Keith Curle on positive vibes and expectation levels
Manager Keith Curle spoke to us about the good atmosphere around the club following a very promising start to the season.
“This is a completely different place now to when we first walked into the building,” he said. “The fans have played a part in that and I think you can tell that everyone is enjoying their football. They’re staying to clap the team off because they’re seeing spirited performances.
“One thing I know is that this group enjoys getting after teams and you have to try and harness that so they get their timings right. If they do that they’ll attack together and defend together, and crowd responds to what they’re watching.
“There’s a lot of talk around the city about the new signings and about the improved attacking options we have. We’re trying to create a buzz and a slight bit of pressure comes along with that. That’s something we want to deal with because I like having positive expectations placed on my teams.”
“I know that results do matter, because that’s what we’re judged on, but within that you can sometimes look at performance levels,” he added. “We showed good footballing dominance for large periods of the game on Tuesday and the thing we could say about it is that we should have been more clinical.
“The players came out of it feeling disappointed and we want that, because they know there were another two points there for them they could have had. We’re getting people used to the fact that they have to need to win, and we’re getting that level of honesty from them.
“Players are playing with smiles on their faces and the fans have bought into it because they’re seeing a team which is trying to do the right things. We’re disappointed with the goals we’ve conceded, but overall we do look a stronger defensive unit.”
“We know we’ve got goals in the team,” he commented. “We’ve seen that from our creative play, but we do still need more. Overall we’re coming together nicely because we have players here who want to get into dangerous areas.
“We’re not the finished article up front and I do think there is room for one more, either directly as a centre forward or as a wide player. One eye has to be on the transfer window in achieving that because it’s a long time closed. That means we need to find the right firepower to help us to dismantle the formations we’re going to come up against.”
On his hopes of making acquiring new players, he said: “We’re constantly on the lookout for new signings and we’re finding the clubs we talk to don’t want players to be hanging around in 23 or 24-man squads if they aren’t going to feature.
“There’s potentially a domino effect if those clubs then bring other players in, so we’ve posted an interest for three players who we feel will add to our squad. We’ll leave it another couple of days to see if the targets for those teams come to fruition.
“We’re ready to react, and once we get the green light we’ll then take it to the football club to find out if there’s a deal to be done. If the finances are right I’d like to bring all three in, if it’s within the budget I’ve got to work to.
“That does get helped by cup runs, attendances and things like that. We have a big game on Tuesday night and if we did get through to play one of the bigger teams it could open up different avenues again.”
“Initially we’re looking at loan deals because these players are affiliated to clubs at the moment,” he explained. “That could turn into a loan with a view to something else, but we will need to wait and see where all parties are at.
“If we’re in a position to move on any of it, we will, but we’re also prepared to work away to the last minute if required.”
Speaking about striker Hallam Hope, who spent a long period with United last season, he said: “He came into the club and he integrated really well. We got him up to speed and he enjoyed his football and went back to Bury with a clean bill of health.
“He’s been given a chance to show what he can do by his parent club but, and as with any player we like, we will continue to keep an eye on how he’s getting on.”
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