McCaffrey, gesturing with hands and arms as is his way : Easy one to kick off with, Maik : what is the secret (of the run so far)?
Taylor : Just the manager, coming in has got us playing in a way that we really believe in. All the lads are quality players at the club who are all comfortable on the ball and confidence is so high at the moment. Obviously winning breeds confidence and we've got plenty of that at the moment.
McCaffrey : When he first came in, I've seen a couple of games this season, you're playing from the back and this kind of thing. Did it take the lads time to adjust to that or did they take it on board straight away?
Taylor : It did take time. It was pretty nerve-racking for myself having the lads play the ball around at the back inside the penalty box. I'm used to clearing my lines and squeezing up following the ball up. But you know we've got quality players at the club and great strength in the squad, the players are all comfortable on the ball and it suits the way we play.
Kamara, smirking and grinning : You're not allowed to kick it are you. You have to throw it.
Taylor : Yeah, I mean he wants us to play out from the back so at times I've got 2 or 3 options available so I can throw it out and players have plenty of time on the ball.
Kamara : The situation will arise, 2 minutes to go, you're a goal behind. You're going to have to lump it then.
Taylor : Possibly yeah, but thankfully that situation hasn't arrived yet.
McCaffrey : What is like as well, Jean Tigana. We've heard so many stories like his english isn't too good. Is it the communication thing difficult? Doesn't seem to be at the moment mind you!
Taylor : It was at the beginning. He could practically not speak a word. He had an interpreter follow him permanently. But he can actually speak now more than what people are led to believe. And he gets his point across very well, hes very down to earth person and very approachable and the players think the world of him.
McCaffrey : Is he a shouter or unflappable.
Taylor : No, he's very calm and collected. We were 1-0 down at half time against Burnley a couple of games ago and the lads were all ranting and raving and hes just come in steadied the ship, said his 2 or 3 minutes and we've gone out and turned it round and won 3-1.
McCaffrey then makes a joke with Strachan about his temperament, etc...
Kamara (to Taylor again) : Its interesting though, you play the pitch so big there are times when you're going to get punished because your back 4 is never going to be up with the strikers, because you know obviously, the passes that you do play...you know so the back 4 is never going to get out at times is it?
Taylor : It could be a problem, possibly, but the manager, he just wants the players to express themselves and he doesn't worry if the midfielder gives the ball away on the half-way line, you know, as far as he's concerned we've still got the 4 defenders there in the way (of the opposition).
Strachan intervenes : I don't think they (points to Maik) need to worry with the back 4 pushing up. If they've got quality players, and thats what you (looking at Maik) say, the length of the game's alright for quality players, they're quite happy to play that game.
Kamara : It's just when the confidence goes, isn't it? You know what its like when the confidence goes.
Strachan and Waddle are both talking over Kamara agreeing with each other and trying to make their (same) point at the same time.
Strachan : Thats up to the other team to close you down..
Waddle : When you play a passing game, you've got to make the pitch this big (holds hands out wide apart), because the tighter it is, obviously you can get into people...
Kamara : The thing is you want to play when you've got the ball, but when the opposition's got the ball, you want to close the play down.
Waddle : But I've just listened to what he's (Taylor) been saying and basically what he's said is he's got good players. (smiles as if to say 'don't you understand plain english, Kamara?'). Players win the games, you know? They're a good side, they've got players who have played at a higher level. The majority of the side have played in the Premiership, or most of them. You know? They're a good side.
Strachan : And the other thing is when you give space like that, you force the other team to try and play, and if they're not good enough to play, you get the ball back.
Waddle : Yeah, thats right.
McCaffrey : Asks Taylor about Barry Hayles
Taylor : Hes been fantastic. At the start of last season when Stan Collymore was at the club, Barry responded to that. If the complacency doesn't come into his game he responds to the challenge and hes as good as anyone, definitely in this division. He's phenomenal.
McCaffrey : Has your game changed now...you're not in the game as much now are you, you don't have much to do?
Taylor : Yes, its the concentration side again, but obviously with playing out from the back, I'm involved a lot more so that helps in that respect. You know I'm enjoying it, I'm seeing a lot more of the ball, I'm playing out with my feet and getting touches.
Kamara : Its impressive, it really is. When you've got that ball, you've got so many options now. Its either roll it to the right back, give it to the left back, and there's two (opposition) strikers..they don't know where to go in between them. If they go out wide, you (Taylor) just roll out to the centre half who's in front of you.
Taylor : I think thats the key. When I get the ball we do make the pitch very wide and there are so many options on, and if someone's been picked up theres always someone else available to take the ball and we just play out from the back and try and get teams at us to leave the door open behind.
Kamara : Just a final word on Louis Saha. He's looked an exceptional player.
Taylor : Hes nothing short of sensational. Supposedly, they had a race him, Henry and Anelka and it was a dead heat. Just show the type of pace that he's got..
McCaffrey : Really??
Waddle : It wasn't to the bar, I know that.
Laughter all round.
Waddle : I know Jean Tigana, I was 2 years at Marseille. Very fit bloke, very professional.
Taylor : He is very. He likes to join in as well. Hes still got great feet.
Waddle : He was so fit, he was unbelievable.
Kamara : Final word on Forest...
Taylor : Yeah I thought we had the better of the first half but didn't get the goals. Then the second half, I thought it was about even, then we got the first goal. That forced them to come at us a little bit more. We managed to hit them twice on the break after that.