 Brought to you by DIS, keeping companies connected with cloud-based solutions. Come on, City! Can we start with your team news, please? Last week, Connor said Danny Railwood would be back for the Saturdays game. Is he properly in contention now? Has he had a few more days? Yeah, he's been training with the squad now for the last couple of days. So, yeah, Danny's feeling a lot better. He's back in contention for the squad this week. And an update on Billy Clark, please, if you've got one? Yeah, Billy's doing well. He was on the grass today, not with the squad, but he was back on the grass with the physio team. So, yeah, his progression's been very good, really. We're pleased with how that's going with Billy. Hopefully he'll be back sometime in a week or two, hopefully, in the shorter time. But we'll just have to assess him next week. And Rhys Staunton, Richard, on all backing training, how are they finding back being in training? How are they coping? Yeah, the goods, they're getting back up to the speed of the training and intensity of the sessions. So, yeah, they're both feeling good and training well. So, it just adds competition to the squad. And going into the game, are you looking more at a similar 11 that started the game against Gunthorpe, or have things changed in the last few days? Well, obviously, different challenges that we will face this Saturday. So there could be some changes to the squad. But, you know, we've got to assess what we feel is the right team to get as a result on Saturday. As they obviously, the weather's had a big play in the games being called off. How has it affected training? Yeah, we've managed to train. But just on the 4G, we're quite lucky that we've got the 4G down here. But, yeah, as effective things, we haven't managed to get on the grass as much as we'd like. But, yeah, we've been able to train, obviously, on the 4G and get some good work done on there. But we just got to limit the training time just because of how hard the surface is. Do you think with the amount of games being rearranged and pushed back and stuff, is there really a case for an extension of the season? And if so, do you think the governing bodies need to have a look at the options? I think it's moment in time. We can do the Tuesday Saturdays. But I think if more games get cancelled for whatever reason, if that's COVID or the weather, then I think it's something that maybe we need to look at just to make sure that we fit everything in and not be putting the players' welfare at stake in regards to, you know, having three games a week, you know, and that could cause problems. But I think you'll be able to do it. Maybe we'll run off, you know, especially if we have got Tuesday Saturday games. So, yeah, I think it is something that maybe needs looking at, you know, probably in the next couple of weeks. But at this moment in time, we're able to play Tuesday Saturday. I think, you know, with the size of the squad that we've got at this moment in time, you know, I think we'll be able to cope with that. We got Sam Hornby's take on the postponements earlier. What was your reaction on the Friday when another game was postponed and what did you say to the players and what did you have them doing over the weekend? Obviously disappointed, you know. We wanted to obviously get a result and putting a performance that we need to in terms of bouncing back to the defeat at Exeter. So we want to right our wrongs. And, you know, we were looking forward to playing the game on Saturday. But, you know, the weather was, you know, it wasn't great. You know, I think there were five or six games called off in our league. So, yeah, we just had to refocus the team. We did a match preppers normal on Friday, you know, because we didn't get told until after we trained. So, you know, we then had to get the players back in on the Saturday and train, you know, to match intensity really, just to try and, you know, keep us fit and keep us match fit going into the game on Tuesday. So, yeah, it's, you know, nothing's really changed in regards to our preparation now because we did a tough session on Saturday. So then that means we've got to, we can prepare just as normal as if we played on Saturday going into the game on Tuesday. Does it in any way, is there any positives to take from having a bit of a break or is it simply a case for you like we just want to play the games? No, I don't think there's any positives from a game being cancelled. You know, you think we've prepared now twice for scum for, you know, so it's, you know, the more workload on the staff and the players, you know, taking that information on board and applying it in training then for it to be cancelled. It does add more workload on them and on those other staff. So, no, I don't think you can take any positives from it. You just got a bit professional about the situation and I'm putting a performance, you know, when the next game comes along. Touching on your relationship with Conor last week, he said some good stuff about your working relationship. How do you find working with Conor? Yeah, we've got a good relationship. We've been working with each other for now four years now. So we know how each other works. We know our strengths and our weaknesses. So we're able to help each other where people are stronger in different areas. We will make sure that the right person does that side of the job. So yeah, we've got a good relationship and it's important that we prepare the group as much as possible. So we need to know our strengths, just like knowing the players' strengths and weaknesses to get the best out of the group. And going forward to tomorrow, first of all, what's your thoughts