Scott Twine press conference | Queens Park Rangers vs Bristol City

Scott Twine met the local media ahead of Bristol City's trip to face Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Scott, I I you know every footballer wants to go out and uh and play winning football. Last couple of games have shown a kind of a different side to the team, that you know, that real resilience that you've shown at periods but maybe hasn't been there enough this season.

SPEAKER_02 0:13

Yeah, I think um Yeah, I think the last two games we've been happy with. Um still lots of things we can improve on and work on, but we're going in the right direction, and um, yeah, obviously we've uh weathered the storm in at times in the last two games. I thought we've done that really well and um I think we've deserved the two wins.

SPEAKER_00 0:31

Yeah, and doing that as a team, it's kind of you know the defenders and obviously rather get plenty of praise and rightly so, but it is it's a proper full team effort, isn't it?

SPEAKER_02 0:40

Yeah, definitely. I think everyone in the team wants to work hard, wants to um yeah, wants to win, and um to do that, you've got to play as a team, and I feel like yeah, we've um done that in the in uh the last two games, that's why we've got the the uh six points.

SPEAKER_00 0:53

And and that six points has lifted you up sort of up a mid-table. It's not that close to the players, but it's not impossible either. What's your sort of motivations at the moment going into these last few games?

SPEAKER_02 1:05

Just trying to win every every game, to be honest. Um, we go in with a game plan um of how to win every game, and that's that's what we're gonna try and do. Um can't help other results around us, but yeah, we're gonna try our best to get as many points as possible.

SPEAKER_00 1:20

Is there any uh maybe it's an end of the season question, but any sense of frustration that you know a number of different times of season you've been in amazing positions and and you haven't quite been able to sort of hammer it home?

SPEAKER_02 1:31

Yeah, I think we most teams do go through the patch we did, but maybe not as as bad. I think um apart from say the the I don't know, eight or nine previous games before, I thought we we'd had a good season, we were always in amongst it, and then yeah, when you do do go for a patch that bad, you are gonna drop off, and um yeah, that's that's been proven.

SPEAKER_00 1:53

And I think the quality of the division, the sort of the the bottom has has got a lot better. There's a lot of very good teams in it. Do you look at some of those that are in the the playoff positions at night and you think, you know what, we that could be us?

SPEAKER_02 2:05

Yeah, definitely. I think um every game this season, anyone can beat anyone in this league, um, and it's just about the teams that get the right run of form at the right times, and um, unfortunately, we dropped off at an important time, and um still still a lot of points to play for, but um yeah, it's uh it's a bit frustrating that we're quite far out.

SPEAKER_00 2:28

Yeah. Um you haven't had that many training sessions because of the uh the nature of the games and all the rest of it with Roy, but what has he been trying to get you as a group to really focus on in those limited opportunities?

SPEAKER_02 2:40

Um yeah, he's obviously um for a start just tried to keep us in a in a shape where we all know what we're doing and we're all solid and compact. Um I think that's worked really well, and then going forward is is a bit of freedom. Um we've worked on some uh patterns of play, which which I think we had we've had a meeting about, and they've worked well in games too. Um so yeah, I think it is not as you said, we've not had loads of training sessions, but um the ones we've had, I think we've we've worked well and they've they've uh shown on the matches.

SPEAKER_00 3:09

Because he is obviously you know somebody who's had the length of career he's had, but also the clubs he's been at. There's a there's a lot of information in there. Is that something that you've been conscious you know, when you get an opportunity to try and tap into that a little bit?

SPEAKER_02 3:21

Yeah, I think he's been really really good with us, um, just giving us um slight details on certain things, and we have meetings all the time, review of the games, um, and I think that helps us because it's it's uh it's easier seeing it than um than being told it sometimes. So um yeah, it's uh it's been good so far.

SPEAKER_00 3:40

Okay. Um QPR this weekend, they've been in a lot better form recently, scoring quite a few goals, so it could be um it could be a cracker game.

SPEAKER_02 3:48

Yeah, definitely. As you say, every game in in this league, if you're not your best, um you're not gonna win the game, and yeah, if that that's just how it is, we've got to be at our best. We know we're good enough to go there and win, so um, we're gonna try and do that. Thank you very much. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 4:04

Scott, can I just ask about when you're in the international break and you hear, I imagine, is it a bit of a surprise when you hear that Roy Hutchins coming in, someone of that standing? I know it came as a bit of a surprise to supporters.

