Lee Grant
Reflections on Bradford
We have a pretty well-defined process for analysing games regardless whether we win, lose or draw. That doesn’t change but in terms of the content, you have to make sure you get it bang on and we’ve seen some things that I and we as a collective didn’t enjoy at the weekend.
Whatever we discuss and go through has to translate into the work we do in the week and we’ve put a lot of time and effort into that. We spent the time as a group really understanding what was behind the last part of that first half, which is certainly where we left ourselves with little room to go, and there’s other stuff around the general feeling of that performance.
We’ve done it across the whole group and individually and we’ve thankfully had a lot of time this week to translate that onto the training pitch. It’s been really really good to see that work on how we want to be at certain moments.
I certainly feel — and the group are in agreement — that our mindset is key in those phases, especially those that led to those moments.
Blackpool, Barnsley, Bradford all end up in the same pot because it’s three goals away from home, albeit Barnsley there’s a caveat that the goals weren’t rapid fire and we were down to ten men so there’s a different feeling to that one — but if you take Blackpool and Bradford and look at goals conceded in quick succession, that’s where we’ve put a lot of work this week.
That work stays private and in-house but I think it will pay dividends for the group across this season. I think like at any point over the past 13-14 weeks there’s always room for growth and areas we have to improve and develop, and we want to tick it off, move on from it, and have no repeats of those kinds of performances or phases in games.
Were you angry on Saturday?
If you were close enough to the dressing room on Saturday I think you’d have a definitive answer to that question. If a side you trust and love don’t play to the level you know they can you’re going to be angry and disappointed. At half time I could see I had a very angry and disappointed and frustrated group of players in my side, but we also had a second half to play.
For me personally, I try to remain level and give the group clarity to focus on what’s important. I’ve seen varying degrees across my career of teacups and hairdryers to varying degrees of success, but I believe there’s a place for all of it (all different approaches) at the right moments. Treating people right is a part of who I am.
Did you see enough fight?
We won the second half and didn’t concede any goals but that’s no consolation for me. I actually think we were better in the first half but that didn’t help me sleep any better.
We’ve been crying out…looking for more explosive first-half performances and they had that bravery to go to Bradford and start well with the ball, but to not take our chances was super frustrating.
In the context of where they were at, 3-0 down and incredibly disappointed and frustrated…could I possibly understand if I weren’t manager of Huddersfield Town why they might take a bit of time to shed that frustration and get going? But as manager of Huddersfield Town I want us to go straight out of the traps and try and find a way to spin that result around.
Taken as a whole we were really disappointed and upset about it.
We have a wonderful opportunity this weekend to put that right. We’ve done a lot of work this season we can be happy with but we always search for more and for better, I love that about this group, and that has to be the goal this weekend.
You have to lead the way on that and I don’t find that difficult as I love my job. We’ve got a squad who love coming into work and I hope enjoy the work they’re doing. I don’t have an issues on that and I don’t expect to all season. You have to dive into your work every day and it’s reassuring when you get back at it and on Monday morning people are where they need to be from a physical and psychological standpoint.
Sleepless night on Saturday
Yeah, it’s not fun for Mrs Grant or the little Grantlings when we lose. I always just try and dive into the work and commit myself to that and get straight onto the solutions.
Must-win tomorrow now?
No, we don’t and never have look at games that way. If I look at post-Blackpool or post-Barnsley, we’ve never talked about drawing a line under the last result — we just always really go after that next game. We never sit contented and we always look to keep moving and keep improving.
Reunion with Gary Bowyer (former Derby youth coach from Grant’s academy days)
You’d put him in the category of top human beings — right at the front of that group. He’s an outstanding gentleman.
As a young player, unfortunately for the coaches, you don’t tend to take in too much information because you’re just delighted to be doing it as a job, but you remember the people that help and that you enjoy spending time around. Gaz was one of those.
