United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) at Friday's press conference for the local media, Abbott first talking about the lowly 3,354 attendance for Carlisle's home game against Plymouth on Tuesday evening :
GA
The crowd situation is something that is a little bit out of our hands to be honest. I am not sure Bournemouth are that big a draw anyway, they have done fantastically well but I can't see 5,000 fans travelling from Bournemouth to get to Cumbria tomorrow.
But, it is a side that has done really, really well, it is an attractive fixture, it is one we are really looking forward to to be honest after Tuesday night and getting a few players back and getting a bit of a performance back, pleased with the way the players responded. it is one where the weather might just bring a few out as well, so let's hope that people can turn up and we get another good performance under our belt.
JP
You had a couple of your players who have been missing for a while in Paul Thirlwell and Lubomir Michalik come back for that game, how have they gone on this week on their comeback from these injuries?
GA
Well, they have come through alright to be honest and they were a massive plus. I don't think Lubo had his best game, I think Thir grew into the game as the game went on and so did big Lubo to be honest. But, it just showed how much we have missed that type of player and that experience and I actually had a good conversation with Lubo about his impact on other players around him. I said that he could have a big effect on the younger players in terms of little pats on the back during the game and little words of encouragement. he is not a shouter and a bawler like Paul or other players.
But, he has got a massive respect in the dressing room and we needed that, and certainly if you are getting turned over heavily against sides like Peterborough or Southampton with the likes of Lubo and Danny Liveseys and the likes of Paul Thirlwells and the likes of Murphs (Peter Murphy) in your side then you worry.
But, as it happens, sometimes with the younger players and the way the situation was, it does happen now and again, we don't like it but it does happen. But, with those types of players in you generally think that we look a lot more solid. We certainly looked a lot better and we looked a lot more experienced, and we missed their leadership and their experience over the last past few weeks.
JP
What have you managed to learn about yourself? How have you grown? How have you changed as a team over these last few games?
GA
I don't understand what you mean.
JP
When you get a big defeat like you did, which you have not had in your time, Carlisle haven't had for some time, and then you have to try to learn from that and pick yourself up again, what do you find out about yourself in those moments?
GA
I am actually going to talk down your question because it happens in football. You have been in the game not very long and I have been in the game since I was about six-years old and these things happen. We just deal with them, with a balance, and you just crack on with it. Like I said, we didn't get too excited with the wins and we don't get too downbeat with the defeats.
At the end of the day we lost three points and if I keep the dressing room in a positive a frame of mind as that, because there is not too much you can be positive about when it is a 6-0 drubbing. What you have to say is that it has happened, we have to deal with it, we crack on, and we have forgotten about it already.
JP
What do you expect from Bournemouth? What sort of team, what sort of game can fans expect?
GA
Erm, if I knew that then I would be putting a few quid on the fixed odds. Probably an exciting one, they come out and play, they have got a lot of youth and a lot of energy, probably a game that suits our style as well where we can come out and play our football, and I don't think they will close it down. Two of the last three games, Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday, big physical sides, I couldn't believe how big Plymouth were to be honest, trying to stop us playing and trying to bully us a little bit. Bournemouth are a little bit similar to us, young, a lot of energy, quite a bit of quality, so I think the game should be quite entertaining. It may be more like the Exeter game than the Sheffield Wednesday one or the Plymouth one.
JP
Very youthful upfront as well aren't they? I think one winger is 23 and one is 25, but then upfront a 19 and an 18-year old in the last game, that is, however good they are, that is lacking in experience isn't it?
GA
Well, if they have got a winger that is 23 and the other one is 25 then they have got a very experienced team, much older than us, we are like a team of nursery kids compared to theirs.
JP
In terms of those strikers, 19 and 18, they are a couple of boys basically aren't they, do you think that is something you can use to your advantage?
GA
It is only the same as us, and you have seen what happens sometimes, if you can get on top of these types of teams with that type of age group of player then sometimes you can bully them into submission. But, we haven't got many players much older than that ourselves. I just think it is refreshing to see the kids playing and listen, Bournemouth have done fantastically well and those kids must be doing exceptionally well otherwise they wouldn't be in the team, like we think ours are.
Sometimes they take the praise and sometimes they have to take a little bit of criticism. But, I think it is terrific that teams like Bournemouth and ourselves are giving kids opportunities and they are coming through, and I think if you get the balance right with young and old then you have got a real chance. Which is what Bournemouth obviously have done and they have done wonderfully well this year.
JP
You didn't want to be drawn on Tuesday night about the volume of scouts who were at the game, I know a lot will be looking at Plymouth because they will probably sort of be hovering about those like vultures. But, compliment as well to the way your young side are progressing that there is a lot of interest in the players?
GA
Well, I have said before, if there isn't then people aren't doing their jobs properly. To be fair there wasn't a lot of football going on so it was an ideal night for scouts to come out and watch our younger players and Plymouth's younger players. So, that is the norm in football, nothing to get excited about.
JP
Will it be good to have an extra option on the bench with Liam Cooper back from suspension? Does it give you a bit of a headache ahead of the game or will fitness dictate who is in and who is out?
GA
I just need the strongest squad possible, I haven't had it to be fair, and we have not offered too many excuses to you guys because we don't like to do that. But, the nearer I get to a full complement would be the better, I don't think I have had one all season after the first few games, and you saw our form in the first few games, when we did have a full squad to pick from we were pretty decent. We have had to juggle about a little bit due to injuries and the loss of players through the loan system and that so I can't wait to get a full group back.
JP
400 games for Peter Murphy in all competitions, it is rare you see that in the modern game isn't it?
GA
It is a terrific achievement, especially nowadays with the agents farming people round here, there and everywhere, and sometimes players don't stay at clubs as long as they should do for their own benefits. But, Peter has done and his reward on Saturday is a 400th appearance, which is a fantastic achievement.
JP
It would be nice to see a good strong support for that one if people can make it of course?
GA
Yeah, absolutely. but I will tell you what, the fans that were here the other night, hats off to them, we praised them after the game, they were absolutely sensational and they are the ones that really need a pat on the back because they are coming through thick and thin. But, there are others saving up for Wembley as well and gates have always been affected with that. It is going to cost most people an average of about £200 a head to go, so they have our understanding. But, if it is a nice day and Manchester United aren't live on television yet again then please come down and support us.