|
"Everyone wants to win the league before the season starts, but we've got a lot of respect for the division and for the clubs in it. We took a lot of confidence from last season, and with the additions to our squad we feel we've improved and can make real progress this season. We haven't made six or seven signings, or attempted to wave a magic wand, but the aim is still the same - promotion.
"We had the same aim the year we came out of League Two, we didn't go around shouting and screaming about it, but if you keep making progress like we have then there is no reason why with the quality of the group we've got that we can't challenge. If we tweak the squad between now and the end of August, in January, or with loans as we need them, we're confident we've got what it takes to compete at the right end of the table, in the top half.
"It's always eagerly anticipated when you reach the last week of pre-season. There's been a lot of hard work and a lot of games we've got through, and now it's all about fine tuning bits and pieces and working towards Saturday at 3:00pm. There's a real anticipation about the group, a really positive atmosphere and a sense of determination to do well, and that's exactly what you need if you are to be successful.
"Carlisle are a very decent outfit, as they showed last season. They made the play-offs in good style, they were up there all season, and they were very unfortunate to lose to Leeds in the manner they did. It's good to be at home on the first day, it's the first time it's happened in I don't know how long, and it's good to be playing against a side that were up there last season. We're confident we can do well, but we know we'll have to play well if we're going to win the game.
"I know my starting team, I'm not going to say it now, but if everyone is fit who we think is going to be fit, then I know which 11 players will start the match. The pitch is a lot flatter than it's been in recent years. There's a lot more grass, it's thicker, and a lot of experts have worked on it which has cost a lot of money. It's been well documented that the pitch is crucial for us, not only in the early months, but also in March and April time when we hope the work that's been put into it will really benefit us."