SPEAKER_02 4:13

Um yeah, I think I was a bit um didn't hear anything until it got put on social media about um the old gaffer leaving and and this gaffer coming in, but um that's I've had stranger things that have happened in football. Um, and that's just yeah, that's football at the end of the day. Things things move on and you've got to move on quickly, and um I think we've done that.

SPEAKER_01 4:34

But I imagine like the age you are as well, you're someone that when you were like growing up with being around big clubs in England manager, must be does that excite you when you kind of get that text or find out that he's coming in?

SPEAKER_02 4:44

Yeah, definitely, he's obviously had a brilliant career. Um, and um yeah, I can tell that just from the the couple of weeks he's been in so far. I've definitely taken things from him which um which yeah shows that he's been at the highest level for so many years, and um yeah, I just want to take as many things as possible.

SPEAKER_01 5:01

In terms of the sort of mood around the place as well, I think we saw the release of the players at Charlton, in particular when that kind of whistle went and similar at the weekend. I guess these recent results and I guess the changes around the building. How much of a boost has that been to the squad?

SPEAKER_02 5:13

Yeah, definitely. I think when you win games, that's that helps anything. Um so to win the last two games, it's definitely given us a boost. Um, and yeah, we're feeling confident going into QPR. We're hopefully gonna get um another three points, that's what we'll be going for, and yeah, if we play well, I don't see a reason why we can't.

SPEAKER_01 5:32

You mentioned that sort of change of shape. I wonder how much your role's changing there. There's we've seen you with like various different partners and various different positions this season. I guess what's changed in the last couple of games for you personally?

SPEAKER_02 5:42

Yeah, it's slightly different. Um a little bit off the ball, um, mainly mainly on the ball. Um more central now, um, possibly more freedom. I like it when um when Birdie comes in, like I've birdie, I've really enjoyed playing with Birdie, I think he's a really intelligent player, and I think um we work well together. So yeah, I've enjoyed that and um yeah, just enjoyed playing.

SPEAKER_01 6:08

I've I've loved playing. I know for fans he's someone that's been a miss, Max, as well. Because I think he had such an impressive season last season. How how important do you think he is to how you play as a team and how I guess what do you feel his ceiling is really?

SPEAKER_02 6:20

Yeah, he's he's a massive player for us. Um he's definitely a miss when he's not involved, and um unfortunately he's he's not been as m involved as much as he'd like this season, but you see the impact he's made when he's come in. I I think he's been brilliant.

SPEAKER_01 6:32

In terms of your season as an individual, I know the team might not be where that you quite want them to be, but in terms of your championship numbers, they're right right up there. How much are you enjoying your football this season?

SPEAKER_02 6:41

Yeah, I've loved it. I've loved it. It's um it's been good. I I've it's probably my um yeah, definitely my favourite season since being in the championship and um just want it to continue and yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:52

Do you feel there's anything in particular change to get, I guess, that sort of productivity in particular, the final third, that's probably been where you've been your most effective?

SPEAKER_02 7:00

Yeah, I think um picking up different positions at times, and um that's probably helped me more. Um but also a big thing for me after the last few seasons was just staying fit, and thankfully Touch will have done that this season so far, and um yeah, it's nice when you can't when you uh I feel like when you come back from injury mid-season, you never take a while to get back up to speed, so it's um yeah, it's been nice to stay stay fit and healthy all season.

SPEAKER_01 7:29

Well, it's asked you about that sort of partnership with Emil, and then we've seen you play with Tommy as well. So I think it's the first time we've spoken to you since he's come into the building. And how have you found playing with him as well?

SPEAKER_02 7:37

Yeah, Tommy's been been brilliant. Um I love playing with him as well. Um, yeah, he's a really again like Birdie, really intelligent footballer. I feel like we have a really good understanding on the pitch. Um, so yeah, I love playing, love playing with him.

