United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) at Friday morning's press conference for the local media, Abbott first talking about the signing today of Chris Chantler on an 18-month deal :
GA
He is one where he has been with us for a while, he is one where Manchester City have made it happen for us, they have given us a big help with it. He is one we think is a little bit further down the line, we hope he can develop and find his way, he deserves an opportunity in football, he is a really good player, he has just got to deal with the physicality side of the game.
But, he is certainly one that comes with hope that he can break into our team, we think a lot of him, good footballer, on the smaller side but that is not an issue and he is going to deal with that because his ability will get beyond that. But, he is one that hopefully further down the line we will see him breaking through and being a big help. He is a left-sider as well which gives us a lot of versatility and he can play anywhere down the left-hand side, so we feel it is a really good one to do just at the moment.
JP
An 18-month deal so he is wrapped up until the end of next season, is that exactly with that in mind with a view to giving him the opportunity to have a bit of time to find his feet?
GA
Yeah, that is it, I mean sometimes people come in and you think they have got to go straight into the team, he is not one to go straight in the team but he will be battling away to do that, and the quicker the better for him on a personal note. But, we want him to have that time to develop and find his feet and we think he is a good footballer and he will develop into an even better one, so he is one that with the help of Manchester City we have made it happen and we look forward to seeing him breaking through.
JP
It is starting to get very important isn't it, these relationships you have got with clubs, the likes of Manchester City to develop these opportunities for you?
GA
Yeah, I mean we have to sort of go to all different avenues we can and find out where we can and people have to like what we are doing and respect what we are doing, and then you have got a good chance of builiding up these relationships. At the moment with David Platt and Manchester City, he likes the way we do things, he is happy with the way we have dealt with their players when they have come here.
They have got a lot of players and they are building big things there, and they are bringing in fantastically talented players, so obviously with that there are others at the other end that are going to become available, and we want to be in the queue to be able to have a look at them. Because, there will be some talent that they think is not going to make their first team that makes careers and that is what we need to be working with, and Chris is one of those, and there will be a few others in that boat as well.
JP
You were hopeful of maybe getting a forward option in the weekend, hopeful you said that you had a couple of enquiries, anything come of that at this stage?
GA
Yeah, I mean we have got to be patient, I don't want to dull your enthusiasm for it but they will happen when they happen. We are not going to be railroaded into getting one that isn't the right type and the right person and the right quality, and they take time. At the minute we are hopeful of maybe bringing one in to bolster that area of the pitch, but at the minute nothing is immiment but that might even change this afternoon, that is ridiculous how quick these things happen.
But, I am not saying it will, but we are hopeful by the end of the window we can maybe give that area a little bit of a boost and we will see how that goes. But, set timespans is often a little bit difficult because you never know the situation at his own club and his individual situation. We will just wait and see and hopefully something might develop.
JP
What is the latest on Liam Noble? Has he spoken to Sunderland? Have you heard anything back from them at this stage?
GA
No, Liam hasn't, obviously Martin (O'Neill) will have a priority list of what he needs to be dealing with and as and when he has spoken to Liam he can speak to me and I can then pass on what the outcome is. But, at the minute I have not heard back from Sunderland and I am not going to be over-pushy because there is an etiquette to doing it and we are working closely with somebody at Sunderland to tell us when to move and that is still the case.
JP
If Liam Noble doesn't happen for whatever reason, if he goes elsewhere or if Sunderland decide they want to have a longer look at him, is that an area where you will want to maybe bring an extra option in in there if the opportunity arises?
GA
Yeah, I mean I don't want to dwell too much on talking about incomings and outgoings, we have got an important game tomorrow and I think that is where the focus is on a Friday. All that will develop and happen and my key statement is that hopefully by the end of the window we are at least as strong as we were when we started, and that still remains the case.
JP
What about Stephen O'Halloran? How far is he off being back available for you because you are a little bit short of extra bodies at the back if you were to get any more injuries at the moment?
GA
He was out on the grass today training, so we have got him, Andy Welsh back in training and Craig Curran possibly by the end of next week back in training. So, on that score our own bodies are fighting their way back to fitness, so we have got some more cover there.
JP
Has there been any interest in your players?
GA
No.
JP
Not at this stage?
GA
No.
JP
And a tough game against Leyton Orient tomorrow where a draw or better would see you in the play-offs?
GA
It is a difficult one to start boosting up, the games are all important, we think all the games are important and we are trying to get as many points together as possible to be in the mix right at the end of the season. Tomorrow would be fantastic to go into the top six but it wouldn't be the be-all and end-all, Stevenage got into the top six and lost their first game there so it happens.
We are just trying to win as many games as we can and play the type of football that we are at the moment. I think the optimism in the town has been lifted, the big crowd has seen us play particularly well and get a particularly good result. We have had difficult games of late, this one, they have beaten Charlton and Stevenage, two top six teams in their last two games so it won't be any easier. So, we are fighting every week and taking it all as low key as we can to just win as many games as possible and put us in that top part of the table, which is what everybody is striving for.
JP
What sort of match do you think the fans can expect from Leyton Orient?
GA
Erm, probably one where we will need the crowd even more, the Sheffield United fixture takes care of itself but the way Leyton Orient set up against Stevenage was pretty defensive, men behind the ball, and I think patience is required tomorrow.
An early goal would be fantastic and we have been coming out of the blocks at a fantastic rate of knots just lately, I think that will be the key, that we don't lose our patience and don't chase something if Leyton Orient do play in a similar way that I think they might. But, it is certainly one where we need the crowd to be patient with us and be as supportive as they have been over the last few weeks. I think bit by bit they are getting more excited and we will probably need that patience and excitement tomorrow.
JP
You have been talking in recent matches, in particular after the (Sheffield) United game as well about how you have been trying to attack teams and go for it and bring that exciting brand of football. Is that something that you are intending to keep on going?
GA
I don't think that the team knows any different, with the type of players we have got available and the type of squad we have got at the minute, we have got some really good attacking players and we have got some people who want to go forward. But, we have got to attack with an amount of insurance in terms of not leaving too many gaps, Leyton Orient are a really good counter-attack team so the more we attack the more we play into their hands. So, it is one of them, we have got to attack with a purpose but we have got to make sure we have got a gameplan behind that if we lose the ball.
We are trying to play attacking, purposeful football which is always going to leave gaps at the back, but does everybody want us to play a dour and negative style of play in which we look for an odd 1-0 victory, and if you don't get that then it is a dour 0-0 draw and we are losing the fans that have come to see the excitement that was created at Preston and at Huddersfield and against Wycombe and against Brentford, and then against Sheffield United.
So, as a manager you can never win, if you are going to go with an attacking style you are obviously going to have flaws defensively. If you are going to play defensive football then you are going to have flaws in terms of scoring goals. So, I think where we are at the minute everybody seems quite excited, so we will maybe stick to that for a little bit longer and see how we go. We are getting some decent results with it so I think that is the key.