Cambridge United v Crawley Town - watch Scott Lindsey's full press conference
Crawley Town travel to Cambridge United for their first away trip in League One this season. Here is Scott Lindsey's full press conference in the build up to that game.
Transcript
00:00Scott, after success in the cup on Tuesday night, we return to league action on Saturday as we travel to Cambridge, can I get your thoughts ahead of that game?
00:07Yeah, looking forward to the game. I like going to Cambridge, I think it's a really nice ground, little ground. Always a nice pitch there.
00:15So yeah, we're looking forward to the game, having watched them. They got beat against Stockport in their first game, but I actually thought they played really well in the game.
00:24I thought they were the team that had the most control in the game, I felt. They were good with the ball, really kind of clear philosophy of how they play.
00:37So yeah, it's a good one for us, but a game we're looking forward to.
00:42Yeah, and obviously after the success of Tuesday night, there's lots of players who have now gained extra minutes that will be a lot fitter for the game.
00:48So plenty of things to think about, I guess for yourself, not necessarily to start the game, but also coming off the bench as well.
00:54Yeah, for sure. I think we've got good strength and depth. So yeah, expect some changes certainly in the second half of the game.
01:02But no, we've trained well this week and the players who played last Saturday and was included in the game on Tuesday, they've done a little bit less today.
01:12But we'll bring everybody back again tomorrow to finish off with our preparation.
01:19Yeah, we spoke after the game on Tuesday about the morale and how keeping a winning run is so important for a football club.
01:25So to make it free from free would be an extra boost, wouldn't it? But what was the mood like in training after the first two games?
01:31Yeah, it's always good after a win. But I think the biggest thing for me from a coaching point of view is it just gets buy-in from the players.
01:37Obviously, it's a new group. We're coaching them a hell of a lot of detail.
01:42When you get a couple of wins with two different teams in effect, it really helps because you get more buy-in from the players and they start to believe in what we're coaching and what we're talking about in meetings.
01:58And it becomes a little bit clearer to them. And yeah, it kind of helps because of course they then start believing and having more confidence to actually play with a little bit more swagger, which we want.
02:15So yeah, we use that as a vehicle.
02:17We spoke to Toby on that point and he said that he enjoyed playing this style so much. Is that a big thing as well, that you want the players to enjoy it? Because I suppose that will get extra buy-in if they're liking the way they're playing as well.
02:30I think every footballer likes to play with the ball. I think if you go up and down the country and speak to all players, I think every player likes to play in a team that has the ball.
02:39We're very big on that. We're very big on having control of the game, having the ball. When the ball turns over, we want to be aggressive to win it back quickly.
02:51And players enjoy that as well. They enjoy that side of it, especially when you see good results by doing it.
02:59Of course, there's going to be times when we don't quite get it right. There's going to be times when we potentially lose games but play well. But the process will always be the same.
03:08Yeah, and I suppose that's why it's so good to see so many of the players who didn't start on Saturday's league game picking up that information because it almost feels like Christmas when we're looking at our calendar at the moment.
03:17We're pretty much Saturday, Tuesday for the whole of August. So there is going to be some times where players are going to need to step in.
03:23We're probably going to have to deal with injuries at some stage. It's natural for a football club, aren't we?
03:27So it's pleasing, isn't it, to see how quickly they've all picked up the information because we're going to end up needing everyone, aren't we?
03:32Yeah, I think so. And that is a pleasing thing for me. The fact that we've fielded two different teams in many ways.
03:38I know there was the back three obviously played on Saturday. The goalkeeper, Max Anderson and Jeremy Kelly kind of shared the minutes with Junior.
03:48Apart from that, it was pretty much a different team in many ways. And to see both teams play in exactly the same manner, same style, same kind of rotations, same attitude to go and win the ball back when it turns over is really pleasing for me.
04:05Especially when I've only had that group collectively for six weeks, seven weeks, whatever it's been now.
04:10So yeah, that's a really big positive for me as a coach to see that the lads who have not kind of played as much take on board that information as well.
04:19Yeah, how have the squad come through the first two games? Obviously we know about the injuries that we've had before.
04:23But was there sort of any fresh concerns after the first two games?
04:27Just a couple of little bumps and bruises. Nothing to be worried about.
04:32We've had two off-feet, one or two players today that was involved on Tuesday night, but they'll be definitely ready to train tomorrow in preparation for Saturday.
04:45We know that your attention will be all on Cambridge, but we have to sort of reflect a little bit on the cup draw last night.
04:51It was a brilliant draw for the club, the first competitive Sussex derby since 1992. An amazing draw.
04:57I know you've obviously got friends at Brighton as well. You spoke about Andrew Crofts behind the scenes.
05:01So it must be an exciting draw for yourself and for the club.
05:04Yeah, I texted Crofty straight away actually after the draw.
05:07So we had a bit of banter on the text messaging last night.
05:11But no, I'm really pleased with the draw. It's local, so we haven't got to travel far.
05:16Straight away my mind goes straight into the preparation of that.
05:20What does it look like? Can we have pre-match here? Will it work that way?
05:23So my mind starts racing towards the preparation to that.
05:26But I think it's a great draw for us. Obviously playing at an unbelievable stadium and it's local.
05:34It'll be a game we're looking forward to.
05:39Scott, Cambridge. What do you think their strengths are and who are the key players you need to look out for?
05:43I think they've got a lot of key players to be honest with you.
05:46A couple that I've coached myself in, Digby and Brophy.
