Luis Melville of Brentford FC CST & local community station Westside Radio89.6FM caught up with Andy Scott at the training ground on Thursday.
Westside Radio 89.6FM offers comprehensive previews and match reports on all Brentford home and away games on Saturday afternoon 2-5pm. At home games take radio to the ground and listen in or take part in the show by calling 020 8571 1188, emailing presenter@westsideradio.co.uk or text the word 'WESTSIDE' followed by your message to 60300. Got a view about Brentford then it get them heard.
Luis Melville: You've just come through a very tough period over the last two months. What's your overall assessment of the team's performances during that time?
Andy Scott: Well I've been delighted. Obviously we've picked up quite a few points against some very tough sides. We knew it was going to be a really hard period for us but we've come through the other side and if anything we've improved on the spell that we had prior to that which is a massive boost for us. We're in a decent position and we're improving all the time and we're looking pretty solid as a team.
LM: Do you think one of those reasons you have improved so much is that the 'soft goals' that you were conceding seems to have stopped now?
AS: Yes. It's not just the goals but we're also not giving the opposition as many chances as well which is obviously a major factor. Percentage-wise teams are going to be take chances if you allow them to have plenty. We've cut down on that and increased the amount of opportunities that we're creating at the other end as well. If it wasn't for the last two goalkeepers we've faced we could have had 6 points and quite a few goals.
LM: And looking at the calibre of the teams you have played recently, Southampton are a very good team but I don't think I've seen you dominate a team like that in the second half so far this season?
AS: It was probably the last 20-25 minutes of the first half and also virtually the whole of the second half. They had a couple of chances and they were always going to with the strike force they have but in overall play we performed excellently and it was on the back of a really tough game against Norwich plus a hard game against Doncaster. We put in a massive effort against Southampton. The tempo of the game was really high and we set the standard. We were playing at a very high pace and they couldn't handle us in the end. We've got the ability to do that.
LM: Leon Legge, he seems to go from strength to strength. Looking at players like Leon, you've obviously unearthed a diamond there and Sam Wood last season. Are you still actively looking at the level that those players have come from to bring players through? Are there still players out there like that?
AS: Yes there are. We're looking at quite a few levels in non league and were trying to develop the scouting system and the network we've got to make sure that we've got a wider range of teams and players covered. Any potential loans that crop up we make sure we're there watching them. Hopefully unearth a few that people don't know about in the first place and so far so good. We've done well, obviously the higher up we go it's going to be more difficult to find players from non league that are capable of coming in. Certainly Leon has shown that if you've got the potential, willing to learn, be part of the set up and grab the opportunity with both hands then you can get as far as you want to.
LM: It's quite a brave move these days to do what you have done and are doing. It appears these days that Managers want players ready for first team football now or even yesterday! But for you to bring in a player in his mid 20's and for you to have the patience to allow him to learn seems quite amazing?
AS: Well we had to be careful with him at the beginning because to come in from Tonbridge Angels at the level (Ryman Premier Division) he was playing at meant he wouldn't have been able to go into League One straight away. Probably the reason it took so long was the fact that we didn't have enough reserve games at the start of the season to play him in. He did very well in the Johnston's Paint Trophy and physically he had to get up to speed. Not just with the pace of the game but he's a big lad and you have to learn your body and understand how your body works when you're training everyday as it's a different proposition. Once he got to grips with that he felt more comfortable and as a consequence he was able to enjoy his game. We've worked on a lot of things with him and made sure that he understands what is required of him and this football club and like I say he's gone into the side and formed a formidable partnership.
LM: I was walking behind a couple of elderly Southampton fans and I overheard one of them say that Leon Legge reminded them of a very young Tony Adams in the way he defended, tackled and headed the ball? What's your opinion?
AS: Well if he emulates what Tony did then it's going to be a massive achievement not just for him but for us as well as a football club to have someone like him. We've got a lot of players that are improving and people are looking at them and they're going to because we are doing well against the good sides. We're performing well week in and week out and are performing at a very high level and the list of scouts that are coming to watch us is growing week on week. We've got to expect that. We understand that because if players are doing well and were doing well as a team then we're going to attract attention but we want to make sure that we keep the squad together and see what we can achieve as a group.
LM: Do you feel a little bit vulnerable at this time of the season. Obviously with the transfer window open and the attraction that your players performances is drawing scouts to your games, is it that you need to be careful that in trying to bring players in you don't take your eye off the ball and lose players you want to keep?
AS: There's not a lot you can do if you get a bid that's acceptable. I don't want to stand in anyone's way but so far we haven't had any offers for anyone. We're obviously aware that there may be some interest in some of the players and you have to have players ready to come in for those positions if they do go. Hopefully these next few days will go very quickly and at 5.01pm on Monday we can relax knowing that we've got the squad intact.
LM: So you'll be screening your calls very carefully?
AS: (Laughs). Somehow though they always get through to someone. I'm always talking to Manager's about players and whether they'd be interested coming to us because we're looking to improve as well. You probably think that every club in the country is trying to improve and we've got players that probably will improve a lot of sides and that is to be expected. When I first came to this club no one phoned up about any of our players that shows how far we've come and the fact we've got a very good squad that's capable of going higher.
LM: 48 hours is a long time in the transfer market since you spoke on Tuesday in the Southampton after match press conference. Can you bring us to speed on the signings?
