We’re back home this afternoon with a determination to put things right. The Premier League is the hardest league in the world for a reason, because everyone can beat everyone. That’s the same for us – we’ve not shown our full quality for a lot of games this season. So it’s about showing that now.
We welcome Bournemouth today, who are in very good form, especially when you look at some of the players they’ve lost in recent years. I’m a big fan of Andoni Iraola, he’s done some amazing things there. They ask a lot of questions of you, they’re a very high pressing team similar to us, but they also go a lot more direct. It’s a different test, so we’ve got to be ready and prepared going into it.
The Crystal Palace game last week has been the story of our season where we’ve started so well but couldn’t hold on. It’s frustrating and something we’ve been working on. Straight after the game you could see the disappointment. I don’t think it’s ever been from a lack of effort from the lads that we aren’t getting the results we’d like.
Some things are going against us but other things we’re bringing on ourselves. It helps that we’ve got these long weeks to prepare and we’ve got the time on the pitch to go through the mistakes we’re making and try and rectify them. The way the gaffer and the staff work, they’re on it straight away.
It’s an important time for us, and this is why you have leadership groups – it’s not always the good runs or the nice times but it’s also when you’re having some bad results, you have to show your experience and get the team moving.
As a leadership group, it’s time to reinforce the messages from the gaffer wants. First and foremost, it’s how we’re seen around the training ground. Sometimes you get a feel from the older players, how it’s going around the dressing room. We’ve got to be the face of that and make sure we’re pushing everyone as much as possible. Then the rest of the squad will react. We’re not miles away from the European spots. We just need to put a run together.
I also want to talk about Kieran Trippier, who will leave the club at the end of the season. Honestly, I don’t think anything that’s happened in the last four years would have happened if Tripps hadn’t been here. When the takeover happened, there was a lot of talk about players coming in, but until Tripps came and took that risk – and let’s be honest it was a risk, he was playing for Atlético Madrid and winning La Liga – it would have taken someone to make that move. After that, everything fell in place.
First of all, how good he is as a player. Probably one of the best right-backs this country has ever produced. He’ll be a huge miss as a player but also a person in the training group. He’s a huge influence in the training ground, always keeping people smiling and laughing and joking. A top player but an even better person, and I’m very thankful we crossed paths when we did.
Back to this afternoon, and we know your support always has a huge effect on us, whether it’s going well or not. You can really push us on, so I hope we can give you a performance that you can get right behind and we’ll feed on that. Hopefully we’ll give you the result you deserve.
Dan Burn.
