Neil McDonald - Radio Cumbria Interview

Last updated : 20 October 2006 By Thetashkentterror
Neil McDonald
United boss Neil McDonald spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria on Friday evening as he gave his thoughts on the game at home to Tranmere Rovers. McDonald commenting on all the transfer news at Brunton Park today :


" We've got Kevin Harper in, he's added to our forwards, he's vastly experienced and has played at the top level with Hibs in the Scottish Premier League, and he's also played for Portsmouth in the Premiership. He can't seem to get a game with Stoke at the minute so I've tried to take advantage of that in bringing him in.

" He's experienced and has got the t-shirt I suppose, he can score goals, he can make goals, he's very quick and he'll be in the forward line hopefully on Saturday. He's a forward thinking player, we play three forwards whether that's two wide and one upfront so my forwards are classed as forwards and he's certainly one of them.

" He (Glenn Murray) has gone to Rochdale, he's come back and has been a little bit frustrated I suppose although he played the other night. He's down the pecking order as far I'm concerned and he just has to go out on loan again and we've done that, I'm sure it's with a view to a permanent deal.

" I'll be trying to bring one more in if I possibly can next week, as I say it's just chipping away at the managers. I've done that so far with three managers and I've succeeded with that, so if I can chip away at the fourth I'll be very, very pleased. Michael (Bridges) was a last minute thing, we wanted him to stop but he made it clear that he wanted to go, that was at the last minute, I tried to buy two players before the deadline and that didn't materialise. It's ongoing to try and strengthen now but it certainly wasn't a mistake not to sign anyone before he left.


" I'm sticking with the 4-3-3, I think it's a positive situation, our form at home has been fantastic, yes we've dropped a couple of points I suppose, we only got one point against Northampton and then got beaten against Millwall. Our home form has been fantastic though and we're just going to try and continue that.

" Pace is still definitely a dimension of Kevin Harper's game, luckily we got him up this morning and he's trained this morning with the lads, he's impressed everybody straight away and I hope he can impress the crowd tomorrow. It's not all about size, sometimes it's about being sharp and knowing what is around you, using your experience on that, filling the holes, exploiting the holes, exploiting the weaknesses of defenders and I'm sure he'll be able to do that.

" The mood is still very, very positive, we tried to keep them on an even keel when we went on an eight game unbeaten run, we're doing exactly the same now we are on a losing run at the moment. The self-belief is still there and if we weren't creating the chances and playing decent football then I would be more worried than I am now.

" I think we have looked like scoring from set-pieces, he (Chris Lumsdon) has got decent delivery. I'm not so sure he'll be taking any more penalties though, I think there will be a queue before him, his delivery is very good and it's everybody else's responsibility to get their head on the ball and try and score a goal from a free-kick or a corner.


" I've made the decision about the penalties for him, he missed a very important one against Millwall and he missed another one the other night so I'm just trying to take the pressure off him. He's one of the ones that has kept his form and his form has been excellent, to be fair to him he's stood up to be counted to take them. Unfortunately he has missed them so I think it's time for somebody else to have a go.

" They (Tranmere) are going through a bad run, they are going to be a very, very difficult team though. They are quite direct and good at what they do, they are in the top six so it'll be another difficult game but it's one we're looking forward to, considering the run we are on we're still very, very high on confidence. Everybody is fit that can be, David Raven is not available, Karl Hawley is not available and Paul Murray is not available but everybody else is.

" He (Pete Ferris) is an attacking player, he can either play wide or down the middle and he can take people on. He just needs a little bit of a chance, he's a young kid that really I suppose hasn't had a chance in the first-team, there has been a fair few people in front of him. He's been in good form for the reserves and has scored a few for the reserves, he gives himself a chance, he's a fit lad, he's quite direct himself in his training and he's a decent crosser so I'm sure he'll do well for Tommy (Cassidy) at Workington. "


Meanwhile, Reds boss Cassidy commented on the one-month loan signing of Ferris :

" Pete is a good lad, he's in the squad tomorrow, I've heard good things about him and we'll give him a chance for a month. Carlisle have kindly lent him out to us to toughen him a bit I think and give him regular football, and I hope he scores the winning goal tomorrow if selected."