United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) at Tuesday afternoon's press conference for the local media, Abbott in the second and final part of a lengthy interview first talking about the importance of scoring the first goal in a game:
GA
I don’t think we have lost a game this season when we have scored first, it is an incredible situation. So, an easy answer and easy solution to winning is go out and get the first goal. I know that might sound a bit blasé but we have to work hard. Against Brentford we won the game because we didn’t concede when they had a really powerful opening to the game, and our goal changed the whole tune of the afternoon.
That is what has happened against us at Leyton Orient, they have got the first goal, probably when the game was very much even-steven, and then we concede a mighty killer blow on the stroke of half-time. They are the thing that turn and change football games, maybe we think we should have come out of that game with something, like we did at Notts County.
But, the goal, if we had got the goal against Notts County you wouldn’t be putting me under so much pressure after the game in terms of the result, not pressure, but in terms of the result because we could quite easily have won that 1-0 ourselves. But, the margins are so delicate, we made probably three mistakes for the goals and a bad decision where we think it is a handball for the goal as well. So, they are the things that actually kill you as managers and kill your team for making progress.
JP
Another thing from the weekend, the Football League Show unfortunately didn’t show the handball outside the area from Mark Gillespie, have you had the chance to review that? Was it a handball, we didn’t think it was in commentary but we only get the one view?
GA
Well, I would have had two views but Russell Slade in his wisdom sent us a DVD with absolutely nothing on it. So, he is working on that and to be honest it doesn’t matter, it is done and dusted, it doesn’t really matter does it. If it was a handball outside the box he should have got a red card, so then we think it is a back-pass, I actually don’t think the officials knew what they were doing.
Then they obviously proved that by not sending him off and telling us it was handball, because it definitely wasn’t a back-pass because it was one of Danny Livesey’s favourites where he is looking one way and it goes the other way. So, you will have to ask other people about the decision, but does it matter now, it is absolutely irrelevant.
JP
Well, I suppose it matters in the fact that you don’t have Mark Gillespie for a game?
GA
Well, it doesn’t because we can’t do anything about it, it has happened. It is not something we are going to be able to change so we have to just get on with it. It has gone, it is done, it is one of those little incidences in the game that I say fine margins, another day he could have not even blown his whistle and said it wasn’t a back-pass, it was inside the box and just play on, hence he doesn’t get sent off. There are loads of ifs and buts around football, that is why it is a fantastic game to watch and be part of in whatever shape or form we are. But, can we do anything about it, there is no point harping on about it because it has gone.
JP
How ready is Adam Collin after so long out of the first team? Are you confident that he is ready for that step back up?
GA
I hope so, looking at his first two kicks it looked like he was a bit ring rusty. But, I have told when we get a kick to go forward not to try to kick it out for a corner against us. But, again mistakes happen, can I take the blame for that as well? I don’t think so. It was one of those, he was put under pressure and he was straight on, picks the ball out of the net first time.
I think he will be OK, he has played 200 games on the bounce before for us hasn’t he not so long ago so I think Adam might have a point to prove. We might just see him stand up to the task and prove that he is good enough to be number one. That is a good situation.
JP
I was going to say, it is a great opportunity for him isn’t it because Mark Gillespie clearly has bags full of talent, but Adam Collin will still want that jersey long term?
GA
Yeah, I would think everybody wants jerseys, that is not just goalkeepers, that is outfield players alike. Everybody wants jerseys.
JP
Why do you think Yeovil have managed to do so well? Why do you think they are so high given the size of the club etc.?
GA
Well, they have had three seasons where they have been in the relegation mire haven’t they and they are having their season similar to Tranmere where things have gone right. They have got players in that has worked for the club, they have got a momentum and they have got a confidence and they are rolling. The key for Yeovil will be to do it for five or six seasons on the trot and then we will be talking about a really successful outfit.
I would anticipate that next season will be much, much harder for them when people are aware that they have had a good season and their expectancy levels will be to do exactly the same again. That will be where Gary Johnson absolutely earns his corn, but teams like Yeovil, like ourselves, like Tranmere have all had outstanding seasons, the key is sustaining it and doing it over another four or five seasons, which to be fair we have actually done.
We are having a season where we have just dropped below those levels and the expectancy has hurt us, so the key is can you do it next year. But, we have all had our seasons, Yeovil, Carlisle, Tranmere, all of us have been in that situation in the past.
JP
How crucial do you think the appointment of Gary Johnson has been for them, because they have seemed to have a lot of potential for a couple of years but it really seems to have all come together this season?
GA
Well, again, they are a club that maybe does a lot of other teams’s hard work in terms of developing players, getting them playing really, really well, then other clubs take them away and they buy them and the money they get for that player gets lost in the structure of the club and the development of the club and the chance to keep the club moving forward. So, then you don’t always get the money back that you need to replace the player with the same like-for-like.
But, they have done what they have done this season very, very well and they are one of the success stories and Gary has had a successful appointment there. His job next year might be a little bit more difficult because he knows he will be expected to do better if not than he has this season. Where he will end up I have no idea, but the expectancy levels will have gone up.
JP
And his son Lee has just been appointed the manager at Oldham?
