[BFC SITE] Darrell Clarke | Pre-Rotherham United Press Conference

Head Coach Darrell Clarke spoke to the media on Thursday to preview Saturday's Sky Bet League One clash against Rotherham United at the Aesseal New York Stadium.


On the returns of Adam Phillips, Luca Connell and Marc Roberts:

Yes, much needed to be honest. Three key players in the group who we are very keep to have back.

On whether the return of these players will be a boost for mentality in the squad:

Yeah definitely. Three top players who are on the top of their game, and we need them on the top of their game, all 3 link up very well over a period and you call on that experience to relay the levels that they can reach.

Updates on Max Watters and Fabio Jalo:

Max [Watters] should be involved on Tuesday. He is back in light training and is likely to be with the squad by the upcoming Tuesday game. Fabio [Jalo] is going to be the end of March, he’s back training on the grass, but with it being a shoulder injury he is yet to return to full contact training. They had to complete some work inside the shoulder, so he’s had a setback for a few extra weeks.

On Josiah Dyer and his involvement at the weekend:

With [Steven] Humphreys back off his illness he’s a massive boost to the squad and he’s done well to get through illness. Josiah [Dyer] is a little raw, if we’re honest he’s not quite ready just yet. He came on for 10 minutes the other day, but it was a needs-must situation as we didn’t have forward players.

On discussions following the Huddersfield game:

It’s not just been this week, to be honest with you, if the games were done at half-time, we would be third in the league. By looking at that, the half-time team talks must be rubbish but there’s a lot more that goes into it, so many variables of that. The one thing I’ve said about this group too often is we’re a little bit soft and flaky when things aren’t going well for us. We need to rectify that, we need to make sure that when we’re having those spells against us that we’re not conceding those really sloppy goals which we did the other day and I think sometimes with an inexperienced group, I call it winners, we talked about it in pre-season, to be a regular winner you have to be consistent with your work and not be finishing your careers with no promotions and no successes. You’ve got to go through moments where your backs are going to be against the wall to a certain extent and you’ve got to stand strong and stay strong, and we’ve not done that over the course of the season. I think as well with injuries, squad strength and tactically, I’m not pushing that away as well, so looking at all areas of why the second halves have not been as positive as the first half performances.

On responsibility of performances on the players and staff:

It is, it’s a mixture and accountability runs with me, I don’t think I shirk away from that. I can get frustrated at times, there’s a lot of frustration in me for obvious reasons and we can feel that as well with the support base. I think you have to control that and control that. It’s not somewhere I haven’t been before if I’m honest with you, I try and stay positive around the place with a clear identity around how I speak to my players and what’s expected of them [both] individually and collectively as a group. It’s about staying strong, the football world is about that, you can’t feel sorry for yourself, you can’t have self-pity and I work every minute of the day thinking about how I can get better, how I can get the group better and how I can get the club better and that’s something I’ll never change, it’s something that’s deep inside me personally and making sure that other people are on the same page driving that forward as well.

On the gap to the playoffs and the need for improvement of results:

Well, it’s not rocket science to see that to be fair, but it’s a big week, 3 games in a week. Let’s go and attack the week. You know another derby game on Saturday and it’s a game where, I know if we’re at it, we don’t fear oppositions we respect oppositions and if we are at it for a full 95 minutes we can beat oppositions at this level. It’s a big week coming up for us and we’ll know more after these 3 games that come in quick succession.

On the squad’s ability and previous form:

Well, that’s been a big frustration certainly this season with 4 wins over the Christmas period and 12 points from 12 and then not being able to kick on from there is a massive frustration from not only myself but the fanbase as well. It’s been a bit of a transition period in the [January] window and it’s safe to say things didn’t go as we’d have probably liked them to have to have gone. That’s from people not working very hard to make sure that things did work as well, and we didn’t quite get there but we use that as a show of how our recent results have been. I’ve got to make sure that the players are performing on a more consistent level and with what we’ve been saying about being 3rd in the first half table tells me that the starting game plan has been very good and there’s various other reasons I’ve been looking into with my staff why things haven’t being going so well in the second half and why we’re conceding goals in the last 15 minutes. It’s down to a lot of things but we’re going to remain positive, the top 6 is still the aim but it’s a long shot with how many points we are behind. But let’s see what next weeks brings. Positive week, things can change quickly and get us back in the mix.

