different dynamic to an extent um that in itself must be reassuring in in some way or I guess did you have any doubts about it? >> No I I didn't have any doubts because I I know Callum has played that position many times at a really good level at championship level. I've managed Sass before and played him as a central midfield player and he scored lots of goals. So, you know, it's it's common sense from my perspective, but I know I can understand uh people having a question mark over it because of Sass's previous two seasons playing different position and not knowing Callum intimately or his his whole career and just taking it off his last season, you know, which was um was or his last club, I should say. Uh so it's uh I I I get people questioning things but I I like people I like it if people keep an open mind really rather than have uh potential doubts and then keep those doubts regardless of what they see. You know that's it. So if it doesn't if it doesn't work and if other things don't work. Tyreek wasn't a left wing back when we when we signed him or when we came on loan but you see his position now it's superb. I we signed a left wing back and plays left of the back three sometimes. So there's there's loads of um there's loads of uh opportunities for players to play in our team. And and when we have an idea of our team, we have um sort of blueprint of what uh attributes each position needs, each position, not each player, each position, and then we we get these players together and we we know like 60 70% of them. I think I said that before in recruitment and u but then you go actually this lad's capable of doing this and actually it's more suitable for his attributes and so forth and I think it owns up a a bigger picture for the players but also it's a necessity because we we don't carry 25 26 players so we're going to have to use players in different positions um to to actually be competitive for 50 games. So, it's there's a there's a common sense common sense behind it about opening up the the idea of how these players or where these players can play, but um we know we definitely know what Sass's attributes are. We definitely know what Callum's attributes are and they they suit it perfectly and but you know Henry will come into the team. He'll play slightly differently and I think he can play both those positions. Um so there's um you know you got George Laps who's probably more geared for the the advanced one and I think it's if we' have gone from the midfield two years ago to this midfield I think everyone going oh yeah it's seamless because last year's midfield was different. >> Yeah. >> Um and we've had success with both. That's the thing. It wasn't one was more success than the other. It's just getting the the best out of each individual in in the system that we have. And um and what I would say is both players really enjoy playing there. >> And um if if they didn't and they spoke to me, then I'd change something. I really would, you know, but they they've they've I think they've talked to it really well. They're both intelligent footballers and um but there's many other positions and relationships that are going on as well. But uh yeah, it's it's quite interesting that that debate sometimes. >> Yeah. And I think Callum said having looked at the running data um Anthony was through the roof from Saturday, wasn't he? Something like that. Yeah, >> there's a myth um about SARS. I I think sometimes that um that uh he's 34, 35, this that the other. It's a lot of rubbish. It is. He's He was the highest running player in the team on Saturday. Um I know from my own experience of playing late into my 30s that my my data didn't drop. It actually got better. I was I was a better runner at 37 I was at 27 because of how prepared myself and how motivated I was. And I see the same with S. I see the same with loads of loads of players in our team. And um so I think uh look the I think it'll be a different type of running from what he's been used to in the front three. SR um he's right at the front from day one of preseason. Him and Jake Beasley, they're having a race on day one. So that says enough. Look, we know uh we have to uh potentially manage s during the week, which we're trying to do with other players as well cuz I'd rather manage their week and then have them available for the games rather than manage their games and be able to train every day. >> So, we but it's easier when you have a a bank of experience with any individual and you you learn what they're they're capable of really. >> Yeah. In terms of bodies and and how you came through on on Saturday, fit and well, everyone that played and was involved. Yeah, I think Callum had a bit of a sore forehead from he got obviously kicked in the in in the head right just before he came off, but he's uh he's out. Everyone's been out there today that uh that was part of it on Saturday. So, um yeah, we got a reasonably clean bill of health. Um yeah, it's just Tariq's missing. So, um you know, when we find out fully about the extent of that, then we'll we'll know. But everyone else is pretty good. Just in regards to to Tyreek and his position more generally, I know you mentioned on Saturday that you need to know sooner rather than later regarding his future because obviously the window is still open. But >> regardless of of Tyreek's situation, would you say that wing back was still an area that you you'd look to strengthen anyway, maybe more so on the right than the left? >> Uh potentially. Yeah, potentially. I think uh is something that we we looked at um uh potential central midfield players, but the the players that were uh we felt we could get I felt we had