Q: Chris, going back to Tuesday..
CW: Do you have to?
F... Off Rob (lots of laughs)
Amongst the fans there was a lot of shock by what happened in the first half. Sadly it was also reminiscent of QPR away but it was a totally different back line to that game and you are saying individual mistakes are costing us. You must be concerned that they were different individuals making those mistakes?
CW: Yes because they are good players and they shouldn't be making those mistakes and that is the top and bottom of it. But they do and we got punished for it and it was unacceptable and I totally understand the crowd's reaction. As I said before you, if you are at Liverpool and you are 3-0 down and we are no Liverpool and 3-0 down at home on a Tuesday you are going to get some. And you have to be big enough to receive it. And we did. The pleasing thing I have to say was the way they came out second half from a professional point of view. There's no hiding place out there. I am telling you. I have been out there when you are 3-0 down and the opposition have got their tails up and you can't find a pass and everything is disjointed cos it was first half.. because of the goals and the atmosphere about the place, that could turn into a tough evening. And there will be some players at certain clubs when they get in that position that will just want to get off the pitch and will want that 45, 46, 47, 48 minutes to be the quickest 48 minutes of their life. I don't think my players did. I don't think they did and don't think they've shown that. I thought they put everything in to try and get back into the game. And I think the work that they did, the first 15-20 minutes of the second half, they push the opposition back and I get whatever anybody says about tactically they were brilliant (Cardiff) well played and all that.. B****s... we pushed them back , there was desire in our play, we had 24 crosses. You don't go in at half time and say I tell you what we'll do is we'll sit right on the edge of our box and we'll enjoy defending 24 crosses for the next 48 minutes. And we'll balls flying across the face of the goal, or their players missing really good opportunities or us not getting out of our half and not getting into their half because they didn't. So, the players in a way said to me.. answered a little bit of a question for me... what is it like, possibly the first time at the Riverside that they've had to endure that, not a nice scenario and understandable as well, a really negative atmosphere set by us. The positive atmosphere when we've played at the Riverside has always been set by the approach of the players in tandem with the supporters but there's no hiding place when you are 3-0 down and you have to expect that criticism and that negativity that flies around the place.
As I said, from a manager and from a player it is a lonely place out there and it is a lonely place in that technical area but for 45 minutes I enjoyed watching my team do whatever they needed to do to get back in the game. So, I don't really want to give credit for a defeat because no one deserves anything but the game was ultimately decided by us in terms of what we did in the first half.
And going back to your question we definitely have got good enough players not to be giving up these opportunities and chances to teams and allowing them to get on the front foot.
(Am busy typing out the next Q and A).
CW: Do you have to?
F... Off Rob (lots of laughs)
Amongst the fans there was a lot of shock by what happened in the first half. Sadly it was also reminiscent of QPR away but it was a totally different back line to that game and you are saying individual mistakes are costing us. You must be concerned that they were different individuals making those mistakes?
CW: Yes because they are good players and they shouldn't be making those mistakes and that is the top and bottom of it. But they do and we got punished for it and it was unacceptable and I totally understand the crowd's reaction. As I said before you, if you are at Liverpool and you are 3-0 down and we are no Liverpool and 3-0 down at home on a Tuesday you are going to get some. And you have to be big enough to receive it. And we did. The pleasing thing I have to say was the way they came out second half from a professional point of view. There's no hiding place out there. I am telling you. I have been out there when you are 3-0 down and the opposition have got their tails up and you can't find a pass and everything is disjointed cos it was first half.. because of the goals and the atmosphere about the place, that could turn into a tough evening. And there will be some players at certain clubs when they get in that position that will just want to get off the pitch and will want that 45, 46, 47, 48 minutes to be the quickest 48 minutes of their life. I don't think my players did. I don't think they did and don't think they've shown that. I thought they put everything in to try and get back into the game. And I think the work that they did, the first 15-20 minutes of the second half, they push the opposition back and I get whatever anybody says about tactically they were brilliant (Cardiff) well played and all that.. B****s... we pushed them back , there was desire in our play, we had 24 crosses. You don't go in at half time and say I tell you what we'll do is we'll sit right on the edge of our box and we'll enjoy defending 24 crosses for the next 48 minutes. And we'll balls flying across the face of the goal, or their players missing really good opportunities or us not getting out of our half and not getting into their half because they didn't. So, the players in a way said to me.. answered a little bit of a question for me... what is it like, possibly the first time at the Riverside that they've had to endure that, not a nice scenario and understandable as well, a really negative atmosphere set by us. The positive atmosphere when we've played at the Riverside has always been set by the approach of the players in tandem with the supporters but there's no hiding place when you are 3-0 down and you have to expect that criticism and that negativity that flies around the place.
As I said, from a manager and from a player it is a lonely place out there and it is a lonely place in that technical area but for 45 minutes I enjoyed watching my team do whatever they needed to do to get back in the game. So, I don't really want to give credit for a defeat because no one deserves anything but the game was ultimately decided by us in terms of what we did in the first half.
And going back to your question we definitely have got good enough players not to be giving up these opportunities and chances to teams and allowing them to get on the front foot.
(Am busy typing out the next Q and A).