being back at Bolly Parade since you've taken over? You've only played there three times, given various circumstances. How will it feel being back at home? Yeah, we're obviously looking forward to that. You know, it's disappointing there's no fans still, but it's always nice having a home game and being able to prepare in the right way. So yeah, we're looking forward to it being a home game and, you know, take the travel away from it, which we've had a lot of long journeys lately. So, you know, we're looking forward to that and, you know, we hope we can put a performance on Tuesday. And speaking of Morkham, what have you made to them so far this season? They're up there in the playoffs. Some may have said beforehand they would have been quite surprised to see them up there. What have you made of them? A well-organised team, you know, and of course, a lot of teams' problems. They're able to kind of absorb the pressure and counter on you. And also, you know, they've got the strength to cover movements in behind you to hurt you. So yeah, we know that, you know, the strength of Morkham and the problems they will cause us. So we've got to try and nullify them as much as possible and, you know, and look to apply our game to them. So yeah, we're looking forward to it, but we know, you know, we know it's going to be a challenge. You know, they're a good team and they're up there for the right reasons because of the qualities they've got in their team. Despite that, though, you look at the Cambridge game, the Trammier game, two clubs who are up there as well, and you've got positive results, four points from those two games. Does that give you confidence going in to a game against a side who are near the top, knowing that you can beat these kind of sides? Yeah, I think so. I think, you know, we've got to take confidence from them games. I think another Cambridge game, both games we were, you know, we showed our qualities both in and out of possession. So we've just got to try and make sure we hit them performance levels. You know, and that's important because we know that there's going to be spells when we're out. We are without the ball and there's going to be spells where we are in good possession of the ball. We've just got to try and make them count. So, yeah, we can take confidence on that. Obviously, going, you know, the run that we did in terms of the runs unbeaten, that we've got to, you know, we are a confident group. It's a confident, you know, the building, it plays in the building, our confidence at the moment. And so we've just got to, you know, I think that's important in football and we've just got to make sure we're trying to get the result on Tuesday. And it's been a bit of an extended break, as we know, since the exit to game. Just how hungry are the lads to still put that right? Is it still at the forefront of their minds and your minds? Yeah, it's something that will remind the players of it. I think the scumfort game, we looked at the right mindset going into it and we had a great week kind of preparation going into the game and, you know, we looked more hungry and wanting to right them wrongs for one way to put it. And I think we've still got that same mindset. You know, we want to be successful. We want to win games and try and try and get away from bottom half of the table. Brilliant. Cheers, Mark. Good luck for tomorrow night. Thank you. Michael, as you touched on, it's going to be a busy last few months of the season. That must bring with it a headache for you and Conver and that you're going to have to rotate the squad, but that necessities getting players match minutes because you can't just drop them in to a match when they haven't really played anything. No, no, you're right. That's probably where we need to, you know, at times, look for kind of games in against friendly games for the squads if we can put them in. If not, it's important that we get the right training sessions for them players to make sure that, you know, they play that intensity and they are ready for the chance. It's like anything, if you're out the squad, it's important that you do more as a player to make sure that you're prepared and ready for that opportunity. So it's our job as well as staff to make sure that the training's done right and we can, you know, these players are ready for if they're called upon. And how easy at the moment is it to get friendly matches in to get players match fit when you've got so many league matches to fit in as well and the pictures are not in the best condition? Yeah, I think, you know, there's always teams that need games for, you know, in the same situation. So I don't think that'd be too much of a problem. So I don't think that that is an issue. I think it's just making sure that when the players do play that, again, we manage them minutes and we make sure that we don't throw them in and they do too much. But again, we've got to be ready for when they do play. So if that is for 60, 70 minutes and they perform well and then they continue that and they build the match fitness up that way. So yeah, there's different ways around it, but I'm sure that that will, you know, we'll manage that side of it in the next couple of weeks. Thanks very much. Good luck tomorrow. Thank you. So Mark, obviously, you know, this stop-start period you've had. I mean, for yourself and Connor, obviously in this management position, you've had sort of learning the job as you go along. I mean, this challenge also of sort of keeping players presumably motivated during spells when there aren't any games and get games get called off. How do you sort of keep the morale up around the place when, you know, when they find