United Head of Football Affairs Dennis Booth (DB) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Matt Newsum (MN) following Carlisle's 2-0 pre-season friendly win at home to Middlesbrough this evening, Booth saying it was a superb performance from the Blues :
MN
A second win over a Championship side in the space of three days, you must be delighted?
DB
Yeah, it is always nice to win pre-season football matches, but the main aim is to Notts County. But, I thought the performance tonight was superb, we could have had maybe one or two goals but we had a real good workout against a good Middlesbrough side and I think most people would agree that some of the football we played was wonderful.
MN
Not only has it been two victories in terms of chalking off wins in terms of pre-season friendlies on the bounce, but two performances where you quite literally bossed Championship sides with good reputations?
DB
Yeah, I think that is the thing, obviously the results, it does you no harm to win football matches but what we are pleased with is the manner in which we have won them. If you get your performances right on a football field then nine times out of ten you will win the match. Tonight was a very, very good performance, I think the fans enjoyed it, the performance was excellent, the passing and to win the games as well, it is all confidence, but the main thing is Notts County.
MN
Obviously, I saw the game on Saturday, I saw the game today, one of the things that really struck me about the performances is the high tempo that you have been able to play at, it just looks as though fitness has been something that has really been drilled into the players?
DB
Yeah, well they work very hard, they have worked very hard in training which you have to do really in this game now, if you are not fit you are in trouble. But, the coaching staff have worked very hard on the passing and the tempo and passing with a purpose. Yeah, there are certain times when you have to slow it down, that is what we try to do as you have seen tonight, and we have passed and the movement was very good.
Particularly in the second-half the young goalkeeper who came on (Connor Ripley), I think he has made about five saves including a penalty, so it could have been even better. We are pleased but we don't get carried away because it is a pre-season friendly, the most important things will start against Notts County but we are quite pleased, but we won't let them rest on anything like that. We will still be demanding on the players and I am sure that when they see themselves play like that that they are quite pleased and they are taking things on board.
MN
Let's talk about the goals, you couldn't have two different ends of the spectrum could you, it was a routine finish which you expect your strikers to put away in Rory Loy's, and then a little bit of magic from James Berrett?
DB
Yeah, I was sat upstairs with the manager (Greg Abbott) and as soon as Bezza hit it you could see, I said 'he has done him' and he knew exactly what he was doing, that is the thing, he has just not smashed it, he has bent it and it has gone in the top corner.
Then Rory, if you get in the box, I have said to Rory before, if you get in the box you score goals, it doesn't matter, and he has reacted quite well because I believe Francois (Zoko) has just missed it with a header and Rory has had to react quickly and kneed it in. But, he is in there and if he gets in there he will get his goals because he has got other things to his game as well. But, as I say to him, you are a striker, if you keep getting in that box then the chances will come.
MN
Obviously, as you have said, Notts County is the aim, it is the focus, I guess at this stage of the season, especially with the Workington game tomorrow, you are having to mix things up. But, are you starting to feel now with yourself, Greg and Graham Kavanagh that things are working out in terms of what your idea is for that game against Notts County?
DB
Oh yeah, yeah, we have worked on the system since day one on how we are going to play and the players are fully aware of what is expected of them, which you can probably see now. There has been a lot of work from the management go into the system and how we are playing and what we are demanding of the players and at the moment you are seeing the rewards. But, as we say, we have got to turn up and do that against Notts County which will be a different game all together, people get a bit edgy on the first game of the season and always want to start well, it will probably be a little bit more hurly-burly than it has been, as most pre-season games are. But, we couldn't have prepared any better.
MN
Final couple of questions, obviously your role at the club stretches a little bit beyond working with the players day in and day out, so I guess at this stage of the season with transfers etc. you are a busy man?
DB
Yeah, we are always looking, we are always looking, I am out and about, I was going to go somewhere tonight but the manager decided to let me come and have a look, which is important as as I say I haven't seen much of them, and I was very impressed tonight, very impressed with the way they played, so you always need to do that. But, you can't rest on your things, you are always looking to make the side better if you possibly can, it is not an easy job but it is something that I relish and hopefully I can do that.
MN
Chris Lumsdon talked about in commentary Paddy Madden's development, he said he looks a completely different player from the one who ended last season?
DB
Yeah, well Paddy has spent time with us, he has come from Ireland and it is a big step up and it is difficult. He is playing against better players week in and week out but he has started to, as Rory has, he has started to show a little bit of something. Paddy is one for the future, and he was a bit unlucky tonight, he is knocking himself a little bit because he has missed a couple there but that happens, but it won't be too long before he does put the ball in the net. If he keeps working, as he is doing on the training ground, he is taking things on board, he is a learner and he is one for the future, we are quite pleased we have got him.
MN
And obviously two more major friendlies, Workington tomorrow and then the game against Bradford, just how is the squad looking? Nothing too much to worry about in terms of injuries etc?
DB
No, Frank (Simek) came off as a precaution, he got a little niggle in his hamstring, but at the moment it is very important that we have everyone fit. That is probably a credit to the training that has been done, and the work on the training ground and making sure that they are fit and they get through the games. But, touch wood at the moment we are looking in good shape.
MN
Last question I promise, a decent blend of youth and experience it looks as though at the moment in the side? You had players like Lance McGlen coming on alongside more experienced players like Danny Livesey and Peter Murphy?
DB
Yeah, that is important, Lance did very well didn't he? Obviously, the way we were playing he has got the confidence and then young Steven Swinglehurst came on at left-back, which is not easy with about ten minutes to go. But, that is what we are trying to do, we are bringing one or two youngsters in and we have got a young-ish side really. But, some of the older heads around, the (Paul) Thirlwells, the (Peter) Murphys, the (Danny) Liveseys, they are doing a good job.