On trying to tighten up defensively…
You don’t want to put excuses on why we have conceded so many goals so far, because ultimately we want to give the lads game time and get them up to the level we know they can get to. Defensively has been our achilles heel unfortunately. We have had injuries all across the back and we have been playing midfielders at full-back, pairings at centre-half have had to change a lot. We have a lad in there in Prince Cisse who has done really well in a new position but he is learning that role.
So, there has been a few things we have had to deal with and we have missed key players at the back. I always say though regardless of that it gives other players opportunities. That gives them the chance to perform and trying to help them in those moments is part and parcel of the job. The defenders who have been out will be returning to fitness soon and that is something we will look forward to.
On Saturday’s meeting with Manchester United…
It’s an exciting game and we are looking forward to it. It’s one of those games that all of the players are looking forward to. For me, and I always say this to the players, it’s just the next game in the schedule but I know for the players this game and Everton are the ones they most look forward to. It’s going to be a really good test and as long as the lads are ready to work hard I’m sure they will give a good account of themselves and that’s what I’m looking forward to.
We played Everton at home this season and although we lost the game that could easily have been a different result with the great chances we created. The way we performed against Everton, I was really pleased. When you watch that game back the amount of, not just chances, but they were golden chances I would say we had that unfortunately we didn’t take. The players need to learn from these experiences when you are one-v-one with the goalkeeper and you need to be clinical.
There was also moments in that game when we got slack and got punished for it. You look at the whole picture from that game and yes we got punished for some individual moments, which is fine, because the lads have to learn from that. I don’t want us to just be a side that keeps the ball for keep-the-ball sake. We have to be really purposeful with how we play and create. Hopefully we get some of those chances on Saturday and we take them.
