Hurst: I Don't Care What You've Done Before, I'm Interested in What You Can Do For Me Monday, 25th Jun 2018 15:23 New Blues boss Paul Hurst says whatever the Town players have achieved in their careers up to now is irrelevant, challenging them to show what they can do for him. “I think [I know about] some in a little bit of detail and others not,” he said reflecting on the squad, who started pre-season training at Playford Road this morning. “I’m coming in, a new pair of eyes, it is a clean slate for players and, I don’t want this to come across too harshly, but I don’t really care what they’ve done before. I’m interested in what they can do for me now." Hurst says that goes for everyone in the Blues squad, even captain Luke Chambers. “I’m going to say him because he’s the skipper and I think he’s got broad enough shoulders that he won’t get offended by me saying it, but what Luke’s done in the past is irrelevant to me. “All what I do know is is that he’s a good pro and he’s a had a good career to date, but he needs to be able to produce here and now. “Same with the young lads who might not have kicked a ball for the first team. If someone stands out in pre-season and I feel he’s ready to go, then he’ll be given that opportunity. “But there are some obvious areas where we do need strengthening. And it might be through pre-season there might be one or two lads that decide it’s not working or it’s not going to be for them. “That’s football, things always evolve, you very rarely get a squad that’s absolutely settled. I think in some ways we’ve got that here, we’ve got a good start point and again I know that Mick [McCarthy] will have left me here a group with good attitudes, good people, so that’s a great start point to work from. But ultimately they have to be good players and be able to fit into how we like to play.” Hurst says the fixture computer has thrown up an intriguing start to the season with the Blues facing Blackburn at home first before travelling to Rotherham, both of whom were battling his former club Shrewsbury towards the top of League One last season. “Very interesting, I think you always want to see who you’re playing first, it’s a promoted side and there are links between Tony Mowbray and Mark Venus and this football club,” he reflected. “Then it’s my old club, Rotherham, who inflicted that defeat [in the play-off final at Wembley] and spoilt my summer. “And then after that we’ve got two sides that just missed out in the play-offs [Derby and Aston Villa] that will be expect to be up there again, followed by Sheffield Wednesday, the team I was brought up supporting. “And then finishing off with a little game against a team called Norwich! So, I’m sure there are lots of interesting games, all tough. “One thing’s for certain, I know it’s a cliché, but if someone can find me an easy game, then please get in touch because I can’t see any. “But hopefully we’ll be a team that other clubs will look at and think they know they’re in for a game. Lots to look forward to, but a lot of hard work before we get to that point.” Has the Championship moved on significantly since his playing days a decade ago? “I think it has changed. Sometimes, in general, I’m one that would go along and say that it should be improving because of the amount of foreign players that we get and then English talent may be being pushed further down. “But then sometimes I look at it and think, ‘Is it really better?’. I’m not sure and that’s not me being biased, saying, ‘I could still play’. I wish I could but I think I might struggle on these big pitches. “I think football does evolve but at the same time a lot of it doesn’t change. I’m not coming here trying to profess or say that we’re going to reinvent the game, far from it. “I think there are a lot of basics in football which were probably around 50, 60, 70 years ago that will never, ever change. “People might come up with different names for different ways of working, such as formations. It makes us laugh, if someone can come up with a formation that’s never been played before now, I’ll be absolutely amazed. Maybe it hasn’t had the publicity that it gets now. “Yes, a lot of people are used to certain systems, certain ways of performing and we’ll put our own stamp on that. But, like I said, I’m not going to pretend or pull the wool over anyone’s eyes that it’s something that hasn’t been done before.” Has he had the chance to settle into the area yet? “No, I’ve only met one or two [fans]. I came down a couple of days last week and it was after the England game, we went for some food and I was trying to hurry my wife along and unfortunately I got sort of caught by one fan that had some pleasure in singing my name, which I take as a compliment because it’s nice things at the minute and we all know that could change! “I’m not one to shout for the attention but at the same time hopefully I’m a person that if greeted with some nice words I’ll stop and have a conversation.” Asked whether he has a message for supporters, he added: “Enjoy the rest of the World Cup, get behind England first and foremost, but then I hope when the games come round we’ve got one or two players in that they’ll enjoy watching and just get behind the players as always. “I think there is, seemingly from speaking to people, a kind of wave of optimism around and hopefully I can deliver some results to back that up. “I’m not going to ask for time or anything like that, it’s football. No one wants to give you any time, so just enjoy it, enjoy the ride and hopefully I can be here for some time.”
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