 Brought to you by DIS, keeping companies connected with cloud-based solutions. Come on, City! Conor, good to chat with you again. I guess now you've had a bit of time to reflect on Saturday's game, so what are your thoughts after the defeat at Exeter? No, obviously it's disappointing. Obviously Result being in the lead twice as well, so I think marks on the upper of the key moments were just didn't handle well enough and that obviously prevented us from getting a positive result. What do you put those key moments down to being your downfall in that game? Is it a case of lack of concentration or is it something else? Yeah, I think that would be one of them. Obviously things happen quick on a football pitch and movement and let's not get it wrong. Some of their play and some of their attacking threats were very good and they've capitalised on the day and they're a very good team as well. A defeat, yes, and naturally disappointment that the unbeaten run comes to an end, but can you afford yourself that perspective that they are a promotion chasing side and in the same breath, I think I'm right in saying that they're the lead two top goal scorers as well, so it was always going to be a difficult game. Yeah, like you say, we knew what they were about and how many goals they'd scored and the capabilities that they had in their team and for us we tried our best to try and nullify them and we had certain things that we tried to implement but again sometimes when you're playing away from home and they're flying with their confidence on the day and they managed to punish us. And I guess with that in mind it can give you some perspective in the form of looking to take positives away from the game because yes, you led twice debut goals for two of your new signings as well. So there's a lot to take away despite the defeat. Yeah, it's obviously brilliant for the two new guys coming in to start so well and get a goal which was brilliant for their confidence and we're happy to see them start well and now it's for them to just keep on pushing and making sure that they're performing every week. We spoke to Levi not too long ago. He told us that you've gone through some analysis today of that game in isolation so what was your main message, yours and Mark's, to the players? I think we were going back to what gave us success in games before and just reinforcing the same messages that we potentially came a little bit away from which happens when you put obviously new players in and you've got different people in different positions and you've got players missing out so we just had to reiterate what kind of team we are and how we can play to our strengths and it was a really good thing that we did. Do you have to curate your messages at all differently to the squad now that there are so many fresh faces in the building and work again almost trying to gel all the players that have arrived at the football club with the ones that are pre-existing? Yeah, that's definitely something that as managers you have to do new players come in and they're at different stages so we obviously took over and some players are eight weeks into how we play and now you've got some players coming in who've never worked under us and maybe asking something different to they've had before so how we do that is by having individual meetings with these players new players but also getting the lads who know what we want to reinforce those messages from themselves as well. Yeah, I was going to ask you about that and I think Mark alluded to it somewhat on Saturday after the game about drawing on some of the older players, the experienced players the ones that know how you operate but certainly how football operates at that level as well to be able to use them as a way of trying to communicate messages across to some of the younger players. Yeah, that's key and I think by them getting to know what we want from specific players in certain parts of the pitch when their knowledge is at that level where they know what we want they can reinforce those messages and if everybody's on the same hymn sheet then it's going to be more promising and people understand their roles and responsibilities. Again, going back to our conversation that we've just had with Levi and again he alluded to a relationship in particular with Elliot that he's formed in the heart of that midfield just sitting in front of the back floor and the point I'm getting to is that you've been able to in your time seemingly create relationships on the field with players in particular so how much of that will have to factor into how you speak to the new players that have arrived at the football club and trying to form those relationships? Yeah, I think we've got a lot of clips and a lot of analysis of how we want players to perform in certain positions and as coaches we've been coaching for years now and we're trying to understand how players best learn and it's no difference for first team players because when you're asking something new of them you've got to be able to find out their creative way to make them understand it and for them to implement it so the relationships are key and our job is to make sure that when players come in and out that those relationships can conform as well. You've said to us previously that you like the nature of a quick turnover of games the hectic schedule that is presented to you all being well whether permitting of course and tomorrow goes ahead does that benefit you then that you have the opportunity to get back out on the field and almost try and right those wrongs at the first time of asking? Yeah, I think you've summed it up there, right the wrongs that's something that we've explained to the players and football is another game around the corner and we're happy that it comes only a few days after so we can implement what we need to do and make sure that the performance is better than the last one and we're all looking forward to putting it right. I appreciate you're not the Met Office but how confident are you that tomorrow will go ahead? Definitely not the Met Office but we're just trying to be professional we prepare for the game as if it's on and irrelevant of the weather so there's no difference in terms of preparation for us the game is on and the weather will do what it needs to do but hopefully it's kind. Yes, I guess you're experienced in that department though probably more than most clubs in this league after the season so far. Yeah, definitely it's something that's affecting everybody and we went down to Exeter and it was lovely blue skies so a little bit further north and you seem to get a little bit of snow. Yes, it was raining and snowing at Valley Parade on Saturday I can tell you that firsthand. Going back to the game in particular I asked Mark about it afterwards in respect to the substitution for Finn late on in the game and he said himself that it was probably a tough afternoon for him naturally that's going to happen. He's still so young and it's all part of his education but what's the best format for him now Connor? I suppose the big question is do you stick by him? I think with Finn we know him really