Simon Grayson on Paul Connolly's Injury Against Coventry 07/02/2011

"Conns could have come off a bit earlier,"


"He tweaked his hamstring and we'll assess him over the next few days and see how he is."

http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110207/connolly-injury-being-assessed_2247585_2287337

Simon Grayson on Trialists 07/02/2011

"We've got a couple of lads up here (Michael Stewart & an unnamed French midfielder) on trial who will play on Monday,"


"As ever we'll have a look at them over the next few days and see how things go."

http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110207/stewart-one-of-two-trialists-in-for-game_2247585_2287356

Simon Grayson. More Post Match Comments Leeds vs Coventry 07/02/2011

"We started well, we were nice and bright and on another day we could have had three or four by half-time


"You wonder if it's going to be one of those days. But we said at half-time they had to be patient and stick at it which we did. Then we saw it out well which was good because you're only one ball into the box away from that."


"They were outstanding," (Robert Snodgrass & Max Gradell)


"Eventually Coventry had to double up on them. They have quality and know how but they have a great work ethic and they have good relationships with the full backs.


"They can be unplayable sometimes because defenders don't know if they are going inside or outside. They were great but full praise for the whole team."


"Davide scores goals, Luciano could have had a couple so could Max, but you have to give credit to Dave for the goals he scored."


"The players have worked hard for that (clean sheet) and I don't just mean on Saturday,. They've worked hard on the training pitch. All of them.


"They fully deserved the clean sheet. Hopefully now we can carry that forward and keep scoring the goals as well."


"You're at home and you want to win, There's no easy games. To pick up a draw is pleasing, but we wanted to win. It keeps us in touch."

http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110207/it-could-have-been-three-or-four-boss_2247585_2287319 

Simon Grayson on Jonny Howson's England U21 Call Up. leedsunited.com. 06/02/2011

"I'm delighted for Jonny (Howson). He's been terrific for us this season and this is a great reward for him.

"People forget he's still a young player when you look at the games he's played and the fact he's been captaining the side, but he's a great professional, a real hard worker, and he's a real talent.

"He fully deserves his call and it will be a great experience for him."

http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110206/jonny-gets-england-call-up_2247585_2287048

Simon Grayson Post Match Comments Leeds vs Coventry 05/02/2011

Talking to the YEP about Davide Somma following Leeds 1-0 league win over Coventry

"He's (Davide Somma) done brilliant to be fair,"

"We sent him out on loan last season, he started this season with a bang and then he was out of the team because of the formation we were playing, but he's scored whenever he's come off the bench.

"He's still got a lot more work to do with his overall play, but he's certainly got that one thing that a striker lives off and that's knowing where the back of the net is."

footymad.net report Grayson saying

"He can shoot with both feet, he's strong, he works hard and he's got all the right ingredients. But to go from League Two to the Championship in half a season shows what the lad is capable of and I'm delighted we've got him."

With football 365.co.za adding

"His goal ratio to starts is quite ­phenomenal - he has a real eye for goal.

teamtalk.com continue

"It's easy to sit here and say I knew what he could do because that's why I signed him, but what we've seen in training is that he has a natural eye for the back of the net.

The following day The Daily Star have a further quote from Simon Grayson

“We are ­delighted. With Aidy’s (Boothroyd) teams, you know it’s going to be a physical game.

“The two wide men were exceptional. ­(Robert) Snodgrass and (Max) Gradel have fantastic ­quality and I was delighted with their performances.

And CoventryMad refer to Simon Grayson talking to the Press Association

"We knew we would be involved in a battle today and we had to scrap, and I thought that we did that.

"We couldn't get the goal we needed before half-time, but I thought there wasn't too much wrong with the first half. But when we got the goal, we saw the game out in a professional manner.

"We told the players at half-time that they had to be patient and keep doing the same things. We created some really good chances and the overall performance of the team was pleasing."

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/Leeds-United-1-Coventry-City.6711979.jp

http://www.footymad.net/storytext.asp?article=3583177

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/175474/Leeds-1-Coventry-0/

http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/overall_performance_was_pleasing__grayson_643410/index.shtml

http://www.football365.co.za/story/0,22162,14320_6732988,00.html

http://www.teamtalk.com/leeds-united/6726262/Somma-lovin-for-Grayson

Simon Grayson. Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 05/02/2011

“If we sign people too early and we reach the promotion play-off semi-finals or the final, that rules them out.

“Yet if we leave loan signings until later we may not reach the play-offs, so it’s a fine balance.

“If the team is doing well we may not need to do anything for a few weeks, so I think the situation will be assessed on a game-by-game basis.

“If we find we need to strengthen the squad we will do it, even if it means someone going back to his club before the play-offs.”

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/football/footballleeds/8834612.Grayson_must_get_Leeds_United_loans_balance_spot_on/?ref=rss

Simon Grayson, leedsunited.com 04/02/2011

"We'll be trying to accumulate another three points on Saturday," said the boss. "We're in a good position, we've lost one in 16, and we're well placed.

