Steve Bruce reflects on Blackpool's draw with Wigan Athletic

Blackpool Gazette

Steve Bruce shares his thoughts on Blackpool's 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic

Transcript

00:00You use the phrase, on the beach at this time of season, is that unacceptable for you?

00:03Yeah, I don't enjoy it at all. It's a bit like pre-season, I hate pre-season with friendlies.

00:09I hate the thought of friendlies and testimonials. There's got to be a competitive edge.

00:14As soon as we start to be a bit competitive, second half, we've seen the benefits of doing it.

00:19It was like you messaged at a break saying, we can't sit back just because we've got nothing to play for.

00:22I can't accept when we play like that first half. I think they know it.

00:27So, yeah, we've got two games left and I expect us to be bang at it.

00:32Is that going to be your key message for us today?

00:34Yeah, of course it is. I won't just let us fizzle away. There's still six points to play for.

00:40Can we move up a couple of positions? That's where we'd like to be.

00:44But ultimately, we're short. We're short and by a long way we're short.

00:50If you look at the league table and that if you're involved with Blackpool, from all of us, from the owner,

00:55sporting directly, myself, the supporters, we all want to see Blackpool in a position where

01:00we're threatening to try and get out to the next league.

01:03Obviously, we've got a long break in the summer, but could, you know,

01:06doing well with the last two games build a bit of momentum and get you started?

01:08Yeah, yeah. You know, there's a lot of work to be done over the summer.

01:11You know, we finish next Saturday and it only just starts. We've got five lone players,

01:16four or five players out of contract. So, you can imagine it's going to be a bit of a hectic,

01:21but I think that's pretty normal for the teams at this level. They don't give big contracts out,

01:27which is understandable. So, there's a constant turnaround. But since Christmas,

01:32I've been really, really pleased with our improvement. I think we've improved enormously

01:37since January. It's imperative now that we get this one right and having half a new team, maybe,

01:44maybe close to a full new team with the players who we have to be respectful of the clubs,

01:49who are the players who are on loan. So, all of them lads will be making conversations with

01:55and see where we end up.

01:56Is that a realistic prospect, that? You know, first game next season,

01:59could be a completely different starting line-up?

02:00Could be. I wouldn't say it'd be completely different. But, you know, when you look at work today,

02:05we've got how many loan players playing? Four or five? One on the bench, you know? So,

02:12yeah, it could be half a new team and, yeah, we'll see what we can do.

02:16How much of a challenge is that for you? I'm guessing you've not experienced that too much,

02:19where it's been such a big changeover in your mind you're hearing?

02:23I think it's fair to say, look, we've been in the division now three years, we haven't been good enough.

02:28We haven't been good enough to mount a challenge to where the club wants to be. So,

02:30here's an opportunity that can we now go and find the right formula, the right balance,

02:38and find the team that's capable of getting where we want to get to.

02:41You brought Tom Blocks from the bench today. You've used the bench quite a lot recently.

02:46How far away is he from starting?

02:47Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, we always know he's been very unfortunate. Just when he set the place alight,

02:52he got injured, didn't he? He got a nasty injury. So, we'll box clever with him a little bit.

02:57Of course, the team had been on a bit of a run until a week ago, so I've left it alone.

03:05The two strikers, Fletcher and Ennis, were in really, really good form. So, I left it alone,

03:10but he's good to have, that's for sure.

03:11I'm guessing he's banging at your door now. Is he fully fit to make that split up?

03:14Yeah, yeah. He wants to play like he should do.

03:17And Sonny Curry are missing again today. How far away is he?

03:20He wasn't right. We don't think he's anything serious, but he's got a little bit of a medial

03:27problem with his knee. Contracts and talks are ongoing. We're still hopeful that he can come

03:33to a right conclusion that we all want. Let's see.

03:37Is he touch and go for the rest of the season, or could he come back?

03:39I think it'd be touch and go, I would have thought. It would be silly to risk anybody with a bit of

03:46a ligament damage. I can't see it.

03:49Come back.

03:58.

04:06.

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