Blackpool boss previews Barnsley test

Blackpool Gazette

Steve Bruce looks ahead to Blackpool's game against Barnsley.

Transcript

00:00Is it reaching a point where you think it's now or never to prove what you're about?

00:03In the next few weeks you have to show performance just to get a win and demonstrate what you are about?

00:07Listen, I understand. I understand football enormously.

00:11And all of us, no matter who you are in management, if results aren't going for you,

00:17then the quicker you get on, the better.

00:20We've got a tough week coming up, we've got some tough games coming up,

00:24but I do believe since I've been here we've been better in the tougher games.

00:28So we welcome a Barnsley team who beat us this time last year, new manager, had a great start.

00:37We have to get up and run.

00:38I know your focus is on the team and making sure the team performs,

00:41but from a selfish part of your view, the results, obviously, the way management goes,

00:45you could be in some trouble, do you think your future could be in trouble?

00:48I never really think like that. I understand the game though.

00:51I've been here long enough to understand how it works.

00:54You know, and fortunately I've been there before.

00:58So, look, it's how you portray yourself, how you get on with it, how you don't let noise affect you.

01:06I certainly don't mind us just to focus on the team, get the best out of the team.

01:10And I do think in the last couple of weeks in particular, there has been, even though we didn't get the result at Northampton,

01:16we played more like ourselves. We were better on Tuesday. I expect that to take us in tomorrow.

01:22I've spoken to you every week for the last 12 months. You can see how much you've enjoyed this project.

01:27So how hungry are you to make it work?

01:28Really, really. I've really enjoyed it, really. And even now when you're up against it,

01:33that's something in management that you have to deal with.

01:36But there's no taking away that I've really enjoyed managing the football club and working for a very, very decent owner.

01:44And David and everybody's been nothing but, you know, can only do their best to help me.

01:50So it's up to me to repay that by getting a few results on the pitch.

01:54Obviously, moving up this season, we saw snippets of what you want to do and how successful it can be.

01:58So how excited can it be if it can work?

02:01Well, people, the likes of Bowler and Banks in particular, have walked through the door

02:07and we can obviously see their quality in the last third of what they can give us.

02:13Plus a meal too, you know. Let's not forget about him too.

02:16And as I said, once they get settled into their surroundings, the players that we've brought in,

02:21I know for a fact, are going to be OK. Now we've had a difficult and awful start.

02:26So it's a time to be patient. But we all know that sometimes in football, we don't get time.

02:34I get that too. My focus is on now, how do we get the team playing the way we want it to?

02:40And certainly the other night, for example, even though it keeps saying it was a cup tie,

02:44we've seen glimpses of what we're trying to achieve.

02:47Obviously, it does the other night. And then the last two league games at home,

02:50Huddersfield and Bolton, obviously you've got a win and a draw. So how important is that?

02:54Yeah, yeah. The Huddersfield and Bolton ones, the Huddersfield one in particular,

02:57with 10 men for an hour, was terrific. And they're going to be there or thereabouts.

03:03And the way Barnsley have started wouldn't surprise me if they're in the top 10 as well.

03:07So we know what's coming. We know what to expect. It's how about, how are we going to be

03:14and how we're going to play. And let's look forward to the challenge of it.

03:18You mentioned it's only hubby out. So has Ollie and Niall been training since Tuesday for a full week?

03:23Yes.

03:24Lovely looking sharp. Big luck, both ends of the pitch, obviously huge players as well.

03:28Yeah, yeah. All of them. Look, you know, we're fortunate. As I said, everybody's been fit.

03:32Everybody's trained for the last couple of weeks. We've got this now with the squad together,

03:37with the windows shut. I'm delighted at what we've done. The owners give us everything that we possibly

03:43can want. It's now up to us to now start putting a few results together. And I'm very,

03:49very confident that we'll do that. And of course, he would rather happen tomorrow and next week,

03:55and as soon as the sooner the better. But I do believe we've assembled a really good squad of

04:00players for this division. And we'll be OK.

04:02And just on hubby out, obviously, his first few weeks of rehab gone.

04:05Yeah, I think he's seven weeks in. Certainly, he was jogging today. We know that's still going to be

04:11probably another seven or eight weeks. He may be evening a little bit more, but we understood that

04:16when he had the operation.

04:16So, like, December, sort of deadline for him.

04:18Yeah, something like that, yeah.

04:20And just finally, Terry Bondo headed out to Marine on loan. He got a few chances under you last season,

04:24so is it good to see him step up a level?

04:26Yeah, yeah. We think that he needs to go and play in men's football. It'll do him the world of good.

04:29I remember him playing at Harrogate that night and became a bit of a cult hero a little bit,

04:34didn't he, you know, overnight. We want the kid to do well. Let's hope he can go and light up

04:39Marine and play in a league where he's up against, I said, men and he needs games. So, it was a good fit for him.

04:46Yeah, proper learning curve internationally now.

04:47It certainly is.

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