mm
"IT'S MY JOB TO MANAGE PEOPLE
AND TRY AND GET THE BEST OUT
OF THEM. IF I WAS TO SHY AWAY
FROM THESE SORT OF CHALLENGES
I COULD GUARANTEE I WOULDN'T
BE PROGRESSING AS A MANAGER."
m Kmmm
enjoy being at Sunderland and there's
no better way of enjoying yourself
than being on top of your game.
The new season allows us to name
seven subs and that will give me more
of a chance to provide opportunities
for the young lads we have coming
through. Last year the youth team gave
everyone a lift and three of the lads
got a chance to show what they could
do in Ireland the other night. I speak to
people in Ireland who know their sport
and know good players and they spoke
very highly of our young lads. The club's
youngsters know the door is open if
they do the business and with seven
subs they've every incentive to keep
working at their game. I'll be amazed
if none of these lads get a taste of the
first team and as much as I do want
to bring established players in I'm also
looking to bring players through from
our academy in the way that Grant
has progressed for example. That's
something we've got our eye on.
During the summer the news of Tim
Carter's death deeply shocked everyone
at the football club. He is someone who
won't be forgotten by any of us. Tim
was a big help to me especially when
I first came to the club, his knowledge
of Sunderland having been a player
as well as a coach here was vital. He
played a big role in helping us to get
promoted and he was an equaily big
help with the academy last season.
He's a big big loss to the football club.
Last year our supporters played
their part fantastically in helping us
to make sure we put ourselves in the
sort of position we're in now where
we can look to climb the top flight.
Expectations will be higher this year and
I don't want to dampen that. We know
we're in for a tough season, that will
always be the case but as a club and
a squad I think we're better prepared
than we were this time last year. We've
brought in some new faces as part of
the team behind the scenes as well as
on the playing side and that's all part
of helping us to do well. No manager
can do everything by himself but I've
confidence and faith in the people
around me and that is very important.
I can't imagine we're going to have
as many serious injuries as we had
last year even though we've already
got a couple but whatever happens
the squad this year is stronger. We're
not ready for Europe but my belief
as manager is that we're heading
for bigger and better things.