On criticism at the club:

First of all, it’s not unfair from the supporters, in my opinion. It’s a brutal world and as a football coach you have to front it up and I will do, I will continue to front it up. So I don’t blame the supporters for that. It’s a season where League One’s been the strongest it’s ever been. We haven’t hit the heights on a consistent level that I would have liked to have reached, and everyone has to be assessed and accountable for that, but none more so than myself and that’s the way it is at football clubs. I just want to let my fans know I am giving everything. I work hard, I do it every minute of every day. My whole life is taken over football. I really want to be successful and if they can be patient with myself, we can turn the corner very very quickly. But I’m under no illusions, I’ve been in the game long enough to understand what the game’s about, and I can fully understand the frustration with the fanbase at the minute.

Speaking about his role at the club:

I came into the club with my eyes open. I said in the summer it would take about 3 windows [to shape the squad] and I think there are various reasons for that. I believe I was brought in for the long term, but I’m hurting because we’re not in the top six at the minute. I speak to Mladen [Sormaz] two [to] three times a day and I have honest conversations with the board regularly. So, for me it’s knuckle down, do my job, don’t feel sorry for myself, keep doing my best for the football club, keep doing my best for my players and for my staff and hopefully results can turn quickly.

On the opportunity to improve after Rotherham:

Yeah, it is, always the next game [to put it right]. No doubt we’ll take a few supporters down, so it is a big game. Lunchtime kick-off, derby game. So, we’re looking forward to it. I thought the first half the previous game we played some really good football at times; I thought perhaps we were unfortunate we didn’t get that second goal and then in the second half [we were] nowhere near it. This Saturday I’m looking for a full, committed performance. One or two players coming back into the fold should help us, so let’s stay positive. The lads are working hard on the training pitch. We had the open day earlier in the week which was great for the fans and kids to see the players train and the work we do. It was very successful and hopefully we can have a successful Saturday at Rotherham.

On Rotherham and their season so far:

There’s about fifteen to sixteen clubs who were expected to be in the top six this season. We talked about that in the summer. Rotherham and the manager have had a lot of success. They probably haven’t hit the heights they were wanting to hit this season, but anyone can come and have a really good late run, Rotherham are one of those teams as well. So we just have to keep fighting, chipping away. We’ll be respectful of Rotherham, but we will be ready [this weekend].

Continue reading...

 

Amateurs again ! , does anyone proof read stuff at the club before it goes out ?

Yes, much needed to be honest. Three key players in the group who we are very keep to have back.

 

I gave up about half way down. I'm not sure if they've written it verbatim, or just made a pigs ear of it. To be fair, our proof reading has been absent for a pretty long time now.

 

I think we've more important issues at the moment.

 

I remember my teacher asking me to say a word starting with the letter D that I wasn't good at.

"spelling" I replied.

 

It seemed more like a parting love letter than a pre match interview.

 

All the usual waffle. Actions speak louder than words. Let’s see what Saturday brings.

 

Yes I agree there is much more important issues at the moment, however you have to get the basics right first.That's why we are becoming a laughing stock! .

 

His body language says it all. He does not inspire me. I don't think he's inspiring the players. I'm rarely on here at the moment, as I don't like being negative. Sadly we are in a poor place.

 

Red Light Spells Danger.

 

Watched the video of the interview rather than attempting to read that. Bloke looks worn down and fed up. Must be under pressure from the board these next three games.

 

He's said nothing that surprises me there, to be honest.
But I do also think there's something missing now in when he talks, certainly different to how he did earlier on in the season.
Maybe he knows he's about to get the dreaded 'parting of the ways' soon etc!.

 

I know it's his job to motivate players but claiming that Roberts, Connell and Phillips are on the top of their game is taking the piss a bit

 

I had just copied that to paste here!

That's the point l stopped reading.

 

Pisses me off that he speaks to Sormaz two to three times a day. Why? That bloke knows **** all about football coaching so stop letting him interfere

 

That's just it though, I've always wondered just how much interference there regularly is from the top.
And surely thats why any proper 'manager' these days, wouldn't touch this job with a barge pole!.

 

Their respective offices are a 10 second walk away in fairness. He might mean they pass in the corridor three times and say “Heyup” to each other.

 

"On the opportunity to improve after Rotherham" ..........

Are they almost predicting we are going to get drybummed again Saturday, or should that have said 'Huddersfield'?

Surprised I got that far down to be fair.

 

I didn't get as far as dry loving in the corridor either. Glad I didn't.