Luis Melville of Brentford FC CST & local community station Westside Radio89.6FM caught up with Andy Scott at the training ground.
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: Firstly can we get an update on Jack Ward and what the situation with him is after last night's game (Staines Town)?
Andy Scott: He went to hospital but got given the all clear so that's good news. I think he's OK. The X-ray was fine. I think it was just bruising.
LM: Result aside, it's a difficult time of the season because you're trying to gel players together plus you've played quite a few
youth team players. What's your feeling on how it's gone so far?
AS: We're still a bit away from where we want to be. We're integrating new players and we're a bit short up-front so we're having to play young players up there as well as playing Myles up top. It gives us a little bit of a false situation. It's not ideal when you haven't got naturally strong forwards up there, so it's difficult for the side to play the way we want them to play but hopefully that'll change in the next few weeks before the league programme starts.
LM: In terms of some of the knocks and injuries the players have picked up is it a case of they just need a couple of days rest or are there some long term issues there?
AS: With Charlie MacDonald and Carl Cort they should be OK in the next week for the Palace game. Both should be training sometime next week but we'll see because we're light up there and we don't want to risk them. They're fitness is good enough so we don't want to push it too much and make any injuries worse.
LM: And all the players that have come in are you fairly happy with how they're settling in and getting to grips with what you're trying to do and push on from there?
AS: Yes. They're all fitting in really well with the group. Obviously it's pretty early days in terms with integrating in what we want to do with the side, but we will get there and it takes responsibility from them and from us and from the other players to make sure it works.
LM: You mentioned that you've possibly got a few signings coming up. I'm sure all Bees fans are desperate to know. Are you any closer to getting those deals sealed?
AS: We're hopeful. We've been speaking to players and clubs for a while and we're hoping that next week might bring a conclusion to a couple but we'll have to wait and see. I'm not counting my chickens yet.
LM: I know the focus is on being prepared for that first league game against Carlisle but in your mind are you anywhere near having your first eleven set for the first game or is it still up for grabs for the players?
AS: Yes it's still up for grabs. I've got an idea of what we want to do but certainly it's not cut and dried yet. Everyone's still got the opportunity to show they can force themselves into the side.
LM: And what about tactically, are you looking to change anything or to carry on from last season?
AS: It worked last year. We're looking to improve the quality and quantity of the squad as well but there's no reason we have to change as it's been successful in the past 2 years. Also there's no reason to change because we're getting new players in so I think you can go away from your principles sometimes and the formula that you have and it works and I don't want to change that.
LM: So the players you have brought in are those players specifically to execute what you want to do this season then?
AS: Yes. I believe the players that have come can fit into the way we play. Clearly we need a few more bodies and hopefully they will continue that trend but until the squads completed we won't know but I'm confident that'll be the case.
LM: Where in particular are those areas where you think you need to beef up on?
AS: I'm not going to tell you specifically where we need to strengthen as it's unfair on the players that are here but we've only got 19 at the moment so we need a few more to make it even more competitive.
LM: I was just looking at the fixture schedule and we spoke at the end of last season about the lack of midweek games at the start of the season and having looked at the first three and a half months you've only got 2 midweek games depending what happens in the Carling Cup. Bearing in mind that conversation does that leave you a bit flabbergasted really?
AS: It never changes does it? Unfortunately, you go to all these Football League meetings where you make your points. They ask for suggestions and people give them and nothing's done about them. It's the same with FIFA and the goal line technology and also the FA and The Premier League with mid season breaks and no-one seems to listen so it's not a surprise.
LM: Why don't you think they listen though? Why won't they take it on board?
AS: People are set in their ways and they do things the same way and don't move with the times and don't recognise where things need to change. That's why people say "Oh, we're so far behind the other European teams". It appears elsewhere they listen to their clubs and they liaise with them and they have a better relationship with them and things work. Unfortunately, that's not the case here necessarily and we're still doing the same things and there'll be teams at the end of the season from February onwards that are playing midweek for 5 or 6 weeks on the trot and it becomes fast and it becomes difficult for supporters to go and watch their teams because they're having to shell out so much money in a short space of time.
LM: Next week you've got 3 games in 4 days. How will you approach that because of back-to-back games, are you going to have split squads for those games?
AS: No. We're going to try and concentrate on the Tuesday (Woking) and Friday (Crystal Palace) games. Hendon (Wednesday) will be a mixture of youth team and a couple of players who maybe need to play 90 minutes but we've got a couple of knocks and maybe we'll bring in a couple of trialists into those games as well so we can have a look at them.
LM: If you do secure those singings you're talking about and maybe looking at trialists, will you think about trying to sneak in one more pre-season game or will the last week be purely fine tuning?
AS: It will be a case of fine tuning during the last week because we're travelling down to Carlisle on the Thursday like we did last year and train at Lilleshall on the way. I don't want to disrupt the preparations with another game that's going to affect everybody. If people do come in and need to get fit then we will use training to do it.
LM: Ok Andy, well obviously a busy week next week and I'm sure the fans will be keeping their eye on the website.
AS: Hopefully, we can bring in a few more faces and hopefully they will excite people. That's the aim. We're looking at bringing in some good players and whether that comes off or not is another matter but we'll be doing our best.
LM: Looking at the season what are your targets for next season. Have you got those set in your head and the players know what they are?
AS: The target is to improve on last year. We want to improve year on year. We've got a massive gap to jump to get to the play-offs as we finished 18 points behind the play-offs and 10 points behind the team ahead of us. We know it's a huge task to improve on last year. We had an exceptional year last year but there's no reason we can't keep improving and the players that are here are improving year on year as well but it's all got to come together. You need a bit of luck as well but we'll be working hard to make sure we create our own luck.
LM: The improved dugout has that helped you in terms of seeing the games and getting instructions out there to your players?
AS: Well it's still early days. There were a few teething problems at Fulham with personnel and I found it was just too busy around there with too many people but we sorted that out for the Wycombe game and it was much better. I feel a lot closer to the whole team and pitch. I like to stand up and I like to be on the touchline. It's a bit different but I felt it was something that was worth trying and the club backed me and hopefully it'll work.
LM: Well good luck with next week and we all look forward to seeing the new signings.
AS: Cheers. Thanks a lot.
