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Simon Says: Everton press conference - What did the gaffer think of Martin Bain’s comments?

Simon Grayson has spoken to the media today ahead of tomorrows trip to Everton in the Carabao Cup. Injuries, Watmore, Maja, McGeady and Martin Bain’s comments from yesterday all feature - Dive in!

Simon Says
RokerReport.com

On the Bradley Lowery Foundation:

I think it is a fantastic gesture from us and Everton to come up with the idea (wearing the BLF logo on shirts tomorrow). Bradley had a massive affiliation with this football club and Everton as well. So I think it is a fine gesture that has been greeted positively by everybody. Hopefully everybody will see a game worth of the shirts.


On making changes to his team:

Well I think it is pretty much as we have done all season that we need to win another football match. We change the team around a couple of different times. There will be a couple of changes - well it is not really worked out for definite the numbers wise - but there will be a few changes from Saturday. That is through forced injuries, others who need games and are chomping at the bit to get into the team. It will be a team that will want to try and win the game.


On whether Galloway & Browning will feature:

No they have not been granted permission to play.


On injuries:

Well as you know - you imagine from games you get a few knocks. James Vaughan obviously was ill on Thursday and Friday but has more or less recovered fully now. So yeah there is a few bumps and bruises along the way. If anybody is any doubt they wont play because of the importance of Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday next week.


On strength in depth:

I think it is something that we spoke about all along that the strength in depth is something that we would like to improve on. But that will be improved on in the next few weeks when Duncan Watmore is back full time and Aiden McGeady is very close to being back with us and one or two other options as well. Maja is coming back to training now with us. Before you know it we are going to have a lot more strength in depth.

Sunderland v West Ham United - Premier League
Simon Grayson is putting his eggs in the Watmore basket
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

On the draw at Hull:

After the game I said I was disappointed and pleased, because I thought we should have won the game based on how we played and how comfortable we were for 50-60 minutes. Then when they scored it was a difficult 10-15 minutes where you could have quite easily lost the game. So we needed to stop the run of defeats so a point - we would have taken that before the game.


On Martin Bain’s interview w/ the press yesterday:

I think Martin’s ultimately explained it to everybody. I came to this football club because I wanted to come here and Sunderland chose me as the right man to come to this club. I knew the parameters I was going to be working in so it has been no great surprise to me. And we have had to change the squad around and that is what you have to do.

Martin has put it out there what has happened in the past what we gotta do now is focus on the future. Lets make sure everybody is heading in the right direction in a positive manner. Results will help us do that I am pretty sure of that.


On off-the-pitch goings on:

The toughest part has been trying to turn draws - or good performances into victories. That is my main concern. What happens off the pitch doesn’t really bother me because I will work within whatever parameters I am given. I feel I have got a group of players who can still have a successful season this year. Its turning the good performances of nearly good results into very good results. I am a good coach and a good manager - that is the reason why I am here to make the team better.

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