Press Conference hot topics: Steve Bruce on Cardiff, Calderwood, experience and Warnock
Aston Villa FC
Friday 25th November 2016
Steve Bruce faced the media on the eve of the Cardiff game this weekend.
STEVE BRUCE:
I was disappointed we didn't win when you analyse it back in the second half.
The pleasing thing for me was the performance, especially against that type of opposition, was the best we’ve produced since I’ve been here. So that was pleasing. But it’s gone.
Yes you have a pat on the back last week and here we are again. We’ve got to go to those levels.
We’ve already proved we’re a match for anybody in this division if we get to the levels.
If you don’t do that consistently, then you get turned over.
On Cardiff…
They’ve got a lad who can throw it like Rory Delap!
You know it’s coming into your box so you’ve got to have people who can defend it.
You’ve got to play to your strengths.
The one thing you know you are going to get tomorrow is to roll your sleeves up and give 100%, because if you don’t, you don’t play for him.
Bring it on.
On Cardiff boss Neil Warnock…
I’ve known Neil for years.
You have to respect him.
He’s one of those characters where, he’s like marmite, you either like him or loathe him.
Any team that seems to be in trouble, he’s the first one they call.
What he did last season was remarkable really and it went under the radar.
He went into Rotherham and kept them up when nobody had given them a chance.
He’s got seven promotions under his belt and I think he’d be the first to get eight if he can.
He’s a good football manager and you know what you’re going to get.
They’ll come to Villa Park tomorrow and be bang at it in football terms.
It will be a really difficult game.
On Ritchie De Laet’s recovery from injury…
We’ve seen him around the training ground.
His knee is now starting to resemble a knee.
He’s out of the big brace that he had.
It’s a slow recovery, but with the way these medics are now and these surgeons, then he’s on the road to recovery.
He’s got a long way ahead and we are probably looking at next pre-season for him to be involved.
On the quality within the claret and blue ranks…
We know we’ve got some good players here. They are quietly coming to terms with being relegated and playing the Championship.
The Championship is almost as physical as the Premier League now, but you have to be better because you play another eight or 10 games more at this level. You have to be physically ready for the challenge and be genuine and honest. If you are not, you don’t succeed at this level.
They’ve worked extremely hard and I hope that gives them a few results.
We’ve now got a critical month, a defining month really. The month of December usually determines where you are going to be. There’s a lot of games, let’s hope we can get off to a good start against Cardiff.
On new assistant boss Colin Calderwood…
First and foremost, you look at his CV and he’s been promoted from this division twice.
He’s worked alongside Chris at Brighton and the two of them took over when they were bottom of the league and turned them into a promotion chasing team.
They got 89 points last year and didn’t go up, which is remarkable.
They are there or thereabouts.
He’s done it with Norwich and Newcastle, but most importantly, he’s a very good man.
If you ask anybody in the game about Colin Calderwood, they will speak glowingly about him.
He did shoot straight to the top of the list.
I didn’t think it was going to be possible, but we’ve got him here.
The wait to get that right one was key.
On if his own experience could be the difference this season…
I hope so. We can only do so much then the rest is up to the team.
The most important thing is we stay at the levels.
We’ve set a marker down and it’s up to the players to stay at that level.
If they stay at that level, then they are going to give themselves an outstanding chance because we’ve got some good players here.
The confidence levels are starting to rise.
If we can get a good few months behind us, that will help.
On Injuries…
Ross has a sore ankle. He has picked up a knock. He hasn’t trained most of the week.
We will see how he is today.
Gabby has a calf issue. He has a niggle and was unable to train on Wednesday.
He’s had his own mini pre-season which is now coming to an end.
We think he will be available for the weekend.
Micah’s issue is still going on and he’s on a progamme to see if we can get his knee to settle down.
On Steven Gerrard's retirement and his advice for the former Liverpool skipper...
I think it’s fair to say go wherever you’re comfortable.
Even the great player he is, he’s been a great player and I have to say, the way he handled it yesterday speaks volumes.
His humility still shines through.
He is arguably, arguably, the best player we’ve produced in a long, long time.
He still showed that humility yesterday that made him the great player.
I think you’d be guarded against and be ready for what he’s ready and confident to do.
No matter how great a player you are, your first team talk, you first training session, your first week in management can be difficult.
I think it’s fair to say he wants to get his badges. He made that very clear, he wants to do that first be fully qualified and get as much experience as he can and it looks to me as if he’s going to go into the Academy side to start with and fair play to him.
I think he’s going to do a bit of media stuff too. I wish him the best of luck. He’s a great lad.
I don’t think anything can prepare you.
You can prepare, get your coaching badges but it’s amazing when you sit by a manager’s desk just exactly what it entails.
It’s such a difficult job, especially nowadays but if there’s anyone I’m backing to be a success, it’s Steven Gerrard.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.