Greg Abbott - Radio Cumbria Interview

Last updated : 04 September 2009 By Thetashkentterror

Blues boss Greg Abbott
United boss Greg Abbott spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria this evening ahead of Carlisle's League One clash at home to Tranmere Rovers tomorrow, Abbott first talking about the current injury situation at Brunton Park :


" We aren't looking bad on injuries, Tom Taiwo is going to be very, very doubtful. He has had a reaction to his ankle injury on Thursday so he is looking doubtful at the minute. He trained with us yesterday and pulled out so we need to wait and see what he is like, but it looks like at the minute he is not going to make it.

" We definitely aren't thinking it is long-term with Tom, at the minute we are thinking it is a short-term one. Fingers crossed it is going to be no worse than that but we are very, very hopeful and optimistic that he is only going to be a week or so and no more than that. It would just be our luck though that Chelsea want Tom back and wouldn't release any players because their squad might not be able to get improved because of that embargo.

" So we are hopeful that their appeal is successful, but about Tom personally, hopefully he becomes part of their plans but at the minute in a selfish way we want him to stay with us a little bit longer because he has done really, really well. So apart from him, Richard Keogh long-term, well not long-term, a couple of weeks away, we are in good shape.

" They are all in contention if they are fit because we have got a squad of 20 and everybody that is around us has got a chance. Richard Offiong has come on though, he is a little bit behind in fitness but not a great deal but a little bit behind. What we are trying to do is bring Richard up to speed but he is certainly in contention tomorrow. I will be picking my team tomorrow at 2pm and we will find out whether Lenny Pidgeley is going to play or not. "



" It wasn't disappointing at Morecambe, it wasn't at all. What we were trying to say on Tuesday night is that sometimes young players who think it is their chance in the first-team and they over-try to over-impress and sometimes it goes against them. What we are really happy with is the attitude and application of these young players that are pushing our more senior players.

" What I want is them to try to dislodge some of the senior players with their performances. What we are thinking at the minute is that at the minute we have got a really good group behind the first-team ready and willing and able to come in when people drop off the standards they have been showing at the moment.

" We are quite comfortable with that and I think sometimes we read into things that I say and do too much. You have got to look at the character and the spirit of the players that played the other night in terms of the way that they came back from a goal down twice, and eventually ran out winners in a penalty shoot-out.

" Adam Collin was the hero as well after making a mistake in the game so we are not too worried about individual performances or just single performances. What we are looking at is for them over a period of time to prove that they are as good and if not better than the ones that we have got in the first-team, and prove that by their performances in the reserves and the chances they get in the first-team. "



" We didn't have any late interest in our squad at the end of the transfer window that I know of. Nothing that came through to me so we were fine with that. We are alright at the minute on players, the loan window will be used as and when it is needed and at the minute results and injuires and suspensions will dictate when we go back in there.

" At the minute I think we have got a squad where we have got quite a bit of depth, quite a bit of quality and competition for places all over. So at the minute we are just fine but obviously results and bits and pieces alongside of that go to telling us when and where we need to go into the loan system.

" For John Barnes, life is difficult in League One in terms of resources and personnel you have got available and facilities and everything that goes with it. It is not like his career as a player when he was a top drawer player at Liverpool and everything was given on a plate to him and he was a England international and a top one at that.

" This is a completely different scenario and it is not as easy as people think. You don't have to be a big name to be a good manager, you need to know what you are dealing with and be able to adapt to situations that are a lot less resourceful than you have been used to. "