well obviously been with him for years and it was an afternoon which he's got to learn from and it's massive that he does but our decision will be for the best for Finn and that's what our priority is to make sure that with any decision Finn understands why we're going to do what we're going to do so Finn's a great lad and he'll definitely learn from this occasion. Having worked with him, having known him and understanding his character how will he have responded to what happened on Saturday? He obviously wants to right the wrongs he wants to analyse and look at where he's gone wrong me and Mark have spoken to him during the game, half time before the game just checking in and making sure that he knows his roles and he's somebody that will come back stronger and we're confident in that. Naturally it's a disappointment for him in that moment and maybe potentially a detriment to the side not generally though of course but how actually beneficial could that be if we're looking for positives from it that he is still so young, it's still an education for him to have those experiences, those learning curves. I think that's the biggest thing is that he learns from it as footballers he's got a great opportunity he's 18 years old and he's playing in League 2 and he's been making week out and he's been terrific so far and he's had a performance which he's not happy with and like I say he's got to bounce back. In terms of team news are you able to return anyone to the starting fold or indeed the matchday squad that were absent on Saturday? Looks like we've hopefully got some players back in which will help us have a little bit more variety as well so yes some promising signs. Danny Rowe naturally the one that everyone wants to know about the cold that kept him out on Saturday are you hopeful that he'll be available for tomorrow? Yeah he's been in today obviously he did have his test and it came back negative and we're hopeful that Danny's going to be involved tomorrow. As for Andy Cook and Gareth Evans will they be available for tomorrow? Again we've got some decisions to make but they're definitely in the pipeline. And Billy Clark as well I realised that was someone else that wasn't in the matchday squad was it a hamstring problem that he had? Yeah a muscular injury so with Billy he's not going to be tomorrow. I wanted to get your thoughts Conner for me just on scum thought in isolation of course they've had some decent results of late and then a bit of a break which you know all too well about of course but how will you go about trying to break down their defence three clean sheets in a row which has really helped them in their recent form? Yeah what we're trying to do is identify where we can hurt them from our system and we're confident that we can find little loopholes in their system to make it hard and we've got to be asking questions of their defence but again we're having scoring two this weekend away and we're confident we can go out there and score goals that's for sure. Yeah I suppose the attacking variety that you have at your disposal now gives you more food for thought when looking at how you try and find those gaps in the defence that you talk about? Yeah like I say we've throughout the window throughout our period here we've talked about types and variety of players and because that's so important in unlocking the door in these tight defences so you know if it's going to be a wide man an out and out wide man or it's going to be an inverted winger or is it a target man or maybe someone who's going to work off the shoulder you know or a variety of one on one side's difference to the other so you know that's our understanding to try and make sure we make the right decision. And more generally as well their recent form partnered with yourselves, partnered with Mansfield, goodness even Tramir as well just goes to show that this table is completely wide open and it could be anyone's really towards the end of the season. Yeah obviously from us playing Tramir to where they are now it's quite staggering and it just shows you with performances and a bit of a runway you can get to so we've got to try and replicate that but obviously knowing that we've said it's not as easy as just winning games and being unbeaten things happen and we've got to respond. Not you don't need to remind the players that of course but is that part of what you say to them when you're going into games that this season, this table because it's so wide open there are so many opportunities available is that part of your message when you speak to them? It can be at times and you probably know what I'm going to say but obviously it's the next game is crucial and we look to pick up the points from there and then move on and then look to get some momentum. Okay we'll go well tomorrow Connor if it goes ahead anyway. Hopefully yeah thank you. Connor is there a case for saying that having lost on Saturday you'll learn more about your squad than you would have done if it had been another win or draw in how they react to me. Yeah sometimes people say a loss is an opportunity to learn from maybe things that we've potentially been getting away from getting away with sorry at times and just highlights it a little bit more so you know where we've tried to right the wrongs as we've said and we're going to definitely learn from the game against Exeter. As you said you've got to prepare as the tomorrow's game is on you also have to have a plan B if you like for if it's not on what you're going to do with the players because it will change the structure of the week completely. Yeah that's all sorted and something that we do within the club. And obviously players a lot of games coming up how much do you have to look ahead and think that player won't be able to play that number of games I'm going to have to make a change somewhere and try and pinpoint where the change will be. Yeah you know a lot of the substitutions are tried to be planned obviously circumstances are not always as easy to make substitutions but we try and plan ahead so we've got players who are on a cap certain minutes they should be playing and sometimes it may not seem the right decision but we've got to make sure that those players are fit not just for that game but for the future as well. I suppose that's one of the big changes that's happened over the last five or ten years and the physical and the medical side of it has really up to its game you say I've capped minutes for players in their recovery. Yeah you know you go back into the science and a lot of the times they can predict things and predict injuries that are going to occur and we've got to respect that and for sure we're going to take advice from people in those disciplines where they're giving advice on players loaded and the risk of injury so that's definitely something that's not just us that every club are doing as well. I suppose sometimes that fans don't fully appreciate why is that player coming off now but it's because that's what the medical staff and the sports scientists have said. I guess yeah you know unless you don't know that if you may be not being involved in having those