GA
Wonderful, probably a big surprise to people outside of Oldham and outside of the family. But, he has obviously impressed the people at Oldham to get the post, and there were 100 and odd applicants, so there is something in it that he must have come across very well and they must believe in what he is doing. As an opportunity at 31 it is absolutely fantastic, and to be fair he has got somebody he can go first hand to how will give him the advice and help I would think he will need if things get tricky, and he couldn’t get into a more difficult situation than he is walking into at Oldham in his first job.
JP
Does it sometimes surprise you people who become managers, or as a manager do you see players and think they have got something in them and they could actually do that job maybe?
GA
He will find out soon, don’t you worry about that if he thinks it is easy. He will be onto his Dad already I can tell you, I will assure you of that, he will only have done one day’s training but he will be ringing his Dad tonight for sure.
JP
Back with Yeovil and his Dad, what is your plan for Paddy Madden?
GA
I have no plans for any individual, never have and never will do. We have got a plan for Yeovil and we need to concentrate on our game, have a look at what Yeovil offer in terms of strengths and weaknesses and try to exploit that and try to deal with their strengths. We know where their strengths are we think, we see enough of them and we have them watched often enough.
Obviously, we have played against them often enough and we know what type of teams Gary puts out. It is all about what we do, it is all us, about what we do, and we have worked exceptionally hard again today and yesterday in terms of getting a result in the manner we think will be the right manner against a team that is really buoyant at the moment.
JP
Obviously, he will though Paddy be a talking point for the fans, everyone has seen what he does well but you will know perhaps the other side of his game will you from your time with you, you will be able to play on the things that don’t work for him quite so well?
GA
I am just concentrating on beating Yeovil, I am absolutely focused on my team, my shape, picking the right players, picking the right formation and going into battle. Which it is a battle now, we have got a few battles to overcome to get the points we need to start putting things in place for further on down the line.
So, my team will be picked of what I think our strengths are and where I think we can get at Yeovil and exploit one or two of their weaknesses. Like I said to you, every team that we play against has strengths and weaknesses and we try to analyse them and do our best to occupy their strengths and exploit the weaknesses that they have.
JP
And I know you have talked a lot about why your team perhaps do go more direct, it is one of the things that the fans are talking about, it is a bit too quick from back to front. I presume then that your starting point will be to try to play football, to try to outdo Yeovil for this game,that would be what the fans will be hoping for?
GA
Yeah, I think fluent football comes with confidence and results and belief and everybody being less anxious. When we have got those situations we have got some terrific footballers, at the minute we don’t think we are playing with the fluency that we can and we have to find results. At this particular point the pressure is on to get the points we need to make sure we are OK for next season, so that will affect the type of football we play. But, at the minute we need to win games and find a way of winning games and then we have to look at the way we win the games. But, I think the key point at the minute is the results.
JP
Obviously, having Lee Miller back in the frame at this time, how key will that be for you and what a great lift I suppose it will give everyone to have that extra option?
GA
Yeah, I think Lee was upset with the manner of the sending off, he didn’t think it was a sending off, technically I suppose he is right. But, I look at what Lee Miller did and I look at what Callum McManaman did and I wonder where the justice is sometimes in games. I quite agree with some of the things said about Callum’s tackle, I don’t think it was an intentional one but it was still a lot worse than what Lee Miller did in terms of putting face to face with somebody.
I think sometimes justice is a little bit misplaced and I think we are a bit unfortunate to lose him for three games for what he did. So, he has got a point to prove and I think he knows he wants to make up for that and come into the selection for Saturday. Hopefully if he does get picked, prove a point and slightly make up for what I thought was a poor piece of justice within football.
JP
What has he been like? Obviously, you guys get to see him through the week, we just get to see them on matchday, what has been like as he has sort of been building back up to being available again?
GA
I think he has been frustrated, I don’t think he likes it, I think he feels like he needs to be out there fighting for the cause. I think he wants to come in and make up for the fact that he hasn’t been with us for the last three games. But, I think your man who has come in for him (Mark Beck) has done a sterling job, as a 19-year old, without getting carried away and we don’t want to put the burden of being the lone striker on him when he comes up against two experienced centre-halves all the time, but I think he has worked his socks off.
He has given an absolute amount of honesty and within I think our supporting group he has done himself a power of good with the fact he has carried the line as a 19-year old on his own. I think that is very, very good and very admirable for Becky.
JP
Is there a way, I know the way that you like to play and I know the sort of players there are, is there a way that you could see the pair of them playing together?
GA
Well, you have just told me off for playing long ball football and I don’t think you should be telling me off for playing long ball football. Because, if we did play those two the key would be to get it into them as early as we can, because that is their strength is occupying centre-halves and battling away with centre-halves. It is something we are thinking about, we are thinking about a lot of things at the minute, we worked on three or four different things today.
But, I will have a look at everything on Thursday and digest just where I think we can hurt Yeovil. But, Becky has certainly given himself a fair shout of starting the game with his performances. But, he is away with Scotland at the minute so we just have to keep our fingers crossed that he is still fit and available come Thursday.
JP
I know you will know this but it wouldn’t have to be long ball, if you get it wide and get it into those two in the area, I mean defenders on the back-foot running back towards goal, if you could get that in those two could be fearsome?
GA
Why don’t you let me do the interviewing by the sounds of this, and why don’t you become the manager because you sound like you know what you are talking about.