United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) at Thursday's press conference for the local media, Abbott first talking about the fact that Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's loan spell at Darlington ends after the Quakers face Crawley Town at home on Saturday afternoon :
Blues boss Greg Abbott
GA
They are keen for him to extend, so I am going to speak to Bridgey at length and see what his thoughts are and I will move on from there.
JP
The words that we got from Mark Cooper this morning on BBC Radio Cumbria was that he was going to lock Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in the dressing room to keep him at Darlington. How have you heard about how he has got on down there?
GA
Because, I speak to Bridgey every week and I am delighted that he has got some football and he is doing alright, and I have got a good relationship with Mark (Cooper). They have had a good upturn of results since Bridgey has been there, and I think they quite like him and he has been good around the place and he is getting his games, which is what we wanted. So, it is a win-win situation.
So, I will speak to Bridgey today and see what his thoughts are, I spoke to him at the weekend but didn't really talk about the extension. We talked about just how the games were going, so I will discuss it with him today and then I will speak to Mark and then we will move on from there.
JP
What have you heard then about how Jason Price has been getting on? Has he been getting the football you have been hoping for?
GA
Jason has been a revelation in Bradford on and off the pitch I think. He is certainly one that takes no mistaking. He is just a good guy isn't he, he has gone, he is getting his football, he has done well on the pitch and I think he has been brilliant around the dressing room.
He has given them a bit of experience in the dressing room, so again, another win-win one. He is enjoying himself, they are enjoying having him there and we are liking the fact that he is getting regular football.
JP
Is he coming back to a level where he might able to be used by Carlisle, or would you be thinking, because I think he has got another week on his loan, would you be thinking about giving him a bit more time at Bradford?
GA
Erm, probably as we speak right now sitting here today we are OK in that position. We have got a situation where Mike Grella's loan ends as well, so it would depend on if Leeds were going to allow us to extend that and Mike wanted to extend as to whether we could do the same with Jason.
But, at the minute Mike is doing well for us, Jason is doing well for them, I think as we are sitting here right now today if both parties were in agreement then that might be something that may be continued.
JP
Sheffield Wednesday joined Huddersfield and Tranmere and yourselves in the northern semi-final of the JPT last night. I don't suppose I really have to ask you who you prefer in that semi-final?
GA
I am not really bothered to be honest, I really don't believe that any one game will be easier than the other. Because, you might play against the likes of Huddersfield or Sheffield Wednesday who have one eye on the league and not take it quite as seriously as Tranmere who would think it is an absolute god-send for them to try to make some money.
So, you might find that is the toughest game. Games never plan out how you think, so for me I haven't got one favourite rather than another. I just hope we get a home draw and we give a good account of ourselves and can progress in the competition.
JP
It is all League One teams in that semi-final, that does show though that the teams in this division are taking it a bit more seriously this year?
GA
Well, I think the finance side of the situation is important, and I think that teams are realising that it is a way of getting extra revenue. Certainly it looks like in the northern half, the better teams in the northern half are the teams at the top of League One, and that is Huddersfield, ourselves and Sheffield Wednesday. So, yeah, we have made no secret about how serious we take it and obviously others are following that suit.
JP
Any more considered reflections from yourself on how you got through against Crewe on Tuesday?
GA
No, it was terrific, they are difficult games, we were beaten by Crewe in an FA Cup tie here a couple of years ago, and comfortably beaten as well. I thought we were comfortable on Tuesday and it just shows that we are getting bodies back to strength.
There is a lot of confidence going through the team and winning breeds that type of confidence. We have scored some goals recently and we have given some good home performances and I think that is now four unbeaten as well. Which again is a nice statistic and one we want to keep building on.
JP
And a big game at home in Southampton on Saturday?
GA
For me this is the strongest squad in the league and I think it is one that takes not a great deal of build-up work from our side. We will do our preparation and we will do our homework on Southampton obviously, but I think that everybody when they go on the pitch will be ready to take on what they consider probably the biggest club in this division.
JP
Do you think they are as strong or stronger than the squad that beat you at Wembley last year?
