Frank Simek Talks About The Game

Last updated : 10 November 2010 By Thetashkentterror

Frank Simek
United right-back Frank Simek (FS) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) after Carlisle's 3-1 win at home to Crewe in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, Simek hoping the Blues can get back to Wembley again this season :


JP

Of course you weren't here last season when Carlisle United made it all the way through to Wembley, but I am sure it will have been pointed out to you what this competition can mean if you get there, and you are a step closer tonight.

FS

Yeah, absolutely, I found out straight away about their exploits in the cup last season. Everybody talks about what a good day out it was, although it was an unfortunate result. But, if we can emulate that and get back there, for the club, for the fans, for the team as well, it is everything positive.





JP

Just a word on one of your team-mates, we have had a text in from James, he says - "Are we seeing the re-birth of Peter Murphy? I do hope so a great servant and a crowd favourite." And what a game he had tonight again?

FS

Yeah, I thought he was excellent, it is not tough, he was out of the team at the beginning and he came into the team and he looks like he has had ten or twelve games under his belt. It is credit to him, he has kept himself fit and he has come in and he has done a brilliant job for us.





JP

What did you make of Crewe tonight? The team you took on, you have knocked them out, Tamworth knocked them out of the FA Cup at the weekend, do they seem a little bit like a team who are struggling?

FS

Erm, I thought they were alright, you know what you are going to get with Crewe, they are always a good footballing side. They were able to cause us a few problems, I thought most of the problems we had tonight were caused by ourselves giving the ball away in bad positions. But, they are decent and they have some good players and some pace in their team and we know that it wasn't going to be easy tonight.





JP

When you came in there were obviously comparisons going to be made with you and the man you replaced in Richard Keogh who went off, a big crowd favourite, to Coventry. Most fans universally feel that you are a better defenders' defender but you are starting to really get forward now into those attacking positions, is that something you are enjoying?

FS

Yeah, I do enjoy it, I think especially when you have a winger in Marshy (Ben Marshall) in front of you then it is a bit easier to get forward. Whereas playing the diamond you don't have anybody in front of you and you can't do any overlaps, so it is a bit more difficult to get forward.

But, credit to Marshy as well, he has beaten the left-back and he has been doing that for a few games now. When you have somebody in front of you like that it is a bit easier to get forward.





JP

And you talk about that partnership, another one that seems to be there at times for you, when you do really overlap and get pushed on and almost are the winger yourself, you seem to have linked up quite well with your countryman Mike Grella, who you seem to have a bit of an understanding with?

FS

Yeah, he is a good footballer, he can play with anybody I think, he has got a good footballing brain. He is another one that has come in and done really well for us.





JP

And just finally, Southampton at the weekend, I know they are not quite hitting the dizzy heights where they would expect to be, but one of the biggest sides in the division, early season favourites to win the League One title, that should be a cracking match for everyone here at Brunton Park?

FS

Yeah, it is a big game for us, they are not hitting their stride but they are up there and they are not far from the top. They are above us in the league and if we can get a result and go above them in the league then that will be job done for us.