Frank Simek Talks About The Game

Last updated : 28 November 2010 By Thetashkentterror

Frank Simek
United skipper Frank Simek (FS) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) after Carlisle's 3-2 FA Cup win at home to Tamworth, Simek saying the Blues were second best all over the pitch in the first-half :


JP

It was a tough match for everyone involved today, what were the players' feelings about that first-half display and what just didn't quite happen out there?

FS

I thought we were second best all over the place, and we were told that by the manager (Greg Abbott) at half-time, it was a lively dressing room. But, fair play, we changed it around in the second-half and we got back in the game and won it and it was a good win in the end.





JP

There were two reactions as we have just been saying there, the first one came after the break, really back into the game, different altogether Carlisle United. But, when they got their second goal you had to react again, how tough was that?

FS

Yeah, it was tough, we knew from the beginning that they were going to be a decent team and that they were going to come at us. But, I guess we weren't at the races to begin the game, especially the first-half was a pretty shocking performance by everybody, minus our goalkeeper (Adam Collin) who probably kept us in the game.





JP

Can you put your finger on why that was as a player, as the leader out there?

FS

No, it is hard to say, it is very hard to say, I think sometimes you are just second best and whether that is that they are up for it and we weren't quite matching them, and I think that is what the case was. But, we were able to put it right in the second-half.





JP

Do the players sometimes have to realise how important a competition like this is in terms of not just the revenue but also the kudos of the FA Cup to the fans?

FS

Yeah, I think the boys realise how important a competition it is and they need to progress, not only financially but you don't want to go out and lose, no disrespect, to teams like Tamworth. It is not always going to go your way in football, and especially in the first-half it did not.





JP

What did you make of them? We never mentioned this with Greg really because he clearly wanted to get a few things off his chest about his own players. But, what did you make of them? Two levels below you, a Conference National team, they were better than that suggests?

FS

Yeah, they were a good team, I think if you are second best like we where in the first-half then it doesn't matter who you are playing, you are not going to win the game. Myself included all across the board in the first-half we were losing challenges, losing headers and that is not a recipe for winning the game.





JP

There will be plenty of pub team footballers, if there is any football in Cumbria tomorrow, who will come up against players like Kyle Perry, the big number nine for Tamworth. Just a big wide massive lump of a guy who looked like he really, really gave you guys a hard time at the back?

FS

Yeah, he is good in the air, he is maybe not the most mobile but he was a tough competitor. Especially in the first-half I thought he caused a few problems, and in the second-half I thought that we coped a lot better.





JP

You have got through now, who would you like to draw in tomorrow's draw?

FS

I don't mind, I honestly don't mind, if we get a big team, if we get a small team, it doesn't matter. Hopefully we can have a home draw, I think that is the most important thing.





JP

You don't fancy a trip back to see your old boss Arsene Wenger at the Emirates?

FS

Forget them in the next round, fifth or sixth round maybe.