This is a rough summary of the press conference with the answers to some questions collated together for easier reading. The full audio from the presser is available at the top of this page on our website or in the podcast feed.
Lee Grant
Thoughts on the cup draw
It’s a wonderful one for the football club, and especially for the group, who have worked so hard over the past two games against top quality opposition from the Championship and Premier League. It’s one for us all as a football club to enjoy.
We played against them twice last season at Ipswich and we know how much preparation has to go into it. It’s going to be a lot of hard work but we have to relish it and enjoy it.
What’s the transfer situation?
We are as we were: nobody on the cusp of going out or coming in. I don’t see that changing imminently but as I’ve said all along we’ll stay alive to any opportunities that come along, particularly late on.
But I’m really happy with the squad and how they’re working. Tuesday shows that most clearly.
Have you rejected any bids for players?
No, none at all.
It’s a possibility for anybody and anything can happen. We want to keep as many of those good players as possible and the backing we have from our owner should put us in a position where we’re able to do that. We’ll see, and we have to be alive to every situation.
Thoughts on David Kasumu
What you saw on Tuesday is exactly what Kas can bring to our squad and our group. He’s a great example of what we’ve needed over the past few weeks, which is people who are ready and willing to step up when they get that opportunity, and you may have to wait because competition is so hot right now. There’s a lot of positions in this squad now where you need to be right at it in every single training session.
I thought Kas’ was excellent on Tuesday. It’s harsh to single out one individual from that game but he was a good example of where the group is at as a whole. On the other side of it we’ve just come off the back of two wins and two clean sheets.
Difficult for players?
It’s the nature of the beast unfortunately. We can look at the game in general across every division north and south of the border and all across Europe, but certainly in this country…you look at how often managers are changing and it can affect players on their own individual journeys.
At this club there has been some instability, it would be wrong to try and deny that, but what I want to try to do is have as much consistency as possible and set up every player to thrive.
Where does Bojan Radulovic fit in?
You can add me and the staff to the list of people who were so pleased for Bojan. The penalty was specifically where we brought him onto the pitch. He gave us some strength up top and we felt his temperament and skill would allow him to convert his penalty, which he did.
Bojan has had a broken pre-season because of one or two different factors, some outside his control unfortunately for him, but he’s been really good on the training ground. We need players like that, working hard, and I’m pleased he was able to come on and contribute.
Thoughts on Barnsley game
It can be a tough place to go but can also be a wonderful place with a full stand of away fans behind the goal cheering you on — and they’re also in close proximity if things don’t go well. It’s an exciting one for sure and one we’re looking forward to. We’ve got a good amount of local derbies this year and they are important. We’ve no illusions as to how tough it’s going to be.
They have a young manager with good ideas, a really good staff, players who understand the league and have skill beyond the league…without a a doubt they’ll have their eyes on the top half of the league this season.
Marcus McGuane injury timescale
It’s a week by week case for him at the moment to try and get him back onto the grass and into the team.
We’ve been fortunate we’ve come through Tuesday with no new issues and a clean bill of health.
Need to be careful not to be complacent after Tuesday?
We attempt to do that every week and we certainly don’t change our build-up our planning on the back of a good result, a bad result, a cup game, a league game…we have really clear ideas about how we do things.
It will be a tough game against a good football team. I’ve enjoyed the bits I have seen from watching them. I know one of their coaches and he speaks highly of their manager.
Results or performances more important early doors?
You’re not blind to every result being important, but the way the players take on new ideas, respond to setbacks…those are the things you’re really assessing day to day, and you want to see the character of the group.
No second half goals conceded
We don’t set targets that aren’t important for us. We haven’t put games into blocks
What we will do is look for opportunities in the season to get up in the helicopter and see what’s happening on the ground, but we’re not there yet, we’re still in the muck and the bullets at the moment and it’s more about what challenges the next game is going to bring. But at some point we will take a wider view of those kinds of things and say “we can work on that, we’re pleased with that”.+
Backroom staff
The contribution from all the staff and how they connect those units has been really important. You can’t have the clean sheets or the chances we’ve made unless you’re able to do that.
We work in units and are really blessed to have four who all take care of their own units. It’s nice to have that clear line of reporting and contact for the players when it comes to their unit. That’s important to me, I like that camaraderie in our forward group, in our midfield group and so on — there’s a good understanding of roles and responsibilities for everybody.
Murray Wallace
Reflections on Sunderland
It’s huge for the group. We have that believe in ourselves and confidence in the squad but it’s good to see that come to fruition and get a good result against a good team. That’s always a boost for the team.
Nice easy one next! That’s the kind of game you want in the cups. That’s the magic of the cup. Look at Grimsby and Manchester United last night. Hopefully we can pull off an upset on the night.
Back at Huddersfield
It’s nice to be back, a few familiar faces — some of the fitness staff, chefs, some of hte office staff — so it’s nice to see some friendly faces.
There’s quite a lot different to last time. The club has come on massively in terms of infrastructure and it’s good to be back here.
When I moved to Huddersfield initially I was still quite young and these are the kind of people who looked after me, so it’s good to see them again and I just want to say thank you to them all.
It’s a fresh challenge after a long time at Millwall. I had good times there but it’s good sometimes to do something different and new.
Results so far
A lot of things go into it. As a group we’re really close knit and that’s a massive part of it. You will get setbacks and thing won’t always go your way, but the way this group has come together we’re ready for any challenge that comes our way.
Rotation in the back line
One of my reasons for signing here was I can play multiple positions and it’s good to be versatile. We have good players here so I think it makes sense to rotate and keep things fresh.
Left-back and centre-back are a different challenge, different types of physical outputs and tweaks to shape and your role in the team, but I’ve been used to that for quite some time.
In the first part of my career I played the majority of the games at centre-back, then at Millwall I was mostly at left-back, so I’m used to both.
Advice for younger players
Just try and be as consistent as possible. For a defender that’s massive. You need to not get too carried away, try and keep things steady, and keep looking for ways you can improve.
As a team you want to do well but it’s nice to feel you can help players on their journey. It’s nice to think that some of your experience can help them in their careers.
Barnsley ahead
I think the last time I played there I got a last-minute winner so it would be nice to do something like that again!
You want to play in those kinds of games with a big crowd and a big atmosphere.
David McGoldrick has plenty of experience and quality. You just need to focus on your game and the team’s role and objectives and come out on top.
Keeping momentum going
We don’t want to be conservative. We want to keep looking for ways to improve and be on the front foot.
Thoughts on Lee Grant
I’ve been very impressed with the tactical side of thing. He’s very in-depth with the analysis and he makes everything very clear for us. There’s a bit of both video work, going through all the analysis, and work on the training pitch.
It’s great to have a coach like Paul McShane with all his experience working with us as a defensive unit as well.
