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DF: "Hello everyone. Hope we're all well. I'm looking forward to answering more of your questions."
Q: How have the new players settled in during the pre-season training?
A: Fantastically well. We worked hard to recruit them and they know how much they are wanted here. Some very good business for the club.
Q: How are you going to try and improve our away record this season?
A: Good question. I think we have possibly got to look at the personnel. The league is very intense, at times three games a week.
Q: Is there anything you will be doing different this season from the end of last season??
A: Not really. I think the last quarter of the season was promotion form. Players, staff and fans were all pulling in the same direction.
Q: Will you be planning on bringing back Jay Spearing on a permanent? The fans love him...
A: I think we all feel the same way about Jay Spearing. Unfortunately, as we speak, he is a Liverpool player.
Q: How highly do you rate Chris Lester? I'm a big fan and would love to see him play a big part this season
A: I'm also a big fan. It's important you have young academy players around your team. Let's hope they're good enough to break through.
Q: Is there any truth in the Jordan Rhodes rumour?
A: Being an ex-forward I admire Jordan as a player. At the moment he's a Blackburn player.
Q: Really like the idea of the players going to La Manga, chance to bond as a team and train have you done this before?
A: We're actually going to Marbella. We'll be having three sessions a day and I'm sure we'll come back fitter and in good spirits.
Q: Football Management must be stressful at times, but what do you do to unwind?
A: I enjoy my job, coaching players to be better people and footballers. It's not too stressful. Four kids keeps a smile on my face too!
Q: When you first arrived you mentioned squad was inbalanced, do you feel it is more balanced after the signings you made?
A: A coach needs different positions to alter games within the 90 minutes. We are getting close to that. Three to four more.
Q: How do you decide if the match warrants a suit or a track suit?
A: I'm not going to claim to be the most fashionable or superstitious of guys, so it depends on the weather.
Q: How far is Mark Davies off returning?
A: Looking really good. The surgeon is very happy with the progress, but we're still looking at January.
Q: Why are you not currently training the players right now?
A: The players are in a strength session in the gym.
Q: Apart from Beckford can we expect anymore incoming players before the training camp in Spain?
A: Rumours are always going to be rife. I cannot answer on them all, but would like to think about five percent of them are on the money.
Q: Do you go to bed at 9pm?
A: I put my older boy to bed at 9pm and then end up falling asleep with him, so that's true.
Q: Will Hayden White & Conor Wilkinson be in the development squad? Or will they be fast-tracked into the first team?
A: With any new signing I try to bed them in, so they understand how we work. The less experience they have the longer it takes.
Q: Would you say that the players are in a better condition, fitness wise than last season?
A: Generally, players are coming back in better condition enabling us to work on all aspects, tactical, mental, technical and fitness.
DF: "Thanks for the interaction. I'm now going to get prepared for this afternoon's session. Catch up soon."
Q: How have the new players settled in during the pre-season training?
A: Fantastically well. We worked hard to recruit them and they know how much they are wanted here. Some very good business for the club.
Q: How are you going to try and improve our away record this season?
A: Good question. I think we have possibly got to look at the personnel. The league is very intense, at times three games a week.
Q: Is there anything you will be doing different this season from the end of last season??
A: Not really. I think the last quarter of the season was promotion form. Players, staff and fans were all pulling in the same direction.
Q: Will you be planning on bringing back Jay Spearing on a permanent? The fans love him...
A: I think we all feel the same way about Jay Spearing. Unfortunately, as we speak, he is a Liverpool player.
Q: How highly do you rate Chris Lester? I'm a big fan and would love to see him play a big part this season
A: I'm also a big fan. It's important you have young academy players around your team. Let's hope they're good enough to break through.
Q: Is there any truth in the Jordan Rhodes rumour?
A: Being an ex-forward I admire Jordan as a player. At the moment he's a Blackburn player.
Q: Really like the idea of the players going to La Manga, chance to bond as a team and train have you done this before?
A: We're actually going to Marbella. We'll be having three sessions a day and I'm sure we'll come back fitter and in good spirits.
Q: Football Management must be stressful at times, but what do you do to unwind?
A: I enjoy my job, coaching players to be better people and footballers. It's not too stressful. Four kids keeps a smile on my face too!
Q: When you first arrived you mentioned squad was inbalanced, do you feel it is more balanced after the signings you made?
A: A coach needs different positions to alter games within the 90 minutes. We are getting close to that. Three to four more.
Q: How do you decide if the match warrants a suit or a track suit?
A: I'm not going to claim to be the most fashionable or superstitious of guys, so it depends on the weather.
Q: How far is Mark Davies off returning?
A: Looking really good. The surgeon is very happy with the progress, but we're still looking at January.
Q: Why are you not currently training the players right now?
A: The players are in a strength session in the gym.
Q: Apart from Beckford can we expect anymore incoming players before the training camp in Spain?
A: Rumours are always going to be rife. I cannot answer on them all, but would like to think about five percent of them are on the money.
Q: Do you go to bed at 9pm?
A: I put my older boy to bed at 9pm and then end up falling asleep with him, so that's true.
Q: Will Hayden White & Conor Wilkinson be in the development squad? Or will they be fast-tracked into the first team?
A: With any new signing I try to bed them in, so they understand how we work. The less experience they have the longer it takes.
Q: Would you say that the players are in a better condition, fitness wise than last season?
A: Generally, players are coming back in better condition enabling us to work on all aspects, tactical, mental, technical and fitness.
DF: "Thanks for the interaction. I'm now going to get prepared for this afternoon's session. Catch up soon."
