NO
CHANGE IN ATTITUDE
Sauzee still as excited about Derby
by John Campbell
WHEN FRANCK
SAUZEE FIRST ARRIVED at Easter Road the Club was in the First Division but the match every
Hibs fan he spoke to stressed they missed the most was the Edinburgh Derby against Hearts
and from the moment he played in his first, he knew exactly why such passion existed.
Speaking ahead of
tomorrow's Tynecastle clash, Sauzee smiled as he recalled those days three years ago.
"My first Derby
was at Easter Road and we drew 1 - 1 but it was an experience I shall never forget because
of the passion for the game both on and off the park. I know how much it means to
Hibs fans to win this one and although I am no longer playing, as Manager I still have the
same passion. I want to win as it is such a special game and I have stressed to my
players exactly what winning this one means."
Still as passionate about Derby matches
as he was as a player (sns)
Of course Sauzee has
played in some memorable games against the Gorgie outfit and would like to see his side
gain their first victory under his guidance at a packed Tynecastle Stadium tomorrow.
Certainly the preparations have been such that those players who will be involved
have been well drilled as to their roles. However, Sauzee was giving little away as
regards his selection and tactics. "I have 16 players available to me whom I am convinced can do the job
required. Of course some regulars are out but those who wait for their chance now
have the opportunity to prove they are good enough to stay in the team.
It will be a
difficult game, I know that, but we have a chance to show what we can do. There will
be no real surprises because everybody knows the players I have available to me. I
have added Derek Townsley and I have Garry O'Connor and one other young lad also."
Sauzee was not
specific as to whom that other 'young lad' might be but the smart money is on Derek
Riordan, scoring prolifically in the U18 and U21 squads, whilst Mathias Doumbe should not
be ruled out as a possible.
So is he as nervous
as a Manager as he is as a player? "When I played I felt butterflies in my stomach until I went onto the
park but when the game started they went away. As a Manager they are there always
and when I am in the Technical Area at the dugout I find it impossible to sit down!
In fact, I feel the strong urge to go onto the pitch and play sometimes but these
days are gone!
I feel a little
sorry for my players because from the last three games we have gained only one point and
yet there have been many positive aspects to our play. In the second half against
Rangers I think we had them under a lot of pressure but the goal would not come. The
second goal was a blow and the third finished us off totally. I like to see the
positives and we will concentrate on them."
The gaffer must be
wondering what it will be like as a Manager to celebrate a goal in that Technical Area but
he is realistic enough to think only of how these goals might be achieved rather than
spend his time and energy bemoaning the fact that they haven't. "I could take one of two attitudes
to that situation. Either I can cry about things going against us and having no luck
or I can focus on the good points and work with the players on them in training.
This week I could
say I am unlucky not to have Ulrik available. I feel he was very unlucky to be sent
off but once the Referee has made his decision there is nothing you can do and I had
hoped, as had Ulrik, that we could appeal but it has not been possible because of the
rules. No use crying over that; I must focus on replacing him for the Derby."
Tom McManus - has great quality (sns)
On a general point
regarding discipline, Sauzee refused to publicly crucify Tom McManus who has received
quite a lot of bad press for his straight red card having been charged with using foul and
abusive language to Referee Mike McCurry. "I've had a chat with Tom and I've told him I don't want my
players wasting their time and energy on something they cannot influence. Like
players, Referee's have good days and bad but their decision is final and as a player you
might not like it but you must respect it. Tom has great quality and can go far in
the game but he must focus on playing and not waste his time and energy on arguing lost
causes."
Three games into his
reign, Sauzee is accutely aware that Hibs have failed to score a goal and his players have
been focusing on that matter at training. "We have a problem scoring goals and I cannot tell you when that
will come to an end but we've been working hard and who knows, maybe tomorrow we will find
a solution."
The smile on
the gaffer's face as he delivers these closing remarks leads you to think that maybe, just
maybe, he knows something we don't! |
