On the Transfer Window...

Good, happy, long day. But, we got there in the end. Five new faces in the window, it’s not easy to do that. Especially because of the financial constraints we’re working under. But, I’m happy with the business we’ve done.

Personal Thoughts On the Window...

Shocking, if I’m honest. The first one for six or seven years, brutal. So, I’m glad it’s done. I think it’s turned out good for us, we’ve injected new faces. But, the whole process, I’d forgotten what a farce it is really. You start remembering how it was where you can’t trust anybody, you get told loads of lies and to get any type of deal across the line is so tough. But, I've got to say credit to Martin and all of the staff. Lois our Lawyer, Karen and Lisa, they know who they are, they’ve all been here, the medical team. Yesterday was absolutely crackers, it really was. It was probably 15 or 16 hours where we just hammered at it to get things done. I’m happy with it and I’m really thankful for the hard work that went into it.

Challenges of Signing Players...

If that’s what the deal is, then that’s what the deal is and then at the last minute, the goalposts get changed. I don’t know why certain people feel like they have to work like that, but nevertheless they do. Muddies the waters, confuses people and that’s when all the trust goes out the window. That’s why it turns into a cut-throat industry, which it is. That was really frustrating, nevertheless, we got what we wanted in the end.

On Our Financial Situation...

Yeah, it’s been tough. Like we said before, we’d have to lose one or two to free up revenue to put into something else. It wasn’t just that, i think it was players coming through the door smiling and want to be here. They know the situation we’re in, but they’re walking through the door and they’re happy to be here, they want to be here. That’s super important. I think the days when we we’re spending £10m, £15m or £20 million willy nilly, that’s certainly not the case now. So, every player we’ve signed, the analysis, checks on them, mentality, personality, we’ve had to be very careful on who we’ve brought in. They need to fit the criteria and the wants and needs of what we have at the moment. They’ve had to tick those boxes. It was a brutal window but I think it’s been worthwhile for us.

On Ashley Fletcher...

Once Fletch became available, I spoke with Tony Pulis, who’s fantastic, that’s how I think you should work. Once he was available, let’s go and get him. Of course, you know with deals, you can’t just go for one. So, you have things running at the same time and whichever one that’s best that’s suits you and ticks all the boxes. Certainly once we knew Fletch was available, it was; “Can we get him here?” So, with the help of Tony and a chat with Ash himself, it’s a good deal for us that one.

Why We’ve Struggled to Get Players In...

I think in one or two cases, players would have looked at it and gone; “It’s not right for at the moment, I don’t want to walk into that situation.” That would have resulted in us not getting one or two players that we looked at it. But then, I think that’s lucky for us that we didn’t get them and find out later that they’re not up for it. That’s fine, that’s their prerogative.

On Jason Steele...

It’s a shame for Jason. The deal was done so he went to Derby and found out that the deal was different. The player rightly said; “No, that’s not what was agreed.” So, Jason’s back with us, he can stay with us and fight with Lee Camp and Robbin for the number one position. Don’t blame the player, there is no blame on the player whatsoever, so I don’t blame Jason for coming back.

On the Young Signings...

I think I needed to see a personality and mentality that I was happy with. He’s young, Ovie’s young, but it’s all in front of him. He’s got the tools in his locker, that’s for sure, technically, tactically and physically. Inexperience, but he’ll be fine. I said to all of the young players; “You’ll be better in five months for this experience, for sure, you’ll have grown up a bit and you’ll know what it’s all about.” It’s tough the Championship, we found out again Tuesday night, where we go to Birmingham, get bullied and accept it. The Championship’s a tough league, but these boy’s who have come here are going to find that out, but they’ll be fine and they’ll be better for it for the experience.

How to Manage the Youngsters...

Every player, if any player or any human being, no matter what industry you’re in thinks it’s sunshine and rainbows every time. Honestly. Between now and the end of the season were going to fall down again. Play badly, one of them will have a tough time. It’s coming through that and that’s what makes them better, that’s what I’m saying, this experience will make them better. They’re not going to come here and play well every game, things will go against them. They’ll have a loss of form maybe, a loss of confidence, it’s getting through that. There’s nothing like being in the arena, as we call it. Saturday afternoon when there’s a crowd and everything is on the game. Maybe you’re not playing so well, having a tough time, it’s just getting through it. That just adds to your character, that experience. You can’t get tough on them, you can’t prepare yourself in the long run for what it needs to be a professional footballer season in, season out. You’ve got to get in the arena and experience it. You can play as many games for the Under 23’s as you like, you’ve got to get in the real thing. Sooner or later, you’ve got to get in there and you’ve got to go for it and see how you fair. That’s why I think these players that have come here will be better for it, they’ll be better for this experience.

