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GA
Obviously it is difficult because they are not on our radar really. But, we have done our research, we have had them watched and we have had a couple of decent reports from people in the game that we know that know a bit about them.
So, we have enough on them to be going at, but I think tomorrow is all about how we approach the game and pay due respect to them. But, if we are on top of our game and our attitude is right then we should be able to get a result.
JP
You have talked in the past about your experiences of the FA Cup and going to some bigger teams than the one you were playing for at that time. What will they be going through ahead of a game like this at Brunton Park tomorrow?
GA
They will be seeing it as their chance to show league people and league players that they are as good as them, and they are not is the top and bottom of it. But, for one day anything can happen and the result against a non-league team if you get beaten is very, very not nice.
We have got to guard against that because they will be thinking they can go and show how good they are and that they should be league players and not where they are. So, it is a massive day for them and they will come with a load of spirit and a load of determination, to show people how good they are and to really enjoy their day. It is going to be a tough afternoon for us if we are not careful.
JP
Has anyone mentioned 1999 and Ilkeston Town to you in the build up to this one? Anyone from the club? Any fans?
GA
No, listen, you don't need to mention any individual names or teams because everybody knows that there is going to be a shock in the FA Cup first round, and we just don't want it to be us.
There are shocks every year in every round near enough and that will continue to go on. That is the beauty of the FA Cup, that is why everybody loves the competition. So, I don't need to be reminded of anything, I know how important it is to approach these games with the right attitude.
JP
You are almost the pantomime villains in a way aren't you? They are the fairytale story are Tipton to get to this level and Carlisle United, you can't win if you do win in a way with everyone except the Carlisle fans?
GA
Yeah, we can win, we win and that is a win. There is no way I want to feel sorry for anybody, I don't want Tipton to enjoy their day, I don't want them to get any goals, I don't want them to play very well, I don't want them to enjoy anything about tomorrow. I think it is all important that we go out there and keep our season rolling, keep the thing right, be professional and make sure we come out with a positive result.
JP
Have you had to impress on the players at any point this week the fear of complacency? Have you had to say that to them?
GA
Erm, I think you have to warn them, you have to warn them. But, today's training was as probably as good a Friday session as we have had in a long time, they were really, really bright. I think the message is getting through that whenever we drop ourselves below the levels that we have, or that we can do, then we find ourselves in a bit of trouble.
That will be against Tipton or Southampton, I think we are a team that needs to be right on top form playing at the right tempo with the right attitude and doing the right things all the time, regardless of who the opposition is.
I think they have picked that up this week and I thought they were terrific in the first-half (against Tranmere), they came out of the blocks really well on Tuesday. We need to do that again on Saturday and make this a comfortable, rather than an uncomfortable afternoon.
JP
On this run of a number of games at home in a row, I think it is four in a row, the club have dropped the prices for this one to hopefully boost the gates I guess for both sides as well. Because, it would be a nice day for Tipton but it could be a nice day for your players as well to be involved in a cup tie like this?
GA
Yeah, it would be nice if Tipton can sort of gain financially out of it and we go through, that would be sort of OK with me. The lower league teams find life very difficult, we moan and create about a lack of funds but you want to try to be in Tipton's shoes, that would be hard work. So, it would be nice if we could win the game, get a big crowd and they do earn a few quid out of it along the way, I would be OK with that for sure.
JP
Most of your loan players are available to you but a couple aren't, how do you feel about the strength of that squad not having those two in Lubomir Michalik and Mike Grella ahead of the game?
GA
Yeah, well we would like everybody available but we knew that when we signed the two lads from Leeds that they weren't going to be allowed to play. So, we think we have got a strong enough team without them involved. I like to have full strength sides all together but they are not available, so we just try to deal with that and the players that go out there tomorrow have got to make sure they are not missed.
JP
Tell us about your new man in Thomas Cruise?
GA
I have been delighted with Matty Robson to be honest, we asked him to do the team a favour and I think he has done tremendously well in that position. He has given it his all and he has done very, very well to be fair to him. But, we want him playing when he is in the team higher up the field and we needed to bring in a specialist left-back. Tom is going to come in and do that job and he has got a nice grounding with Arsenal, just like the Manchester United boys.
They play the game the right way and you can already see that he is a terrific passer of the ball and he looks a really composed player. So, he is going to come in and hopefully he will enjoy his month, develop his game and find out what real life football is all about with the edge of it, and he goes back to Arsenal, whenever it may be, a better player.
JP
Have you heard all of the puns available on his name so far?
GA
Yeah, all of that, the dressing room has hammered him for that, they thought he was going to come in mixing drinks and all sorts of stuff, and bring a few nice looking women along with him as well. But, Tom is a footballer through and through and he just wants to come and show people what a good football player he is.
But, it has got a bit of a ring to it, Tom Cruise from Arsenal, a massive club and a film star name. So, if we look after Tom like we have looked after the other lads from Manchester United, and he has a good month with us or longer even then we may be able to go back to Arsenal. Because, the production line there is pretty decent as well in terms of talent.
JP
James Chester is available to play, how is his fitness coming along ahead of this one? Is he a potential for the weekend?
GA
Yeah, he is a potential, his fitness levels are very good, he is a naturally fit boy. He is only a young player and he hasn't missed a lot of football, so his fitness levels will be decent. So, he is one that we will be looking at on Saturday.
JP
Is Paul Thirlwell anywhere near coming back at the weekend?
GA
No, he is probably going to join in some sort of training at the back end of next week, light, very light training. So, we will have to look and see how that settles down over that period, and then with a view to getting involved maybe a week on Monday into some sort of training. But, he has still got a bit of work to do before we see him back.
JP
And I know that you have talked about not taking your opponents on Saturday lightly, but does this seem like a good opportunity to maybe give Danny Livesey a bit of pitch time?
GA
No, Danny is going to be doing a bit more work in terms of strengthening his injury. He doesn't feel he is quite ready up to the rigours of first-team football, so we can't take any chances with him, so he will be a little bit longer.
JP
On that subject though, are you tempted to rotate your squad around a little bit and have a look at some players who perhaps have not had as much pitch time recently? The Kevan Hurst's of the world, etc.
GA
It may be something that develops in the game, listen, it is a no win situation, if we don't win and don't win well then you are criticised. We need to win the game and my priority and approach and my thought process behind any football match is picking a team I think is my best team to win a game. If we have won the game or I think it is looking OK then we might have a look at other things.
But, I think you are running a risk at this level with rotation when it is not something I don't think attaches itself to League One, it is more a Premier League thing with the massive amounts of abilities and sizes of squads. It is certainly not something I would encourage for League One, certainly not my club anyway.