Blackpool shares thoughts after Barrow win

Blackpool Gazette

Steve Bruce reflects on Blackpool's 5-0 victory over Barrow in the EFL Trophy.

Transcript

00:00Obviously tonight was always going to be a distraction from the league,

00:03but would it go as well as it could have gone?

00:06Well, it's better that way than the other way.

00:09So, look, we'll take it.

00:11We know that they're a team from a different division,

00:14but it still asks you a problem, causes you a problem.

00:18I was pleased with the attitude and some of the way we played today.

00:21We've still got a bit to do,

00:23but we can see glimpses of the makers of a very decent team.

00:27Yeah, some of us play tonight.

00:28That confirmed the spot, really, with the performances on Saturday

00:31and what's going to be able to do in a very important game.

00:33Yeah, yeah, of course.

00:34They're all important games when you haven't got off to a good start,

00:37but it's important to stay well with it, stay focused with it,

00:40take it where it is.

00:42You know, it's been a difficult start for one reason or another.

00:45We've got the squad of players here, let them settle in,

00:47let them get bedded into the club,

00:49know the way we're going to play,

00:51which just doesn't happen overnight,

00:53and hopefully see the benefit of the winter months.

00:56Obviously it's a team from League Two,

00:57but with that little bit of confidence that some of the players

00:59would have got from tonight, is that going to be part of them?

01:00Yeah, a bit of confidence, score your first goal,

01:02Banksy got two, Dale Taylor got one.

01:05It's good to see.

01:06I'm a goalkeeper, obviously, Frank,

01:07we've made a superb save in first half.

01:10When do you make that decision, obviously,

01:11with goalkeepers?

01:12Do you want them to battle out?

01:13Obviously, Bailey's settled down the last few weeks,

01:15so how hard is that at the moment?

01:16There's no denying that Bailey had a tough start,

01:20but he played very well on Saturday,

01:22made a great save as well, even.

01:24So, you know, it's a really, really unbelievable position,

01:29goalkeeper, because you can't play them anywhere else.

01:31So, I hope I make the right decision,

01:34what's best for the team.

01:35I'll always make the decision on behalf of the team,

01:37and let's hope it's the right one.

01:39Yeah, Franco, if it doesn't come visit me,

01:41you get to the back of him just knuckling down

01:42and do what he did tonight?

01:43Yeah, absolutely.

01:44We've seen him train, what he can do.

01:47We brought him in, we knew what he could do.

01:49He's been an established goalkeeper at Wickham last year,

01:51so we know what he can do,

01:53and I've got no problem with him at all.

01:56It's just I have to make the decision,

01:57and we have to have a squad of players.

01:59Like, I left out three, as I said, on Saturday.

02:02The ones you left out today,

02:03was that just purely selection and giving them a rest?

02:05No, one of two of them,

02:07Ollie Casey's got a knock,

02:08and he hasn't got a knock.

02:09They'll be fit for Saturday, I'm sure, for that,

02:12but no, they were just precautionary things.

02:14George was given a rest

02:15because he's played every minute of every game

02:17and played a lot in pre-season.

02:20Obviously, Ollie Casey,

02:20you said she'll be back on Saturday.

02:22Fraser Hall's got his first minutes in the tank

02:24since his first day of the weekend,

02:25so that's going to be a tough call

02:26for you to decide who plays.

02:28Yep.

02:28But I have to tell you,

02:30it's better than not having that choice, isn't it?

02:33That's why we've got a squad of players.

02:34I have to manage the squad of players,

02:36you know, without a decent squad,

02:38then you can't get anywhere,

02:39so we know that we're going to play

02:41another 45 games, arguably,

02:45so a long way to go.

02:46I'll need all the squad.

02:48On Saturday afternoon,

02:49you played one winger,

02:49you used Albie Morgan on the left.

02:51Tonight we had four on the pitch.

02:53We had four on the pitch.

02:54Obviously, CJ and Tom Blockson up front,

02:57so how do you sort of see that?

02:58Obviously, you played Albie left.

03:00What do you see from wingers?

03:01Do you want out-and-out wingers?

03:02Well, was Sonny Kerry in out-and-out wingers?

03:06That's what I mean, yeah.

03:08He can still play on the left

03:09and play the system that we have.

03:11They're different types.

03:12I thought on Saturday

03:13it was going to be too much of a risk

03:15to play Banks and Bowler

03:17thinking of the condition that they're in

03:20and what they have been.

03:21They've only been here two weeks

03:22and haven't had any football previous to that,

03:26so I made a decision on Saturday.

03:29As I said,

03:30it's never right if you get beaten.

03:34If you win, it's no problem.

03:36With what you've seen,

03:37well, Banks in particular

03:38and obviously Josh off the bench tonight,

03:40have you seen enough of them now

03:40to think they can start together?

03:42Well, that's what they're here for.

03:44I've just got to look at them physically-wise.

03:46That can only do the world of good.

03:48And we knew it was a big call with Josh.

03:51He has to work really, really hard

03:52to get him into the condition.

03:54But Banks is a little bit more natural

03:56than that.

03:57So we'll see.

03:58See what the numbers are like.

03:59See how they are.

04:00See how they recover.

04:01And we'll go from there.

04:03Just finally on Tom Blocks

04:04who started up front tonight.

04:05I've asked you this before.

04:06Where is his best position?

04:07Obviously, he can play on the wing

04:07and he can play up front.

04:08What do you think is the best of him?

04:09The beauty is.

04:10The beauty is

04:10he can play both

04:13adequately well.

04:16He's always played on the right,

04:17played up the middle,

04:18occasionally for Shrewsbury.

04:20When he came into the team,

04:22he played down the middle

04:23and did very, very well.

04:24So either or for me.

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