Banana
9th March 2005, 09:40
"After the exertion, mentally and physically of the midweek game replay against Southampton, to come here and win 1-0 after the work we have put in during the week after the preparation and the disappointment of not winning on Tuesday, to come here and win 1-0. We had an absolute banker of a penalty in the first half and missed two very good opportunities in the first 5 minutes. There was one scrap in our area, when everyone was throwing their bodies to stop them scoring in their own box. It was an all-out attack on our goal for the last 5 minutes and they stood firm and put their body in the line of fire. We defended resolutely and it was a fantastic win. Fantastic.
"Do you know what is happening now? I am taking them all to Heathrow airport and the whole squad and management team are all flying to Abu Dhabi for a 3 day trip for a 5 star deluxe for all the players as they deserve it. They will get a chance to get some sunshine, sit around the swimming pool, play some golf and relax before our final assault on this league. I made a mistake as I thought it was 10pm departure from Heathrow, but it's not. It’s an 8pm departure! So we have 55 minutes to get to Heathrow and as you know it’s an hour and a half from Colchester! There has been no team talk and everyone has had to get their gear off as quick as possible as we are driving up the hard shoulder of the M25 if necessary as I am not going to miss this trip. The players are going 5 star deluxe and they deserve it! They are 5 star deluxe.
"We have a lot of games to play and a lot of away trips. You can see we were walking wounded at the end of the game. Several players had injuries but stayed on the pitch and defended as a team – all 11 of them. They deserve a break to chill out, relax and get some sunshine. We have had an awful lot of exertion in the FA Cup. Mentally more than physically. It takes an awful lot out of you, me included. It will be a proper trip for them, and they deserve it.
"I wasn’t worried about their chances at the beginning of the second half – it was always going over!
"It was a tactical change for Burton. All our players can play in the first team and play at maximum. It was a good substitution wasn’t it? He made the goal! Another good move by the manager.
"I didn’t have to say a lot after Tuesday, because they are very highly motivated. They have a huge desire to do well. Going out affected me, as much as it did them. A chance to play Manchester United was massive for them. Of course they are carrying a shadow. Once we got them back in on Thursday and got them moving, they trained yesterday. Once I surprised them with this trip yesterday, as I only booked it on Thursday, when I told them about this trip, as it’s not like we are going 3 star to Tenerife. We are going 5 star - do you know what I am saying? These players have never been treated, and they deserve it. They are playing 5 star. We hope to get over Tuesday, but that is why we have organised this trip. The trip will do them good. They will be training over there – it’s not a jolly up. There is a bit of training to be done, but that is OK.
"I have set a target, but I will keep that private. We can’t go down now. I don’t know if we have a squad to make the play offs. All I hope at the minute is we make the airport! I need to kick them and get them out that dressing room! I ain’t missing that plane. If I have to run down that runway and pull that jet back, I will. These boys are not missing it."
"Do you know what is happening now? I am taking them all to Heathrow airport and the whole squad and management team are all flying to Abu Dhabi for a 3 day trip for a 5 star deluxe for all the players as they deserve it. They will get a chance to get some sunshine, sit around the swimming pool, play some golf and relax before our final assault on this league. I made a mistake as I thought it was 10pm departure from Heathrow, but it's not. It’s an 8pm departure! So we have 55 minutes to get to Heathrow and as you know it’s an hour and a half from Colchester! There has been no team talk and everyone has had to get their gear off as quick as possible as we are driving up the hard shoulder of the M25 if necessary as I am not going to miss this trip. The players are going 5 star deluxe and they deserve it! They are 5 star deluxe.
"We have a lot of games to play and a lot of away trips. You can see we were walking wounded at the end of the game. Several players had injuries but stayed on the pitch and defended as a team – all 11 of them. They deserve a break to chill out, relax and get some sunshine. We have had an awful lot of exertion in the FA Cup. Mentally more than physically. It takes an awful lot out of you, me included. It will be a proper trip for them, and they deserve it.
"I wasn’t worried about their chances at the beginning of the second half – it was always going over!
"It was a tactical change for Burton. All our players can play in the first team and play at maximum. It was a good substitution wasn’t it? He made the goal! Another good move by the manager.
"I didn’t have to say a lot after Tuesday, because they are very highly motivated. They have a huge desire to do well. Going out affected me, as much as it did them. A chance to play Manchester United was massive for them. Of course they are carrying a shadow. Once we got them back in on Thursday and got them moving, they trained yesterday. Once I surprised them with this trip yesterday, as I only booked it on Thursday, when I told them about this trip, as it’s not like we are going 3 star to Tenerife. We are going 5 star - do you know what I am saying? These players have never been treated, and they deserve it. They are playing 5 star. We hope to get over Tuesday, but that is why we have organised this trip. The trip will do them good. They will be training over there – it’s not a jolly up. There is a bit of training to be done, but that is OK.
"I have set a target, but I will keep that private. We can’t go down now. I don’t know if we have a squad to make the play offs. All I hope at the minute is we make the airport! I need to kick them and get them out that dressing room! I ain’t missing that plane. If I have to run down that runway and pull that jet back, I will. These boys are not missing it."