Banana
2nd March 2005, 07:57
"You cant deny that have the goals on the night. You have to give a lot of credit to Southampton. They played against Arsenal and are in a middle of a relegation battle in the Premiership. The way they battled against us and stood firm is what was a terrific terrific Brentford performance. It was fantastic. The passion – the power of our players tonight was fantastic. But the Premiership boys stood firm and stood their ground and defended gallantly. Fair play to them. I honestly thought we were going to win today. In my mind they were the underdogs, and we were going to beat them. But they have stood firm and tall and they were in the way of constant pressure. But tomorrow morning when we wake up it will be Southampton that go through. We are out. I honestly thought we were going to go all the way and win the cup. What are you laughing about?
"I am so proud of them. If you look at the games we have had to play in this competition. Away to Bristol City, back here in a replay and penalties. That setup an away tie at Hinckley, away at Luton Town. We have had Hartlepool here and then a replay. Away at Southampton and then coming back here. What an FA Cup run it has been. It’s very rare I am stuck for words. I have just looked at all the players and they are exhausted and very upset and disappointed. For me personally its made me so proud and so happy. It’s been an unbelievable experience and now we must aim for more.
"It’s not about me tonight. Those players they would have had a good night if they had played against Manchester United. Some of them are young enough and have a fantastic appetite to train and improve as individuals. This experience tonight, shows them the work they have put in the last 6 or 7 months if they continue to work and develop as players with their technical skills and their physical skills. Now these experiences with the mental skills will improve with coping then some of these players will have very good careers. In the long term for their development this is good. Getting used to it.
"I don’t work on hindsight. Everyone is right with hindsight. I do what I think is right at the time and that’s it. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
"I honestly feel Southampton’s attitude was commendable. The pitch was cutup from the rugby. It’s rained all day. The atmosphere in here was electric. All the cloud were so close and it’s intimidating. Southampton aren’t use to the way our players play every week. We play right and at them and they have stood their ground. I really respect them. This was a tough game for them to play. They are in a middle of a relegation battle – good luck to them.
"It wasn’t to be. We hit the bar, we had one off the line. We had other bits and pieces, but it just went wide or over. It didn’t happen. The 'what if's? Well I don’t go down that road. They are through and we are out. We have put a great performance tonight and the players have been terrific. Normally when you play this many games you have won it twice over! Fair play to them, and its been a great experience for me personally. I am sure all our players and supporters feel the same.
"I wouldn’t think my players will be happy. They have just gone out the FA Cup. We were close to going to Europe and going onto winning it. I doubt they are happy. But god bless them it’s a new experience for them. I have said it a few times that four of these lads where playing non-league football a year ago. On our bench tonight we had a 17 year old and a 19 year old. We are a bit of a motley crew. But we are very honest and very professional. The people who pay when they come through the turnstiles know what they are going to get a game.
"It would be nice to see some of the supporters who are a bit unsure about coming to Brentford. They like Brentford, but they only come to these big games. We have 2 months left in the other competition we are in. We were aiming for the double, but now it looks like its just one competition we are in. For those enthusiastic people tonight could return and help us and lift us and carry us forward to the last 2 months of the other competition we are in. It would be nice to have them back.
"I don’t get disappointed. When we win we win, and when you lose you lose. You take what comes your way. The players have given it everything tonight and were a bit unlucky at certain moments. I have a saying, which I say many times. When you win you don’t pop the champagne corks. When you lose you don’t pop the pills. I am going back out of here with my top button on my shirt and my tie on. I have my shoulders back and my head up proud and high. I am cool with the defeat. I am OK when we win and OK when we lose. In this game the highs are very high and the lows are very low. You learn over the years that you take it in your stride and learn to cope with it. I have learnt how to deal with these situations. When I get home and shut the bloody door I’ll kick the dog! But here at the club, I will walk very proudly. Oh how I wanted to win that cup!
"If we had been crap tonight and froze and didn’t compete or give value for money to the people who have paid, then I would be upset. But we have done great. We have had a great run in this competition. I am very happy. It was a great night.
"I love watching our team play and being involved with it. I stand on the side and watch it and I just love it. I love it. I am like a manager and supporter. Its great being involved and I still play a bit.
"This is the biggest crowd. But our biggest game was at the end of last season to Bournemouth. We had to win to stay up. The tension around this place, well half the people were being sick because they were so nervous. Had we gone down it would have been Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom. But we managed to stay up on the last day of the season and the relief after that one was awesome. But tonight is a different competition. We wanted to do the double, but we are still in one and have a chance.
"I have no complaints. The referee and the linesmen were excellent. They did a good job and it was a tough game for them. I have no complaints with any of the decisions or anything else or anybody. It was a great game of football and we bloody lost.