better players already here >> personally. Um and uh if we're ever bringing up uh or need to bring up any young players from the academy to to fill in uh little gaps, it's it's sometimes at wing back. So for instance, we've had to use like Harry Ibbertson at right wing back in in training in a couple of games in preseason. >> Yeah. >> Um and obviously he's a he's a forward. So um not saying he might not ever do that job. Sorry, don't get thrown back at me, but look, he's I think it's a couple of positions where probably if Tariq's injury is is more than just a niggle, then we'll probably look at those two areas especially. I think um you know but we we're really happy with who we have there right now but you you're probably right. I think we are a little bit light in that area >> any and is central midfield still on that list of of areas. >> Uh I think it's potential because I I feel we have four there already and I think in previous season seasons I should say I think the first season I think we only had three. Um like it was certainly in the I'm sure in the second part or maybe four it was Richie Pau, Tommy Lee and Brandon Keller >> and that was it. And I feel we have four already in in in the squad. Um so we didn't have a direct replacement for for Richie because we felt he'd play every game. We didn't have a direct replacement for Max because we felt he'd play every game. So we we ran reasonably light in central midfield anyway with authentic center midfield players. >> I think we've played different players in there at different times, but I I believe with Sars, Callum, Henry, George Lapsy, I think that's a good four for us to have where they they've got all the the attributes to play there. Um it's only if we we we looked at potentially signing one last week, but I didn't feel they were as good as what we have. So, I'm I'm not going to go down that route unless we we're improving the squad. I would say we're probably positionally light at wing backs rather than center midfield. And >> just finally on recruitment again more generally, >> how disciplined do you have to be as a manager when it comes to >> using your resources as best you can, you know, on that that very topic there of central midfield >> knowing actually no, >> I could bring that body in, but that isn't actually going to help me even though it might give me a body. >> Yeah. No, no, it makes sense because there is a pressure to sign players as quickly as possible and have your full squad ready and >> and I've learned in the past that if you do it too quick or too hasty then you're going to pay for it later down the line and and it's it's not an exact science and obviously they not every player works out as well as them all and because you can't play them all the time and that sort of dents a player's progression sometimes if they're not playing. But I think um you've got to feel it as well that it's the right thing to do. If it doesn't feel right and you plow ahead maybe to tick a box or to keep people calm, >> I think it's just going to come back and bite you on the backside later on. And and I wouldn't want us to be that. I think and I speak about all the time the discipline in recruitment spoke about since day one. I think in our our first window here where we we were struggling a little bit in League Two, we only signed two players, >> you know, Sam and Callum Kavanaaugh. and uh cuz I wanted us to to understand what we had in the building and I didn't want to just have I wanted to understand the group we already had to add another six seven into that it would have just muddied the waters so I I felt that when we got to the end end of that season in the summer we had a real clear picture of what we needed to do and um I I just like I like logical decisions if we can as much as you can sometimes you have to have a little bit of a punt I get that if the time constraint is there also we have to be within financial means and everything. So, all these conditions come into it, but I've always got to see a route and a and a an idea of a player coming in and and where they're going to compete for and where they can fit into our team, not just that's another player that we might play there, might play there, probably isn't going to play. That would be the worst case scenario if you you think >> he's not really going to compete. So, I'd rather us be like that, but obviously we do need still a couple more players in because the the the challenge for the next four, five months is going to be quite intense. >> Yeah. In terms of what lies ahead in the immediate future, naturally all eyes are drawn to Thursday evening. Um because of the opposition, because of the occasion, because of the stadium, >> because of the context of Sheffield Wednesday as well. Naturally, um made the point to Callum, put your way as well. as a player, you must relish those opportunities. As a manager, you must relish those opportunities in those games. >> Yeah, I think so. You know, you you know, when you you're you're chasing a promotion, you know, you always sort of in the back of your mind, you know that there's going to be an uplift in opponents in stadiums and atmosphere and everything. So, it's something we fought hard for two, you know, or a year ago to get out of League 2 to in le into League One. And you saw the the stadiums we played at last year. The atmospheres we created home and away and and some of the results we we had were fantastic. They're brilliant memories for everybody and I think it's a great challenge for everybody. You know, it was can we go into this cauldron into this um this atmosphere and be who we are. You know, that's the real litmus test for