"It's not about the end result in these friendly games, which I think too many people look into.The defeat's against Stoke (0-4) and Liverpool (1-5) were disappointing results, but we've learnt a lot from them and I think in comparison to last year, when we were flying at the start of the season, it seems at the moment that it might be a bit different this year.We've had a couple of bad results and I think we are willing to learn a lot earlier.They don't feel as though they know everything"

"I hope the lads have learnt something from the two games, I know I have.I know that I have to keep on top of them; it's not just on the park, it's off the pitch as well and hopefully to get better results and better performances on the pitch.I feel as though they are all together, there is a good bond there and you can sense the feeling that they want to impress, they are desperate to impress the manager and every opportunity they can get to train with the first team.Every one of them is looking forward to getting that shout in the morning and it's up to them to be ready for it when it comes."

"The Liverpool game, they held their own for the first half and they did look impressive.We came in at half time at 1-1 and I thought at half time that we had given a good account of ourselves.This isn't a negative, but we ended that game with five under 16's playing because quite a few of the second years are injured at the moment.It's a great learning curve for some of these under 16's and I know that we do have a very strong Under 16's group in the centre of excellence for the new season, but every single one of them has got to be pushing to get into the youth team, people below them have got to be pushing the 16's.It's that domino effect.You always have to chase those in front because there are people chasing you."

"I've got some help now and he's an old face from the past with Geoff Lutley coming in to help out.He's been here three days now and already he's been a tremendous help.We've done our research on Geoff, we know that he used to be here in the past, we know that he knows a lot of people around the club and he is going to be a big help to us.We are looking forward to working with him."

"Once we get into the routine again with the Centre of Excellence starting up, myself, Brassy and Geoff will rotate around it.My job is still the youth team manager, but I will be trying to get down and look at the Under 16's a lot more and maybe even some training nights.We can rotate that and have that blend plus it will give us more time to do it.We have a small manpower for this and we do need it."

"The Liverpool team when they arrived had virtually a member of staff per player, plus one or two Interpreters as well.It's a big difference, and having watched some of the first team games, you see the amount of staff that a championship side has, plus they do look a lot more physical than us at the moment, but in both games we did hold our own."

"If there is a gulf in class between our youth team and a youth team from a premiership club, then we have shown that we can hold our own.It's the same as the first team against a team that is a few league's higher up."

"We've got Everton next Tuesday, Crewe on the Saturday and then Manchester United on the Tuesday.It will be a busy week for the lads and the season starts on the Saturday after.The boys and ready and raring to get stuck into these three games to make sure that they deserve a starting place in the first league game."