"We'd have liked to have turned some of the draws into wins, but it's a tight division. We are where we are on merit, and we have an opportunity to kick on for the rest of the season.

"We'd have taken this at the start of the season, now we have to push on,"

"I watched them (Coventry) against QPR a couple of weeks ago when they played well, but came away with nothing," he said.

"They have players who are capable of winning games and Aidy (Boothroyd) plays a certain way which can make things difficult.

"I think they are playing better than their results have shown, so we certainly won't be underestimating them."

http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110204/three-point-accumulator-is-the-target_2247585_2284960

Simon Grayson. YEP #2, 04/02/2011

"We brought people in to make us better and if you look at the players who were in the team on Tuesday night – Schmeichel, Connolly, O'Brien, Bruce and McCartney – most clubs in the Championship would take that back five.

"It's not just about what they do, but about what the whole team do as a rule. We've got a lot of attack-minded players and I could set out to get a nil-nil every week but then people would be asking why we're not scoring enough goals. There's a fine balance to be had.

"If you look at where our defenders have come from, it says it all. We've got good enough players, definitely."

"The one thing that does disappoint me is that we've been letting in goals from setpieces,

"That's something we can eradicate and it's something we looked at yesterday morning.

"I'd love us to be the top goalscorers and the team who concede the least but it doesn't always work like that. We're working hard on the training pitch and it's not like we're sending the team out and saying 'go and do what you want.'"

"Even though they've had a couple of poor results recently, they've actually been playing quite well,"

"They could have beaten the leaders but ended up losing. That's what the division's like.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/Leeds-United-Grayson39s-case-for.6711023.jp

Simon Grayson. YEP #1, 04/02/2011

"The 93-day rule is something we have to consider. If we do bring any signings in too early and get to the (play-off) semi-finals or the final, then they would be ruled out. The other danger is if we leave it too late and don't get there.

"It is a fine balance and will be approached on a game-by-game basis. If the team are doing well, then we might not need to do something for a few weeks anyway."

"We asked the question of a few clubs last week and that hasn't stopped just because the transfer window has closed.

"The level we are looking at would be Premier League players who play for big teams. With all due respect, I am not looking to bring anyone in from Leagues One or Two."

"It is disappointing to concede the goals we do because we work hard on the training pitch. We don't send the team out and say, 'Do what you want'.

"Goals against are not necessarily all about what the back four do but the whole team and we do have a lot of attack-minded players.

"If I wanted to get a 0-0 every week, I could send out my team 4-5-1 and get the wide lads to double up as full-backs. But we wouldn't score many goals, either. Then people would be asking, 'Why aren't you scoring?' It is a fine balance."

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/Grayson-bides-time-over-loan.6710982.jp

Simon Grayson. givemefootball.com. Commenting on Snodgrass FA CUp Penalty vs Arsenal 03/02/2011

 “I never watch penalties. I turn the other way, but I could tell from the reaction of our fans that Snod had scored.”

http://www.givemefootball.com/championship/leeds-ace-takes-january-crown

Simon Grayson, YEP, 03/02/2011

"I had many players offered to me and there are plenty who I'd be able to bring in on an emergency loan next week. It gives their clubs the option of taking them back after 28 days and I'll utilise that in a week's time or whenever I need to.

"The transfer window was difficult for us and for other teams because clubs are quite reluctant to let players out on loan until the end of the season unless they're sure that they're not going to need them.

"Sometimes the players who are on offer aren't right for you either. We weren't in the market for squad players – we were in it for top players.

"But I'd have thought that some of the players I was looking at will be available (on emergency loan).

"I've spoken to four or five managers about that, all of whom are in the Premier League. The players I'm looking at will definitely make us better as a team and I'd like to think they'll be available as and when I decide to get the business done."

Grayson said Sheffield United's offer (for Neil Collins) was "good for the club", 

"We did a little bit of business early on in the window with Andy O'Brien and George McCartney and we've brought a keeper (David González Giraldo) in from Manchester City.

"I was close to doing a couple of deals on Monday but at the last minute the clubs changed their minds.

"I could have brought in half a dozen other players quite easily they wouldn't have made us too much better. They'd only have been squad players and when I went into the market, I was going in for top-calibre players.

"Unfortunately it didn't quite happen for us but the level of player I was going at was very high. I said early on that people who come here have to be good enough to go straight into the team. We've already got good players here and it would be unfair to bring others in if they're
not going to have much chance of playing.

"I'd still like to have a few more players, and you can see what we've got. But Kilkenny's back now and one or two others have recovered from injury.

"We do have a good squad but I always want to add to it because that's what made us successful in the past and that's what'll make us successful in the future."

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/Leeds-United-Grayson-focusing-in.6710116.jp

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6720014,00.html