AS: We've signed Lionel Ainsworth today (Thursday) which is very good for us. Huddersfield paid a lot of money for him from Watford and he was at Hereford with Toumani Diagouraga so they know each other very well. They were part of a successful Hereford side and he did very well at Watford. He started off at Derby and went on loan to Bournemouth so he's wanted to play football wherever he's gone. He's been involved with the first team at Huddersfield all season but they've got two very good wingers themselves. I think Lionel gives us an option very similar to what Myles does on the left hand side with his pace and his ability and he can also play upfront. It's a very good signing and I'm delighted to bring him to the club and think he'll really excite the fans.
LM: Are you aiming to keep him for the rest of the season?
AS: Initially for a month but we'll discuss it again with Huddersfield. Lionel's expressed interest in coming until the end of the season and we want to keep the squad as stable as possible and if that means taking him to the end of the season then we'll try and do what we can to do that.
LM: A lot of fans are obviously keen to find out what's happening with Wojciech?
AS: Again I'm asked that question every day and if I could give you a different answer than the one I gave yesterday then I would but you know I'm just delighted he's here training with us today! That means 'touch wood' he's going to be with us on Saturday.
LM: Is it a bit like that with him, day by day?
AS: It is. If one of the Arsenal goalkeepers gets injured or their decision about him changes because they see how well he's done then who knows…. who knows? But clearly after Saturday we're going to have to readdress the situation and we are speaking to Arsenal on a daily basis and the same with Ipswich as well. We're trying to make something happen with Tommy as well. The good thing is that the players that are here want to stay for the long term but clearly it's down to their parent club. Hopefully we can persuade them it's the right thing for their careers.
LM: Just back to on field matters. We've spoken about the chances your stopping but you are also creating a lot more chances. I think Doncaster was 9, Norwich was 13 and Southampton 11 chances you created in the game. Is it just a matter of time before you start really converting a lot of those chances because you're getting a lot of good possession in the right areas now?
AS: Yes. Also when you look at the stats were hitting the target more as well. Their keepers made some fantastic saves the other night and they cleared one off the line which the lad didn't really know much about it. Our stats are better in percentage of hitting the target which obviously you need to be hitting the target to give yourself a chance. Someone said to me the other day someone's going to be on the wrong end of getting a spanking from us. You feel that's coming but I was disappointed in the first half hour at our lack of desire to get in the box because there were a lot of balls going into the danger area and we weren't attacking the right areas and let them off the hook a bit. Certainly in the 2nd half you could see there was a will to get in there and be the first to the ball. We put them under severe pressure and in the end they buckled. If you get people in the right areas attacking the ball, you're going to score goals. I just felt that if we had believed in ourselves more in the first half we would have been at least level and probably go on to win the game.
LM: Oldham are a team that are struggling at the bottom, I think their Chief Executive came out and made a statement about how they understood why fans were so upset and Dave Penny is under a bit of pressure there. Now these are the sort of games previously to December where we struggled a bit in. Are you at the point now where you've got to get the squad out there and say to them this is 3 points we must get?
AS: I think the mentality has certainly changed. We know that the 3 points against someone like Oldham is just as important as against Southampton, Charlton or Leeds if not a little bit more to be honest. We know we're not going to catch up with Leeds or Charlton but certainly we can distance ourselves even further from Oldham who are in the bottom 4. It'll give us the opportunity to try and catch Bristol Rovers initially and MK Dons and teams like that and that's what we're looking at doing. But we've got pick up points against sides below us, we know that. Early in the season we weren't too clever at doing that but we've picked up our form more against everyone and there's no reason why we can't carry on doing that against Oldham.
LM: I think officially Griffin Park in horse racing parlance would officially be called 'heavy'. Have the players managed to come through that ok again?
AS: Clearly the fact that we didn't play for 3 weeks and then they've played Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday and Saturday again we're going to have to look after them today and tomorrow. The pace and the power that we played at in the last 3 games was amazing. Particularly as we looked strong at the end of each game and that's credit to the players professionalism and the way they've kept themselves fit and all the work the staff have done here to make sure everyone is ready for the games and we've come through it unscathed from injury wise, and we'll be ready and rearing to go with Oldham.
LM: And finally, any minor injury concerns?
AS: No, we're fine. Nikki Bull's seen a specialist and can start doing weights now on his shoulder. Hopefully he's on the comeback trail and he's the only one at the moment. We're very pleased in that respect that we have a full squad to choose from which makes my life difficult but the lads that are playing are keen to keep their shirts.
LM: I'm going to get another finally in here!!! Ben Strevens and Ryan Dickson were helping out this morning prior to training with some promotional work for the forthcoming 'Sport Relief Mile' at the end of March. What would you say to encourage Bees supporters to get involved?
AS: Well it's another great cause. It's an opportunity for all Brentford fans to get together and be part of a very worthwhile cause but something that can promote the football club and get us together as a community as well which is important. Not just for me but for the players and the football club as a whole also. It's a fantastic opportunity and we'll be doing everything we can to support it and we want the fans to join in as well. (To find out more how you can get involved go to http://www.sportrelief.com/the-mile/find-a-mile )
LM: Thanks Andy. Good Luck Saturday
AS: Cheers
Transcribed from radio interview by Alison Bennett
