Managers comments from Oakwell

Last updated : 06 August 2006 By Michael Morris
Dave Jones


"Our target this season is just to win as many football matches as possible.

"I read the programme notes and they said that we had splashed the cash, but I wish someone would tell me what cash there was to splash.

"I've brought a lot of players in but I didn't splash the cash.

"It was about picking up free transfers, taking Steve McPhail from Barnsley for example, and one or two others.

"We're in a position where we're getting stronger each day, each week and hopefully each season.

"If we can keep pushing on, get a new stadium and training facilities and entice more fans to come then we get a squad on the pitch which is going to do the club proud.

"That's what it's all about but it doesn't happen in 12 months. Last year I set a target but deep down I knew in my heart and in my head we weren't capable.

"When we tried to kick on we didn't have the resources and the finances to bring people in, but I look at this group of people and I think we're stronger - but only time will tell."

"If our two goals were scored in the Premiership then people would be drooling over them.

"But we then sat back and allowed them to get the momentum.

"The kid scored the wonder goal, we then had another chance to kill them off with the penalty but they came back at us again.

"It was always going to be a tough game but I thought we handled it well and all the new boys made good debuts."


Andy Ritchie

"We've learnt that if we start games like we did today then we will get punished.

"In the second half, we made a big improvement, took the game to them and on the balance of play we probably deserved a draw.

"They had quite a few chances but so did we. We had a couple of appeals for handballs, we hit the bar and I'm very proud of the lads.

"There was no disgrace and we should take heart from our second-half performance."