First Team
All The Info | Kilmarnock (A)
27th September 2024
After a manic first seven days in his post, United manager Jim Goodwin has relished the opportunity to spend some time in isolation with his playing group and implement his ideas.
Watch the Gaffer's press conference in full below!
Benefical Break
Speaking to the broadcast media at the High Performance Centre, he began “It’s been a very good period of time since the Livingston game for me to spend some quality time with the players.
“For me, personally, since coming in its been a very busy couple of weeks with the Aberdeen and Livingston games back to back coming around very quickly.
“It didn’t allow me and the staff to spend as much time as we would’ve liked on the grass with the players.
Goodwin insists his players have taken his ideas on board without breaking stride.
“A lot of the players have friends at other clubs who had last weekend off. But full credit to the boys because when I told them we didn’t have that luxury, they totally understood - they agreed there is far too much at stake to be taking time off at this particular moment in time.
“There’s no time for me to bed in a football philosophy - that’s what pre season is for. I’ve got ten games to get as many points on the board as possible.
“The players attitude and application to everything we’ve asked of them is exactly where it needs to be. Hopefully that reflects in the performance on Saturday and the weeks ahead.”
Stopping The Rot
Aziz Behich’s composed volley in West Lothian last Wednesday halted a run of seven successive defeats in all competitions for the Terrors.
Goodwin admitted that three points against Livingston was the target but putting a solitary point on the board was a step in the right direction
“It’s fair to say the run of defeats we were on prior to the Livingston game was a concern. Whenever you’re in that situation it’s important to stop the rot. We were pleased with the point albeit we wanted three going into the game."
“It takes us that little bit closer to the teams above us.”
Picking Players Off The Canvas
The Irishman inherited a playing group lacking in self-esteem after succumbing to a 4-0 defeat against Ross County which cemented their place at the foot of the table. Alongside his assistant Lee Sharpe, Goodwin is attempting to reinstate the confidence sapped by a difficult season.
“For me right now its about getting the guys fitter and sharper whilst instilling that self-belief and structural organisation - that’s been the message and they’ve been very receptive.
“You talk about the mood in the camp. the guys were obviously low on confidence. No one is satisfied with their individual or collective performances. The consistency hasn’t quite been there, but there’s nobody in the group who isn’t fully committed.
He added, “Sometimes when you come into a team languishing at the bottom of the table there are one or two bad characters who have perhaps played a part in morale around the place but I don’t see that at all here.
“I’m not long out of being a player. I know what it feels like when you have a change of manager - it’s not ideal for anybody but unfortunately results haven’t been good enough.
“We still have time with ten games to go and there’s a lot of football to be played - we’re still within touching distance of the team above us. However, talk is cheap, we have to go and show it really matters on matchday.”
Injury Update
The gaffer also offered an in-depth update on the fitness of a couple of members of his squad, with both Dylan Levitt and Glenn Middleton nursing knocks.
“Dylan Levitt is seeing a specialist this week.
“His injury was picked up innocously. He has a leg brace on but it is strictly a precautionary measure from our medical team. Hopefully It is only a couple of weeks and I can plan to have him back for the split.”
On Middleton, he commented: “Glenn has had a stop start season - particularly recently.
“He tweaked his hamstring and tried to play through the pain barrier against Ross County and set himself back a bit. That’s testament to him as a boy that he realises how important this part of the season is.
“We’re not going to rush him.
Pushing Pawlett
One player who is on the cusp of making a return to the side after another injury setback in February is experienced midfielder Peter Pawlett.
“Peter joined in with the group this week and he’s looked sharp. He’s obviously not at the fitness levels required or where I’d like him to be but we’ll assess him and he’ll certainly be a part of the squad on Saturday.
“We have to take a calculated risk with him. If it was ten games into the season I would probably look at it a little differently and make sure he’s 100% fit before joining in with the group.
“But because of the situation we find ourselves in, we might need to roll the dice with a few players who have knocks and niggles.”
Goodwin was keen to place on record his adulation for the former Aberdeen stalwart.
“I’ve always admired Peter from afar but I’ve never had the chance to work with him until now. I’ve always recognised his talent but his injuries have set him back.
“For him it’s about remaining fit and not coming in and out of the team.”
Familiar Foe
Briefly touching on former side St Mirren, he remarked “I know the majority of the squad that’s there - I brought most of them to the club.
“They’re a group who’ve been together for a long time, they have some great characters and leadership qualities and Stephen Robinson has also come in and put his own stamp on things.
“My main focus is on us as a team and a club, My job is to disappoint those St Mirren fans and get the better of them.”
"I've never shied away from a battle in my life"
Rounding off, Goodwin insisted collectivity coupled with the willingness to meet a challenge head on will stand United in good stead heading into the final ten matches of the cinch Premiership season, and also issued a battle cry to the tangerine faithful.
“Its all about the group, togetherness and team spirit for me. It was important I could look them in the eye and see they were on board and in agreement with what we’re trying to do.
"I’ve never shied away from a battle in my life, I enjoy the challenge of trying to turn this around.
"The supporters have to believe - I hope they will turn out in great numbers again like they did against Aberdeen. If they get behind the team, they can make a significant difference."
