United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Paul Newton (PN) at Thursday afternoon's press conference for the local media, Abbott first talking about Carlisle being in a League One play-off spot :
GA
Everybody in football is staggered, everybody in football, football people and professional people are staggered with what we have achieved with the way we have had to run the club. Everybody knows the way we have had to run the club, people talk within football, everybody knows what we are all about, what we have to spend, and people outside of football actually don't understand fully the implications of what goes on behind the scenes and we how we have to manage our resources to maximums.
Listen, we have been in situations where we have had players on the opposition on as much as ten times as much as our players. But, we have got hearts ten times the size of anybody's I think and we have got a togetherness ten times the size of anybody's. So, you find that tallying itself, but without that and that togetherness then we wouldn't be sitting here.
I do think that not having a cup run with the resources we had has been a big factor, we wouldn't have been able to manage the amount of games and have success on both fronts, just absolutely not a big enough squad, not enough depth to our squad to manage the two things. You have seen Chesterfield this season, you have seen possibly Stevenage this season with their cup run, you saw (Leyton) Orient last season with their cup run dwindle off.
These types of clubs, we just can't....... Your Sheffield Uniteds and your Sheffield Wednesdays actually chose to opt out of these competitions early on in the piece because they knew, and they have got massive resources and massive squads, and you have seen the turnover in players that those teams have. But, we went with Wembley, we went with the league as well, we just couldn't quite do both because of personnel problems and depth.
But, this season, not because we wanted to be out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy or the FA Cup or the League Cup, it just happened. But, our league form and our league performances have kept to a very good level. Nine defeats in 38, bordering absolutely amazing, nine defeats in 38 is absolutely fantastic and I believe that that will be the stat that might take us into the top six.
But, you get on a run and a momentum and they are the teams that do well at the end of the season, the teams with a momentum behind them, and we have got that right now. That is why it is important game by game that we get the fans, whatever happens on Saturday if we go a goal down, we are going to need the fans more and more because if we can keep this run and this momentum going to three or four games to go then we are almost there, alive, screaming and kicking.
So, that is what we need to do is to sort of appeal to everybody to come with us, because we will have a disappointment between now and the end of the season. I will guarantee that there will be a disappointing performance, there will be something that goes against us. But, it is vital that everybody sticks together like we have done, and comes along with it, and doesn't just go off and say well, I told you so, we knew we couldn't this, we knew we couldn't that.
Because, at the minute we think we can, we actually think we can and we believe we can and we want everyone to believe you can, and then you get people thinking we believe and everybody believing. It makes you a bit stronger, that is what happens. So, that is what we are as a club and that is what we are as a town, and like I have said before, it is the town's football club and not mine and we need to keep that going.
PN
Not for the first time this season Jordan Cook came off the bench and helped change the course of the game on Tuesday night, has he given you a selection poser?
GA
Yeah, I mean we have talked about this all season, we need selection posers all the time and it is nice when I have got that. Because, I look back three or four games ago and we had one or two injuries and a bit of a suspension and Jordan gone back, we didn't have that. Now, I think we are going to have Matty Robson back possibly by the end of next week, we have got Paul Thirlwell back in full training, Jordan back from his Sunderland thing and Paddy (Madden) chomping at the bit.
So, we have got a big and good squad now in terms of options and selection problems and I thought Andy Welsh came off the bench and did a terrific job as he has done this season at times. So, I need pressure on players without people worrying about fear of underperforming otherwise they lose their place. But, we need a squad that is challenging each other.
PN
I guess finishing in the top six will make it easier perhaps for you to persuade some of those out of contract players that their immediate future lies with the club?
GA
Yeah, I mean I think over the past two or three years we have attracted players because of the type of club we are and the way we have played football. You know, things always get easier with success and if we can get in the top six, attracting players to stay would be easier, attracting players from clubs that we think are on a level footing will be easier because they will see us as a better club now and the whole situation becomes a lot easier. But, we have worked very, very hard to get into this position.
PN
Is there anything to report on that front at this stage?
GA
Nah, there isn't really because at this particular point we don't know where we are going to be now, it becomes a whole lot more different. I think March's results have actually convinced people that we are in with a good squeak of getting in the six. So, if you are in the six then you are in with a chance, so things sort of get a little bit more complicated.