05:49They're two good players who play in the middle of the park.
05:53But yeah, they're a threat.
05:55They're comfortable in possession. They make a lot of passes.
06:00But they've got it about them to be...
06:03They can switch really quickly to being really front foot.
06:06I wouldn't say direct, that's probably being disrespectful.
06:09But they do play with the ball but they can switch quickly and hurt you in behind
06:14and ask questions if you're high up the pitch.
06:17So I was actually quite impressed with them at Stockport.
06:19I thought they actually had... I don't know what the possession stats were
06:22but they were definitely in charge of the ball more than Stockport was.
06:26Stockport scored a goal from pretty much direct play.
06:29Certainly the first one where Wootton flicked it on and Louis Barry kind of run on the end of it
06:34and lobbed the keeper from a distance.
06:37But I actually thought Cambridge played well in the game.
06:41Listen, Stockport's a ruthless team.
06:43They know how to put you to bed even when they don't have the ball sort of thing.
06:47But I actually thought Cambridge did well in the game.
06:50Watched a bit of their game on Tuesday night against QPR as well.
06:54Again, I thought there was a lot that was good about them.
06:57So we need to be really on our best, our very best to get anything from this game.
07:03Over the last two games, Jeremy Kelly only played a half on Tuesday night.
07:07Seeing it live, I didn't appreciate how good his free ball was to Rochambeau for the goal.
07:11How important a player is Jeremy Kelly going to be for you this year do you think?
07:15Yeah, Jeremy Kelly's an unbelievable player for me.
07:18I think he's a fantastic footballer.
07:20I really do.
07:21He's just so good.
07:22I just love watching him.
07:24I really enjoy him when he plays wide left.
07:26He seems to come inside the shape really smoothly.
07:30Carries the ball so well.
07:32Kind of runs faster with the ball than he does without it.
07:37When you play him deep as a pivot, he's fine at receiving the ball, making passes,
07:42driving into space.
07:45When you play him as a number 10, he finds space.
07:48He receives it on the half turn, he makes things happen.
07:51Like you say, his ball for Rochambeau's goal was just incredible.
07:56He was involved in the action just leading up to that where he made a couple of passes
08:00I think with Max Anderson I believe it was.
08:05Then he kind of turned, recognised the space,
08:07a little lift over the top into space for Rochambeau to run onto.
08:12He's a fantastic footballer.
08:14It was pleasing that actually both goals come from our number 10s making the assists.
08:19So that's pleasing for me because that's what they're there for.
08:24Then you saw obviously Jack Rowles on Tuesday night's score.
08:26Two fantastic goals from that position.
08:30From the number 10 positions as well.
08:31So that was pleasing.
08:35Jeremy Kelly is a really, really good footballer.
08:38I don't know if you probably are aware of this stat,
08:40but it came out this week that Crawley,
08:42only one team has won more games than them in 2024
08:45and that's Doncaster I think.
08:47You've won 15 level with Leeds in second place.
08:49Is that true? I didn't know that.
08:51That's quite a pleasing stat isn't it?
08:52Very pleasing, yeah that's really good.
08:54We need to continue that though.
08:55There's no point kind of coming off that.
08:59We want to put our foot to the floor with that and continue that.
09:03That's really good.
09:04Something that I might use now.
09:05Now I know that information, I'll use that with the players
09:08and say that we need to continue this.
09:11But that's good work.
09:13Obviously with that success and that,
09:15you're always going to be connected with other jobs.
09:17This week we've seen Preston sack their manager.
09:20You're already favourite with the bookies.
09:23How did you handle that?
09:25Because I think personally that every time a job comes up,
09:29you're going to be connected with it now.
09:30Whether it's Championship League 1, League 2.
09:32Whether it's Championship League 1, League 2.
09:34So does that add pressure to you?
09:36Do you take notice of it?
09:38I don't know what your feelings are on it.
09:41It doesn't add pressure to me.
09:43It doesn't change anything.
09:44Nothing changes with the way I work,
09:46with the way I focus on the job that I'm doing.
09:49Of course it's always nice to be connected to
09:54certainly bigger clubs and clubs in the Championships.
09:59It's fantastic to be linked to them sort of jobs
10:01in many ways.
10:03But my focus is clear to me.
10:06I've got to keep my eye on the ball with the job
10:08that I'm doing here.
10:10That won't change until I'm told otherwise.
10:13Excellent.
10:14On Tuesday night you showed how many options
10:16you've got in the squad.
10:17I think Gary from the BBC asked you about it
10:19actually though.
10:20The selection now.
10:21How hard is it for you?
10:22Or do you find it easy?
10:23You've got two squads effectively that you've picked.
10:26Picking a team for Saturday.
10:28No, it's really clear to me.
10:29Really, really clear.
10:31The boys who played last Saturday were outstanding
10:33against a very good Blackpool team.
10:36Blackpool that we've highlighted in other interviews
10:39that they finished three points off the playoffs
10:41last season.
10:43Arguably, probably, maybe a better squad this year.
10:47Blackpool than there was last year.
10:49Maybe Blackpool fans might disagree.
10:51I don't know.
10:52But they're a good squad.
10:55They finished three points off the playoffs.
10:58So we knew that was going to be a tough game.
11:01I thought we were outstanding in that game.
11:03Played really, really well.
11:05And then of course the boys who played on Tuesday night
11:10did really, really well against a good Swindon team.
11:12But now it's really clear for me.
11:14It's been clear pretty much all week
11:16what it looks like at Cambridge.