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" We're delighted with the way that things have gone, on and off the pitch, the training and the matches. I think the players have been receptive to what we are trying to do, they are putting it into practice on the training ground and then they have done it in the important area which is on the Saturday afternoon. We're well pleased with the way we have started and long may it continue.
" One player's departure opens the door for another player and it is important that the players that come in take that opportunity. Michael (Bridges) has gone, we wanted him to stay, he would have been a player for us and he would have helped us along the way but it's football. It doesn't really affect what we are trying to do because you are out of control of it, if the club agrees a fee and the player wants to go then you are limited to what you can do. It's better to have players out there who are desperate to play for Carlisle United and perform for us out there, and we got a result so at the moment he isn't missed.
" The manager (Neil McDonald) is busy at looking at what he has got, he is busy at looking at where he might need players. I'm sure he'll be active this week trying to do something, because if we get injuries or suspensions or loss of form, which will all happen, then the squad is on the small side at the moment, so hopefully he'll get somewhere with the players he wants to bring in. He's adamant he wants to bring in the right players that are going to improve us though, players that are going to be of the same calibre, attitude and commitment that we've got out there at the moment.
" There are no easy games in this division, I watched Northampton on Friday night against Rotherham, and they were poor in the first-half but really spirited in the second-half, so obviously John (Gorman) had got round them in the dressing-room because it really affected their game. The message to our players though is that if we perform like we've been performing, play the way we can, pass the ball like we can and we press people down like we can then we'll be OK. Again we're not frightened of Northampton, and again it's a positive message that is going to come across from the manager and myself that we can go on and continue this nice little start.
" I don't know anything about Matt (Jansen) in particular, all I can say is that if good players become available at a price that we can afford then I think the manager will be in the market for them. If Matt comes into that category then I'm sure the manager will be looking at every opportunity he can to try and bring in players who will improve what we have got. Like I said, I don't know the situation with that, if he is training, if he's back, if he is a free agent, if the wage structure he is on fits into us then we might be interested, that is absolutely down to the manager though and if he is available then he might pursue that one.
" It's fantastic with Neil at the moment, people behind me said he sat back a little bit on Sunday and he enjoyed the game, he was smiling and he was relaxed throughout. Sometimes I'm a little bit uptight, sometimes he's a bit uptight, on Sunday I was a little bit edgy – I don't know why, you're so keen to do well. I know he's keen to do well as well but if we can bounce off each other, one is up one is down, one is fidgety one is calm then it's a good match. At the end of the day we both want the same thing, and the best way about it is to work together, and I think that at the minute we're both really enjoying it.
" You have to be careful that you don't dwell on things like Oldham because I think we'll play poorly during the season and we'll nick a result here and there, so I don't read too much into that but I do share the disappointment. From day one when I arrived and I was on the training field, I said to the manager that I expect them to be fit, I expect them to have a good attitude, I expect them to be buoyant because of the two promotions. What I did say though was that I was surprised at what ability they did have, and I think the manager right from day one has encouraged them to be comfortable at passing the ball and having the ball more than the opposition.
" I think generally that if on the pitch you have the ball more times than the opposition, and enjoy good shares of possession, then you are going to be on top in most games. We've done that, and the start has just been nice and bright for us, and it's nice and encouraging so we just want to keep that going. Sometimes I say to players about the state of the game, you have to play to the state of the game. At the end of the day when the supporters are having their lunchtime pint before the game and you'd said we were going to win 2-0 at home to Orient, Cheltenham or Northampton then they'd have accepted that.
" They've got to accept that we've played super football for a large part of the game and then, at the end of the day, if they sit back and can't get the ball and we keep it then for us it's a thoroughly professional performance. We don't want to keep the game open, we don't want to risk conceding a goal and putting ourselves under pressure for ten or fifteen minutes. The message to the fans though is that if we can win as attractively as possible then we will, but at the end of the day results are important in this industry.
" The support was absolutely brilliant, it gives everybody a buzz when the players are playing well, and the crowd are behind them and they are singing their songs and cheering everything and booing the opposition and are totally biased. We want a totally biased set of supporters who are loud. We've always said that it keeps the ball rolling, it keeps the club going forward. If we can attract another 50 for the next game, let's not be greedy – another 50, and they go and tell people about it, and at the end of it we get around the 10,000 mark then the job has been done hasn't it. You're on the right lines if people are coming through the gates, but I'll tell you what, the word on the grapevine and the word that gets back to us is that they are enjoying the football. We need that to continue though, and then they will come through the gates. "