So, we have sort of put it on hold, we have spoken to the players to say that this is the reason, they understand completely, and to be honest, the better they do the more options and choices they have got anyway. So, everybody has to be performing, myself included, you have to perform and everything is a bit easier and a bit less complicated at the end.
PN
And you would hope and certainly think your team deserves to have one of the biggest crowds of the season for Huddersfield on Saturday, you will be hoping some of the missing hundreds or thousands do return?
GA
Yeah, I think at last we have convinced people that we are a club worth watching. You will always get moans and groans at every club, every club has people that say we are not this and we are not that, we don't do this and we are not going to win that. But, I think over the season we have turned a few heads and we are turning corners in terms of the attendances and I think probably Saturday, because I think Huddersfield will bring a good following, it is a fantastic day, the weather has been great, it is a Saturday afternoon.
I would be disappointed if we didn't hit 8,500/9,000, I really would be. I think the atmosphere against Preston was sensational, if we can try to create that again then the fans can go away and say that it doesn't matter that they have not been for three parts of the season, they have played my part. I appreciate that, it is up to us sometimes to change people's heads and minds and mindsets and get them back watching football.
PN
And a tough opposition to play?
GA
Saturday will be like a cup final because they are coming desperate, absolutely desperate for points let me tell you. They have to get into the top two or go up through the play-offs because of the financial situation they have put themselves in. We have managed ourselves and we have coped with what we have had given, we have spent it wisely and we are in a fantastic position for that. But, now we have got our own ambition and our own dream and we need to take that forward into Saturday, so Tuesday night sort of set us up absolutely fantastic for it.
And it has been a good March really because I remember sitting with Eric (Kinder) at half past eight when we come in, Eric comes in early to do his youth stuff. He said that March was a hell of a tough month and I said that I knew but let's face it if we get through March unscathed then we have got a fighting chance so what do you reckon.
It is easier said than done, we have got eight games, some terrifically tough games, but we are sitting here now with one game to go I think with three wins and three draws, we lost the first one didn't we, Notts County away. I think that is more than unscathed so here we are now on the 31st of March, the Saturday, looking at Huddersfield at home with a real good standing and a real good month behind us.
We know how difficult April is going to be for a different reason, not the opposition for us but the fact that now we might have just worked our way into favourites to take that last spot and everybody is charging against us looking to break us down. So, we can't be too sort of disappointed with what has gone on and where we are, we need to be optimistic and look forward and see where the next month takes us, but it is going to be a tight one I know that.
PN
We are almost into the dreaded manager of the month territory now you know?
GA
I am not even interested to be honest, it absolutely.................. I am superstitious to be honest and that does ring with disappointment straight after, so I can't afford to have two or three losses to gloat over getting that award, or the club getting that award I should say, so let's just put that to one side, I hope Dave Jones gets it or I hope Ronnie Moore gets it or anybody else gets it bar me.
PN
Given the stage of the season and the position you are in at the moment would you have had any preference in terms of what kind of opposition you would face? Do you prefer facing a side like Huddersfield and would that be more preferable than maybe facing a Wycombe or a Walsall?
GA
Erm, absolutely not, I think Wycombe could be our hardest game left away from home at Wycombe, it could be our hardest game left. You are probably looking at the next six games as the determining factors, because I think the final two games in Exeter and Oldham, you couldn't wish for two better ones on paper and it doesn't ever work out like that otherwise we would be millionaires on the fixed odds coupon. But, Exeter, their fate could be sealed by then, possibly, possibly, if they dont get the points and that makes that one a bit better.
Oldham don't look like they are going to go down, they don't look like they are anywhere near the relegation, they don't look like they are probably going to get into the play-offs so their season might be looking over. So, they might, and I use that word might in massive big black bold letters might be easier rather than facing let's say Charlton away and Huddersfield at home who are desperate for points to win the Championship.
But, you never really can tell and we would be foolish to think any game would be easier than the other, but it is not a great run in and it is not a disastrous run in. It is one that you would expect at this state, a bit of the best to play and a bit of the worst to play in terms of the table, no disrespect to anybody there, and we fight everybody with the same determination that we would the top clubs.