us. And I think we showed that on quite a few occasions last season and the season before. Um but yeah, this is a an early one for us. Obviously, it's our first, you know, away game, competitive away game and um but it's a brilliant one. I I remember playing at Hills, it was one of my favorite grounds to play at as a player. It really was. I think maybe because of me age, a history of the cup semi-finals being there and all that lot and obviously when KV won the FA Cup in 87, played there twice, the quarterfinal and the semi-final. >> So, and you always seem to play reasonably well there and score or something like that. So, I always thought it was a brilliant stadium to play. The atmosphere is good and um and you can almost smell the history a little bit like the Valley Parade, you know what I mean? It's you can still see the scars and the the memories sort of swelling in the building. I think um you know uh for our players to go there again. Look, there'll be players in our squad that have played there before. Um but probably not as many as um as as I'd think right now, but I know what my team is built on. I know what mentally [clears throat] they're about. They'll be looking forward to it without a shadow of a doubt. >> Yeah. And obviously they'll be the opposition on Thursday naturally, but from a again a more general standpoint as a football enthusiast, is it is it pleasing to see a club of that size and that history on a on an equal footing now seem to be on the right way forward after the troubles of recent past? >> Yeah, look, you don't want to see any football club in trouble like like that. You don't it's if you're a football supporter, you know, and you've got these histories and these memories of of the past and and everything, but um so you don't want to see anyone struggle like that way. Um but on the pitch, we don't want anyone to be better than us. So there's a you know what I mean? I'm I'm more focused on what our club is about and what we can produce and and the health of our club, you know, because it's important because obviously Bradford's had it uh difficulties in the last uh two decades on on a similar scale maybe without, you know, knowing the detail of it. Um and I think there's there'll be people out there that are glad that we're on a good footing now as well in the same similar mold. Um but yeah, you want your you want your your football clubs to be healthy because you know how many people invest in those football clubs, the supporters, the histories, the the families, the all that sort of thing. And um you know, and the players and the staff, the work that goes into creating a football club and and keeping one alive is is massive. So um any club that's in in trouble, it needs as much help as possible, but you know, every club needs to be run correctly. >> Yeah. And then obviously the the game after that, second round of the League Cup, Burnley at home. Um that must have been a nice moment for you when the the draw was made. >> Uh yeah, but I I think I said about the draw, I'd like a big team at home, you know, because we've we've played some really good fixtures certainly last year in this trophy in this cup. Um you know, Blackburn, Stoke, and Newcastle all the way. And I'd love one of them to have been at home, you know, because I know the atmosphere we create at at Valley Pray and I know there's an offer on the tickets which is encouraging more supporters and whenever that that happens, we always sort of rise to that occasion. I love that fact that our team always gets an extra bounce about itself when we play in those sort of environments. But um the the level of opponent is is great. It's another test for our players, young and old, to put themselves, you know, on a pitch against team from higher higher levels and challenge themselves and see what they're about. But, um, from yeah, from a personal level, had an absolutely amazing time at Burnley. Something I didn't expect when I joined there, you know, cuz I was joining from one of one of the enemies. Um, but they, you know, they took me in and I had an amazing time there. >> Yeah. And and went quite far in the League Cup as well, didn't you, with Burnley, wasn't it? Semi-final. >> Yeah. Yeah. the year we got promoted to the Premier League. Actually, we we got to the semi-final in this in this cup cup competition as well. And uh yeah, we we beat Chelsea and Fulham and Arsenal and uh Tottenham in the second leg and unfortunately lost in the last last minute. And um yeah, it was a bit of a heartbreak, but when I look back on that season, you know, we we got to the Canon Cup semi-final and then won promotion to the Premier League as a championship club, it was a one of the best seasons of my life. you know, I had such a a good time on the pitch, but an even better one off it with with the players and and all that sort of thing and and the way the supporters was. So, there's a lot of similarities. I feel here I I said that to to Skip um quite early on in that our tenure here that I can I can see similarities between when when we came here to when we when I join joined Burnley and um yeah so I'm I'm looking forward to the game but um obviously my only focus right now is is she Wednesday on on Thursday night because we have to be focused it's going to be a really tough game. >> Best luck with the >> Thanks mate. With the Wednesday game being moved to Thursday, that means and then the Burnley game on a Wednesday, you've got nearly a week. >> You're confusing me now, mate. [laughter] >> You've got nearly a week in between where normally it been a Saturday game and less time. Is that going to be an advantage with it being so early in the