Lee Grant
Do you see the confidence growing and growing?
We’re seeing them really buying into what we’re doing and it’s nice to get some reward for that. We know it’s not going to be like that all the time and sometimes things won’t go our way, but in terms of confidence and trust and belief it’s really good for the players to get results early on.
We’ve got the right sort of group and the right characters and we have enough experienced guys to know that to have meaningful success we have to do it over extended periods. We know so far it only equates to three games with loads of positives and loads of things we want to improve.
We haven’t talked about the future or blocking games off or getting to Christmas, because we have so much to do in the here and now. We’re talking about performance and how to improve on the week prior, and what the next opposition are going to bring. That feels like plenty to be getting on with.
I don’t know where we take a breather and judge where we’re at but it’s probably not worth thinking about that too much at this points.
How do you get the best out of Dion Charles?
I probably wouldn’t put him in that category to be honest. All I’ve seen is he’s willing to work incredibly hard for the group. All forward will judge themselves on goals and assists and key moments in the end, and that’s the pride they have, but what I’m looking at at the moment is contribution to the team. Not once in pre-season has Dion let me down on any of that.
I know Dion will want to find that last part as well, same as Joe, Alfie and all the forwards. That’s something we’ll continue to work on, he’s working really hard in training both on the field and off the field. We do lots of work away from the grass with our analysis staff both as a forward unit and individually to help them understand what’s going to help them take those moments.
I think he’s really level as a human and really applies himself incredibly hard to his work. He’s a really intense trainer, wants to push every day in training. I’ve not seen him too high or too let, and that’s an important part of being a forward.
I think Dion is in a perfectly fine place and we’re happy with his contribution to the team.
Where’s Marcus McGuane at?
He’s back training on the grass. He came to us a bit behind the group and he’s worked really hard to catch up on that. He’s had a little bit of a groin niggle along the way but he’s back on the grass this week and is on the edge of being ready for selection. But we need to think about when the right time is for Marcus
I’m as keen as anyone to have him in the side, whether from the start or from the bench, but as I’ve said before I want people more available long term so we’re not going to force that.
Any new injury issues from last night?
No, we came through really well. We’re able at the moment to keep making our five subs in games and that’s helping us, and we want to continue to do that.
Thoughts on Blackpool
We don’t see their run so far as making our job any easier, that’s for sure. We asked the group that this morning and the answer loud and clear was we think that’s going to make our job even more difficult.
They have a manager who knows how to get them back in the right direction and I’m sure Steve Bruce will have them going in the right direction very quickly, but we want to delay that for another week of course.
They have really good wingers, height, athleticism, I know Lee Evans really well from Ipswich…I can go through the team and there’s lots and lots.
Unity and resilience against Leicester
Definitely on the back of some of the questions that were thrown at the side over the past 12 months and beyond, for them to have very quickly put some of those questions to bed and answered them emphatically is really nice.
We want to keep answering those questions over the start of the season. How are we where we’re struggling? How are we when we’re one down? How are we when we’re one down?
Those questions are going to keep coming up and we need to keep showing the right character and personality to be the kind of team we want to be this year. We always need to be in a position to respond and the only way to do that is through our work on the training ground.
Donate to Walk4Pounds
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. I’ll be taking part in the shorter 10-mile route for Walk for Denis in September, 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.
Even better, if you’re interested in signing up for the walk, details on how to sign up for the walk are here. Thanks!
Sean Roughan
Reflections on Leicester
It was a huge performance from all the lads. The gaffer has made nine changes and we’re all biting at the bit to get into the side and we all wanted to stake our claim for Saturday.
The young lads came in as well, they’ve been training with us in pre-season as well, and they’ve held their and and they were unbelievable. We’re all looking forward to Sunderland in the next round.
I’ve never played there before. I sat on the bench a couple of times when I was younger. It’s a brilliant stadium and I’ve watched the Netflix series. I’m really looking forward to going there.
