Current United left-back Matty Robson (MR) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) today after signing a two-year contract extension at Brunton Park, Robson happy to get the situation sorted out early :
MR
It is nice to get something set in stone and not have to go through the summer wondering what is going to happen.
JP
You have been in the position before where you have been out of the team with Hartlepool your former club, to get back into the team with Carlisle this year and then to get this extension as well, what were your emotions like throughout the season?
MR
At the start of the season I spoke to the press and said it was disappointing not to have figured as much as I was in my first season, but as a professional you have just got to get on with the job and hopefully get your chance and take it. Fortunately for me through a sending-off I took my chance, albeit at left-back, but I have enjoyed every minute of it really towards the end of the season.
JP
I was going to say that, you say albeit at left-back, does it matter to you? Are you one of these players who would prefer to play in what you see as your best role or do you perhaps see the wing as your best role? Are you enjoying it that much at left-back now that perhaps you see that as your best role?
MR
I saw it as a challenge, I had played there before, pepole sort of wrote me off as being a left-back, with being an attacking kind of player as I am. But, I am as comfortable doing the job and wherever I play next year I will be happy to play, I have enjoyed left-back so I would be quite content to play there for the next two years.
JP
Given your experiences with Hartlepool was there a time when you maybe started to doubt whether you were to be with Carlisle United. Not perhaps down to your own feelings but down to the club's?
MR
Well, I think round or about December time it was going through my head that I might have to try to get out on loan with not playing. But, I went and saw the manager (Greg Abbott) and he wasn't keen on letting me go, he said there could be a chance I could get in, and at Southampton away I got my chance and from then I have never looked back really. I have kept some top quality players out of the side, Gary Borrowdale, and have cemented my place at left-back.
JP
What goes through your mind then in those months when you are out of the team as a player? Especially as a young player looking to make your mark in the game?
MR
Well, I got classed as more of a senior professional the other day but I will take the younger. But, you have just got to look at professionals like Peter Murphy and Danny Livesey, me and Peter have both been in the same situation this year where we have both been left out of the side. We have had some good performances in the past but you have just got to follow what he was doing really, he was so professional in what he did. I think that is where my game has adapted really, maybe if I had been a few years younger I would have maybe spat the dummy out. But, I just kept my head down, knuckled away and continued to work hard in training, and it has paid off.
JP
And it must have been tricky for you as well when you were watching this new formation the team were sporting, this diamond, seeing the lack of width in midfield and thinking that even if I do get a chance where am I going to get that chance?
MR
Yeah, it worked though so I really had no argument to go at him (Abbott) with as the formation was working and the lads were playing well. But, sometimes you have to tamper with the formation and maybe when I got in, with the 20 minutes here and there it was a bit hard trying to fit into the game and I wasn't playing some good football. But, I think when I have gone to left-back I have had sort of an attacking role from the back, he (Abbott) has encouraged me to get forward and I have done that, but I have also thought I have done the defensive side well as well.
JP
Versatility is seen as such a good quality for a player to have, but do you think it can make you a squad player because of that? Do you want to now cement one area and say that I want to be in this position and I want to play that position for a good season or two now?
MR
There is always that danger that people still think of me as a left-winger and I would still play there. But, I think with me being older I have realised that I have learnt the more defensive side of it. When I went to left midfield on Saturday it felt a bit surreal because Peter was constantly telling me to get forward and not sit on his toes as much. But, I think the gaffer has said that he can see me doing a job at left-back so maybe I think that is where it is heading. I have got to get back into pre-season and continue to learn the more positional side of it and hopefully it will go from strength to strength.
JP
And do you think that is what you do need to focus on? On adding all of the dimensions of defending? Because, some players spend their whole careers learning that, you have been sort of thrown in and asked to do it midway through a season?
MR
Well, there are people who have played left-back throughout their careers but as a footballer you never stop learning, you are always watching other people play as well and you watch how they do their job. You try to pick up certain things and aspects of other people's game and adapt it into yours. So, you always want to better yourself and there are always improvements that can be made, and that is what life in football is all about.
JP
I don't think it is a trade secret to say you are very popular with the fans, is it also very nice for you to be able to stay with those fans for at least the next couple of years now?
MR
Yeah, they have been fantastic with me and there are a couple of people I have got to know really well and they have been ever so friendly with me, and my partner and my family as well, they have been so accommodating over there. It is a nice warm family club and I have played over 100 games now and it is a nice feeling, and I hope to play another 100 over the next two seasons and who knows where it will take me?
JP
What are your short, medium and long term goals with Carlisle now that you have got your future taking you a little bit closer to those 30s years?
MR
Well, first and foremost is to be playing week in and week out, the first season I was there it was fantastic, I played over 50-odd games and I want to get back to that again. My long term aim is to try to help the club push on, we can hopefully get a few new bodies in and we can add some extra dimensions to the squad, and hopefully we can improve on what we have done this season and try to push towards the play-offs, which is always the goal that we want to set ourselves.
JP
Greg Abbott is saying that he thinks that the club could maybe do with three or four big signings over the summer, some fans thinking maybe as many as eight to get the squad to be in earnest challenging, what is the feeling of the squad on that? How far short do you think you have come this year?
MR
I think there has got to be a balance really, he (Abbott) has got to add to the squad but you don't want to add too many because it is hard to keep all those players happy that he has got to bring in. I think maybe the four or the five signings would be ideal just to give us that bit of depth to the squad as well because we have been a bit bare at times in options coming on from the bench and what have you. But, I think it is a quite difficult job really to try to attract them to the club, he (Abbott) has spoken about it in the past with the situation where Carlisle is a bit of a long trek up. But, he has pulled out some gems, in the loan signings as well, he has got his work cut out over the summer but hopefully he can add to the squad, make it bigger, better and the lads will welcome any players that come in.
JP
And you are considered part of the early part of the strengthening for that squad looking ahead to next season and getting you signed on the dotted line. Likewise the club captain Paul Thirlwell, how important do you think it was to get him signed up for another season?
MR
I just think and the fans think that without him we might not have been in this position, I think he adds something to the team which not many players can bring. He gives you leadership, he has a knack of being in the right place at the right time and he is such a good player to have in the team. You can learn so much from the experienced players, like Thirs, like Murph, what they do add to the game is a massive amout that they do bring to the team when they are playing.
JP
And what can you now that your future is resolved get up to this summer? Are you hoping to have a proper break this time around?
MR
Well, I am just going to have a couple of weeks relax, but I am quite a hard guy to relax really, I like to be on the move and doing stuff. So, I will be keeping fairly active, I have got a dog so I will be taking him out but I also like my time on the golf course, so there will be a lot of rounds spent on the putting greens I would have thought.
JP
And with your activeness then I don't suppose you will be one of the players coming back flying a kite as Chris Lumsdon tells me is the phrase?
MR
No, I wouldn't be having a kite on myself, I like to keep myself in good trim but you have got to let your hair down at some point. But, you have also got to be professional in what you are doing, you don't want to be behind when everyone else is flying in pre-season. So, you have got to give yourself the best chance you can in coming back in good shape.