Tomori doing the presser with Nigel today, he's up first... "We've gone through a transitional period but everything is good and we're all working hard to build on the win we achieved against Brentford. The mood in the camp is good and we're all looking forward to facing Cardiff." "Winning breeds happiness and confidence and we want to build on that this weekend. We need some momentum and this weekend is a good opportunity to build on that." "We know the threat Cardiff will pose. They're a good side and are enjoying a good season, but hopefully we can go there and show our qualities. Cardiff are a direct team, we have to be ready for the physical battle, but we have to show our quality." "We know they’ve not lost at home but records are there to be broken. We have our own strengths and hopefully we can use those to exploit their weaknesses. We’re just taking it game-by-game as we look to build up some points to move us up the table." "Now I’m back in the team, I need to show my quality on the training pitch day in, day out in order to retain my place in the side. It’s a loan spell for me, so it’s time for me to learn and develop." "Being a defender I have to get better at defending and being a physical presence and it’s valuable to learn from a player like Dawson, who has been at the top of the game. I have confidence in myself though and I know what attributes I bring to the team." "I’m growing up a lot. You have to figure things out yourself on the pitch and focus on making yourself better. It’s a lot colder up North, but having Ola and Hector here has been a massive help." please log in to view this image "We obviously picked some injuries last weekend, and we're waiting to see if they're available for Saturday. Like every Club, you're always going to have injuries - we just have to get on with it." "Obviously there’s a long injury list and we’ll have to see if some of those players are available. The camaraderie has been good but we have to get the players available to play on a match day." "I’m pleased with the draw. Blackburn are a big football club and we’re under no illusions as to how tough it will be. I take the FA Cup very seriously and we will treat that as important as we do every other game." "We're looking forward to the challenge of facing Cardiff. They're riding high and will be looking to maintain their momentum. But, we'll be looking to build on our result against Brentford. We'll go there with a positive mindset and in a good frame of mind." "It's been a brilliant week. From my point of view the attitude from the players has been spot on and we’ve being able to work on a lot of things on the training ground. The big thing for me though is that there are good people at this Club." "Everyone has roles and responsibilities and that’s important. We’ve done a defensive training session on the grass this week, but we need more clean sheets. That was the negative from last weekend. But it’s the whole team that need to contribute not just the back four." "Cardiff score goals and put the ball in good areas of the field. They have good players and they work to a system, which they do very, very well. We have a positive mindset in the camp though and we go there ready for a challenging game." The End.
Missing from the club report on Adkins comments - “I was unaware of the meeting between the owners and the fans but that’s great news. All being well there will be a lot of positivity,”
It’s a lot colder up North, but having Ola and Hector here has been a massive help. Not too sure what he means by that... Looks like he might be reasonably articulate for a young footballer, good to see.
On the HDM feed Tomori was quoted as saying:- "Everything is going well, we’ve just come through a transition period and now we’re just working hard. The mood is good. Winning breeds happiness and confidence and we want to build on that this weekend. We need some momentum and this weekend is a good opportunity to build on that. Adkins has work to do with us, he’s an English manager and he knows the league a lot better. It’s a different way of playing but we’re getting used to it. It’s easier to communicate with him as well. We’re doing a lot of tight area stuff on the training ground and working on our shape." I found the highlighted bits surprising as he came across very well as a communicator in his press conferences.
Really? I thought his English was okay considering his stated learning curve, but way too over-egged by many. His interviews came across wrong and I thought he would have benefited from an interpreter. His touchline antics gave a hint of frustration at his inability to get his message across - it will have been even more frustrating, for all concerned, on the training ground. I think these comments fairly reflect the truth of a troubled speĺl under Slutsky.
It seems fairly obvious that Nige isn't going to ever tell us who's available for a game, we're only going to find out about the injury situation on a match day.
That's fair enough, why let the opposition have any more info......of course they will already have a huge idea, but best to keep them guessing
Good stuff. Interesting last paragraph. Think Dawson may have had a word. When Head Coach Nigel Adkins and his assistant Andy Crosby arrived at the Club last week, tightening up the Tigers’ defence became one of their main priorities. The goals against column is one of the main reasons why the side currently finds itself in the lower half of the Championship table, but former defender Crosby hopes that his experience can help to reduce the flow of goals heading into the back of their net. “Obviously I hope that can be the case and the amount of goals that we have conceded is there for everybody to see,” said Crosby, who played more than 700 games in a career that took in seven clubs including Brighton & Hove Albion, Oxford United and Scunthorpe United. “As a team it hasn’t been good enough. As somebody that played as a defender, I know that the finger often gets pointed at the goalkeeper and the back four as if it is only their problem – it isn’t. “We have to defend better as a team, both in open play and from set pieces. We need to have players desperate to keep the ball out of their net, just as we have players desperate to score a goal. “We don’t seem to have had a problem scoring goals and that continued last weekend, but we can’t continue with having to score two, three or four times to win a match. “If we want to move up the table we have to reduce the amount of crosses coming into our box and the amount of shots opposition teams are having as that all contributes towards conceding fewer goals. “We’ve had a good week on the training ground this week working on our defensive principles. Making use of the time we have with the players is key.” After a spell out of work, during which he helped out with Northern Ireland at U21 level, Crosby is delighted to be back in the day-to-day life of club football and has enjoyed his first week with the Tigers. “It’s great to be back in. That feeling you get from working with the players every day is fantastic,” continued Crosby. “In terms of the players, there was only really Michael Hector that I knew from when we were at Reading, but obviously I knew there were players here that have had fantastic careers. It’s all about building relationships with them now, both individually and collectively, and trying to maximise their potential. “We have a great working environment here and people who are desperate to do well – players and staff. “The reaction of the players has been fantastic and they’re open to things. They’ve given us some feedback as well on what they feel can help them to move forward and it has been good so far.”
They will know everything from what our players had for dinner. Football is awash with spies and double agents. It's a big money business after all.
Can't make up my mind whether Nigel's coyness on the injury situation is that it is more dire than we thought, or better than expected and doesn't want to show his hand to Colin.
I know, I also know ex and current pros who give said info quite freely, but some managers will still never openly give info away
