Three defeats from three games for last season’s surprise package Preston North End, but Stephanie Lambert isn’t panicking yet about her team.
Preston didn't seem to get much publicity/credit for an excellent first season back in the Championship last year, how do you guys assess the campaign?
SL: We rarely do get much more than local coverage and your standard football on 5, other than the odd feature we tend to get left out a little. Perhaps that's due to other clubs investing more (money wise) which makes for better talk.
I think I speak for most fans when I say safety was our only aim last season so it is safe to say we exceeded expectations. That can be a tricky thing as fans may (and some do) expect the club to improve on that, even though it may have been 'beginners luck'. I always think your second season in the Championship is the hardest. Some got play-off nostalgia and it actually looked realistic at some points of our campaign but it wasn't to be. Overall, happy with last year, however we still lacked in front of goal even if we did get the results.
Summer transfer business in and out? Any still to come and go?
SL: PNE have brought a few in this summer, seven in fact.
We had various loaned goalkeepers last season including Sam Johnstone from man Utd and fans' favourite Jordan Pickford from Sunderland. We've made Anders Lindegaard a permanent signing from West Brom and brought in Chris Maxwell from Fleetwood. We let Chris Kirkland go, unfortunately he didn't quite make the mark for us but the combination of older/experienced and younger with potential it's a very good set up. Both keepers look worthy of the shirt and it's good to have competition as we will get the best from them both.
Another familiar face we've brought back is Callum Robinson from Aston Villa. We had him on loan during our play-off campaign in League 1 and he played a vital role. Simon Grayson seems to see something in him. He's young with bags of potential and signs of that are showing. He scored a diving header after coming on as a substitute against Fulham last weekend.
Eoin Doyle has also signed after a loan, joining on a three year deal from Cardiff.
We are yet to see what Doyle really has to offer and I guess we are to trust in Grayson here.
The newbies are Tommy Spurr from Blackburn — a good defender from what we have seen in pre-season but yet to be given much chance in competitive games. Simon Makienok on a one year loan deal from Palermo - the 6ft 7 striker skies above most players so can be great for corners and aerial battles and has experience of this division with Charlton last season. The most exciting signing was Ben Pringle from Fulham, a rumoured target for a while. Preston were keen to bring in the midfielder and have finally managed to secure his services. From what I've seen of him so far I really like him. He scored a fantastic goal in pre-season and has great vision. I'm glad we have him and think he will play a massive part for us.
As far as our outgoings are concerned we lost Josh Brownhill to Bristol City after his contract ended. We offered a renewal but the 20-year-old opted to sign for a team that could give him more opportunity on field. I don't blame him but he definitely had potential.
Joe Garner free to join Rangers says Simon Grayson, discuss? What's going on there? How do the fans feel?
SL: The biggest concern for us right now is the interest in Joe Garner by Rangers confirmed by Manager Simon Grayson. Garner is a fan favourite. He did wonders for us in League One but since has seemed to of lost his touch in the Championship. He scored 18 out of 35 apps in the 13/14 season and even better in the 14/15 season scoring 25 from 37 apps. However, last season only managed six in 41. This may be just adjusting to life in the Championship, who knows? We may never find out now. Fans are split, there's £1.8m on the table and some fans believe we could use that to look elsewhere for a more prolific answer to our goal scoring issues but some are adamant he will come up trumps in time. Either way he is adored by the club and fans. Garner has supported the club from a young age so maybe he doesn't want to leave but he can probably triple his wage at Ibrox and money talks in football unfortunately. He will be sadly missed but no one ever achieved anything good through not accepting change. But we need a replacement, fast.
How did pre-season go?
SL: Pre-season we tried and tested everyone in all different places it was a great way to see who could fit where and what partnerships could form. We beat Bamber Bridge, Chorley and Morcambe which is to be expected really. We got a pasting from Fulham 5-0 but the most recent 2-1 loss to them just goes to show preseason can't tell you much really it's more for the manager. We held Bolton and Stoke to a draw. So nothing to shout about but not completely dismal either.
Two defeats from two league games so far, how have the games panned out? Any reasons for concern/worry yet?
SL: I don't think it's time to panic just yet, last season we were bottom half of the table for the majority of the time before Christmas. So that just shows you. However a right back is desperately needed as we don't have an out in out right defender and it's an obvious weakness in the squad. Our goal scoring is a concern as pointed out before but now with Joeys departure maybe it gives someone else the opportunity to step up to the plate.
Best players and weakest links in the current side?
SL: New signing Pringle can be dangerous in midfield and he isn't afraid to take a shot either, he's got great vision and can spot a pass most can't. For me Bailey Wright is one of the best defenders in the league and I'm surprised he hasn't been poached by anyone yet. The Australian international can make some cracking challenges and is a real pain for attackers. Our defence can make silly mistakes at times, costly ones that can be avoided which can really frustrate us as fans and that's a worry. Since the injury of one of our solid defenders, Calum Woods, there seems to be a hole that needs filling. Tommy Spurr hopefully can step in to the role. However our biggest weakness lies upfront with a lack of goals which very obviously can easily loose us games. We need to be more critical in the face of goal.
Realistic aims and predictions for this season?
SL: Again, safety. This league gets harder and harder every year as bigger teams are relegated and were competing against clubs who throw big money in the transfer window. We simply can't compete with those clubs for spending power. A slow approach of finding the right players for the right price is our only option right now and trying to stamp our foot in the championship then when we are established, push ahead. We may have done that, we are only two games in and I'm certainly not writing the lads off yet but for me I would say eleventh this year. I think the lads will pull together.
Short, medium and long term aims for the club?
SL: Short term we need a replacement for Garner and a right back ASAP. It's fair to aim for mid table. Medium term we need to bring more fans to home games some attendances can be pretty poor and support is needed to go further. Long term... The club and owners definitely want to go to the promised land but they will do it in their own way - patiently without putting the club in any debts. If that means 2-3 years of not much excitement then so be it. Hopefully this will pay off.
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