Boss: The season so far
leedsunited.com 11/9/13
Brian McDermott reflects on the start of the new Sky Bet Championship campaign...
As the countdown continues towards a return to league action, United manager Brian McDermott took time out this week to meet with representatives of new Football League sponsor – and our own official betting partner – Sky Bet.
The boss joined Sky Bet managing director Richard Flint with the Football League championship trophy – last won by us in 1992 – at Thorp Arch.
“We won it at Reading a couple of years ago so I do remember it and I’ve got good memories of that time,” said the United manager, who also made his predictions for Sky’s new million pound football game Super Six.
“The Championship is a good league and a tough one. It is a real honest league, every game is a battle and to win a game at this level it is tough. Each team makes the other team earn it.
“I think it is a tough league for punters to make any bets on as there are no gimmes in this league at all.”
The players returned to training at the end of last week, and the international players – Ross McCormack, Paul Green, and Rodolph Austin – will rejoin the squad on Thursday, ahead of the weekend trip to Bolton.
“You have a bit of time away and you do what you’ve got to do,” explained the boss. “Then we came back and got back into training with the boys and now we are leading up to our game against Bolton.
"You know when the international breaks are due so we plan weeks in advance.”
Looking back on the opening month of the season, the boss says he has been pleased with certain elements so far and says he believes the team are a work in progress.
“It’s been a solid enough start,” said the boss. “Obviously the game against QPR was disappointing to lose. It should have been a draw having looked back at it.
“We didn’t do enough with the ball, we have to get on the ball more and express ourselves more. We were difficult to play against. We are a work in progress and we are working towards where we need to get to.
“We didn’t have enough shots, we didn’t make enough chances so that means we have to get on the ball and do more. It is important to be difficult to play against from the start. That is always a starting point for me.”
Brian McDermott reflects on the start of the new Sky Bet Championship campaign...
As the countdown continues towards a return to league action, United manager Brian McDermott took time out this week to meet with representatives of new Football League sponsor – and our own official betting partner – Sky Bet.
The boss joined Sky Bet managing director Richard Flint with the Football League championship trophy – last won by us in 1992 – at Thorp Arch.
“We won it at Reading a couple of years ago so I do remember it and I’ve got good memories of that time,” said the United manager, who also made his predictions for Sky’s new million pound football game Super Six.
“The Championship is a good league and a tough one. It is a real honest league, every game is a battle and to win a game at this level it is tough. Each team makes the other team earn it.
“I think it is a tough league for punters to make any bets on as there are no gimmes in this league at all.”
The players returned to training at the end of last week, and the international players – Ross McCormack, Paul Green, and Rodolph Austin – will rejoin the squad on Thursday, ahead of the weekend trip to Bolton.
“You have a bit of time away and you do what you’ve got to do,” explained the boss. “Then we came back and got back into training with the boys and now we are leading up to our game against Bolton.
"You know when the international breaks are due so we plan weeks in advance.”
Looking back on the opening month of the season, the boss says he has been pleased with certain elements so far and says he believes the team are a work in progress.
“It’s been a solid enough start,” said the boss. “Obviously the game against QPR was disappointing to lose. It should have been a draw having looked back at it.
“We didn’t do enough with the ball, we have to get on the ball more and express ourselves more. We were difficult to play against. We are a work in progress and we are working towards where we need to get to.
“We didn’t have enough shots, we didn’t make enough chances so that means we have to get on the ball and do more. It is important to be difficult to play against from the start. That is always a starting point for me.”