On Changing the Process of the Transfer Window...

I’m not sure. I remember, when I was a player it was a lot different. I think the knock-off point was March and before then you could do business. I wouldn’t know because since I've been a manager it’s been the same, in the main. I think it’s got pros and cons, I’m complaining about it because I've had it easy for six or seven years. I’m straight back in the middle of it, we don’t have a big financial budget that we can go out and say “Him, him and him.” We are where we are and we’re coming in at the blunt end of things and I have found it tough. I’m not sure what the solution is in terms of changing the window or lengthening it, i’m not sure.

How Often Will the Youngsters Feature?

Oh, they’re here to play. They’re here to get on the pitch. Kaz is a bit more experienced but he’s just lacking fitness. Fletch has got experience, he’s played in first-teams, playoff finals, he knows what it’s about. Ovie is a bit different, but he’s played international football for England and that’s pressure in itself. He’s a Liverpool player, once you’re described as a Liverpool player, that’s pressure also. They’ll be fine, they’ll add to us and help us. Obviously Lee Camp is different, he’s been there, seen it and done it. He knows what it’s all about. No, I don’t have any issues with them being younger, as we always say; “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.” They’re certainly good enough, I feel. It’s just a matter of them getting on the pitch, hit the ground running and just getting into it, getting on with the job.

On Changing Our Fortune...

We’ve missed another opportunity. It seems like we’re at our worst when we win a game of football. The stage we are, as much as any other manager and coach, you look back at the game again and you can pull it apart. But, where we are right now, we don’t have time to do that. We’ve got to march onto the next one, simple as that. Forget Birmingham, it’s not going to get us any points on Saturday against Ipswich. We’ve just got to focus on Ipswich, focus on our strengths and game plan. We’ve got to show personality as well within that performance, you can have a great game plan but if you don’t show personality in your performance then forget the game plan. Literally, it’s game by game, going for those points, they’re so precious. Fell down again on Tuesday night, came up short, but I can’t dwell on that with the players, I can’t. I’ve got to prepare them for the next one, that’s always the biggest one and that’s how we have to approach it.

On Match Day Loan Players...

No, only five in a squad, we’ve got seven but you’re allowed five named in the squad. Jonny Williams has just come back from injury, Brendan Galloway hasn’t really featured, Tyias Browning, Jake Clarke-Slater, Lee Camp, Ovie and Fletch. Those are the loan players, but we can only name five in the squad. I’d rather have that than not having them, you know. I think that’s where we are as a club at the minute, we have a lot of loan signings. But, its to get us to where we need to be, it’s all about now. Forget about where we’ve been or where the club should be. It’s about where we are and what do we need to keep us nice and solid to settle things down. I’d rather have the problem of two disappointed players because legally they can’t figure than not having the bodies here.

On the Strengths of Ipswich...

We’re up against a manager in Mick McCarthy who’s got so much experience at this level. A much improved Ipswich team from last season. But, every game you go into, there are different threats, one’s got this and the next one has that. Again, we need to focus on ourselves and motivate ourselves, not wait for someone else to come and push us and guide us. Go and take responsibility and get the job done. We can do it, we know we can do it, we’ve got to get across the line.

The Importance of the Experienced Players...

It’s not just the experienced players, it’s all of them. If anybody wants to play first-team football and everybody wants to play first-team football. Then there’s your chance and now your accountable. Whether you’re 18, 28 or 38, if you’re big enough to be in a team on a Saturday afternoon, then your responsibility is as big as everybody else’s. Yes, Catts and Sheasy will speak and guide, but they’re all just as responsible for each other. We probably missed a bit of that on Tuesday night, but everyone missed it on Tuesday night. I’m not going to say it was the youth or the experienced boys, it just wasn’t a good enough performance. We have to get over that, get on with it, no matter what the team is on Saturday. However young or old, get on with the job and don’t analyse it too much. You’ve got a job to do, get on with it and go and do it.

On Mick McCarthy’s Teams...

Mick’s got a wealth of experience, he’s been promoted out of this league twice, with Sunderland and Wolves. He’s managed top level and he’s managed probably 20 odd years and he’s built a team with Ipswich. It was a hard year for him last year and they’ve come back stronger this year. So yeah, it’s another tough game for us, equally the Birmingham game and Hull before that. They’re all tough for us, whether it’s Ipswich Town or Hull City because of the situation we’re in. Those three points are so precious, so Ipswich are another challenge for us, maybe a different type from Tuesday night’s, but nevertheless, it’s another challenge.

On Jack Rodwell...