My questions at the end of today's press conference. There was more media than usual today, the conference lasted over 27 minutes compared to 16 mins on Monday. As a result I along with another reporter who was next to last did not make the final edit of the video.
Michael Carrick remained very positive, But as he rightly points out his demeanour does not alter greatly win, lose or draw. That is the way he is or the way a wealth of football experience has taught him to be, level headed, feet on the ground. Keep the players from getting too carried away with success but now he uses that calm it as a strength for the players and other staff members to draw from.
Q: In this press conference you have mentioned a dip in form at the end of last season and one common factor is a player that got injured in the warm-up at Rotherham, and then he missed much of the summer. How long do you think it will be before we see Jonny Howson back to his best again?
MC: When you say back to his best, I think for a number of the players and I think because of the results it feels that a lot of the players are not at their best as such but it won't take much, it won't take long before that turns around and obviously winning games is that ultimately in the end success is that.
Jonny's fine, he is experienced, he has been around the block nearly as much as me, so he knows the game a lot and we trust him 100% totally. No worries about Jonny at all.
Q: It is a time for leaders on the pitch as well as off the pitch and obviously Darragh Lenihan led by example v Wednesday with the goal. Getting more of those players back like Tommy Smith will that help the group?
MC: Yeah. But there are leaders in different ways. Some lead vocally, some lead by pure performance and by example. Some lead by having the respect of their teammates, There are different ways to lead. Ultimately in the end it is leading on the pitch and what it takes to perform really. That starts with attitude and work rate and doing the right things and of course you want the boys to stand up, which I don't doubt they will.
Q: I have been a fan for quite a long time. And I have to admit it was a very difficult watch, the first half at Sheffield Wednesday. We came back and scored the goal but unfortunately we didn't go on to win.
Do you think that Boro goal is going to prove significant? Do you think that first half might be as low as we go this season?
MC: It is impossible to say, you know. The honest answer is I don't know. I don'/t know what is going to happen next. I believe that we will play well. I believe that we will win games. 100% I believe that. But in terms of what happens next I don't really know.
The first half wasn't fantastic. But it was moments really where we kind of gave them the momentum in the game and then second half was better. So, I think we all know what that game looked like.
What happens next is up to us now. It is up to us as a group to do something about it.
I realised afterwards that I was actually wearing a Michael Carrick Foundation t-shirt under my hoodie. At the end of last year I was taking part in a fitness challenge for the manager's charity. I really hope we can quickly turn this around and get back on the Boro bike again.
Michael Carrick remained very positive, But as he rightly points out his demeanour does not alter greatly win, lose or draw. That is the way he is or the way a wealth of football experience has taught him to be, level headed, feet on the ground. Keep the players from getting too carried away with success but now he uses that calm it as a strength for the players and other staff members to draw from.
Q: In this press conference you have mentioned a dip in form at the end of last season and one common factor is a player that got injured in the warm-up at Rotherham, and then he missed much of the summer. How long do you think it will be before we see Jonny Howson back to his best again?
MC: When you say back to his best, I think for a number of the players and I think because of the results it feels that a lot of the players are not at their best as such but it won't take much, it won't take long before that turns around and obviously winning games is that ultimately in the end success is that.
Jonny's fine, he is experienced, he has been around the block nearly as much as me, so he knows the game a lot and we trust him 100% totally. No worries about Jonny at all.
Q: It is a time for leaders on the pitch as well as off the pitch and obviously Darragh Lenihan led by example v Wednesday with the goal. Getting more of those players back like Tommy Smith will that help the group?
MC: Yeah. But there are leaders in different ways. Some lead vocally, some lead by pure performance and by example. Some lead by having the respect of their teammates, There are different ways to lead. Ultimately in the end it is leading on the pitch and what it takes to perform really. That starts with attitude and work rate and doing the right things and of course you want the boys to stand up, which I don't doubt they will.
Q: I have been a fan for quite a long time. And I have to admit it was a very difficult watch, the first half at Sheffield Wednesday. We came back and scored the goal but unfortunately we didn't go on to win.
Do you think that Boro goal is going to prove significant? Do you think that first half might be as low as we go this season?
MC: It is impossible to say, you know. The honest answer is I don't know. I don'/t know what is going to happen next. I believe that we will play well. I believe that we will win games. 100% I believe that. But in terms of what happens next I don't really know.
The first half wasn't fantastic. But it was moments really where we kind of gave them the momentum in the game and then second half was better. So, I think we all know what that game looked like.
What happens next is up to us now. It is up to us as a group to do something about it.
I realised afterwards that I was actually wearing a Michael Carrick Foundation t-shirt under my hoodie. At the end of last year I was taking part in a fitness challenge for the manager's charity. I really hope we can quickly turn this around and get back on the Boro bike again.
