Last season, Ed De Goey was instrumental in Stoke City not only surviving in the First Division but very nearly making it into the play-offs. Now, like the rest of the Stoke players, Ed is into pre-season training, his first for the club. Brian Beard caught up with the former Dutch international goalkeeper on a cold and wet Potteries day. Nothing knew there then!
Q:HOW IS PRE-SEASON TRAINING GOING?
A:It's going quite well. We are all working hard trying to be ready for the start of the season and the first game against Wolves.
Q:OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT TO STAY UP LAST YEAR AND SHOULD GIVE THE SQUAD CONFIDENCE?
A:Yes, of course, but I think the club is still looking for a few players to strengthen the squad and take us another step forward. I think we did well last year, in finishing 11th, and hopefully we can do a little better next year.
Q:THE CHAIRMAN HAS STATED HE WANTS A TOP SIX PLACE AT THE END OF THE SEASON, IS THAT REALISTIC?
A:I think we do need a couple more players in but we made a big step forward last year and, hopefully, we can make a big step again and progress and try and get a little bit closer to promotion. Dave Brammer has come in and he is a very good player, we need players like him in the squad.
Q:ADE AKINBIYI SEEMED TO RESPOND WELL TO BRAMMER IN MIDFIELD IN THE GAME AGAINST WREXHAM?
A:Yes, that's fair enough but they are not the only ones who can benefit from each other. I think there will be others who will benefit from Dave's midfield presence.
Q:IT'S OBVIOUSLY EARLY BUT HOW ARE THINGS LOOKING TO YOU?
A:We've only played the one game so it's a little too early to judge but after a couple more games it will be easier to comment. Gerry Taggart wasn't able to play in that game due to injury and he will be important to us because he is a big man in that defensive role.
Q:LAST SEASON GERRY WAS WORTH HIS WEIGHT IN GOLD TO THE TEAM, WASN`T HE?
A:He's like me, really. We are a little bit older with more experience so we try to help the other players. We have a very young squad and, last season especially, we drove forward a bit too much and sometime we forgot about the defending and conceded sloppy goals. Gerry came in and organised us, defensively, and we built on that, so that others could do the scoring. As long as we kept a clean sheet we were in a better position to get a result.
Q:WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR, REALISTICALLY, IN TERMS OF FINISHING POSITION, AND IS IT, AGAIN, AIMING FOR CONSOLIDATION?
A:I think what the chairman is asking for is quite realistic. We will try for the play-offs and I think that is quite a realistic target but I think we need a couple of players in for that to be achievable.
Q:AND WHERE DOES THE TEAM NEED STRENGTHENING?
A:I think you had better ask the manager that one.
