Rusty Pusey: Thank you for agreeing to answer some questions Gino. May I call you Gino?
Kinnear: No
RP: Ermmm, ok, Gordon, the season has been a massive success so far. What would you put this down to?
Kinnear: Well, first I have to say no one is more surprised than myself as I thought we would be struggling for points down at the other end. All the credit must go to the players who have worked their butts off in training and have taken it on to the pitch. The win at West Brom on the opening day gave the team a load of confidence and I wonder if we would be talking about the same thing if we had lost that game.
RP: Have you been lucky that the players you have brought in since the end of last season have settled so quickly?
Kinnear: Yes, very lucky. Every player brought in has slotted in well both on and off the pitch and the likes of Paulinho has given us more options on the way we play and his unselfish attitude has helped other players come into the game more. Even off the pitch, players like Koch, who could maybe help you out Rusty, and Berge have been excellent for morale. They are both players that are here as back up players with maybe getting some playing time in cup ties but they are happy to try and improve their game and try and force their way into the first team.
RP: Koch help me out? You lost me there Gino, err, Mr Kinnear. Have you altered your aim for the season now. Surely avoiding relegation cant still be the main target?
Kinnear: Of course we haven't. The main target for this season is still to avoid relegation and until it is mathematically impossible, it wont change.
RP: You must agree that you have been fortunate with injuries and suspensions so far. Do you think you have the depth of squad to be able to cope if you do get a few injuries or suspensions?
Kinnear: I think we have some good players that can come in if we should pick up a couple of injuries. I have one loan space available if I had to try and bring someone in but we have players such as Craig Bryson who done so well for us last season and young Nathan Baker who played 2 or 3 games at the start of the season and didn't look out of place. If we had, maybe, five or six missing through one reason or another then we would probably struggle but there are not many teams in the league that wouldn't.
RP: Talking of loans, you have two players in on loan of which one of them, Silvio, has been in the Division 1 team of the week 4 times already. How much of a blow would it be if they were re-called by their clubs?
Kinnear: When we took on the loans we knew that they could be re-called at any time if the mother club needed them. We would move quickly to try and secure loans from elsewhere but I hope that won't happen as Gutierrez from Newcastle has been terrific for us while Silvio from Atletico Madrid has been a revelation and I have to say thanks to the managers of they clubs for allowing them to come here.
RP: What will be your attitude towards the FA Cup when it starts? Will you be going all out to win the trophy and try and show some silverware for what has been a tremendous season so far?
Kinnear: We will treat the FA Cup with respect but it will almost certainly be a similar team to the one that played in the Shield, giving our fringe players some game time and a chance to put pressure on the first team. We will obviously be trying to win the trophy but not at the expense of the league.
RP: You are out of contract at the end of the season. Have you discussed a new one with the chairman and would you envisage signing a new one with Derby or do you think you will want to move on and try your luck with another club?
Kinnear: No discussions have taken place about a new contract and I don't think they have to at this point. I get on well with the chairman but when it comes to what's best for the club we both know that if we think it is time for me to move on then that's what will happen.
RP: Finally, if you could sign any player for the team, who would it be?
Kinnear: That's a tough question as it would be different players for different positions but overall, as of this moment, then someone like Andrea Ranocchia or Etienne Capoue would slot into our system nicely.
RP: Thanks Gino errmmmm Gordon or whatever.
Kinnear: No problem. You are quite good Rusty but you are no Fannie Licker.
Rusty Pusey (great grand-daughter of Groucho Marx)
Very entertaining Gino!
ReplyDeleteGood stuff. :)
ReplyDeleteSets the standard.....top work Gordon.
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