out yet another game is being postponed? I just think you continue as normal, really. I think you don't, you know, we don't really see that the players are down and obviously they just want the next game to come. So, you know, the game was off on Saturday and we've trained today and you can see that the players, you know, are looking forward to this game. So it's, at the moment, we don't need to motivate the players to, you know, for them, they obviously disappointed when the game gets called off. But, you know, as soon as the next game, you know, we're looking towards that and we'll prepare the players as best as we can for it. So, yeah, it's not an issue that we've had at the minute in terms of morale. You know, it's a good group. It's a confident group, as I mentioned. But, you know, we just need to, we need to play these games and, you know, we're looking forward to this busy period coming up. As you say, with these games getting postponed, I mean, presumably, you've got to line up in mind each time for a game and you might do it for certain circumstances. So is it a case of sort of scrubbing names out, moving people around and, you know, you probably have to rewrite your team sheet probably a few times over the last few weeks? Yeah, yeah, we are the type of managers who do change at times to personnel, to, you know, we think that the best opportunity to get a result, you know, if that's defensively or going forward. So we do change the team if needed. So like you say, there will be times where players are in the squad and the game gets called off and then another player will come into the squad. So, you know, it's just important that you have the conversations with them players, you know, what the reasons are. So, yeah, we're, you know, we're just, like I say, we're looking forward to this game on Tuesday and, you know, we give opportunity for these players. We've got the shirts to go and perform. Like you say, it's probably not an easy conversation to have when you're leaving someone out, but presumably when you look at the fixtures ahead and say, look, we've got this schedule coming up, you can balance that by saying, you're going to get your opportunities because, you know, we're going to be using everybody. Yeah, I think for the experienced pros we've got in the building, I think them conversations don't really need to take place. You know, maybe the younger ones do, but, you know, I think everybody can see now with the matter of games we've called off and the matter of games due to play. We can, you know, they can see that the opportunity will be there for them. So, it's important that they are performing in training, you know, because, you know, that's where we're going to choose and select our players from training. So, they need to be performing every day and doing everything right. So, if that opportunity comes, they'll go and take it and then stay in the squad. And how important, presumably more than ever, are the stats going to be in terms of the fitness work and just looking at the physical condition of players? Yeah, they are important. That's where the medical team and the S&C team will come into play. We do giant cap minutes when we know that players are either returning or just coming into the squad from having long spells out. So, it's just important that we do manage that and we don't, you know, cause injuries when we could have prevented them. And that's where, you know, we've got to use the people in the building to advise us on that. So, yeah, we've done so, you know, we did well in the Christmas period, so hopefully we can manage it in the same way. And I think if I'm not wrong, I think extra was the first time you've used five substitutes. I mean, is that another thing you're surviving to, you know, learn as you're going along sort of thing? Because obviously, you know, it's the first time this season, they've been, the first time during this season, there's been that option in there about making so many game changes in games. Yeah, well, as you know, Simon, obviously we brought the three players into the team who were kind of new signings with Jordan, with Chas and Cranshaw. So, you know, they've not been playing loads of minutes with the clubs, but they have been playing. So, it was important that we managed their times when playing so they couldn't do the full 90s. But, you know, that's, again, that's where, you know, we've got to see the physical condition within the games, but we've also got it in mind from the medical team and the S&C team that these players might need resting. And of course, that's where the strength of the bench, which you've been talking about, it really comes into its own, doesn't it? Yeah, definitely. Definitely. I think if you've got strength on the bench, as well as in the starting 11, then obviously, you know, and also different strengths off the bench to cause the team problems. If it's pace later on, or if it's to shemping up the defence on midfield, then, you know, we've got them different options now, which, you know, which we're pleased with. So, you know, like I say, hopefully, you know, we can use the squad rotation well enough in this busy period. One last thing. How was the pitch? Have you had a word? Is it, is everything okay? Yeah, the pitch is fine. Obviously, they did a lot of work to try and get the game on on Saturday. But obviously, it was too cold, so it was frozen, it was rock hard. So, yeah, but they're doing a good job up there. So, yeah, we're thankful that they were going to get the game on on Tuesday, you know, unless we're getting them off snow. Brought to you by DIS, keeping companies connected with cloud-based solutions. Come on, City!