United media officer and first team kitman Andy Hall (AH) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) this evening ahead of Carlisle's League One match at home to Tranmere, Hall first talking about the ankle injury that Lee Miller picked up in the 1-1 draw at Stevenage on Saturday:
JP
I hate to have to talk about this, only into the second game of the League One season, Lee Miller out and it looks like certainly for four weeks at least?
AH
Yeah, we are not going to guess on that one, it is one of those where there is a bit of swelling at the moment so it has got to settle before they can even scan it properly, look at it properly and assess where we are with it. So, you have just got to keep your fingers crossed haven't you because you don't have to hide away from the fact that Lee Miller is a massive player for Carlisle United Football Club.
Everything that goes through him during his 90 minutes on the pitch tends to work for him and for us and for Carlisle United. That has gone now so it is a chance for somebody else isn't it, that is what Greg (Abbott) has been saying all day today, somebody else steps up to the plate as Danny Cadamarteri did for half an hour on Saturday, and all of a sudden you have got the answer to the question can we move on?
JP
But for that half an hour I would have been worried again now, from watching the back end of last season when you have even got one of the manager's sons actually tweeting saying we will struggle without Lee, half an hour of Danny Cadamarteri playing that role and you think that he could actually just about maybe do that?
AH
A bit of a cameo of what he can do wasn't it, he got in there and wanted to make himself a bit of a nuisance, but on top of that the through ball for Robbo (Matt Robson), how many times have we seen that in pre-season, a couple of them actually came off and got us a goal as well. So, that is what Danny is all about, he hasn't played at the level, been signed at the level that he has played at through his career by accident. He is there because people like what he does and if he continues to do what he did in that 30 minutes for Carlisle United we won't be too far short of a good player.
JP
He is only a little one though, I mean he is not very tall like Lee is but he won a couple of big headers over the centre-halves on Saturday, it just gives you that little bit of hope doesn't it, he has got the physical presence, no doubt he is a tough looking lad but he has got a leap on him as well?
AH
Chuck experience into that mix as well and you have got yourself somebody who knows where to be, when to be and the ball tends to come off for him. Like I say, that pass for Robbo was beyond sublime, it was fantastic, it was still a hard job to do for Robbo but it was easier for him with the quality of the pass. So, that it was Danny can do, we know what Lee Miller can do, he is not there, we have just got to deal with that, and as I am sure you are aware Greg is trying to deal with that in the background. But, right now 90 minutes of football against Tranmere, the focus is on the eleven who start tonight.
JP
Now something I have forgotten to mention until now, probably I should have mentioned straight away when I gave out the team news, obviously no striker in there just at this moment, I know work was going on, there was a hope that we might get one in before the game today. Clearly that has not happened just yet?
AH
I mean not even on the back of Lee Miller, that work has been ongoing for a while anyway. But, what Greg is doing and I think he keeps reiterating it every time he speaks is trying to get the right player in. He knows where he has made mistakes in the past with signings, he doesn't want to do it again. He has got a really tight knit well worked dressing room down there, and if you can keep it that way then you have won half the battle.
Then the quality that he is bringing in as well, and we are seeing that with Lee Miller, he has gone, he wants to replace him with a little bit of quality as well if he can. So, that is the job that he has got on, but like I say, inbetween that there is this run of games and they become more important. If you don't make the signing on the afternoon, move on, deal with the game, try again tomorrow.
JP
The first game of the new season, the first League One game I should say here at Brunton Park, and then another and a very big tasty looking one on Saturday with Portsmouth the team in town, an exciting period for the Carlisle fans, let's hope they respond tonight?
AH
It is, and you saw the home run we had last season, if we can get anywhere near replicating that then you are giving yourself half a chance. Because, picking up the odd point at places where you maybe don't even expect to, places like Stevenage where it is a right old grind, you come away with a point, win a game in your next home game and suddenly that becomes a massively good point. That is all you want to do, keep winning at home, pick up the points away from home, good performances away from home and come the end of the season you look at the table and all of a sudden you are involved in it all.
JP
Let's hope we are all talking to a very happy Greg Abbott then after we have got that win, that first win under the belt, these will be tricky, I won't get you into all the details of Tranmere but they are a half decent side that Ronnie Moore has thrown together, so it will be a tricky one but fingers crossed?
AH
Ronnie Moore, what a manager, he is always difficult, we tend not to do too well against his teams but tonight is the night to break the trend isn't it. I am glad we are not going to discuss the team because I can't pronounce half the names, I will be honest with you, you have got a job on tonight.
JP
Oh, it will be alright, what, you mean Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro, Zoumana Bakayogo, Owain Fon Williams. Bob, as Chris (Lumsdon) says, I think that is a reference to Dennis Booth's way of approaching that sort of name?
AH
On a serious not they come off the back of a 3-1 win and it was an impressive 3-1 win, it wasn't just a slog, they played a bit of football, so that is Tranmere for you.
JP
Yeah, they are going to be a tough team to beat, I do hope that we are both talking to Greg Abbott tonight and he is in high spirits after the first win of the League One season, fingers crossed, let's get it sorted?
AH
Thanks, all the best.