[BFC SITE] Darrell Clarke | Pre-Leyton Orient Press Conference

Fixtures

• Barnsley Vs. Leyton Orient - Sat, Dec 21 2024, 15:00

Head Coach Darrell Clarke spoke to the media ahead of the Reds' Sky Bet League One fixture against Leyton Orient at Oakwell on Saturday.

Reflecting on Exeter Performance

"I've obviously had a big, big blowout at half time. The lads, I thought were a yard or two short. I still thought that, watching it back. But then 15-20 minutes from the end, if I'm honest, we got a bit of control towards the end of the first half, and then second half. You know, we started the second half really, really well. So thought was a deserved win. I thought that on the day as well, but a little bit frustrated the way we started the game. So we need to rectify that and make sure that a whole whole game, that we we have a real intensity in our work.

"You know, winning games is so important, and it's odd, lthough, the performance wasn't bad, it wasn't as strong as the last five or six games and we win the game. So in the game's about winning. We managers and head coaches who sit in front of you guys can talk as much as we want to talk, but the game is about winning, and it was nice to get back to winning ways on Saturday."

Injury and Squad Updates

"Yeah, he (Conor McCarthy) keeps my door a breast because he keeps knocking on it. And I like that. I do like that. Conor's been itching for an opportunity from many conversations and chats with him. I understood his frustration. But what I will say is, the way he trains, the way he conducts himself, is in a very, very professional manner. And that's what I asked for. I can only pick 11 players to start football matches, and Conor's attitude, probably coming in at fifth choice centre back, he has had to be patient for the for that opportunity, and I thought he had a solid game Saturday, and he'll be looking to build on that this Saturday.

"Josh Earl and Marc Roberts are still working away trying to get themselves back as quickly as possibly.

"The competition in every place, and players are on the toes, you know, to be successful, you've got to be able to have a strong squad. It's something I've mentioned before, I'm not sure the underbelly is strong enough, and we want to get those players stronger and be more competitive. Kelechi (Nwakali) has come in, done really well for a few occasions now, and that midfield area is strong competition for places. Jon Russell's come into the team recently, done very, very well. So it's good to see. We have to keep them at it and players have to understand that competition for places is high, and you have to make sure your performance is good to stay in the team."

January Transfer Plans

"I'm in regular contact with Matty (Craig). He's a great pro, another great pro, a good lad, but also in an area of the pitch where there is serious competition for places. We've got good options in there. We have ongoing talks with that, because obviously the players want to be playing games. We'll assess that, come start the January and see where we're at after the Christmas period.

"You'd always like to get that business done early, obviously. The January window is a tough window. I don't say that lightly, it's a tough window, because in all aspects of it, good players are in other clubs. They're in the teams, a lot of a lot of the team. So we it's never an easy window, but we'll, no doubt be competitive in it, hopefully and we can get the piece of the jigsaw together. We do need to get some players out though because the squad's too big and we have too much cover in certain areas. So no doubt there'll be bits and bobs and movements in January, and make sure we come out of it the end of the window stronger.

"Me, and my staff's focus is to make the players better what we have in the building. Recruitment talks are going on weekly, I've mentioned that every single week - we we know where we're at. We know where we need to strengthen, but I can't get distracted from the job in hand, and that's making sure that the players have got in the building, we as a staff, keep getting them better and better and better. That's our jobs. And with the with the window, there's always players in, players out, and we have to keep consistent with that. So because I know, I know sometimes in the window, it can be a frustrating period

"No, very doubtful (on loan players being recalled). I look at it in Jack Shepherd, Jack, obviously, I had him on loan at Cheltenham with me last year, Jack's a second year pro. His age might be 23, but he's a second year pro, and he's getting valuable game time at Bradford, and that'll continue. That's better for himself and ourselves for him to continue there and stay and play games. He's doing very well. I've been in touch with Jack, and he's enjoying it. With regards Kacper (Lopata), I've obviously got Robbo (Marc Roberts) back in the new year and Donovan Pines. I see Kacper as a middle of a three that's his position, doing well up Scotland. I very much doubt that they'll be recalled. They're both enjoying that game time, and they're improving as players, which is what we want. And then they come back in the summer, when we we're ready to go."

Home Form a Key Focus

"Let's not beat around the bush. It's the last home game of 2024 and our home form has not been good enough in the calendar year. We need to rectify that, and that starts with myself and the players. I think everybody can play their part. I think the fans have been magnificent, you know, at a time, certainly around the Christmas period where money's tight. I know the club's doing its best to try and get as many people in, but we have to make sure we start turning this place into a fortress. We want to finish the year on a high, home form, like, like we said, and then 2025, let's have a really good calendar year at home. Because our away form, probably, I don't know you guys, will tell me, probably top five in the 92 clubs, away form. And it's the home form that's been letting us down, and that that starts with myself and making sure that my players, rectify that in 2025 and we can have a better, a better New Year, but let's finish it on a high.

"Yeah, like I said, I think everyone's got to play the part in that. None more so than myself and the players. I think we have to turn this place into fortress. It's easier said than done, but it's something I'm confident that we'll achieve. I'm confident that 2025 is going to be a really good year for the club. I really am, and we'll rectify our home form. I think there's a lot goes into it. It's not one thing you can put your finger on. I think some of the performances, certainly over the last four or five games at home, have been very, very good. So let's, let's turn those good performances into more home wins, and let's finish the year on a high and have a really good go next year."

Preparations for Leyton Orient

"They've had a good run of form in the last six games. Richie well into a light which is a good lad, good manager, done a terrific job there. Not the start they would have wanted, but I always thought they wouldn't be in any danger and they'll be picking themselves and climbing up the table. The recent results shows that.

"Yeah, it's like you said there, they run a decent run of clean sheets defensively. They've got a settled back four so always tough to break teams down that are defensively strong, but we think some of our forward play is very good. We get opportunities, and quite a lot of them in games, we're forward thinking team, and that'll that'll continue Saturday."

Leyton Orient (H) tickets

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You gotta like the guy.

 

There’s a few bits in there I could have picked but I’ve got to ask what “Richie well into a light which is a good lad” means.

 

What i do like about Clarke is that 9 times out of 10 he seems to have watched the same game as me when he talks post match.

 

A classic example of AI speech to text conversion that hasn’t been proof-read.