The PNE boss tackled questions on the kick off against Watford, North End's identity and watching Chelsea
Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe was bullish in Thursday morning's pre-match press conference at Euxton.
The Lilywhites chief was quizzed on a range of topics - from last weekend's costly kick off against Watford, to the identity of his team, fitness and continued, poor underlying data. North End's manager also discussed his trip to watch Chelsea ahead of next month's FA Cup encounter.
Have a read of all that below...
Have a read of all that below...
5. Continued...
"The team that are fifth from bottom, playing expansive football and probably have the best xGs in the league.. guess what mate? They are three points off the relegation, so that's why I asked who asked the question. If you are sitting here telling me there's an ex-pro, who's had all the badges and managed 300/400 league games - who wants to ask about the identity - no problem. But, what I can't have is someone who probably doesn't known an identity and just wants kick rush football, or no risk football. So I am not having a go, whoever has asked you, I'm just saying if they want to come with the credentials and bring it to the party then we will look at it. But don't just say 'what's the identity?' when people know the identity. The identity is keeping Preston North End in the Championship, first and foremost and finishing as high as we possibly can - with a style that wins games of football. And I'd like to think probably 90 per cent of the fans, maybe 95 per cent of the fans, would agree. Because the football club definitely agrees with that. Would we all like to be expansive and score loads of goals? Of course. But that's just not doable in many divisions unless you've got the best of the best. So, what I'd say is that the identity is winning games of football and you find a way. I could sit here and play nice, tiki-taka football, but if you are third or fourth bottom guess what? You probably end up out of a job, and that's not what I want to do."
6. On PNE's underlying metrics which are in and around the bottom three
"We have MRKT Insights who have got every metric you can ask for," said Lowe. "We know. We've got it all. We don't hide away from the fact that's what it is. But, I guarantee that the bottom three clubs would love to swap with me today. So, there's your answer. There are ways and means of trying to do it. Sometimes teams are blessed with more pace and quality and funding - that's fine. We have to be Preston North End, who over the years have competed every single year in the Championship and sustained it. And that's what we have to continue to do. Whether we find a style, when the time is right, to be open and expansive - but I don't want to be down the bottom half of the table. I want to win games of football and find ourselves at the top end. Metrics probably don't show that, but metrics don't always show a true reflection because there are a team down at the bottom - who've got all the top metrics - but they are three points off the bottom three."
7. On going to watch Chelsea vs Newcastle United with Peter Ridsdale
"It was just a game we took in really, because it was a Tuesday night," said Lowe. "We felt, going down there to watch them; that's the least of my worries really, the Chelsea game. I will have nightmares about that when we get to it, but I just want to make sure we prepare right - because we do. We watch all the games. Our main focus since Saturday has been Swansea and then after that it'll be Leeds and we'll continue it game-by-game. But, I think it's just important sometimes to get eyes on what you see in the flesh. Me and the staff and analysts do that all the time." Photo: Clive Rose
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