Post by Zamoraaaah on Oct 5, 2009 11:10:10 GMT
From Man U offy
Loan Ranger enjoying life
Despite starting just two games to date in his loan spell at QPR, goalkeeper Tom Heaton tells ManUtd.com that he is prepared to bide his time and keep learning...
Tell us about your loan so far...
Well, QPR is a very good club, I get on with all the players and the staff have been excellent. It’s been a touch frustrating to have played just two games, but that’s football sometimes. You have to be patient but (first choice goalkeeper) Radek Cerny has done very well to be fair. I accept that and I just have to keep striving to be in the team. Obviously I’m hopeful that at some point I’ll be in there.
How’s it comparing to your previous loans?
Last season I started as number one at Cardiff, but picked up a couple of injuries as the season progressed. That made things more difficult, but by the end of the season I was back in the team again. So I’ve seen that patience pays off. If you keep going, keep trying to improve, work hard every day and get back in the team, then it will pay off.
You've started two League Cup ties; how have they been as experiences?
Very good. We played Accrington Stanley and we were expecting to win, especially being at home. On the night they played very well and we struggled a bit, so it turned out to be a more difficult game than we expected. I was fortunate enough to get the man of the match award in that game, which was decent for me and a good way to start. Then we gave a good account of ourselves in the next round at Chelsea. I was fairly busy and really enjoyed playing at Stamford Bridge, but it's a shame we couldn't spring a shock.
Is there more scope for frustration as a loan ‘keeper, since there’s only one berth to go for?
Very much so, but that’s the nature of the position. You only change your goalkeeper when you have to, really. It’s not like an outfield player where you come on and bed in for 10 or 20 minutes as a sub. As a goalkeeper there’s only one position and it tends to be the case that once you’ve got it, you’ve got it for a while. I understand that and it’s just about having patience and continuing to work hard.
You’ve not played much yet but would you say you’ve learned anything new?
Of course. Every place you come to, you’re under different management, playing with different players and adjusting to different styles of play. You can always learn things, and obviously with Radek Cerny here as well I can learn a great deal off him. He’s 35 and been around and done it with Spurs and Slavia Prague, and now here, and he’s got a lot of experience. You take the most out of it and try to absorb as much stuff as you can. I’m not going to deny that the biggest thing is playing, that’s what I’m trying to do, but on top of that you still want to improve every day. I’m 23 now, which as a goalkeeper isn’t the oldest, so I want to keep developing. Since I’ve been down here I’ve been working with Dave Rouse, who’s the goalie coach, and he used to work at United when I was in the Academy. It’s been good to catch up with him. He’s obviously on the same page as me in terms of trying to improve, and it’s been fantastic.
How would you describe QPR’s playing style?
(Manager) Jim Magilton’s all about passing and playing, really. He’s not into lumping it forward, he wants pass, pass, pass, which is fantastic for me because it’s what I’m used to. I like him a lot. He just likes quick play with one and two-touch passing. If you can get that going in the Championship then you can be successful in that. He’s got a lot of experience himself and he’s passing that on. It’s a nice way to play and the lads are coming round to that way of thinking now. Some of the stuff we’re playing is excellent and if we carry on doing that then results will keep improving.
What are your new team-mates like?
Excellent, actually, I have to say. It’s like the first day at school when you come to a new club, but it’s a good experience meeting new people. I didn’t actually know anyone here at all, which in a way makes it better because you have to go and talk to everyone. You don’t stick around people you know and it’s been good. They’ve all helped me settle in and they’ve been great.
How does a typical day vary?
It’s very similar to United. You come in, you might get a bit of breakfast. You settle down for a bit and then head out training around 10:15. With the keepers first, then with the players, you might do some gym work or have some lunch straight after training and go into the gym in the afternoon. It’s like United in that you have the structured training, then the possibility to do any extra individual work that you want to do.
What’s your main aim for the remainder of the season?
To be honest, for the rest of this loan period it’s just to get in the team and play well. My aim’s definitely to get the shirt off Radek and keep it. After that I’ll reassess whether the loan gets extended, or I come back to United or go somewhere else. Up until the 14th of November, my mind’s fully focused on getting in that team and staying there.
www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=6640801&page=1
Loan Ranger enjoying life
Despite starting just two games to date in his loan spell at QPR, goalkeeper Tom Heaton tells ManUtd.com that he is prepared to bide his time and keep learning...