conversations which is fair enough but you know at point of view we've just got to make the best decision for the team and for the club and we can't sort of worry too much about players being always playing 90 minutes where it's not possible we've got to make sure that they're loading and position related so some players cover a lot more distance than others and we take all this into account and we're just trying to help make sure that the team is as strong as it can be for longer periods of the season. Thanks very much, good luck tomorrow. Thank you. Hi Connor. Hello. I was also reading that apparently just over 3,000 people watched the game on iFollow on Saturday. I mean are you sort of aware of that growing fan base and sense of going numbers of people watching? Those figures seem to be going out week a week. Yeah I am aware of it I do see it and it does obviously bring a smile to my face so it's fantastic we see those numbers and how they've increased it's brilliant for the club. It's strange in a way playing every week with the grounds empty it's all a bit weird but there's that you've almost got to sort of visualise there's that big audience still willing you on there's a lot of people paying attention. Yeah and it's brilliant that people can still watch the game on the iFollow so it's really nice that people in the tough times can still watch the games and give them that excitement that they want and crave watching Bradford City so really pleasing to see the numbers and hopefully we can get even more. I think talk to players they're very aware of that they know this it's almost like it's invisible audience there isn't it? Yeah and it's something that the players have had to adapt to and not having crowds and maybe it's helped the younger ones coming in because they've not had that pressure of playing in front of 15,000 people potentially saw you know but again you know it'd be brilliant to get the fans back as soon as possible. And as Pete was saying obviously about if the game doesn't happen tomorrow you've sort of got a plan B you know whatever happens there's going to be a real concertina of fixtures basically everybody in the division is facing the same thing yeah and it's probably a lot of teams that are like us and trying to manage the minutes of the players and you know let's see what they do the EFL if they extend it or what but again you don't want to be making it where it's too much for the players so it's kind of a balance. Do you think they could possibly extend the season or is it because it's sort of set in ways with when the playoffs are and when I think all the way to the Euros and it's all very much set in stone almost. Obviously with the Euros and things like that and there's always you know if you push things back over things you know may potentially fail or get interfered with so hopefully we're hoping that we can finish the season in good time and hopefully be up that table as well. Yeah and as you say the manager and the players in regards to minutes it's for their own welfare as well because it is such a concentrated run. Yeah and we're trying to protect them. We're trying to make sure that we've got depth and we've got you know a really good squad so we're hoping to to rotate but again making sure that we're as strong as possible. And in terms of this round of games I mean from yourself and Mark's view is it good to be sort of game game game game like that coming up now would you rather have perhaps a couple of weeks where you can sort of work with the particularly as there's been a lot of changes. Yeah I think we're in this position so we've just got to react to this position and you know that just changes how we work in our organisation but we just get on with it. Right so best of luck hopefully see you tomorrow. Yeah that would be brilliant yeah. Cheers anyway. Thanks a lot, cheers. Connor for a new manager or new managers in your case is the first defeat the big test do you think in terms of the response? Yeah I think so. I think we've had a few games in where things could quickly change and we're nine games in so when we've had this sort of negative defeat and it's a challenge to see how we respond as staff but also as players yeah. And obviously you already know that you've come through the system where you learn a lot about some of the other players in terms of that response. Yeah I think there will be signs of who responds well and the professional footballers so we're hoping that the ones that we've recruited and the ones that are already in the building are going to have a positive reaction and just going into the next game wanting to prove people wrong again and being underdogs. I need to talk to you about managing the minutes in terms of the physical demands on the players now that you've got all these options after the transfer window if you think particularly attacking wise it'll be more sort of horses for courses in terms of your team selection each game looking at the weaknesses of the opposition and tailoring your team more to that. I think those are conversations that we do have but also if people weren't placing the team as well it's hard to then shift people out who are still deserving to play but what we'll do is we have discussions and we come up with the decision that's going to help us on the Saturday or the Tuesday. And to ask you the big question of the day we were speaking to Levi earlier and he was telling us he was the best singer in the squad the other day when they did the initiations is that the case? There's been quite a few now so I'm trying to remember Levi's but I'll go with what he said. On a serious note in terms of integrating the new lads have you had to be a little bit more creative because of the constraints on you at the moment? Obviously the exit to trip probably helped quite a lot with them being away from home and having to bond and get to know each other more but you'll find a lot of players know each other through the game as well and then obviously they find relationships with each other but everyone gets along so it seems a good camp at the minute but we're trying to give them opportunities to socialise with each other. How easy is it for you and Mark to judge how well lads have settled? Do you just mainly go on how they perform on the training pitch or the little signs you can pick up on away from the pitch? I think it's just everything that they do when they're coming in are they happy and have they got a smile on their face and have they got people that they're talking to and we also speak to players to see how they're settling in as well so it's just natural conversations that you do have but also as coaches you're trying to again ask that question to yourself how well is he settling in that the new play and you've got to keep your eyes on it so it's a mixture of both really. I guess it's a lot easier bringing them into a winning team and coming into methods that they can already see are working. Yeah hopefully with the buying and the players again like I said earlier reinforcing those messages and making sure that the players who come in are buying by them and they know the rules.