season for players to maybe get a bit more time on the training pitch? >> Um, potentially. Yeah. I think look whenever there's a there's a a larger gap between one game there see tends to be a smaller gap the other side of it and I think there's a couple of days between Burnley and Plymouth. So uh you know it's you got to play the games anyway. So we we we don't make a big deal about how long we've got to prepare for a game, how how um how short we've got to prepare a game. We just make sure we're ready. That's it. And the first thing is mentally. So, we talk about in the in the in preseason actually that games get changed all the time now because of the TV schedules. Um, you have to be prepared to to perform any day, any given day. You got to be ready. No excuses. So, um, listen, train training ground time is is valuable um because of uh the the sort of this stage of the season certainly to to really bed in your ideas, but I think the the team have got a good grasp of that. Um but any like I say any time reassuring it and and and stamping it down is is important. But um yeah, when the games come, we have to be ready regardless of the the time scale in between. >> Just before the season started, you said there were a few players that weren't quite ready for the full 90 minutes yet. How have they progressed in the last couple of weeks? >> Yeah, they have. I think um you never whenever you get to the first game of season, you never have 20 players that all got equal minutes. It's just impossible. you'd probably need an eight or nine game uh preseason program to do that and that would just be too too much. You wouldn't be able to get the training time. So, there's always going to be players that are slightly ahead of others. There's players that pick up little bits in preseason. We and we prefer them to to um report them to us and and miss one or two days rather than keep persevering where they break down, they miss a month, you know, because that that's hard to then get back. Um, so there there's always a bit of um uh broken time from players, but if they've prepared right and looked after themselves right in the summer, they should be able to get through it no problem. But there's always bits and pieces. But uh you try in the first month of the season to to get them all up to speed and and obviously when the different cup competitions happen, you know, we we got history of changing the team anyway and making sure we have full value from our squad because I it's important they understand their value to to me as a manager and and to the team. So they'll all have the the opportunities to play, but they have to be ready and you can regardless of another myth that you know it's only fitness through games. You can get to a good level of fitness through training and how you prepare as well. So um we've got good pros here ready to do that. Cheers. >> So Gran obviously teams often talk about having a bounce. I mean with Sheffield Wednesday obviously they had very very difficult season last year. you know the players there I think they won one game from September last game of the season wasn't it? So they then got through that. They then get through the summer, find out the news, they're starting on N. They get that lift of the first two games. I mean, suddenly they've they must have emerged from a great big tunnel. So you're sort of facing a team that in terms of morale and emotion are probably as high as they've been for a long time. >> Yeah, potentially. I don't know how many uh players are still left over from that squad to be honest because I haven't looked at them until today. Now that's my job this afternoon. So, um, but yeah, 100% when you're under the Kosh like they've been for for such a such a long time, any anything that you get given in a positive way, you're going to you're going to enjoy. So, it's, uh, they, um, I I remember the scenes with that countdown thing. I remember seeing it on the TV when it was the zero points and a bit of a lift. So, um, and they've started the season reasonably well. So, but um yeah, look, I I don't expect easy challenges or or teams coming in into games at this stage of the season on a low anyway, regardless. You know, I think everyone starts the season with optimism and positivity and and belief in what they've got. I think um if you haven't got that at the start, you're pretty much screwed. So, I think there's a lot of uh positive reinforcement from managers, coaches, supporters, owners about what each club is capable of producing. But um I think we're in a similar spot. I think we had a great season last season on the back of another great season the season before. We started this season well. So why shouldn't we be feeling just as good as anybody else out there? I >> was going to say they're probably looking at you thinking, "Hang on, we're playing a team that have been in form for, as you say, a long time." >> Well, I don't I don't know what they're thinking, but I I like the we we want to try and make an impression on on people before they play us and when they or when they see us playing. And you know, I'm not big one for talking crap in uh in conferences like this and playing all this mind games rubbish. I'm not I'm not into that. I think it's about players uh performing to their best level and stuff like that. And I think we have players that can do that consistently well. Um but I think you can build up a reputation. We're not the only ones of how strong you can be and and your your level of football and performance, you know, how competitive it is to play against us. I think um you know you have a body of work. That's why I don't talk um like like I just said because