[BFC SITE] Stephen Humphrys Pre-Blackpool Press Conference

On Charlton defeat


I think it was a bit of a fluke goal in terms of, you know, someone will take that free kick nine times out of ten, and it just hits the wall, it was a bit of a nothing goal, to be honest, so it was kind of a sucker punch, really. I still think we had the better chances, especially in that first half, butcredit to Charlton they're a good team, and I'm sure they'll be in and around the play-offs like they are come the end of the season. So it’s just about moving on to the next game now, and that's the best thing the manager said after the game, put that in the bin now and move on to the next one, we win the next game and all is forgotten.

We're never going to stop believing, but I think a few people did write us off four games ago, so nine points out of twelve games, we would’ve snapped your hand off for that last week or a couple of weeks ago. We feel like we're in a good place, it was a little bit of a blip the other night, but, we’ve just got to move on to the next game.

On absences from the squad


The most successful teams, you look at them over the years, usually the starting eleven rarely ever changes, so each week, it feels like we're kind of having to adapt to each game, not only the opposition, but our own team as well. It does help having a consistent starting eleven, but that's just football. We're built to be robust and adaptable, so there are no excuses on that front.

On impact in the team


Obviously, I’d like a goal, of course I would. But I feel like my role in this team is different to any role that I've had in the past. Chances don't come as much for me as they do for DKD (Davis Keillor-Dunn). The deeper players kind of get more of the chances, but I feel like a lot of the chances come off the back of the work that I've been doing at the top of the pitch. I feel like I've become more of a provider, chance creator, kind of gap maker, if that makes sense, I've been making the runs in behind and trying to do the more selfless stuff. I really don't care who scores, you know, DKD is one of my best mates here so the fact that he's flying and scoring goals makes me happy, as long as we're winning games. A lot of people will be focusing on goal droughts, this, that and the other but when you win three games in a row, like we've just done, you don't even think about who scores.

It's been something different for me, but I mean I’ve probably said it in a previous interview, I don't really care where I am, as long as I'm on the pitch starting. Last year, I was predominantly a winger, last year, I was receiving the ball, I never had anyone behind my back, and I always had the touchline at my back, so I knew I had the whole pitch in front of me, I felt like I had a lot more time, whereas now it's, hold the ball up, there's always a man coming behind you. I've got to compete for headers more, which I feel like I've improved on my heading and making runs in behind, which as a winger, you don't really do, so it's just adapting to that, but like I said, as long as I'm on the pitch, I really don't mind, but hopefully a few chances do start coming my way. I mean, last season, I was used to having, six, seven ,eight, shots a game sometimes, now I don't have a shot, but that's just part of the role that I'm playing at the minute. As long as we're getting positive results, I really don't mind.

On friendship with Georgie Gent


We drive in together because we're both from Greater Manchester, we've just got a thing where he'll ask me for advice on a situation, and usually, I end up being right, so the kind of inside joke is that I'll be like, see, that's just knowledge, and another instance will happen, he'll be like, 'what's that?'. And I'll be like, that's just wisdom. So you combine the two, that's kind of why we do it.! bit of a cringy inside joke, but there you go!

It's like in any sport, I'm a big golf fan, and recently, like a massive golf fan, and mainly because of Bryson DeChambeau and the actual interactions he has with fans and his YouTube videos and his personality just completely drew me into to golf even more. I was into it, don't get me wrong, but that's really got me into golf, because when you have someone like that that you feel like genuinely cares about the fans, really wants to interact and show his personality, like he's openly said, he liked being a personality and a character. When he won the US Open last year, I felt like my mate has just won the US Open. So if the fans can look at me in a similar regard then happy days.

Georgie Gent at the start of the season, when I met him, I've not really spoken to him too much, and then we realise how close we live away from each other, literally ten minutes. So I said let's car school. And I think it's clear to see his personality has come out a lot more recently, he feels he's a lot more confident around the group, whichmI just believe it's so much easier to express yourself and play better on a pitch when you're comfortable in your team, and you know that your teammates are your friends. So I think that's helped him, definitely. I feel like everyone should feel comfortable and confident in the team. So whether you starting or you're coming on as a sub, you know that your mates have got your back, which you don't always get that in changing rooms, so for me, as one of the more experienced players, I like to think that I bring that and people are comfortable and confident when they go out there.

On Georgie's injury


Yeah, it literally just sums football up, doesn’t it? I'm absolutely gutted for him, he was heartbroken, bless him, and this is just part of football. It can be the most rewarding sport in the world, but it can also be one of the cruellest. I've told Georgie, if he needs anything, I'm always there and the rest of the team are as well. We're all supporting him, and he just needs to rest up, he's got a well-earned rest now, and hopefully, he gets his recovery spot on, and he's not out for too long.

It's tough, but it's the way you take it as well. Obviously, no one wants to be injured, no one wants to have that serious of an injury, but he's 21 years old, you can see it as a lesson. He thought he had cramp when he went down, so I don't think he's ever had cramp before, so then he's getting people to stretch his Achilles, which might have made it worse. So if it ever happens again, he won't be having anyone stretching his Achilles, so there's a lesson learned, you can see it as character-building. You can see it as I've said to him, just think of it as you're being pulled back like an arrow, and the further you get pulled back, the further you're going to shoot into the future. So, yeah, he just needs to keep his head up and that's just part of football, unfortunately.

On the power of Reds fans


Yeah, I think last week, especially even when it went to 4-3, I feel like the fans were really with us last week, which I think has been the case, especially since the new year. I think that people are coming to Oakwell now, and we're not a soft touch. I think Blackpool are going to be coming here, they're a good team, obviously, but I think they're going to be aware of what we've got, and I think if we've got the fans behind us, then I definitely think we'll be looking for the three points.

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More to point, is tha gonna put some effort in lad?!

 

At least he admits he’s a winger. Might be a good one, who knows?

He’s shíțe up front though.

 

442 with Humphrys on the wing

 

Yeah I was hoping there was going to be an extra paragraph about, On his lazy attitude...

 

So in essence we signed him knowing his best position is on the wing but basically never played a system that allowed him to play there.

 

and yet once again we have proven that our recruitment is absolutely laughable this season.

 

Don’t get me wrong i don’t for one minute think he’d be ripping the league up playing has a winger but it always stank as a free agent panic signing because we couldn’t afford anyone else.

 

Given we only committed to a 12 month deal, I suspect he’s on a fair amount.

 

I’m not convinced he’s a winger. Don’t get me wrong, he might have been in his career and he has a nice touch and likes a stepover or seven, but I think he’s more physically suited to being a centre forward.

 

He will be on decent wages, he apparently left wigan as they were cutting the wage bill and he couldn't agree terms. Plus we only gave him a year with a option for another.

 

Everyone must fit into the 5-3-2 that’s the conditions with joining us! doesn’t matter where you played before us we will find them a spot here in our 5-3-2