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Updates to follow from Dean's first pre-match press conference
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DS: We’ve been really pleased both me and Craig Shakespeare with the facilities and attitude of the players.

DS: We took our first session yesterday. Myself and Craig [Shakespeare] have been pleased with the attitude of the players so far, and also the quality.

DS: We believe the quality is there but the mentality also needs to be there.

DS: We know how difficult it is at this level. Defensively, we need to be harder to beat and we want to start there. But with the creative talent we've got, we need to be creating more chances.

DS: We have a fully fit squad at the moment, apart from Christoph Zimmermann still being out. Sam Byram is going to play 45 minutes for the Under-23s this evening.

DS: Fact we’re facing Southampton helps me a little bit, as I don’t need to analyse them as much.

DS: We have really good backing from our supporters. I know they'll be behind us Saturday. But we're very respectful of Ralph and Southampton, they're a hard team to play against.

DS: We’ve got 27 games left. We know we can go win some games and collect some points very quickly.

DS: (On Normann) He’s interested me before even as Aston Villa head coach. I watched his first half against the Netherlands this week. He will be a very important player for us.

DS: It’s my first game as Norwich City head coach and I want to win the game.

DS: It’s important I get a good relationship with the senior guys early and the leaders within the group. Although, I’m a sociable guy.

DS: I've had good results and bad results here. My abiding memory is that the supporters are very welcoming. Although, I want them to be welcoming to Norwich City but not so much Southampton.

DS: (On Cantwell) He appears to be fit but we’ll assess him today.

DS: We need them the fans to get behind us. The only way we’ll win football games is if we all pull together.

DS: Teemu is a goal-scorer but we all need to chip in. We need to be better at creating chances for him and feed him.

DS: I looked at the squad, I spoke to Neil and Stuart and I liked what I saw. Some people will say it’s a risk but I see it as an opportunity.

DS: First season after promotion is the hardest, survival has to be the aim. If you survive then you can build.

DS: Mathias and Teemu didn’t train yesterday (due to international fixtures). So, we had young Abu Kamara train with us.

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That concludes today’s press conference.

Additional. I had stern words with SW regarding the ludicrous press conference time. He apologised and even gave me two sprouts and a carrot from the veg patch as compensation. Very amicable chap.

Posted By: DrDublin, Nov 19, 09:33:49