I want it to be authentic and I want it to be real. So you don't you don't have to listen to me talk just watch my team play for 10 games on the bounce. I think you'll see what they're about. Um and and I think we've got a group of players who are ready to and they've already shown that they want to progress. They want to evolve. They want to be better. Um but we want to keep our identity because it's a good identity. It's a it's a winning identity. It's not just um some point in the sky that looks nice. It's productive. It wins points, you know, and um and that's what we want to be. We want to be a team that that can that can win games. And um I think it's a brilliant game for for both clubs to go into. I think both sets of supporters are going to be looking forward to it in in equal measure. >> Say the players themselves, as you said, some of the players won't have played there before. you know, it's a long time since this club were there, but I think back to sort of Cardiff away last year, >> similar sort of perhaps occasion in sense of, you know, playing a form team in a great stadium, >> you know, which a lot of players won't have played at before. >> Yeah, potentially. Yeah, I think look, it's I I sort of try to steer clear of past games if they're that that far back, you know, because I think uh I'm I'm very much one if it's a disappointing one about being in it. So you can't pick and choose what you're going to, you know, reference going forward. But I think there is little bits of pieces that players will take confidence from. But I think it's something we we draw me into them all the time regardless of who we're playing. We've got to put our shoulders back. We got to hold our heads high and and be proud of what we are. But you've got to then go and produce it. You can't think a good game. You can't talk a good game. You got to walk the walk. I think we've got a club and a team that consistently does that. And we'll be challenged on Thursday. We'll be challenged next Wednesday. we challenge the Saturday after. We got tough games from now all the way through to the season, but we never pretend it's ever going to be anything different. And I think it puts us in a good place mentally to to prepare for games. And uh so I just uh I I think we've shown o over the course of the last two seasons on different occasions in both seasons home and away that we can produce in big games and um you know I think Thursday will be another big game. I >> say mentioning the Burnley game as well. Obviously, you were talking about, you know, the excitement of a cup run last year. You know, knocked off two championship teams last season. So, the players will go in there, you know, even the the players who've been there before and obviously the new players go in there with a confidence that, you know, you can you can you deserve to be on the same page as Burnley and you can you can match them. >> Yeah. I I just um I think they get we don't we don't dumb anything down. We don't ever whenever you're putting a shirt on and your boots on, that's it. We we're full out. we're at it, you know, and and we we want to win every game we play. I don't see a downside to winning as many games as possible. I know you get more fixtures and it could stretch you, but the feeling you get from winning in different competition, the feeling you get when you're using 20 players to win those games, it's not just the same 11. I I I know for a fact how what an adrenaline rush that was. Those those games in particular, the Blackburn Stoke game, how good that was for our whole squad to make eight or nine changes going away to a Championship club and then go and win and then do it again. I'm telling you the training ground was buzzing, you know, that everyone was feeling good about themselves, you know, which is a difficult scenario to to produce when you're you're picking 11 players and and mentally rejecting nine players or something each week. It's really difficult to to to keep them understanding they still got value. They still got a massive part to play. But when you can validate that by giving them game time and they win and and we approach the game the same way, we don't all of a sudden start changing our our preparation into these games, you know, it's absolutely consistent. It's the most important game for us is our next one, regardless of who we're playing or who's playing for us. And we put as much uh emphasis and and prep into each individual as we would do for a cup final because we'd be letting them down if we didn't. And I do value those players. They they've been fantastic for us for over over two seasons now. Ones who have been here for a long time, one for a short time, but already they've contributed in these two games already. We've played this season, but there's mass more contribution to make going forward. And uh so I I love competitions for that. And uh and I make it clear to the squad straight right from the off that they're all going to be needed and they'll all have the opportunities to show what they can do. >> I think yeah, the Stoke game was a corresponding round last time, wasn't it? between the likes of I think George Lapsley, Brad Holiday, the players coming in who I'm not sure they've been that much involved up to that point, but suddenly coming and you know slotting straight in and it was a great performance. >> Yeah, it was like Kieran Kelly I remember playing as well. There was there was lots of them, you know, I couldn't name the team off the top of my head, but it was something we decided early on, you know, not just the EFL Trophy, but the other cup competitions that we we did in the FA Cup as well. Well, there's