00:00 Thank you for joining us. After another positive result against Tranmere last weekend, we head
00:04 into a tough test against Grimsby. Can I get your thoughts on that one?
00:08 Yes, obviously good performance from us on Saturday against Tranmere. Disappointed to
00:15 concede the two goals that we did because we felt we dominated the game and played a
00:21 lot better than Tranmere and the scoreline didn't really reflect how the game panned
00:27 out but it can't be crossed with the three points. Obviously now we've had a good week
00:32 leading up to the game Saturday and everyone's looking forward to it and hopefully can get
00:37 another three points.
00:38 Just want to touch on it from a personal level for you. This is the first time we've spoken
00:41 to you since you've come back into the side after not having a pre-season. How's it been?
00:45 How have you been finding it so far?
00:47 Yes, obviously very tough when you don't have a pre-season at all. I think it was four or
00:52 five days. Obviously played the first four games and they went really well as a team
00:59 and myself I think but had a small little issue with my calf. Nothing major, just had
01:06 a couple of weeks out and then was back in Saturday. Was desperate to get back and feeling
01:11 fit and strong and obviously just going to get fitter and stronger as the season goes
01:15 on and looking forward to Saturday definitely.
01:18 Yes, I suppose it made you even hungrier to get back into the side seeing how we were
01:22 playing. We've been playing some great stuff. Obviously you've worked with the gaffer before
01:25 and I suppose it's no shock to you how well we're playing, is it?
01:29 Yes, definitely not. I think that was the big thing last season. Speaking to people
01:34 behind the scenes and obviously I was saying we need to get the gaffer in anyway because
01:39 obviously I know how good he can be and that was a big part of staying up because I knew
01:44 that if we stayed up last season that this season could be a very special one. Obviously
01:50 everyone riling us off at the start of the season, I think it was a good thing. It didn't
01:56 really put any pressure on the new boys coming in. It's just made us want to prove everyone
02:04 wrong really and we've started off really well. I think we're playing unbelievable football
02:09 and hopefully we can just continue this form.
02:11 Yes, and obviously Saturday we saw you move up the pitch slightly into Jay Williams' role
02:15 as he was suspended but in terms of the defensive back line we've had a lot of incomings this
02:20 season, most recently Lawrence as well. How have you found it playing with them in with
02:24 the back three?
02:25 Yes, everyone that's come in has done really well. Obviously going into midfield last week
02:31 was a bit different to Jay's role. He didn't really want me to sit back into the back three
02:37 as it was so that was quite nice with the possession that we had last week. Obviously
02:43 to get on the ball a lot and going for all my stats and everything, it was pretty nice
02:48 playing that role. But obviously we've had a lot of different players and faces playing
02:56 in the back line this year and everyone's done really well when they've come in. I obviously
02:59 enjoy it. That is my position. There's a lot of competition for places, which is a good
03:05 thing and a healthy thing. The boys have got to keep working hard in training, obviously
03:10 myself, and that just helps us play better on Saturday.
03:13 We just spoke to the Gaffer and we spoke about how last season was a tough one in terms of
03:18 performances on the road. We finally picked up a couple of wins towards the tail end of
03:21 the season. How important is it and how much is it on the lads' minds to get one early
03:26 this season and kick on and, as you say, hopefully have a great season?
03:29 I think so. I said this in a meeting the other day. It's a completely different team. It's
03:33 a different squad. So I don't think that should be in the back of our minds. I think the stat
03:40 is we haven't won or the ratio isn't great from this year since the Gaffer's taken over
03:46 or even the start of last season. But last season is last season and this season is completely
03:53 different and I feel we're a ten times better side. So I don't think we can worry about
04:00 how we're going to perform away because I think the game that I played away and the
04:04 boys when they've played away, bar one game, I think they've played very well and we've
04:08 deserved a lot more than we've gotten. So we've just got to keep doing what we do and
04:12 play well with the ball and have good transitions and be aggressive and I think that will do
04:17 well for us Saturday.
04:18 Hi Dion, obviously with your injury there seems to be a real togetherness with the squad.
04:23 How important is that when you have got an injury with the squad supporting you?
04:27 Yes, obviously very big. I've had a number of injuries throughout my career so I know
04:31 it can be a lonely place. So I think that's been one of the biggest things this season
04:36 with the recruitment is that we've recruited obviously good players but good people as
04:41 well. So there's a real chemistry and togetherness within the squad. So yes, regardless of an
04:48 injury or not, when someone's head's down you can always see someone's either speaking
04:52 to them or wrapping their arm around their shoulders and kind of lifting them up. So
04:57 yes, like I said, the chemistry is really good and everyone's supporting each other.
05:03 You mentioned Scott earlier, you said you wanted him to come into this club. What is
05:07 it about his leadership and his management that impresses you so much?
05:12 He's obviously very knowledgeable of the game. You can see how we're playing football. I
05:16 don't think anyone's playing the kind of way we're playing in this league. And he's just
05:23 a really, really, really good guy. He's very straight. I've always said I think players
05:29 like it when managers are straight with them, whether it's good or bad. He's just a really
05:33 decent, honest guy. That goes a long way in football because you don't really come across
05:38 many of them. He's just a really top guy. I've had a really good relationship at Swindon
05:46 and obviously we have a good relationship now. His coaching is obviously speaking for
05:53 itself and we're playing really well.
05:54 On Saturday you go to Grimsby. You look at the table and everyone's like, 'OK, Crawley
06:00 are your favourites going into this game', but it's never as simple as that, is there?
06:03 This league is so tight, isn't it?
06:04 No, never in league too. But we just have to play with confidence and keep doing what
06:09 we're doing. We're showing week in, week out that we're playing really well. Really good
06:13 with the ball and defensively very solid. So we've just got to take what we've done
06:17 this week in training and take it into Saturday. I'm sure we can pick up the three points.
06:21 We were just discussing that you're one of the longest serving players of Crawley 10
06:25 now.
06:26 Wow, that says something.
06:27 It does, doesn't it? Obviously it was a really tough season last season and you saw five
06:33 managers come through the door. How nice is it just to be settled now and have that settled
06:37 squad that seem to be playing really well?
06:40 It was a rollercoaster last year. I had a couple of unfortunate injuries with concussion
06:44 and I had a small little knee surgery and then got back fit under a different manager.
06:51 And then I'd done my shoulder and was out and then another manager's come in. I get
06:54 back fit and then another manager's come in. So it was a bit weird last season but hopefully
07:00 this year we can have some consistency and that will show in the performances.
