United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Paul Newton (PN) on Friday afternoon ahead of Carlisle's League One fixture away to Walsall, Abbott saying every game has its own problems and issues :
GA
There don't seem to be any easy games at the moment, every one has got its own problems and its own issues. But, certainly winning the game last week and looking at the table and seeing yourself within reaching distance of the top few, it has got to give you every confidence to go and compete and try to get a result that sees you right in the top part of the table.
PN
Yeah, while you were undergoing that run of five defeats out of six were you always confident you could turn things around?
GA
Well, you always are within your own club, if we aren't confident then nobody else can be. But, most teams in this league go through those periods, we were unfortunate, we were having a good spell right at the start where we won a few games and didn't get beat, and then we had a spell where we were winning away and not at home. So, your home fans haven't really seen the best of you and that makes life a bit complicated for you.
But, we have got through that, we are still in a reasonable position in the league if we can put a good run together, and to be fair confidence and optimism within the group has always remained high. We are a pretty good group together and we have had to battle really hard last week to get that result, and I think that has given us every confidence going into tomorrow's game to see if we can put another little run together.
PN
What is the situation with Lee Miller tonight?
GA
Yeah, I mean it is not good, it is pretty much likely he is not going to be able to play for us tomorrow. But, we did without him last week, he is a miss because of his impact, his five goals he has scored very, very quickly. But, we will have a look at that tomorrow and see where it is and then we will make a decision from there.
PN
And your other injured players, how close are we to seeing a possible return for the likes of Frank Simek and Paddy Madden?
GA
Erm, not imminent to be honest, Paddy is probably another good three weeks, the bone has got to heal with Paddy so you can't rush that one. Frankie is probably a little bit ahead of schedule so he is looking like getting back quicker than the two of them to be honest.
PN
A quick word about your trialist Alex Fisher who has been with the club for a few weeks now, you have decided to release him, what is the situation there?
GA
Yeah, I mean we have got five in now, five strikers, and anybody that comes in as a striker has to come in better than them and ready to go straight in the team, and Alex isn't ready for that. It was one with the situation we are in financially we have to look at these types of players but he is not ready to go straight in the first team and that was that really, it was an easier decision to make. But, Alex has done ever so well in the time he was here but we need people ready to go into the team now.
PN
Is there any scope for you at the moment to go out and use the loan market while you have got players out injured?
GA
Erm, well I think we have got plenty of bodies at the moment, there is no problem with that, and we have got cover in most areas at the moment. So, I think the likelihood of that happening would be not very good, not very high, unless somebody came in for one of ours. At the minute we have plenty of bodies for positions at the moment.
PN
You introduced the 3-5-2 formation for the first time this season against Stevenage in that win last weekend, is that also in your thinking for tomorrow?
GA
Yeah, I think what we have got to do is we have got to look at our personnel available and the way the opposition plays, and select a formation to suit. So, it worked well in terms of defensively, to be fair defensively it was fantastic because they never got a shot on goal in the whole of the game. It will restrict us as an attacking force at times but it does allow the two full-backs to get forward.
I think to be honest, whatever system you play, if your team is full of confidence then systems are a secondary cause. But, I think the key to us is getting some results, getting that confidence and that belief throughout the town as high as possible and then you will find that the systems whatever you play will work because the players are going into games with much more confidence, and that is what we are aiming for right now.
PN
And a quick word about Lubo Michalik, called up to the Slovakia squad for the third time this season, great for the player but of course it presents you with an ongoing problem in so far as he is going to be missing another game?
GA
Yeah, I mean you don't know whether to cheer or feel sorry for yourself. I mean we feel that we have played a part with Lubo in terms of getting him playing regular football and getting a smile on his face, and he has been a very good performer for us. Then the rewards are that he benefits, his country benefits and we suffer to an extent. But, it is fantastic for the PR, for the club, it puts us on the map a little bit and shows that people that come to our club can move their career forward. He was at Leeds going nowhere, he has come to Carlisle and he is back on the international scene, so that I think speaks wonders for the club and the job the club has done for Lubo.