Andrew McNeil Interview
By Andrew McCarten, TheSportsStand.com (8/9/07)
TSS’s own Andrew McCarten was recently given the opportunity to interview Hibernian FC and Scotland U20 goalkeeper Andrew McNeil. Last year, McNeil helped the Hibs bring home the League Cup, and recently competed with Scotland in the U20 World Cup in Toronto. He is one of the bright young stars of football and we look forward to bringing you more TSS exclusive interviews.
What are y
our expectations for the coming year, for
both the team and you as an individual?
(A) Top 6 league finish, at least one cup final, U21’s call up for Scotland, and to play regularly for the first team.
How do you feel you will contribute to the club this year?
(A) Depending on selection, feel I can be an important member of the team.
What was the general atmosphere like in Austria for training camp?
(A) I was in Canada at the time of the training camp.
Were you encouraged by some of the preseason performances?
(A) Only managed to see one game and was a good result without a particularly great performance.
Certainly the two biggest teams on the preseason list are Bolton and Middlesbrough, both at home. What are the expectations going up against these Premiership clubs, considering these are the last 2 preseason games?
(A) Good test, should be able to gauge standard of squad and how good our preparation has been.
How have the new squad additions helped the team?
(A) Added a better team cohesion on and off the pitch.
Do you believe that the club is better than their 6th place showing last year, and are the Hibs ready to improve from that position?
(A) Hard to say with so many change. We have a very young squad and it is difficult to know if young players can regularly step up and deliver.
The club opens their season against rival and fellow Edinburgh dweller Heart of Midlothian away from home. How big of a test is this in the first match?
(A) A big test, though it will not reflect the way the rest of the season will go.
Your first home fixture is the 2nd match of the season, against newly promoted Gretna. How important is it to get off to a good start at home?
(A) Again not an important match, it’s consistency throughout the season that’s important.
The highlight of last season was winning the League Cup for the third time. What are the odds you can win it again this year, and how high is it on your priority list as a team?
(A) It’s very hard for anyone outside Celtic or Rangers to win the league, so we have to focus on cup success. I think we will make at least one final and if we do we have every chance of winning.
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