Graeme Murty, the new head of Professional Development Phase opened up on his first week on Wearside and also on the Under 21’s match last night that saw several senior Lads feature in a 1-0 loss to Leeds U21.
GOOD GAME
"The game has been moved to the stadium, we've had numerous first team players dropped into it against top of the table who are playing really, really well - I loved it! I hope everything in terms of our preparation and how it goes off, does like it did today because as a football match I thought it was really good.”
IMPRESSIVE EFFORT
"I thought it was exactly what the first team wanted when they got that amount of numbers dropped into the team. I'm really pleased with their application, disappointed with the result but I can't fault the way they went about their business."
MOWBRAY’S ADVICE
"He's wanted to leave me to find my feet and it was really interesting today when he said 'Don't worry about my thoughts, go and manage the game as you would normally manage the game. There are the minutes for the players if you can, but if you want to make changes tactically, go and make them. Go and be free and manage as you will, this is what I like.'”
INSIGHT
"I got an insight into how he likes his teams to play which is really, really nice to see and really open. I have to say, all of the staff have been that way so it's made the transition into the job really easy."
SENIOR MINUTES
"Yeah, as long as they could get through it. The lads need minutes. We had the 21s ready to go on if they were needed if there were any issues. The idea when senior players drop in, is to give them as many minutes as they can handle and I thought they went about it properly and I thought actually, it was a good game of football.”
COMPETITION
"I've just said to them, if the manager is going to drop senior players in again, your job now is to impress him that much on Friday that he thinks of your name when he looks at his team-sheet. If he comes to drop senior players in, then it's not in your position. That's the challenge they have and that's always what the challenge should be at a big club."
IMPRESSIVE CLUB
"You just look at the status of the club and you think it's something that appears to be on the up and you want to be a part of. You come and chat, you're asked to join and I can't help but be impressed by the aspirations and the facility. The academy is brilliant and I've been really welcomed by everyone.”
PLEASED
"I've got no doubt I've forgotten so many people's names in conversation, but that's part of it when getting used to a new environment. Everyone has been really welcoming and I've been really pleased with how they've gone about everything."