we can't just have 11 players or 12 or 13 and just just, you know, run them into the ground and ignore the others. It's it's not right. I don't think we've created a squad that that um is like that. I think we have to understand that. That's why we have the the consistency how we do things cuz I know I'm going to use all our players. Whoever's in there with a pair of boots, they got an opportunity to play. it's up to them to be ready for it, but we'll give them every opportunity as in how we train, how we talk, how clear we are with our our tactical side. So, um, when they have the opportunity to perform, everything's there for them. [clears throat] But, um, yeah, I I've been really pleased with what we've done over the previous two seasons, certainly in the EFL Trophy, which has produced good runs even the season before. Um, consistently sticking to that, you know, um, using the squad um, as as much as we could. >> Hi, Graeme. Um, as a as a manager trying to recruit players, particularly players from a higher division, do you think the presence of Chef Wednesday and Leicester in League One now makes it an even easier sell it, you know, more excitement around the division? >> Um, I'm not sure cuz the players are more likely to go to them two clubs. So, um, you know, that's the thing. So, uh, I I think, uh, I think the EFL is growing year in year out. Personally, I think the quality is is is really good. It's really high. coaches, um, players, uh, stadiums, all that sort of thing. So, I think the the level is getting stronger each year, right through the the pyramid, to be honest. So, I think you see, uh, talent right throughout the divisions. Um, and, uh, I think it's good to see. I think you can see good games all over the country in in any level of football. Um but recruitment wise I think um I think I think we we sort of stick to what we're about. I get the you know when you sort of I know for instance when I when I went up to manage Mother I was looking at you know Rangers Celtic Hearts Hips Abedine all those thinking this is going to be brilliant learning experience you know managing front of 50 60,000 that. So, I get that, you know, the level the division can can attract people um and attract players, but then, you know, you we have to fight against these these fish as well to >> to land something. So, it's uh yeah, it's it's got its pros and cons. And >> and it's just another reminder, isn't it, that standing still at this level, we'll see you go backwards. At any level, any level of football, you have to consistently evolve, be better, improve, get stronger, faster, cleverer, everything. You have to constantly fight. It's one of the joys of it that you always finding new ways and or different aspects that you have to improve on to to be competitive um as consistently consistently as you can. And uh I think we've done that really well. But um yeah, it's um it's a really interesting part of the game that I think that you have to you have to get better all the time. Um you have to do that as an individual. You have to do as a team. You have to do as a club. And I've lost track, but I think Sheffield Wes are up to 14 signings now. Henrik Pettison was talking at the end of last season about adapting the style of play to League One. Is the fact that you've got three preseasons of culture and identity built around this club going to be a real strength of yours this season? >> Um I I believe it is. I I believe it has been in the past. Um you know the longer the time the more the it's embedded and then the players are taking it forward. It's not just me and and Chris you know in the first month and then me Chris Do and Trury in the second and third month and then a couple of players you know two years in two and a half years in you've got a lot of uh I wouldn't say disciples but that sort of thing where the message is clear all the other staff around it know exactly how it works here. So it's not just it doesn't belong to me, it belongs to the club now and the and the squad. So I think um I think the the consistency of that is powerful for the players as long as they see the success attached to it. >> So it's no good being consistently poor or consistently bad. People are not going to believe in it. What we've done is consistently win games for for two years and maybe a little bit longer. And I think that's um we don't then go and over complicate. We want to improve all the time, but we improve the things that we're we're already good at to try and be better at it. We don't go, "Right, let's try and change this and and and and play this different way." I think that would be upsetting for a players. Certainly, when you've had success, they'd be asking, "Why are you changing this now? We've been really good at it." So, um there there is a a level of consistency that can be productive without shadow of a doubt. I feel we we are in a much better place than a year ago, much better place than two years ago. But that's how a club should work. It should constantly evolve and improve. >> So, is it is it notably easier for the likes of Callum Connelly to integrate into this group now than it maybe was for the signings a couple of years ago, for example? >> Um, yeah, definitely because I think we were fighting for an identity there maybe two years ago and fighting for validation in our in our work. So, you know, you there's a lot of convincing. um you still have to convince the players about um how this going to bring out the best in them, but when you've got two years of of success and winning games to to sort of prove it, you know, um is is a lot easier. I I think it's a lot easier for the player to get involved. And