Do you feel you need to prove yourself every game with this squad?
That’s the sign of a good team and a good group of lads that are coming together. If you’re out of your comfort zone you’re pushing for it and driving on each other. If it makes you give that extra 1% that’s only a good things.
Thoughts on Cameron Ashia’s impact
We came in and we were joking and laughing about it. He’s been unbelievable since he came in. It was a really good finish against Reading and an unbelievable finish last night, but he’s got to keep his feet on the ground and stay humble because it’s 48 hours until the next game. If you don’t stay level headed it can pass you by really really quickly.
I’ve been there. I was 17 when I made my debut and played my first ten games in the league, and it probably got to me too much, but I’m thankful it did looking back because I learned from it. It can go really really quickly and and I didn’t perform, I wasn’t doing things right. I can look back at it as a reference and you always have to try to stay on the level side.
What do you put the good start down to?
A good group of lads. The gaffer has implemented his style of play and the lads have taken to it really well. We’ve all taken it on board and I think that’s one of the main things we’ve done well.
If you have a good group and everyone gels, no matter what, if you make a mistake, nobody’s going to put you down. That’s a really big thing for us this year.
How does Town compare to Lincoln?
It’s a big move and in football every move is big. You take it with both hands and go with it.
When I spoke to the gaffer it was a big big thing for me to speak to him. After the phone call my head was set on it. He’s so direct and doesn’t cut any corners whatsoever. He’s always there last, he’s always talking to the lads and trying to better them, like the rest of his staff.
That’s massive for me as a young lad. The lads have been great but I’m trying to better myself and not stay in a comfort zone where I’m happy in this league. That’s why I came here. There’s big things I want to do in football. Playing for my country is a massive thing, and to do that you have to push yourself day in, day out.
Growing up in Ireland, I used to go to the games and I still watch them now. It spurs me on that I want to play in the Aviva Stadium in front of that many fans and do it for my family, who have made so many sacrifices for me growing up. They dropped things and skipped dinner to bring me to places. To repay them in that way would be massive.
Thoughts on the Blackpool game ahead
I’ve played against them the past couple of years and they’re always up around the top. They’ve had results that haven’t gone their way and it can change at any given moment. Everyone has sticky patches during the year and they might be having theirs now but they’ve got very good players and we have to be on it get a result.. We’re going to be fighting for every ball. They’re a very good team managed by a really good manager.
Playing forward
I always want to play forward. Maybe sometimes I go forward too much but I’d rather take a risk and go forward than pass sideways. Me and Ruben said before the game we want to go in behind and stretch them, and we got joy from it so we kept doing it. Hopefully the relationship can get even better in the next couple of weeks.
I like joining the attack, but I’ve played wing-back, left-back, centre-back, left of a three…wherever the gaffer puts me I just want to play football. At Lincoln as well I was a bit of both as well, and there is a little bit of that now where I can join in but if there’s a man down that side I’ll stay back.
Defence coming together quickly
It’s just about how good the group is and how willing we are to fight for each other. I remember against Leyton Orient we’ve made a block and they’re celebrating the block. For a defender making a block and stopping Owen [Goodman] from having to make a save is as good as scoring a goal.
That’s what you’re there to do and the group have been excellent with that, but it all stems from how gelled we are on the training ground.
Confidence boost from Leicester
It’s a big confidence boost for us but we need to keep a level head because we’ve a game coming thick and fast on Saturday.
It was a good win against a very very good side who have spent millions on their squad, but we’re always going to back ourselves no matter what. We back ourselves to do things on the pitch that would be risky, but if you’re really committed to it it’s more likely to come off.
Team spirit and bouncebackability
The gaffer is always banging on about it because there will always be times in the season you’re going to be under the cosh and you’re down, but it’s not panicking. There’s still loads of time in the game and you need to stretch them and make opportunities and you need to take them.
He has been saying, just keep calm because it will happen in football but nothing’s ever plain sailing.
