United boss Greg Abbott (GA) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) at Thursday's open press conference for the local media, Abbott first talking about the recent transfer activity into Brunton Park:
GA
We have been looking at depth to the squad all season. I have been advocating all along that we were going to be thin on the ground if we have made one or two injuries, and we have found that out. So, what we have done is try to within our resources put a tougher, stronger squad together that gives us a bit more depth to carry some of the injuries. I don’t want to offer too many excuses, but they are genuine reasons as to why the team hasn’t been as good defensively as it needs to be.
But, there have been signs just of late, it is only what we have been saying, we are a good side, we are a good side when we have got everybody available, and we have not had everybody available yet and we still won’t have everybody available until Chris Chantler and Danny Cadamarteri are fit. But, the squad we have built, given everybody fit, is not bad, we have never had that situation so it is very difficult to judge what we are and what we are not.
But, we are certainly at the minute proving that we are not quite big enough in terms of depth to the squad. That is why I have gone banging the drum to say let’s get more players in, we need them, and we are always going to have problems when we get injuries. But, given a full quota and everybody fit I think we are OK, I genuinely do and we have proved that to be honest.
They will win people back and we will win on Saturday and that will win even more people back, and then we have another good week ahead of us and we can continue our progression of developing a decent side and some decent results. But, when we have got everybody fit like I said, I keep maintaining that, fit and ready and available, we are not bad.
JP
In confident mood then?
GA
As confident as I can be, and listen, there is not a win for a given because Micky Adams is a great manager who has done fantastically well with Port Vale. They will come with their tails a little bit down because they have lost a couple of games, but we will have to be at our best. We will have to work 150% to our maximum and we have to stop Port Vale getting a foothold in the game and any encouragement, and we have got a job to do.
It is not a given but I think we are in a different mood this week, and I just think we are going to go out there and give a real good performance. The players are more excited and confident, you can sense the tension now in the air is a different type of tension. There is a tension now about getting at Port Vale, they can’t wait to get at them, they can’t wait to start the game, which I think there has been a bit of trepidation definitely.
It is very difficult with the younger players to stop them worrying, they care about the game, they care about their industry, they care about their jobs. So, it is difficult but we have tried to alleviate pressure and fill them with confidence and encouragement and hopefully that pays dividends on Saturday.
JP
Leon McSweeney coming in, utility player, what role do you have in mind for him coming in, because he has played in that many in his career?
GA
Yeah, that role to be honest, I think the type of club we are I think we need one or two of them over the next couple of years, players that can do left-back, right-back, right-wing, centre midfield. He is a seasoned professional and he is a good footballer so he can do those types of things. I would rather shuffle people about than change personnel week in and week out and he fits the bill where he can slot over to left-back or right-back or central midfield.
So, he will be vital to what we are trying to do, and it gets his career back, he has got a point to prove and hopefully he can help us and we can help him and it is a win-win. But, he is made of the right stuff I can assure you of that, a bit like Danny Butterfield, that type of character, manages himself and his game very, very well. So, we look forward to working with him and him giving us a bit more experience and cover.
JP
You teased us all by getting into a conversation with me after the Brentford game about Francois Zoko, is there any movement on that one, another free agent, is there anything in that?
GA
No, there is absolutely nothing in that, I have not spoken to Francois. You know what we think of him, we thought we got the best out of him when he was here, he moved on because he thought it was the right thing to do. It has not worked out and I have not heard from him since.
JP
Would you like to have him here if there was the opportunity or do you think that both parties have moved on?
GA
At the minute we are doing our thing and he is doing his thing, you can never say never, I am not going to say yes or no because you are only opening yourself up. But, he is out of our financial level at the moment, and we have got players in that position that can cover, we have got plenty of players in those areas.
We don’t need there, we needed to bring players in in the other areas because they are a priority because we haven’t got any. Where Francois plays we have got that option and that depth, so it is something at the moment that we probably wouldn’t be able to do.
JP
There were a number of calls for the board after some of the poorer results to make a statement one way or the other, either come out and back you or obviously the opposite. Do you think allowing you after these couple of draws to bring in these three players is a statement from the board that they are very much behind their manager at a time when they are perhaps a little bit quiet?
GA
I have absolutely no idea about that, I am just getting on with my job of managing the team. Whatever goes on between them and you and the fans then they have to get the answers from the board. I have advocated this right from the off, I feel less pressure than I did the week before, when I didn’t feel much then.
I just get on with my job, I have told everybody the situation would be tough without the senior players, they are coming back now, the two performances away from home have been much, much better. Onwards and upwards, if you need to speak about the board and other things then speak to them, but I have no idea what they are thinking. I am just thinking on that this week has been miles better than last week, and I am looking forward to Saturday.