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 Crewe, Hall first talking about the news that Brad Potts will start the game for the Blues in central midfield:
JP
Brad Potts in midfield is one that might have caught one or two out but I believe that is regarded by people who have been invested in Brad's youth that that his actually his best position perhaps?
AH
Well, it was found by accident, he was injured at the start of his second season and it took a bit of getting back for Brad. When he came back the right-back position had been claimed so Eric (Kinder) put him in midfield and the type of player that he is, and we have all seen that now, very versatile, very adaptable, started to kick himself about in that position and he actually looked very, very good. Graham Kavanagh used him a lot in the bounce games that we organised last season against Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Newcastle, Celtic, you name it, and he was used in midfield. So, it is nothing new to the lad and it will be interesting to see if he used there tonight how he does.
JP
If I am slightly distracted it is because you wouldn't believe how excited people around Carlisle are by the return of Joe Garner, Paul Newton and Chris Lumsdon are busy watching YouTube clips of Garner's goals for Carlisle United. So, that is how much it has captured, and Chris says he set them all up incidentally, that is how much it has captured the imagination, what a signing that has been, I mean you must all be delighted?
AH
He is a great lad and we remember him from his spell here, he really took off after the initial loan spell, a right battle to get him signed, we stopped him going up into Scotland, he stayed with us and he just kicked on didn't he. That led to the move that we all know about to Nottingham Forest, and I can't remember who it was, it might have been Port Vale, but what a goal from almost on the touchline, and you are thinking how did you just score that? But, he was like that, and his stature, you look at him and you think what is he going to be like? He is a real bully, he gets in people's faces, he gets them riled as well, so he is the kind of striker different to what we have got that will really put himself about.
JP
He is horrible on the pitch as well isn't he, he is a lovely lad off it, but he is horrible on the pitch, I remember watching him and thinking what a pain in the backside you are?
AH
But, that is why he has been such a success, that is why managers across the country have kept looking at him and still are to this day. I think he told Paul (Newton) earlier that he talked to a couple of clubs, decided to come here at this stage because he is not getting a sniff really at Watford, even though he has been on the bench, I think he was used in the Capital One Cup and things like that. So, this is a chance for him to come back somewhere that he knows, he won't have to settle too quickly because again he will feel at home, he has had over a year here already. But, that will help him and we hope anyway that he will kick on.
JP
Yeah, he certainly will, you have just given me the team news so I have got the Carlisle bench as well which I have just realised I have not given, Adam Collin, Andy Welsh, Paddy Madden, Mike Edwards, Mark Beck, David Symington and number 22 Joe Garner, I mean it looks nice doesn't it?
AH
It does yeah, I think we said it again this afternoon, welcome back Joe Garner, it really is that. If he plays anywhere near to the levels that he played a few years ago, and again with that the spell at Scunthorpe I think has been his best spell away from Carlisle United, but if he produces that then we have got ourselves a player.
JP
To a club of Carlisle's size there is always criticism in various directions as well as the praise, but at times I think fans have looked at Greg Abbott to blame on certain things, and at other times they have looked at the board and talked about ambition, investment, that sort of thing. I think it is well on record that none of Carlisle's............ the three men who run Carlisle United (Andrew Jenkins, John Nixon and Steve Pattison) are hugely Roman Abramovich'y type figures, they are just successful businessman and what is the word they use, custodians essentially they see themselves as, just doing their best to look after the club. Greg Abbott said after the Swindon match that he was going to need support if United were going to continue to compete with the big boys, the big spenders, I mean what a signal of intent bringing Joe Garner back is?
AH
Well, I think the message is that there if is any spare cash kicking about or if you can project any spare cash then it is going to go to the manager. You don't need to be a mathematician to work out where we have projected the spare cash will come from in the next week or so. So, whenever something like that happens you can spend accordingly. But, what I don't think we will ever do, and I don't think it would be right for us to do is to overspeculate, to start spending beyond our means and then who knows how far down the line we are doing what some of these other clubs have done. Where we are based, could we afford to do that? I am not so sure.
JP
We have got a lot to get through, we have got a number of exclusives to get through today, Joe Garner was just the one that rose to the top as it came through, that story breaking. So, thanks ever so much for your time and the best of luck to everyone tonight.
AH
Thanks very much, just a shout out for the (Workington) Comets, I hope something good happens there.