He came into the academy when I was there and had such great energy, was fun to be around, and it doesn’t surprise me at all that he’s always been able to develop really good bonds with his players. I think you see that in what he did with them last year (keeping them up). I’m looking forward to seeing him and hopefully getting one over on his team as well. I shan’t be speaking to him too much before but it’s a nice chance to catch up after.
Injury news
He’s working hard on the grass and is in the last stage of rehab where we hope next week he can really step on the gas. That’s exciting for him and for us, but we need to be mindful this is the last part.
Jack Whatmough is still a little bit behind, but his rehab is going well. That’s as we expected — still on track.
Mickel Miller and Antony Evans are both pushing really hard. You’re always mindful that you have to be careful not to shift the dial too far in one direction and they take the time they need. They’re on the grass with their boots on running, which is positive. We’re not going to see them this weekend or next but they’re getting towards the final stages now.
We have a really competitive squad and those two have shown they can be really really important.
Ben Wiles was out with a knock last weekend, which was a shame as he was really looking forward to it, but he should be back available this weekend.
We’re still looking into Herbie Kane and making sure we don’t take any risks.
Walk4Pounds is on Saturday morning!
While I’ve got you, just want to ask if you have two minutes and a few quid to spare for a very good cause. Tomorrow I’ll be taking part in the shorter 10-mile route for Walk for Denis, which culminates at Accu Stadium ahead of the League One clash with Burton Albion.
Organised by Huddersfield Town, the walk is raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society and the Huddersfield Town Foundation in memory of the late, great Denis Law.
You can make a donation here - any amount gratefully received. Especially as it’s meant to absolutely lash it down.
Lasse Sorensen
Reflections on Saturday
We do the same game whether we win or lose: we come in on Monday, look at video clips of what we did well and what we didn’t do well.
There’s lots of things we could have done better and we’ve conceded two goals at a really bad time. There’s some things we did well but we need to put it behind us now.
I know it didn’t look good but we tried to do the right things and tried to give our best, as we always do. The only thing we talked about at half time was “if we get a goal here, you never know”, and that’s what we tried to do.
We know how much it meant and it meant a lot to us and we tried to win the game. But if a week later we were still screaming and shouting about it it wouldn’t help us against Burton.
There were definitely words said at half time and full time. We don’t go in and go ‘ah well that was alright’ — no no no. When you have a game like that you always want to go and show a reaction in the next game.
The best response would be to start well, play our game and take the game to Burton. But it’s easy to say we’re going to do that. If the game is different we need to be ready for it and do our best.
Trying to restore a bit of faith?
We look at every game as a must-win. You don’t go into games going ‘ah it’s fine, we can lose today’. So I don’t think there’s any more pressure on the game tomorrow compared to any other game.
Responding to setbacks
That’s what football is about. If everyone was winning 5-0 every week…that’s not how football is. There might be setbacks and it’s about how you respond. We don’t ever plan to lose, but we want to come back with a win. I don’t think a setback kills our momentum.
I think we’ve been good at looking with an objective view and what we can do better. We’re not in a bad spot and there’s a lot of games coming up we want to win, so that’s the focus.
Improved as a player under Lee Grant?
Sometimes you forget a bit what you are. You can have a few bad games or a few good games and people think you’re the worst or the best player on the planet.
I’ve really enjoyed working under the gaffer. I’ve come back with a smile on my face and I feel good, whereas at the end last season I didn’t feel quite as good about myself. It’s always easier to play well when everyone knows what they’re doing and I think we’re a well-coached team. I’m happy, I’m enjoying it, and normally that makes you play better as well.
What could you have done better on Saturday?
We’ve conceded three relatively easy goals. The first one comes when we’re on top, and then it’s about not letting goals affect you.
We’ve look at that and how we can improve going forward and not concede such bad goals — and if we do concede a goal, how do we make sure we don’t concede the next one.
Sometimes it’s where you learn the most. We want to show a reaction and prove a point to people.
Manchester City coming up
We’ve not talked one bit about Manchester City this week. It’s all been on Burton and what we can do better from Bradford.
We’re looking forward to it, but we’re also looking forward to Burton and Exeter and every other game.
