United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) at today's press conference for the local media, Abbott first talking about Carlisle yesterday signing young right-back James Tavernier on loan from Newcastle United for a month :
GA
He is a specialist right-back, he has had a lot of time developing his game, he is 19, nearly 20 next month, he is ready to play we think. I know him, I know him of old, we have followed him, well followed Newcastle for a while, obviously we know what they have got and we know the people over there really well.
Some terrific referees from him in terms of what they think he can do and they think he is ready to play, so he is going to come in and add some competition and give us some cover there for the next four weeks, and then we will see how it goes. But, he is certainly going to be long-term we think he is going to be a decent player.
JP
Did you know anything about him from his time at Leeds as well then when he was a really young lad?
GA
Yeah, I mean I spoke to him, I know the family quite well and he was only about 4'6 the last time I saw him. But, a really bright kid, used to do double flip trip somersaults and all that sort of stuff, real athlete but real good appetite and energy for the game. So, I knew him really well but it is probably six or seven years since I have seen him, and he is about 6'0 now and he has filled out. He trained yesterday with us and he really looks the part, but I knew he was going to be a good player, I spoke to the people at Newcastle, John Carver and Alan (Pardew) and they said he is ready.
We did some homework from his time at Gateshead, and we get on really well with Ian (Bogie), he said he has got to play, he is ready to play league football now, so everything was right. We have seen him in the reserves and he looked very, very good, obviously League One football is different to the reserves. But, he came in yesterday, came in the door with no edge to him, no ego, ready to play football, ready to improve his game and take his own personal game to the next level, so that was pleasing.
JP
What is the latest you can tell us then on Frank Simek? A bit of a blow for him after such a good season last year and in terms of steering clear of injuries?
GA
Yeah, for somebody that we said had never had an injury and was going to play every minute of every game, he did his arm last year and now first game in he has probably got an injury that is going to take him the best part of six or seven weeks to get over, and then a bit of rehabilitation work. so it is not a good one for Frankie, and Frankie at his best, when he is fit and at his best is a very, very good player. So, he is going to be missed, we have got to make sure.......... On Tuesday night Tom (Taiwo) came in and did a great job, hopefully James is going to come in and we have a look at what he can do and then we will see who we pick. It is a big act to follow but let's see what the lads are made of.
JP
Something I forgot in the excitement of the penalty shootout getting through in the League Cup in the week was five substitutes, was that a mistake or was that something you did for a reason?
GA
I wouldn't like to think that I didn't know that we were allowed to have seven substitutes really. We had five substitutes, that is all we had, that is all we had left, fit bodies, the rest we didn't want to put the kids in and just sit them on the bench knowing they weren't going to play. We had the five available and that was it, we went with five substitutes and that is all we had left. That is a wafer thin squad for you, so something that I am speaking to John (Nixon) about at the minute and hence the reason for James coming and maybe somebody else if injuries do suffice. But, no, I did actually know that there were seven substitutes.
JP
You have changed the formation twice in the starting two games of the season, might you consider starting with the more regular 4-4-2 in the next game or do you think it was more down to the mentality of the players?
GA
I always consider everything before I pick a team and select a formation. I always consider all the options of what we have got, players available and the type of opposition we are likely to play, and Saturday will be no different.
JP
Andy Welsh has impressed in both the little bits of the cameos he has had off the bench, not perhaps quite cameos, what have you made of him and is he playing his way into your thinking for a starting spot now?
GA
I think Andy is going to be a good signing, I spoke to him yesterday and I think he has done everything right, he is going to be a really good signing. So is Stephen O'Halloran, they are going to be very good signings, same as Liam (Noble) and when we get the whole thing going properly I think you are going to see some really good players at the club, and I think Andy is going to be one of them.
JP
In terms of the draw for the League Cup, West Ham or Aldershot Town, not a great draw, another long trip for you, another Tuesday night?
GA
Yeah, I mean, that again, it will take care of itself when it comes around, they have still got their game to play. At the minute we are talking about Saturday, we are talking about Bury, it is the only thing that I am focused on and we need to go there and get a good result to get our league programme off the ground, and hopefully run the League Cup as a bonus to what we are doing. But, it is all important, it is all the thoughts at the minute are on Bury.
JP
And you have made the move in the loan market with the signing of Tavernier from Newcastle, one or two fans still asking if with Paddy Madden out you are still looking at that option and if there is any development there?
GA
Yeah, and we give the same answer, we are always looking to improve the squad and if we can do it we will do it. It is not that we just sit back and think well, that is OK, we will start the season now, we are alright. Even with or without Paddy's situation if we thought there was somebody there that would improve us in any position we would try to find it and I would try to convince John to let me have the money to do it, and that is the ongoing case.