GA
They are stronger, without a doubt they are stronger, but, we are stronger as well we think. We are certainly in a better position right now to take them on than we were leading up to the cup final, with the injuries and the problems we had at that time. So, let's hope, but that is gone now and it is a new one and we are in a good and better position. The whole of the club is in a better position right now.
JP
Do you think the age of their back line, certain players in their back line, particularly (Radhi) Jaidi, is something that you can exploit with the fast young players that you have got up there at the moment?
GA
I think there are areas where we can get at Southampton for sure. I was looking at the age group of our team the other night, it is scary how young they are, it is certainly one of the youngest teams or youngest groups I have worked with.
But, we are getting a great deal of an amount of energy and a great deal of amount of honesty. I think the crowd are buying into them as well, they are seeing some freshness and some enthusiasm and they are progressing nicely. We think we can cause Southampton problems, that's for certain.
JP
One of the key battlegrounds for fans is going to be with whoever has to pick up Rickie Lambert, and a big talking point for you and a big talking point amongst the fans is exactly who will line up against him. Have you got that straight in your mind at the moment or is there still time for you to think about who you think will be in the central two for you?
GA
No, I have made my mind up already.
JP
Can you tell us?
GA
No.
JP
Thought not, the fans do seem absolutely adamant though that Lubomir Michalik has to be one of those two given the height advantage that that big man (Rickie) Lambert has. Can you at least tell us whether he is in there?
GA
No.
JP
Absolutely fine, in terms of more than just the match itself at the weekend. You have put out a few statements this year in terms of what Carlisle are about, what about this one? If you could get something out of Southampton beyond beating them and picking up another three points it would send a few shockwaves down the division about Carlisle wouldn't it?
GA
No, I think the shockwaves have already gone down to be honest. Everybody is giving us a great deal of respect right now, but I think taking on the best and beating the best just gives people reminders. We are OK just where we are at the minute, the performances have been very, very good.
We had that little three or four game period when we were a little bit unsettled and unbalanced with the injuries that we had to the wrong players at the wrong time. But, we seem to have got through that little period, we are still not quite there in terms of the strength of the squad.
But, we feel that if we get everybody back, and that includes the likes of Paul Thirwell and Danny Livesey as such, we are a decent team, a decent squad and we are a match for most clubs in this league, certainly at home.
JP
And how do you handle and manage that squad ahead of these bigger games like this?
GA
What do you mean how do I handle them?
JP
How do you prepare them? Do you have to do anything different for a game like this? Do you have to calm down nerves etc. or keep them on the ground, what do you have to do?
GA
Young players don't have nerves, that is the thing I worry about, they just go out there and play. No, they are a really, really easy group to work with, they will manage themselves in terms of Southampton on Saturday. Because, they know the level of the game it is and the type of club they are up against.
I think they will be keen to see if they can compete against a club that has had such success over the last few years. But, they certainly don't need managing in that sense where they need to be told anything different to what they are already doing against a club like Southampton.
JP
Are we still expecting Livesey and Thirlwell to be unavailable for the weekend?
GA
Yeah.
JP
And is anyone else carrying any knocks etc. that might rule them out?
GA
No, apart from that we are getting there in terms of injuries, we have got a decent squad to work with at the minute.
JP
And hoping for a good attendance tomorrow?
GA
I am certainly not going to appeal to the fans to come in, because I know how difficult financial circumstances are. But, they know how much we value their support and I think how good their support has been.
They have been so patient, they have been right behind us, the grumblings are getting less, the cheers are getting louder. Hopefully on Saturday we can reward them and a big crowd by getting a really good result for them.
Meanwhile Darlington boss Mark Cooper commented on Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's loan spell at The Northern Echo Arena :
" We are going to lock him in the changing room after the game on Saturday and make sure he doesn't go back. We are going to try to do everything we can. It will be difficult because I am sure there will be other teams that want him, and he will probably want to go back, well he might want to go back and see if he can get in Carlisle's team, they are going well.
" I know he has thoroughly enjoyed his time here, he has been made very welcome by the staff, by the supporters and everyone around the club. So, hopefully we have done enough to persuade him that it will be good for him to stay for a little while longer. "