Tranmere defender David Raven (DR) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Paul Newton (PN) this morning ahead of his side's League One clash at home to Carlisle, the former United right-back glad to be back home on the Wirral :
DR
I am back on my own turf and I am really enjoying it, it is nice to be living at home with my family and that and 15 minutes from work. So, it is great, I am really enjoying it, enjoying the club, enjoying playing for the club because I supported them when I was a kid so it is nice, I am enjoying it.
PN
Yeah, it has been a fairly solid start to the new season for you?
DR
Yeah, we have to be fair, we have got a sold bunch of players, the key is keeping everyone fit and on-song really this season, I think we could do well if that is the case. We work hard and we stick to the gameplan and we have got a decent mix of youth and experience and lads who need to sort of prove a point and lads who want to kick on. So, it is all there for us really, we just need to keep it rolling.
PN
Les Parry is the latest physio to turn manager, what he is like to play for?
DR
He is good yeah, he is thorough, he is honest, you can knock on his door any time, we do a lot of work on every game to be fair, we analyse all the games we have played in and then we will analyse the team that we are going to play at the weekend and stuff like that, so he is very thorough like that. So, it is good and I am enjoying working for him to be fair.
PN
Yeah, how has your own personal form been so far this season?
DR
It has been OK yeah, I think I have done OK, I have got in the team, I didn't start the season, I didn't expect to but got in the team early doors and have done well since I have been in there. I played all across the back four during pre-season and I think I have settled into right-back quite well.
PN
Do you still look out for Carlisle's results?
DR
Oh yeah, I follow them all the time yeah, it was one of those, you get on the bus after the game and you look at other results and I always look at Carlisle's results, they are one of the first I look for just because of the links I have got with the people up there and just the time I had there as well and how much I enjoyed it, so I always see how they are getting on. So, it is definitely one of the clubs that I look for to see how they are getting on.
PN
And do you still keep in touch with any of your old United team-mates?
DR
Yeah, I speak to Thirs (Paul Thirlwell) and I speak to (Danny) Livesey and I speak to Murph (Peter Murphy) sometimes as well. So, we keep in touch, I mean they are not many there really that were there and it is not that long ago really, so I even speak to and keep in touch with Dolly (Neil Dalton) sometimes by text or facebook or whatever, so I do.
PN
Is there still disappointment at the way it ended at Carlisle United? You weren't offered a new deal at the club?
DR
I am big believer that everything sort of happens for a reason to be honest. I think my time was up there, just the fact that I had spent six months of the season out, I couldn't do anything about that, I couldn't change anyone's opinions of me really if you like. If someone has got the idea that you are surplus to requirements then there is not much I could really do about it.
It was just a little bit of frustration on that part, but at the end of the day I enjoyed my four years up there thoroughly and I got a lot of experience and I have got a lot to thank the club for really. So, I don't regret anything and it was time to move on, but everything happens for a reason and it makes you the player and a person you are afterwards really. So, I have come through that and I am here today.
PN
And obviously expecting a tough game tonight with Carlisle desperate for a win to end that losing run?
DR
Yeah, definitely yeah, we have come off the back of a defeat as well on Saturday, and I think by the accounts that we hear off the Carlisle game they played well and got beat and we played well and got beat. So, we are expecting a very tough game I think talking to the lads, one of the toughest of the season so far. Just because of the way they play and the quality they have got, but I think we are more than capable of matching it and bettering it so it is going to be a good one.