United skipper Paul Thirlwell (PT) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) this evening ahead of Carlisle's pre-season friendly at home to Doncaster tomorrow, Thirlwell though first looking back on United's 2-1 defeat at Morecambe on Tuesday night :
JP
What did the players make of the match on Tuesday night?
PT
Yeah, it was a good run out for everyone, we felt first-half especially that we played very well, because we have had a few games with Morecambe over the last few seasons and it is always a tough test, especially when you go to their place. So, the first-half we were really pleased, second-half kind of fizzled out a little bit for us with a lot of substitutions and what have you, disappointed with a couple of goals conceded, but generally it was another good work out.
JP
In terms of the way you played, I was in commentary with Andy Hall the United media officer, and we were talking about that first-half and I know the conditions were bad at Gateshead on Saturday and it really didn't suit United's game but it really was chalk and cheese wasn't it the two first-halves when compared to each other, Gateshead and Morecambe?
PT
Yeah, well I think the Gateshead game to be fair to the lads was a bit of farce really, I suppose if it was a normal league game I don't suppose the game would have ever gone ahead. But, credit to Gateshead, they came out and played well on the afternoon and we didn't really get going, but the conditions played a part in that. But, the other night we came out and after the first ten minutes, like in any game everyone has had a good go, but after the initial period we felt like we got our passing game going and did really well.
JP
What have you made of pre-season so far? The week after your trip to Slaley Hall which I know everyone enjoyed, how is it in terms of building up the standard and building up the quality as you get closer and closer to the season?
PT
Yeah, it is good, the Gateshead game was a little bit of a set-back in terms of not everyone got the chance to get more pitch-time, but I feel really good, it is always nice to get the first week/ten days out of the way because it is all the monotonous running that you have to do to get your fitness levels up. But, the balls have been out since day one and it is nice to get back involved in the games and we have got another good one coming up tomorrow.
JP
Yeah, in terms of opposition for Carlisle United, Doncaster renowned as the 'Arsenal of the north' at Brunton Park tomorrow, so it should be quite an exciting game for the fans?
PT
Yeah, I read that in the paper, they are a very good entertaining side and they play extremely good football so it should be a good game. I would imagine that the Brunton Park pitch will be in top notch condition as it always is and hopefully we can have a good game of football and another positive performance.
JP
You have moved up from the non-league sides, you have got to Morecambe on Tuesday, is it important to gradually build up that quality of opposition with Middlesbrough coming up on Tuesday as well just to keep testing the boys in different ways as you get closer to the start?
PT
Yeah, I think so, I think we have had a good blend of games over the last few years, your start is getting your legs back, no disrespect to the teams that we played early on but obviously tomorrow going in against Championship opposition which is obviously a higher standard. So, they are going to come with a passing game and look to impose themselves on us, but it is nice to have our first game back at Brunton and we will be looking to play in a similar fashion as we did in the first-half the other night and then take that into the second-half as well and get a positive performance again.
JP
How have the new signings been bedding in with the squad, Jon-Paul McGovern, Andy Welsh and Stephen O'Halloran in particular, how have they been getting on with everyone over the course of this pre-season?
PT
Yeah, they are great, they are great lads, they have settled in no problem, I think the trip away to Slaley Hall and the trips you go on every pre-season are particularly good for the new lads coming in. Because, we are all away 24-7 and they get used to the ins and outs of Peter Murphy's fine system and they can bed themselves in with a £5 or £10 fine here or there because Murph doesn't let you know what the fines are until he fines you for the new lads, so I am sure they will be used to that now. But, they have bedded in well and I am sure they will be looking to have a good run out tomorrow whoever the team is going to be.
JP
It seems quite draconian on the poor new boys, in particular I am thinking back to last season with Francois Zoko, I can't imagine he will have coped very well with the fine system which he didn't understand what he was getting fined for?
PT
Yeah, that is Francois, sometimes Francois understands the things he wants to understand and not so much the others. but his English has drastically improved. But, he is not too bad with the fines actually Francois, he doesn't really tend to get away with a lot, I think he is a bit cleverer than he looks.
JP
He is getting quite a decent length of beard on these days isn't he?
PT
Yeah, he is going for something but I am not quite sure what it is.
JP
Is it the Pharaoh look maybe?
PT
I have got absolutely no idea, you will have to ask him about that, but he seems happy with it anyway.
JP
In terms of what you have got coming up then, Doncaster and then Middlesbrough on Tuesday, that is going to be a really good match and two back to back games at Brunton Park, the first opportunity for the home fans, a big crowd hopefully, or bigger crowds of Cumbrians to see how the team is shaping up?
PT
Yeah, it is always nice to have your home game, it is nice to get going with a couple of away games to get the legs back and get back into football mode, or match mode if you like. But, playing at Brunton Park is what we want to do in front of our fans and we want to put on a decent display, Middlesbrough again will be a tough task, they have had a few teams here over the last few years and they tend to have a mixture of young and old. But, obviously they are renowned for their youth policy and they always have a lot of good players on show, so that will be another tough test on Tuesday night.
JP
And this is a tricky question for you but how ready do you think that the squad is in terms of all the bodies who are in? Do you yourself feel that maybe one or two more would help you be a bit closer to that perhaps play-off chasing side or do you think that you are about there at the moment? What is the feeling of the captain?
PT
Yeah, I think we are going to be similar to a lot of teams in the league, you do have your likes of Huddersfield in the league who can afford to spend that bit of money and have the bigger squad. But, a lot of the league is much of a muchness now, I think you are dependent a lot on injuries and suspensions throughout the course of the year. If you can keep the core nucleus of your squad fit throughout the season then you are going to have a chance.
But, like anybody else if you suffer with injuries and suspensions there are going to be points in the season where it can become difficult, so it is as much about having that little bit of luck on your side as anything else. But, the squad itself is looking good, the additions are looking good, they have bedded in nicely so we are just getting ourselves all ready to kick off in a couple of weeks time with obviously more games inbetween.
JP
Yeah, it would be a great to get off to a flier, do you think though that the goals are in the squad then? It has been a big issue for the fans over the summer as to whether the club need to bring in a new striker or the manager (Greg Abbott) suggesting he will give the current forwards a chance to prove that they can get the goals, do you back that? Do you think that they do have it in them?
PT
Well, I think that he has given the strikers around the club a fantastic opportunity, obviously Craig (Curran) and Francois played a lot of last season and they have proven what they can do. Paddy (Madden) and Rory (Loy) are obviously young lads who have come into the squad last season and bedded in and know what we are all about now, and they have come back pre-season looking good as well. So, the manager no doubt will be looking pre-season to assess where he thinks we are and that is obviously a question he will have to answer if he thinks he needs another striker or not. That is up to him but all I can say is that the lads that are in and around the squad at the minute are looking really sharp and are all chomping at the bit and wanting to do the job.
JP
If Rory Loy can keep scoring goals like he did on Tuesday, unstoppable shots that is, I don't think it will be a worry will it?
PT
Yeah, that is what Rory is all about, he is a kind of out and out finisher and the other night he just turned and that instinctive strike which the goalkeeper (Barry Roche) didn't see coming really, and it was a great goal.