Greg Abbott On The Carling Cup Exit

Last updated : 29 August 2007 By Thetashkentterror

Greg Abbott
United caretaker manager Greg Abbott spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey on Tuesday night as he gave his opinion on Carlisle's 2-0 Carling Cup defeat against Coventry City at Brunton Park tonight :


" There were some positives and I think we at times paid Coventry a little bit too much respect, especially in the first-half. They competed didn't they, they closed us down, they were quick to the ball, they were happy to stop us playing and work hard and I didn't think that we did well enough in the first-half. Second-half I thought was quite even-stevens and then again an average piece of defending on our left-hand flank to allow the ball to get wide and get good delivery into the frontman who finished it off quite nicely.

" So, yeah positives, but I've said to the players that it was OK but we're not settling for OK here, we're going to be better than that and that's the disappointment that I've got at the moment. Didn't I say that fans don't tell lies and they do know what they are on about, it was OK. You could probably go away thinking that we did alright, we competed quite well, we matched them here and we matched them there but OK is not going to be good enough. We want to force our way up the league and every game has got to be better than OK because we are not going to win games playing OK.

" You win games by playing good and very, very good. Tonight we weren't good and we weren't very good so that's when you end up the losing the game. I'm not satisfied with OK, I never have been, I told the players that but I have actually pointed out the positives as well as that. We have to build on here and not be too downhearted, I'm not downhearted, we're positive now and we're going to pick ourselves up and go again on Saturday.

" Their two goals were the cutting edge that we asked for and being really ruthless in everything that we do. Ruthless in stopping that cross going in for the second goal, ruthless in defending a little bit better at times, ruthless in our crossing into the box, ruthless in getting players in there and ruthless with the finishing. Tonight we just did OK because we got there but we didn't finish it off and we paid the price for that. "



" I think we are going to speak to Martin (Brittain) on Friday and we'll make a decision from there. We need to see what these players can do and we've given a few an opportunity there to go and out perform. So it's done as a bit of a turn with the game coming so that we can see what they are like and give them a full 90 minutes at first team level which is always different to reserve team football. I'm pleased that players have had that, I've managed to look after a couple of players that are going to play big important parts for us so in that way it's achieved something for us.

" We've got to be careful with Joe Garner, we've got to be very careful with Joe, he's 18 and there are not many 18-year olds play full seasons for anybody, not that I know of. He's pulled with cramp at Bury, he pulled up with cramp on Saturday and all I'm doing is trying to look after him so we can make sure that we can get as much out of Joe as possible. Tonight was a sacrifice, it hurts me but I've got to look after that kid, he's a baby and people have to remember that. He plays like a man but he is only a young boy.

" Forget the running, what about the mental toughness that the kid has got to go through, and it's hard, it's physical, this is the real mccoy. Like I said, you tell me an 18-year old who is going to play every week in the Premiership, or the Championship, there won't be one. We're going to get Joe through as many games as possible and that means we are going to have to look after him. So whilst I understand that frustration I feel that that was the right thing to do with him. I hope he plays 40-50 games this season and I'm sure that if we look after him right he will do.

" On the night, the balls inbetween, the slide balls inbetween, he (Kevin Gall) has got that lightning pace hasn't he. He caused them problems with turning them round and we looked probably a little bit better when Kevin came on. Again it's a chance to look at him down that central position, it's another option for us for when we are playing in our league. It's a chance to have a little look at different things and I thought that Kevin's contribution was excellent.

" My way of bringing players in has just been OK as well but I need to do better than OK and I'll be better than OK on Friday I can assure you that. Then in due course I'll let you know what is happening. We'll be up and bombing again on Saturday don't you worry about that. "