Greg Abbott - Radio Cumbria Interview

Last updated : 26 February 2010 By Thetashkentterror

Blues boss Greg Abbott
United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) at Friday morning's press conference for the local media, Abbott first talking about how is he feeling three days after Carlisle's 4-1 hammering at Hartlepool :


GA

I am better now, I have got a lot of things off my chest and I am better now, I have enjoyed the session today. We have talked about a lot of things and a lot of things I we will keep in house. But we have certainly talked about reaction to disappointment and the willingness to fight for the cause.

We need to have a little bit of a never say die attitude and the players are in no uncertain terms of what we expect now. The pressure is over to them now and we said enjoy the pressure. I enjoy the pressure, sometimes it is not nice but you have to deal with it.

We have thrown that at the players and told them to enjoy that little bit of pressure now of having to go out there and perform and find a performance that gets us a victory. I think tomorrow we have relieved them of as much pressure as we can, but ultimately when they cross the white line they have to go and perform, and they can never get away from that type of pressure.

JP

Gillingham are going to be without their captain and also there has been a bit of controversy about Simeon Jackson, their top scorer and you would think one of the better forwards in League One, not getting a game. Do you think these sort of things can play into Carlisle's hands or do you just have to concentrate on your side of things?

GA

I think we have to concentrate on our game because if we don't perform like we know we can then you get beat regardless of what team the other team are putting out. Whichever eleven Mark (Stimson) picks they will up for the job, so we have to make sure we are and we don't allow any situation to disappoint us. But I am a little bit happier with the work that has been done today.





JP

You have been linked with one of their players and I think it has come out at that end, that Mark McMammon turned a loan deal down with Carlisle. Was that something that you were pursuing?

GA

We are linked with a lot of players.

JP

Is he the sort of player though in that mould that you might be interested in if the opportunity arose?

GA

We talk about our players, we have got a good squad and a squad that is more than capable of getting results. We have proved that and we have to get on with that and if we can improve it and find the right players then we will do. But we are talking about Friday before a game, we are talking about getting the group we have got together to win a football match. That is all we should be concentrating on at the moment.





JP

Speaking about that group, I am led to believe you were just in with Joe Anyinsah, is he to be part of the group and what is his injury latest?

GA

He is having a few problems with his groin and we are going to leave him until tomorrow morning. He is not happy and we might just have to talk with Dolly (Neil Dalton) after tomorrow to see what we do to put it to bed one way or the other. Whether we send him for an operation early rather than later or whether he thinks he carry on, but at the minute he is not comfortable with it all.

So it is disappointing for Joe and it is disappointing for us because he was showing the best form I think since he has been here in terms of his goals per games ratio and the strength and pace that we knew he always had. So it is disappointing with Joe at the moment.

JP

Would you say the line was then that he was facing a late fitness test or do you think he is unlikely for tomorrow?

GA

We will have a look at him tomorrow.

JP

He obviously is a huge player for you at the moment, does that mean that with him in mind you might have to look at what is the end now, nearly, of the emergency loan window?

GA

Like I said, if we think we need to do something about it then we will do. We don't know what the situation is with Joe until he comes in tomorrow and then I am guided by what the physio tells me he needs to do. If he is going to have some type of operation then we have to have a look at that, but it is not a decision I will be making in the next 24 hours. I will look at Dolly's assessment and go from there.

JP

Is there anything else in the broader injury situation? Is Richard Offiong perhaps back in with a shout and has anyone else got any knocks that make them doubts for tomorrow?

GA

Richard is back training and he looked actually quite sharp and strong again. He has been in this situation before, what we need to do is that we have been a bit tough on Richard this week. We have asked him to come to the party, we have asked him that it is the time to start to deliver.

So he is going to be round the squad tomorrow, he has trained well today but he has had a tough talking to this week. So we are hoping that the penny drops with Richard because patience is something that you don't get too much of in football and he has had more of it than most. So I am asking Richard to come to the party.





JP

Gary Madine is out on loan with Chesterfield at the moment, have you heard any reports on how he is getting on? Is he someone who is considered as well as still part of the plans here if there is an injury to Joe Anyinsah, or even if there isn't?

GA

Gary has been out to Chesterfield, he has played a couple of games and he has done OK. But at the minute he is with Chesterfield so we need to talk about the players we have got here and what we can do with the players we have got here. But we will assess Gary when he comes back at the end of the month.

JP

I won't go into names again but you have been under some pressure from the media and from fans to make certain changes in your squad. When you have had a few results that I am sure you would like to have avoided, does it come into your mind that you need to change things around within that squad? Or does it come into your mind that you want to get those players who perhaps haven't quite performed to sort it out themselves?

GA

You are always under pressure when you are not getting results, from everybody. So I deal with that pressure, I dealt with it last year, I have dealt with it in the early parts of this season and I feel comfortable enough that I have been there before and I will deal with it again. I will do whatever I have to do to try to get this club a victory and a better performance.

JP

And just for the fans, there is no-one in your squad who you have a problem with taking out of the team if you don't feel they are quite performing?

GA

I don't have a problem with anything no. I will take anybody out of the team if they are not performing and I will put anybody in if they are performing. What you have got to do is find people better than you have got. If I think I can do that I would do it, and absolutely no problem with it. I think it is a common sense question but yeah, no problem with that at all.