SPEAKER_01 7:50

I know whenever we've spoken to anyone in these sort of press conferences that said until it's mathematically impossible, the playoffs will kind of remain that target. I know you touched on it earlier, but is there still that feeling that if we can put together a really good run of results here that that's not out of the question yet?

SPEAKER_02 8:04

Yeah, of course, this league. Um there's gonna be surprises that are gonna happen until the end of the season. Um, but we're just focusing on us at the minute and trying to get the three points Saturday and um yeah, see where we're at then. That's that Saturday. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 8:19

Um Scott, can you give us a bit of insight into life working under Roy Hodgson? Sort of um what's what would you can you sum up what he's brought to the um to the club?

SPEAKER_02 8:29

Um yeah, it's it's he's obviously brought a lot of knowledge, a lot of experience, and um I think everything he says, it's um he says it for a reason, there's purpose behind it, and I think that's that's helped us and has been shown in the in the couple of games we've had. Um I think he came in knowing that we were obviously on a bad run of form and um he wanted to keep it as simple as possible, and I think that's exactly what we needed at that time. So um yeah, I think he's he's been been massive for us. Um every training session, meetings, take little things out of it which go into games, which um yeah, I think have been really important for us.

SPEAKER_03 9:09

Yeah, so I presume it's because he's worked all over the world, well, you know, lots of different countries, he's really honed his communication skills aren't his simple messages. Can you talk about his sort of communication skills?

SPEAKER_02 9:21

Yeah, yeah, obviously in the um whether it's on the training training ground or in meetings, um he's he's all always explaining stuff to us, not just telling him telling us to do stuff, he's uh explaining why he thinks that's good, and he's also willing to hear our feedback on it. So um in meetings especially, he's he's keen on us to have our input and um and discuss things, and I think that's that's been been really good, and I think every everyone's loved it so far.

SPEAKER_03 9:49

Yeah, is it fair to say it's he's he's been a breath of fresh air?

SPEAKER_02 9:54

Yeah, yeah, obviously it's it's um it's not nice being on a on a run of form that we were on, um, and then obviously things change, which is football, um, and we've yeah, we've won the last two games, which is nice, but um yeah, I think he he's been he's been brilliant for us so far, and um yeah, hopefully it continues.

SPEAKER_03 10:15

Um he came in here and his first press conference said he was starting to sort of work out who's who, etc. Um I remember I wouldn't have thought you you'd have need needed much introduction because I remember Naki Well saying you were the best dead ball specialist outside the Prem. I wonder have you spoken to Roy Hodgson on an individual basis and has he commented on your set piece prowess?

SPEAKER_02 10:38

Um yeah, I've spoken to him, spoken to him on an individual basis. Um not so much the set piece, just about my game in general. Um I think he'd he'd um heard of me from from my time before. Um but yeah, um I think he I speak to him uh probably before games as well, which just more about the positions to pick up in in that game. I think he's been been really good for me in that front night, and I go on the pitch feeling free, which is um yeah, I feel like I'm I mean really enjoying it at the moment.

SPEAKER_03 11:09

Yeah, he's seven obviously he's 78 years old. Does it feel as though age isn't a factor?

SPEAKER_02 11:14

No, you can tell he's still got that that fight in him, especially um yeah, when we're in the building match day. Um and it's good to see it, it's nice to see, and the lads want to work hard for him, and um, and yeah, we I think we're a good group and we'll continue to do that.

SPEAKER_03 11:28

Yeah, and um can I uh on a on a wider topic, um, when the new CEO came in, he talked about getting the club into the Premier League, it's clear that the club's ambitions are to get into the promised land. What do you think the club needs to do to sort of stop falling short, you know, to make a really, really good push to get into the Premier League?

SPEAKER_02 11:49

Yeah, I think obviously I'm just gonna look at it from a player's point of view. I think as players we need to um we need to for a start try our hardest every single game. Um, like I think I think we're a good group here, we've got no bad eggs or anything like that, and um we all want the team to do well, we all want each other to do well, so we're all we're all good friends on and off the pitch. Um from the club side, that's obviously it's it's I don't really think about that too much. Um I think we've got a really good team. I think everyone enjoys it here and um everyone wants to be here. Um so yeah, that's that's my that's what I worry about, really.

SPEAKER_03 12:27

Okay, great.