Some of the Chris Wilder P/C
Team news
With Oli McBurnie it’s touch and go for next two or three games. We are planning on him not being involved and if he is then great.
It’s disappointing for us. Sander had an operation on his tendon in his leg. A huge blow with Sander out for between three and four months.
How close is Lys Mousset to a start
He worked his way back for West Brom game and then rolled his ankle and missed a couple of days. He has missed a day this week.
He is not in a position to start and play 55 and 60 minutes, but if he is available to play he’ll be an impact sub .
Is it about building on Brighton display
Just had another week’s training with the intensity that is required and working towards the next game, which is all you can do and look to the next game against a side who started like a house on fire and have come storming back. There’s no let up.
People talk about the fixture list and after Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea it’s still a division with enormous amount of talent.
We go to Southampton who are in form and get turned over, then go to Brighton for a tough game with a man sent off early and then Everton roll in on Boxing Day. There’s no let up. It’s about us making sure we are right and approaching the game in the same manner as in the previous games.
Are you in miracle territory
The odds are there for a reason, but the odds are there to be beaten.
Season doesn’t finish after 15 games as long as there are games to play and who knows what happens above us.
Looking at the points tally and the gap we have to claw our way back into the fight first and foremost and there are enough games to do that.
We have shown at this club there is a fight in us - it’s a big fight and looking back at last year after coming back we came roaring back beating Wolves, Chelsea and Tottenham we can produce big performances.
These were no mug sides and we have to produce performances similar to those. We have to do it sooner than later and give ourselves a chance. I am just concentrating on us. You can win a few games Burnley have gone on a great run and it can change quickly, that’s what we are looking at.
January transfers and the right arrival
The two signings that I am pushing for are loans and that’s the market we are in. I am looking for arrivals that make the team better in January, it’s always a huge challenge from a budget situation to assemble a squad and we have seen we have to wheel and deal, polish a few up and you have seen examples of that, but now is the time for me to bring players in that go straight in and improve the team and the board and the owner understand that.
Is Jesse Lingard the type of quality you're after
We are looking in a couple of positions - it’s not going to be three or four but will be in positions that will give us a spark and make us better.
There’s a few players out there and we have enquired about a few.
Getting someone in early
Always an appetite from me to get it done straight away. I would love to get two players in on January 1 and get then in to the group, but as you have seen with windows there’s a rush to the end and everyone is scratching their heads because of all different scenarios.
But any manager would want their players in and I am no different
Does Sander's injury keep John Lundstram here
There’s been no enquiries for John. If someone comes in we have to assess that because they will have to come in with a fee and we will have to assess whether it’s worth doing that or not.
Losing Sander is a blow but my phone hasn’t rang once regarding John, so I don’t think he moves in this window. I don’t think he will go until his contract runs down at the end of the season
Midfielders out of the team now have opportunities
I want someone to grab the shirt and say it’s mine, but not enough have done that this season. You can imagine the amount of times I am looking at the that, I am always thinking what is the best team I can put out?
I would love for someone to say ‘that’s me I am sorted and I am not under consideration for the manager to change the side’. I would love that but there hasn’t been enough of that. And we have talked about that.
There are a number of players not hitting the form of the standards they have set.
Players chat at Southampton
They should be talking about it all the time. If i was in that dressing room I would be talking about it all the time.
Last two performances have been good
Southampton really upset me, but I said afterwards in the four years I have been here you scratch your head where it comes from, but it does happen and you have to react to that, which I did to the players.
But how long have we talked about fine margins and taking big situations? whether it’s a defining moment, but in the previous games we have done enough to pick up points and be much higher in the table than what we are.
We got a reaction but no disrespect having a poor performance in League One and Championship and having a chance to put that right is different to facing Man United at home, but we got one and rolled it into Brighton and we have to roll that one into Everton.
Everton up next
A huge football club that has been in and around the top 10 for years and have been adding quality players for years.
They have attracted one of the best managers in world football and for him to go there tells its own story. He’s not going to mess around with recruitment, he’s going to go there and bring in some world class players and they have got that.
They had a fabulous start and they lost a couple of tight games, which happens in the PL, and they have come roaring back. This is what we are up against and we have to produce a big performance and the players know that that can change their season.
You pleased for Dominic Calvert-Lewin
It’s brilliant for Dom, delighted for him. I know a lot about him I had him on loan at one of my previous clubs and the time of the move to a PL club was a difficult time for us to hold on to him, but opportunities have opened up there and he has taken them.
He’s a Sheffield boy and someone who thinks a lot about this football club and it’s been great to watch his progression these last couple of years
Jayden Bogle - took his chance
He did and playing in a different position to what he’s used to. It’s been difficult for him to get past George, who has been one of those players who has produced consistent performances but there was an opportunity for him that opened up on Sunday and that is what I am after, players who say I am here and I want to impress and he did that
How do you get players back to their best
I would love for them to be playing consistently well - from our point of view you’re looking at clips and certain moments but it goes to them to get themselves back to playing as well as they can. They have to find it for themselves and work through that period.
It’s a team game but if you do your job to the best of your ability and reach a standard you can reach then you drag other players with you and we haven’t seen enough of that this season.
