At a recent community event (Show Racism The Red Card) ComeOnBoro.com's Elle Brunton caught up with Boro defender Justin Hoyte to talk Strachan's tactics, playing in midfield, and that goal against Barnsley!
EB: Whevever I speak to you, you have been in and out of the team, but this time you had the opportunity to play in midfield, what was that like?
JH: (pulls a face expressing horror and bemusement, then laughs) It's a position I have never played, it's a different feel and I felt like there was ten people on me every time I went anywhere near the ball.
"But I got stuck in, threw everything at it and got through it.
EB: I have interviewed you a few times now and that does seem to sum up your attitude, just give it a go...
JH: That's what I do week in week out, I hadn't played there before so it was a new experience.
"The manager told me before the game that he was going to use me there.
"Rhys has done the same thing, he was a defender who was put in midfield and he was doing well, he's injured now though...
"You have to give everything wherever you play and I enjoyed the game, even in that position!
EB: The back four line ups have reached double figures and I think there's been sixteen different strike partnerships so far this season, do you see that as an opportunity to get into the team as Strachan does not seem to have a settled starting eleven?
"Do you think that's a tactic to get the maximum from you all in training?"
JH: I just work hard in training and hope I get a chance, then whoever is on the pitch has to do their job, it's the balance we need to get, some games they don't have a shot against us and they get one chance and end up scoring so we need to start scoring goals but we need to defend as well, we need to be a solid unit.
EB: Do you feel like the balance is coming together now?
JH: We need to work on defending and not conceding goals then work forward.
EB: There seems to have been an emphasis on set pieces, new moves and specific tactics coming into games recently, is that how training differs under Strachan?
JH: We have been working on set pieces, as we always did, but Strachan's come in and showed us how he wants us to play and tried to make us difficult to beat...
"Obviously I can't tell you what his tactics are... but you will see that on the pitch."
EB: The new players seemed to have gelled very quickly and have brought Strachan's teachings with them...
JH: Yes, even the new players have come in and gelled very quickly, it feels like they have been here for a bit. They bring a different mentality to the team and they bring experience as well.
"There are a few more voices in the dressing room, at times it was quiet, but now there is more than one leader in the team."
EB: Obviously, Johnson was our top scorer and he has left, do you think that has put more pressure on the other players to score? or do you think it allows the team more freedom? because when Adam was here the main priority was getting the ball to him.
JH: Whenever he played, he's a fantastic player so we knew he would get forward and he would create something or score himself.
"But now it is left for someone else to do, it is the responsibilty of the team not just one player.
"I think Jonathan Franks has come in and been fantastic and even the players who have just joined, like Willo Flood have done really well."
EB: You mentioned Rhys Williams earlier, is he getting back to full fitness?
JH: I'm not sure...
EB: Do you not see him around in training?!
JH: (laughs) He's back but he's not been training with us, he's in light training.
EB: Shall we talk about your slightly flukey goal against Barnsley?
JH: Oh no, I meant it (grins)
EB: You're sticking to that version are you?
JH: (laughing) Yes, I meant it.
EB: Ok, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt...
JH: You should!
EB: Any chance of another against QPR then?
JH: Hopefully I'll score again, but at the end of the day as long as we are winning, I'm happy.
EB: The attendences have crept up and the fans at the Riverside seem to have started to get behind the new look team more now...
JH: I think the support of the fans has been brilliant, they are always behind us. I'm happy with the fans, they cheer us and you get more stick from the fans if you are not playing good football.
"All the players are disappointed that we haven't got the results we feel we deserve but the main thing is just to give it all we've got really."
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 26/2/2010
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