United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) this evening ahead of Carlisle's pre-season friendly at Kendal, Abbott seemingly needing to take up pilates:
JP
Such are the dimensions of the press box I have actually got Greg borderline doing gymnastics to get to the microphone here, so thanks for joining us, pre-season just about to get underway in terms of on the pitch, how excited is everyone?
GA
Well, it looks like I need to be a bit more supple than I am anyway at the minute, because I am bent in two here and not very comfortable. But, no, it is a good fixture this one, I have a lot of time for Lee (Ashcroft) and the people at Kendal, it is part of Cumbria, I think we are well supported down here, it is a lovely start for us, we always get a really competitive game and are always well looked after. It is the start of the season basically, players have now got to give us the ammunition to provide themselves a chance of playing in the first game of the season, which is what it is all about.
JP
Our Kendal commentator Garry Woodworth has pointed out that in seasons gone by with the rain that we have got here this game might have been off, but they have relaid the turf, there is a bit of moisture on it so it should be a very zippy affair for your players to get their teeth into?
GA
Yeah, I was just speaking to Lee before the game, they have spent a few quid which is testimony to them and the progression they are making, you can see by the way it has all been painted out, it looks fantastic. The ground at this level is superb, the pitch looks in great nick, we have had a hell of a lot of rain today, unbelievable for early July, you would expect maybe sometimes a little bit better. But, it is the usual, I think it poured it down last year when we came.
JP
Did you ever play against Lee as a player? Lee Ashcroft?
GA
Yeah, he is not a bad player by the way, very, very good player.
JP
Not at all is he, and he still very much works with the strikers here and he will have them being a pain in the proverbials for your defenders tonight?
GA
Yeah, that is what we want, we want this team to put our lads under pressure. I think the first friendly we played Lee actually turned out and was a pain in the backside like he was as a full time player. But, listen, he looks forward to this, he will be keen that his players perform, they will be keen to show what they can do against full-time professionals and it is always a tough first game for us.
JP
There have been a broad spectrum of results between the two sides in this friendly, which has become a regular fixture now, a 9-1 a few years ago but more recently a lot closer, and I guess that is what you will be after?
GA
Yeah, a 9-1 doesn't really help us, close games do help us, a big test does help us, but it is the one, we start off at this sort of level and then we increase the standard of the teams, or the levels of the teams we play against. But, it would be nice if they can give us a really tough test and it is a close game, but it would be nice to get some good football under our belt to start and get a nice fitness hit and obviously score a few goals.
JP
No doubt you were well aware of the qualities of Francois Zoko when you came here last year but for the fans they saw him put away a very tidy stabbed finish in this fixture last year, you will be hoping for a bit more of that from your forwards tonight then?
GA
Yeah, we want all areas of our team to do what they have to do, from the goalkeeper right through the team. We want to defend properly, we want to pass the ball well in the middle of the park and then we want to create and finish chances at the top end of the field, I think that is an important part of your pre-season programme.
JP
And two sets of teams essentially, a half and a half, will you be looking for those players to go relatively full tilt for their 45 minutes?
GA
Yeah, listen, we don't want any injuries but we want people to get a good workout, the reason we do 45 minutes is it is part of the programme, they have only been training ten, well nine days. This is part of the work we do, we do 45 here and the same probably against Gateshead and then we start upping the 70s and the 20s and people start then putting their claims forward. But, what we want is a good workout, no injuries and a good performance.
JP
And the two Danish trialists (Michael Brodersen and Lasse Merring-Mikkelsen) are going to be involved tonight I gather.
GA
That's right, yeah, they are both going to play at least 45 minutes and we will see how they get on.