Tell us about your loan so far...
Well, QPR is a very good club, I get on with all the players and the staff have been excellent. It’s been a touch frustrating to have played just two games, but that’s football sometimes. You have to be patient but (first choice goalkeeper) Radek Cerny has done very well to be fair. I accept that and I just have to keep striving to be in the team. Obviously I’m hopeful that at some point I’ll be in there.
How’s it comparing to your previous loans?
Last season I started as number one at Cardiff, but picked up a couple of injuries as the season progressed. That made things more difficult, but by the end of the season I was back in the team again. So I’ve seen that patience pays off. If you keep going, keep trying to improve, work hard every day and get back in the team, then it will pay off.
You've started two League Cup ties; how have they been as experiences?
Very good. We played Accrington Stanley and we were expecting to win, especially being at home. On the night they played very well and we struggled a bit, so it turned out to be a more difficult game than we expected. I was fortunate enough to get the man of the match award in that game, which was decent for me and a good way to start. Then we gave a good account of ourselves in the next round at Chelsea. I was fairly busy and really enjoyed playing at Stamford Bridge, but it's a shame we couldn't spring a shock.
Is there more scope for frustration as a loan ‘keeper, since there’s only one berth to go for?
Very much so, but that’s the nature of the position. You only change your goalkeeper when you have to, really. It’s not like an outfield player where you come on and bed in for 10 or 20 minutes as a sub. As a goalkeeper there’s only one position and it tends to be the case that once you’ve got it, you’ve got it for a while. I understand that and it’s just about having patience and continuing to work hard.
You’ve not played much yet but would you say you’ve learned anything new?
Of course. Every place you come to, you’re under different management, playing with different players and adjusting to different styles of play. You can always learn things, and obviously with Radek Cerny here as well I can learn a great deal off him. He’s 35 and been around and done it with Spurs and Slavia Prague, and now here, and he’s got a lot of experience. You take the most out of it and try to absorb as much stuff as you can. I’m not going to deny that the biggest thing is playing, that’s what I’m trying to do, but on top of that you still want to improve every day. I’m 23 now, which as a goalkeeper isn’t the oldest, so I want to keep developing. Since I’ve been down here I’ve been working with Dave Rouse, who’s the goalie coach, and he used to work at United when I was in the Academy. It’s been good to catch up with him. He’s obviously on the same page as me in terms of trying to improve, and it’s been fantastic.
How would you describe QPR’s playing style?
(Manager) Jim Magilton’s all about passing and playing, really. He’s not into lumping it forward, he wants pass, pass, pass, which is fantastic for me because it’s what I’m used to. I like him a lot. He just likes quick play with one and two-touch passing. If you can get that going in the Championship then you can be successful in that. He’s got a lot of experience himself and he’s passing that on. It’s a nice way to play and the lads are coming round to that way of thinking now. Some of the stuff we’re playing is excellent and if we carry on doing that then results will keep improving.
What are your new team-mates like?
Excellent, actually, I have to say. It’s like the first day at school when you come to a new club, but it’s a good experience meeting new people. I didn’t actually know anyone here at all, which in a way makes it better because you have to go and talk to everyone. You don’t stick around people you know and it’s been good. They’ve all helped me settle in and they’ve been great.
How does a typical day vary?
It’s very similar to United. You come in, you might get a bit of breakfast. You settle down for a bit and then head out training around 10:15. With the keepers first, then with the players, you might do some gym work or have some lunch straight after training and go into the gym in the afternoon. It’s like United in that you have the structured training, then the possibility to do any extra individual work that you want to do.
What’s your main aim for the remainder of the season?
To be honest, for the rest of this loan period it’s just to get in the team and play well. My aim’s definitely to get the shirt off Radek and keep it. After that I’ll reassess whether the loan gets extended, or I come back to United or go somewhere else. Up until the 14th of November, my mind’s fully focused on getting in that team and staying there.
www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=6640801&page=1