"I just shook Harry’s hand and said well done and then walked off. I’ll ring him tomorrow. I don’t go in for all that stuff. I am here to win – not make mates.
"Let's give it our best shot (of winning promotion). We have a hard game on Saturday. We have the 51 points, lets now see how many points we can get and see if the team and club can go forward. It has been a rapid rise of this football club. I am delighted to be apart of it. "
"I am so proud of them. If you look at the games we have had to play in this competition. Away to Bristol City, back here in a replay and penalties. That setup an away tie at Hinckley, away at Luton Town. We have had Hartlepool here and then a replay. Away at Southampton and then coming back here. What an FA Cup run it has been. It’s very rare I am stuck for words. I have just looked at all the players and they are exhausted and very upset and disappointed. For me personally its made me so proud and so happy. It’s been an unbelievable experience and now we must aim for more.
"It’s not about me tonight. Those players they would have had a good night if they had played against Manchester United. Some of them are young enough and have a fantastic appetite to train and improve as individuals. This experience tonight, shows them the work they have put in the last 6 or 7 months if they continue to work and develop as players with their technical skills and their physical skills. Now these experiences with the mental skills will improve with coping then some of these players will have very good careers. In the long term for their development this is good. Getting used to it.
"I don’t work on hindsight. Everyone is right with hindsight. I do what I think is right at the time and that’s it. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
"I honestly feel Southampton’s attitude was commendable. The pitch was cutup from the rugby. It’s rained all day. The atmosphere in here was electric. All the cloud were so close and it’s intimidating. Southampton aren’t use to the way our players play every week. We play right and at them and they have stood their ground. I really respect them. This was a tough game for them to play. They are in a middle of a relegation battle – good luck to them.
"It wasn’t to be. We hit the bar, we had one off the line. We had other bits and pieces, but it just went wide or over. It didn’t happen. The 'what if's? Well I don’t go down that road. They are through and we are out. We have put a great performance tonight and the players have been terrific. Normally when you play this many games you have won it twice over! Fair play to them, and its been a great experience for me personally. I am sure all our players and supporters feel the same.
"I wouldn’t think my players will be happy. They have just gone out the FA Cup. We were close to going to Europe and going onto winning it. I doubt they are happy. But god bless them it’s a new experience for them. I have said it a few times that four of these lads where playing non-league football a year ago. On our bench tonight we had a 17 year old and a 19 year old. We are a bit of a motley crew. But we are very honest and very professional. The people who pay when they come through the turnstiles know what they are going to get a game.
"It would be nice to see some of the supporters who are a bit unsure about coming to Brentford. They like Brentford, but they only come to these big games. We have 2 months left in the other competition we are in. We were aiming for the double, but now it looks like its just one competition we are in. For those enthusiastic people tonight could return and help us and lift us and carry us forward to the last 2 months of the other competition we are in. It would be nice to have them back.
"I don’t get disappointed. When we win we win, and when you lose you lose. You take what comes your way. The players have given it everything tonight and were a bit unlucky at certain moments. I have a saying, which I say many times. When you win you don’t pop the champagne corks. When you lose you don’t pop the pills. I am going back out of here with my top button on my shirt and my tie on. I have my shoulders back and my head up proud and high. I am cool with the defeat. I am OK when we win and OK when we lose. In this game the highs are very high and the lows are very low. You learn over the years that you take it in your stride and learn to cope with it. I have learnt how to deal with these situations. When I get home and shut the bloody door I’ll kick the dog! But here at the club, I will walk very proudly. Oh how I wanted to win that cup!
"If we had been crap tonight and froze and didn’t compete or give value for money to the people who have paid, then I would be upset. But we have done great. We have had a great run in this competition. I am very happy. It was a great night.
"I love watching our team play and being involved with it. I stand on the side and watch it and I just love it. I love it. I am like a manager and supporter. Its great being involved and I still play a bit.
"This is the biggest crowd. But our biggest game was at the end of last season to Bournemouth. We had to win to stay up. The tension around this place, well half the people were being sick because they were so nervous. Had we gone down it would have been Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom. But we managed to stay up on the last day of the season and the relief after that one was awesome. But tonight is a different competition. We wanted to do the double, but we are still in one and have a chance.
"I have no complaints. The referee and the linesmen were excellent. They did a good job and it was a tough game for them. I have no complaints with any of the decisions or anything else or anybody. It was a great game of football and we bloody lost.
"I just shook Harry’s hand and said well done and then walked off. I’ll ring him tomorrow. I don’t go in for all that stuff. I am here to win – not make mates.
"Let's give it our best shot (of winning promotion). We have a hard game on Saturday. We have the 51 points, lets now see how many points we can get and see if the team and club can go forward. It has been a rapid rise of this football club. I am delighted to be apart of it. "