Neil Harris - First Press Conference

[jon1959]

January window?

First and foremost, we’ve got six weeks until the window opens. I need to assess the players I’ve got. I need to assess them and see where we are at with the group.There are things I might want to tinker with and style of play and things like that. The window is key, but January is difficult. All I’ve said to the board is let me assess the players and we will see where we are at.

No guarantees with how much money I will have. There are some good players.

Preparing teams to play Cardiff?

Difficult team to play against. Difficult players to play against. I don’t want to change too much overnight and change the environment and culture slightly over time. A capable group of players.

What have you been doing in the interim?

Learning, been to a couple of clubs to watch managers and coaches work. I have watched a lot of football in the last 72 to 96 hours as well. Gaining knowledge.

I wanted to manage. I needed a recess period just to recharge the batteries.

What can fans expect from you?

My pride in doing my job, work ethic and I am demanding? I can’t promise the fans I will win the next six games. But there will be a hunger and a work ethic. My ethos as a person and with way I bring my children up will have to transpire into the team. They will play the way I play the game.

[Joe Gillis]

'Fans expect the players to have a go?'
I think we're expecting more.than that Neil

[Eric the Half a Bee]

'Fans expect the players to have a go?'
I think we're expecting more.than that Neil

What are you expecting? A totally different approach across the board that brings about immediate success?

From all of that there is pressure to make the playoffs. Having a radical departure from what we have now isn't going to bring that. We're not going to be spending much in January, that seems clear, neither is there going to be a big clearout of players.

It seems Harris' hands are quite tied, same as anyone else coming into the job. Side made in the image of Warnock and has played largely to its strengths isn't going to ditch those strengths immediately.

[J R Hartley]

What are you expecting? A totally different approach across the board that brings about immediate success?

From all of that there is pressure to make the playoffs. Having a radical departure from what we have now isn't going to bring that. We're not going to be spending much in January, that seems clear, neither is there going to be a big clearout of players.

It seems Harris' hands are quite tied, same as anyone else coming into the job. Side made in the image of Warnock and has played largely to its strengths isn't going to ditch those strengths immediately.

We all want to see sexy football but its not going to happen overnight. Trollope tried to make too many changes to the style too quickly and so maybe a slower transition is needed.

A lot of the basic principles seem to be the same as Warnocks but he does talk about having a plan B. Something Warnock never had. Changes always like for like. Closest thing to a Plan B was throwing the centre half upfront for the last 10 minutes.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

We all want to see sexy football but its not going to happen overnight. Trollope tried to make too many changes to the style too quickly and so maybe a slower transition is needed.

A lot of the basic principles seem to be the same as Warnocks but he does talk about having a plan B. Something Warnock never had. Changes always like for like. Closest thing to a Plan B was throwing the centre half upfront for the last 10 minutes.

Agreed. We might even have a striker whose job is to get into the positions to score goals, full backs to compliment wingers and less of the standing off the opposition and giving them all of the ball. Little things that we can do straight away.

[Baloo]

Wonderful.

Best of luck to him.

[J R Hartley]

Agreed. We might even have a striker whose job is to get into the positions to score goals, full backs to compliment wingers and less of the standing off the opposition and giving them all of the ball. Little things that we can do straight away.

I hope so. He talks about pressing the opposition high up the pitch so we will see. Fresh face, fresh ideas. Even if those ideas are not a million miles away from the previous manager then just having a fresh face implement them, change of training.etc it will hopefully giver the lads a lift, especially those have been frozen out. Some unfairly.

[DubaiDai]

I hope so. He talks about pressing the opposition high up the pitch so we will see. Fresh face, fresh ideas. Even if those ideas are not a million miles away from the previous manager then just having a fresh face implement them, change of training.etc it will hopefully giver the lads a lift, especially those have been frozen out. Some unfairly.

For me the academy is the biggest issue longer term.yer, we need to perform on the pig but I would like to see early changes at the academy.
People have mentioned the extra costs of a category 1 academy, however, given the wasted money in the transfer Arter I would want Neil Harris to fight to get that budget