I think when you know, you're recruiting players like like Callum and McCauley, you know, part of the reason they're here is because they've seen how the team has performed for two years. So that's it. They would they want they're inquisitive about well what what have you been doing to be so successful and uh we obviously explain that to them when we first have have an individual uh talk with them but then they see it for real when they come in um and train and maybe it catches a couple of them surprise by surprise um a little bit I think listening to McCauley's interview with you Jamie I say he was talking about yeah the intensity I could hear in his voice he was he was waiting for a little rest period so he's he's going to have to wait a long time for that maybe about 9 months but Yeah. But I'm tell if if you're success players want to win. >> Yeah. >> And they want to enjoy themselves and and I think all our players over the last two years have won and they've enjoyed it. So, uh why not try and continue? >> And and just on Callum, um how do you think the couple of years playing at center back and the different perspective that gives him of the game will have improved him >> moving back into midfield? Uh yeah, I think I think that's a a really good point because I was sort of um when when we first looked at him and and and uh talked about him uh potentially joining it was with that position in mind straight away. Um and I remember when I uh played in that position holding midfield player and I hadn't played there at all until I was 35. But because I was a um a defender with the game in front of me and I was comfortable in possession, it really suited me and and probably 80% of the game I was already playing. So I think having Callum there, he's he knows defensively where to be. He's really comfortable in possession, but the the advantage he had over me, he's played in central midfield hundreds of games or a lot lots of games more than I did at that stage. So I think it suits his attributes. He he when I when I first sat down with him explained he he was straight away and I want to play in central midfield. His actual his agent had spoke to David about that before I'd even spoke to Callum cuz that's the position we were looking for. So um it was um sort of handing glove uh moment really. Um but I know we're still trying to convince people and that but that's fine. That's no pro I've got no problem with people wondering and and being inquisitive about different things, but I think uh they'll see in time that he's I think they've already seen to be fair that you know that you know your eyes don't lie. He's he's a good footballer. He's a good player settled in really well and um you know I think he's uh I think the the position and the way we play suits him down to the ground >> and less so Callum more so Tyreek Wright for example where it was a new position for him. Is there something exciting for you about teaching somebody to to just do a different job for the team? >> Um, it's not it's not something I look, you know, I'm I'm not some mad professor that's trying to prove things and that. I'm not I'm not I just I just look at players. I I know from and probably me on career was a little bit that that I played all over the pitch, you know, throughout my career. And I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed if a play if a manager said, "I'm going to play here today. I'm going to try and do this." I I thought there was value in he thought I was good enough to do it. Um, and also thought he gave me more chance of playing. Um, and I actually just I just really enjoyed the challenge of it sort of thing and and I always thought a manager was doing it because he thought I was suited to it. So, it was going to somehow suit me as a as an individual. So I think uh I have a open mind when we sign players or look at players and I I look less at their position and what their attributes are um and then sort of envision in my mind where it fits in with our our uh our squad our team. But I always speak to the player first before he signs >> and and and I don't necessarily sell it to him. I just say look this is what I see. And if the the response is negative, then we either don't sign that player or he actually says, "Actually, I don't want to play there." And he doesn't sign, that's fine. But when they commit to the the contract and sign out, they're clear about what what it looks like. I think that's that's the most I would have asked for as as a player, as an individual player. But um I think good play I think it's how you how you keep your mind open as a player as well and not get pigeoned holding, oh, I only play in this certain part of the pitch. >> Footballers can play all over the place. You know, I mean, you put a load of 10-y olds out on the pitch, they'll run all over the place. They apart from maybe the number nine who goal hands, but you know what I mean? But, you know, I mean, they will, you know what I mean? And I think there's a part of that if you're certainly an experienced player, I think you can, >> what I like about the certainly the experienced boys is when you when you sort of um keeping that that youthfulness alive inside them by giving them a little challenge and giving them something to learn or to experience. I I think it I think it's good for that cuz the I think the right pros and the good pros always um sort of take that challenge on. So um but I'm not trying to be clever by it. I just know what my team needs to do to to win games, how it needs to work and what we need as as uh as cogs in that wheel. And um I think the players that we have here right now all fit into our system.