Blackpool boss preview Bradford City test

Blackpool Gazette

Steve Bruce looks ahead to Blackpool's game away to Bradford City

Transcript

00:00It's been a theme for your time here where obviously something goes your way,

00:03you've got the team you want and then injuries just strike you down.

00:06Thanks. I feel a bit like that, yeah.

00:10I think just when you've got everybody fit and you're raring to go, then we've lost two.

00:14But I've said many, many times that's football.

00:18It's why you need a squad of players.

00:20I do believe the squad of players that we've got is stronger than what we were last year.

00:25But certainly the lads coming off the bench the other night,

00:30I probably didn't have that luxury last year.

00:33So I do believe as a group of players we're stronger in terms of depth.

00:39And I think that was pretty evident when we made the changes last week.

00:43They enhanced us, the subs and won us the game, which I was delighted about.

00:49Yeah, it does the fact that last year a winger went off injured if you thought we'd dread,

00:54but now does it show how far you've come?

00:55Yeah, yeah.

00:58It's when you analyse it like that, you're right.

01:02The squad of players, as I keep harping on about what is the game last weekend,

01:07and now we've got likes of Bloxham to come into the squad,

01:12which shows you the strength of it.

01:14And that's what I've been pleased about.

01:17We've enabled us to get not huge numbers,

01:20but as I said, that little bit of more quality and certainly the lads who've come on,

01:26certainly Emile last week, for example, and Brownie, who scored as the winner,

01:31then it was there for everybody to see.

01:34How do you feel Emile's done in particular in his first few months?

01:36I think he's needed time like everybody else.

01:40New surroundings, moved to the area, what we're expecting.

01:44Hasn't played a lot, hasn't really played since probably last Christmas, really.

01:49And that goes for a lot of the players we've brought in.

01:51Hence, that's why they're here.

01:53You know, they've found themselves in a difficult situation at their clubs.

01:58You know, Bowler in particular hasn't played for...

02:00He can only get better with the more games he plays,

02:03and that goes for a lot of them.

02:05If you haven't played a lot of football, it's difficult.

02:08So, we're playing catch-up in that respect,

02:11but we'll get bigger and better and better every week, I'm sure of that.

02:14Have you always enjoyed that as a manager,

02:16taking a play who's maybe struggled elsewhere?

02:17Maybe like Ashley Fletcher last year and give him a bit of confidence.

02:21Well, look, you can only advise them, you know,

02:24and everybody talks about Fletcher.

02:26There you have it.

02:27You know, all of a sudden, you found it from something.

02:30It has to come from within, of course.

02:33And there was one or two conversations with Fletcher,

02:35and I'm sure you won't mind revealing that,

02:38but it's the way it was, you know,

02:40just a reminder now and again that, you know,

02:43with Fletcher in particular,

02:45he doesn't have to worry about ability, he's born with it.

02:47You know, he's got that ability.

02:49It was to remind them of the other side of the game

02:51and how important it is,

02:53and thankfully he grasped it.

02:55Last season, you know, you struggled at home at times,

02:58but away, you know, things seem to go your way.

03:00This year, it's been a different story.

03:02So, how frustrating has that away form been?

03:04Well, home form has been good, you have to say that.

03:07You know, we've played some big teams in the division,

03:09who I expect Bolton, Huddersfield, Barnsley to be there,

03:13thereabouts.

03:14So, we have to turn that round.

03:16It's amazing.

03:18You can't compare to last year, really, now,

03:20because the whole environment's different.

03:23But we have to improve.

03:25We've played three times away from home and lost them all.

03:27So, let's start tomorrow and see what we can do.

03:31Yeah, you have to point out, obviously, Exeter in particular stands out.

03:33You have to point out that game and say,

03:34this cat, this is Exeter.

03:36Well, listen, Exeter was easily the worst we've played all season.

03:41So, we'll be better than that tomorrow, that's for sure.

03:45And we know, we know what to expect.

03:47We know what's coming from Bradford.

03:49So, we'll have to be ready for that challenge.

03:52Also, familiar face at Bradford in Matthew Pennington in the defence.

03:55How hard is it to see him go in the summer?

03:58Well, I can only put praise, Matty.

04:02I think he's a manager's delight.

04:06No problem with him.

04:08I think we had just had a conversation that he wanted to play.

04:11And I couldn't guarantee him that.

04:15And he decided that he's going to try his luck elsewhere.

04:18Which is fair enough.

04:19I understand any player who wants to play regularly.

04:24And he's got himself a move.

04:26It's gone well for him.

04:28For him in particular, I'm delighted about.

04:31Because, as I said, you know, over the years, you've come to get good pros.

04:35And he is, as I say, a delight to manage.

04:38Obviously, he's truly defensive at the time.

04:39He looked back on top of that conversation and made him think,

04:41a bit of regret for letting him go.

04:43Yeah.

04:44But I think it was a bit of, he wanted to play regular.

04:47And he couldn't get in the team.

04:48He was sort of in and out of the team, wasn't he, last year?

04:50And I think that he found us a bit of a frustration.

04:53And, yeah, there's times.

04:56There's times when defensively, we could have maybe done with them.

04:59But you have to make them calls and them decisions.

05:02Also, you were honest with him.

05:03You said you couldn't guarantee that game time.

05:05Is it hard as a manager being honest sometimes when you want something?

05:08Well, I've always tried to be that way.

05:11It's sometimes difficult to be totally honest at times.

05:14But when they're a great pro and being a delight around the club fight for a few years,

05:22it's only right that we have them conversations which are not easy to have.

05:28But it was driven by Matty, who wanted to play more regular.

05:33And that I fully understand.

05:34And just finally, obviously, we saw it last year.

05:36We've liked Stockport.

05:37We've had some V teams that are getting promoted coming straight into the league

05:39and competing.

05:40How hard does that make it?

05:42Momentum.

05:43Momentum going forward.

05:44They come into it.

05:45The club's on the way up.

05:46It's always difficult.

05:47You know, a promoted team.

05:49You see it year in and year out, don't you?

05:52Look, they're a big football club.

05:53We were in the bottom division for five years, was it?

05:57Big crowd.

05:59We know what to expect tomorrow.

06:00Good to see them back performing well.

06:03We'll have to be at our best to beat them tomorrow.

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