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VP
I learned about it a week and a half ago, which came as a surprise but a very nice one.
JP
What made you sign for Carlisle then in the end as you have just signed this lunchtime?
VP
While the manager (Greg Abbott) has been with me he has been very straight and truthful to me as in saying what I liked, and the feeling was very trustworthy from him. I just felt good and I am very happy to be here today.
JP
Coming into the club what do you know about Carlisle United as a football club?
VP
Well I didn't know much before today but it felt right. From what I heard they had a very good game against Portsmouth in the cup. So I am just getting to learn, it is a new experience for me, something new.
JP
And you have been in England a few years now, what have you made of your time over here so far?
VP
Totally different, it is a new place, new adventure, something new, so I am looking forward to it.
JP
You trained with your team-mates I am led to believe today, maybe before as well, what have you made of the team that Carlisle have got so far?
VP
I would say the players in terms of skills and the way they work are very, very good. Which is very pleasing for me because I have got players around me who I can work with and get crosses and just fit well. So just the quality of play is very good, so I don't understand why they….., well I was at the game on Saturday and they should have definitely won, I am sure now it is something that we have just got to work on.
JP
What sort of striker are you? Having seen that game on Saturday can you see yourself getting a lot of goals for Carlisle?
VP
Yeah, one of my main qualities is finishing so if I get the service from crosses or through the centre from midfield I will score goals, that is one of my qualities. So I will just have to be there and we will have to work together and goals will come.
JP
What sort of striker though are you? You are obviously a very big lad, Carlisle have been crying out for a target man for a few years, do you have that in your game as well?
VP
Definitely yes, since I have been in England I have been told to work as a target man. I have got the physicality for it so that is not a problem for me, I can do that as well.
JP
And your best time in England arguably was at Portsmouth, how much did you enjoy your time there and would you go along with that or what has been your best time here?
VP
My best time has been at Portsmouth when we got promoted from the Championship to the Premiership. I scored ten goals, I had a very important part, I got on well with Harry Redknapp, and I was young but I did very well for my first time in England, there is nothing better than getting promoted.
JP
And I know you said that you like to score goals and that you can play as a target man, but what would you tell the fans who perhaps don't know so much about you, like you didn't know so much about Carlisle, what would you tell them were Vincent Pericard's qualities?
VP
Well I can't say much because as a footballer I believe we do our talking on the pitch. So they will just have to wait and see and they will see on the pitch in the next game.
JP
And you signed a short-term contract, what was the thinking behind that? Was that on the club's part or was that your decision to sign until Christmas as it were?
VP
I think it is on both parts, everyone knows I came back from an achilles injury, I have recovered from it but I still have to prove my fitness. After three months of football and league games is going to do me good, and it is going to do good for Carlisle because I think I am a valuable player. So I just want to come here, play as many games as I can, do as good as I can for myself and for the club obviously and we go from there in January.
JP
And just finally on that fitness point of view, Richard Offiong came in and it took him a while to get his fitness. Whereabouts are you, are you ready to start playing now or is it going to take a bit of time for you to get back to full fitness?
VP
No, no, I think for myself, just one game would be enough to actually get to 100%. Just got to get my legs going again, I have been training, been playing games, I have done a number of pre-seasons, so I don't have much catching up to do, just one game and that is it.
JP
And there is going to be excitement with your signing and with what that might hopefully signal for the club in terms of the goals coming. You have played in the Champions League, do you think you can handle that expectation and I guess that pressure as a player?
VP
Yes, I am not a young player anymore, I have got experience so that kind of expectation doesn't worry me anymore. I am very confident in my abilities, I know what I can do, so I have just got to go out and do it. There are some times bad sorts of things happen but when you are a good player, you are a good player, things good will happen. So if it doesn't work out in the first game then it will definitely come good at some point, so I have got no worries about that.