United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) on Monday morning at the open training session for the media at Creighton Rugby Club, Abbott suggesting that pre-season has already started at the club :
GA
We have been here three days so I don't know where you have been, but we will go with that. But, listen, we enjoy pre-season and we have got to enjoy working hard, they know this is the physical part of the season, they know they have got to work exceptionally hard. But, we got off to a really good start last year with the training and the way we were and then the early results, so it has got to be much more of the same. They appreciate it is going to be tough, you look at what is behind them, the runs they have got to do, but to be fair they get on with it and the new lads that have come in have just said to me already that they couldn't believe how fit the boys are and in how good a shape they look, so maybe that is a good omen for the start of the season.
JP
Are you catching them out with any surprises this year? Doing anything differently from previous years?
GA
No, I don't think you need to because we did exceptionally well last year, the training was bang on, the fitness levels were perfect, the build-up in terms of the pre-season games were fine. We thought the start backed everything up so hopefully the same, little variations on the drills we do, but the majority of the distances and the times, keep it the same and hopefully the same start.
JP
After the season he has had Graham Kavanagh is undoubtedly raring to be involved in some respect, what do you see as his role this year? Is he more to be your assistant now?
GA
No, much more, I have spoken to Kav and it would be stupid of me to throw that ability to one side and forget about it. But, this job is a two, three, four, five man job at times and I need Kav. We are small in staffing areas but the boys work tremendously hard, the backroom staff work fantastically hard and I have said to Kav that we need to get on the training field together, mix the work up, share the workload. Because, there is a lot to do as a manager, there is not just the training, obviously there is the transfers, there is the press, there is all sorts of things to deal with. So, no, I need help on here and he is going to do that, but you never know, in a crisis if he is fit which he will be, if we ever need to use him we will look at that.
JP
I have just been talknig to Rory Loy and he says he is really hungry now to show everyone what he can do, get a good pre-season under his belt, that is exactly what you want from the likes of him and Paddy Madden now?
GA
Yeah, I think the obvious position that is under scrutiny is where we are going to get our goals from. Rory and Paddy were brought in, I explained how and why they were brought in and that this would probably be the big period, the pre-season and the early games and the early pre-season friendlies. So, if that is what Rory is saying and that is what he has come to do then fantastic, we will see and we will assess that situation two or three weeks into the pre-season, certainly when we have had two or three games see where we think and where we are going, amd hopefully there will be a big contribution from Rory, Paddy, Craig (Curran) and Francois (Zoko).
JP
You have talked about wanting to give them that opportunity, looking at a few friendlies to see how the strikers can perform, perhaps even into the bigger friendlies as well. If they have struggled in that period are you ready or have you got those targets ready and lined up if needed?
GA
I am looking at everybody in pre-season, I am looking at everybody, if people aren't performing then what we have to do is make sure come the start of the season that our team is in better shape and good shape to win games, so the whole team is under scrutiny right now.
JP
For those who are just coming back from their summer holidays perhaps, tell us about the players that you have brought in, how do you think they have added to and strengthened the squad?
GA
Experience, nous, toughness, they are all hardened players, they know the game, they have been at decent clubs, they have played a lot of football, a mixture of different qualities they have all got. Stephen (O'Halloran) is a really tough one, a good defender, JP (Jon-Paul McGovern) is a good footballer, Andy (Welsh) has got a bit of pace, can play wide, can stretch teams.
So, between them there is a nice lot of quality that we need to add to the squad, certainly the experience was an important one because we felt at times we were too young last year and a little bit inexperienced. But, all those players have had another year now and we think they will be even better than they were, the likes of Tom (Taiwo) and Liam Noble if we can get him back and James Berrett and people like that. If we do get them into the club then I think the future looks good, Rory and Paddy have had six months with us now, so we are optimistic that the age and the enthusiasm that brings will carry us on again next year.
JP
And with Welsh and McGovern coming in you have got that extra wide option that I think perhaps you have said yourself you lacked a bit last season, do you think that that is essential going into the new year?
GA
Yeah, I mean, we lost Ben (Marshall) in the cup final didn't we so that is where our width went, we lost the full-back (Sean McDaid) so that is where Matty (Robson) went, he went there and did ever so well for us, it was a tricky situation with bringing in a couple of loan players that didn't quite work, Tom Cruise and Miguel (Comminges), so we lost Matty really as a wide player, he did exceptionally well when he went in at full-back. So, we lost that opportunity to have width, and you need width to be able to change from the way we were playing to hurt teams that stifled us in that area, and now we have got that, we have got Matty back, we have got cover there if we think we need to push him higher up. So, the balance and the depth of the squad feels a lot better.
JP
You said going into the summer that you wanted three or four players to get the squad sorted, you haven't lost anyone too key from the squad or in general, how do you feel about that figure of three or four? Do you still think you maybe need one or two more?
GA
I am chuffed to bits at the minute, what we will do now is we will work with the players we have got, they are the players we should be talking about and then if we think we need to do something else there are always ongoing enquiries, not just now but right the way throughout the season. So, we will have a look at these guys, see how they are doing, not put too much pressure on them, but they know that they have got to perform and they know that the start is important. If we feel that we need to do something else then we will do that.
JP
And your pre-season gets underway with that sort of annual trip now to Kendal Town on Friday night, how much are you looking forward to seeing the guys back in proper action?
GA
Well, this is the tough side of it, the running work and the training work, but they will be looking forward to the game start, because when the games start the training generally gets easier. So, that can't come quick enough for them but they are always in good shape, they always do well, we are always well looked after at Kendal, a terrific little club, I have got a lot of time for Lee (Ashcroft) and the way that people take care of us down there, so it means the season has really started come Friday, because the first game for me is very important.
JP
Did you think you had left this sort of weather behind when you left the Caribbean?
GA
Erm, no, not really, I knew we would get two days, I knew we would get the two days but it is probably the toughest running they are going to do and they are already moaning. I have missed the moaning and I have not missed the weather, it is great.