Greg Abbott On Today's Excellent Win

Last updated : 22 March 2008 By Thetashkentterror

Blues number two Greg Abbott
United assistant manager Greg Abbott spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey on Saturday evening as he talked about the superb 3-0 victory at Leyton Orient this afternoon that lifts the Blues up to second in the League One table :


" It was impressive, the players prepared really, really well since Thursday, like they always do, they are a terrific set of boys to work with. We all know that but I think that some of the passing, some of the movement and some of the attacking play that we showed today was absolutely outstanding and it was a joy to watch.

" We have to be proud of that, and as an assistant manager, and as a manager - John (Ward) - who has got a sore throat which is why he can't do this, he's absolutely delighted with the performance of the boys. We're up here now really feeling quite pleased with ourselves. I just thought that it was a nice display, right from the warm-up, you usually get a feel that the boys are at it or not. They warmed up really well, they were so focused, their training on Thursday and Friday has been absolutely outstanding.

" They seem to be nerveless, they don't seem to be showing any signs of any sort of pressure, we're not putting them under any either. I think their first-half display, it just blew Orient away, they are usually very, very tough games down in this part of London and we've today been comprehensive winners I think. It gives us a real lot of optimism for the remaining nine games of the season.

" I think that it was David Raven's first ever shot, never mind first ever goal so you have to applaud him for that. His game has been improving I think since we left him out for the one game, he's been terrific, his response has been magnificent. I think that Grant (Smith) has come in and he's added a different dimension to midfield, he loves to get forward, and we are trying to put the brakes on him a little bit to try to make sure that we dominate that area of the field. "



" His strike was a really cool calm finish, it's great when boys get firsts and they get their goals, they're happy but our job at the moment is to bring them a little bit down to earth. Let them enjoy today but we have a massive game again on Monday and we are looking forward to that, but it was terrific for those two boys to get their goals.

" Who played 4-5-1? We played 4-3-3 with two wingers that get right up against their full-backs, they caused them loads of problems. It's a system that is meant to combat home form, you soak things up and you break quickly. We've got pace down the wide outside and we've got really creative midfield players, and aggressive midfield players who want to get forward.

" Add that to Danny Graham's workload that he is putting in as a shift on his own and it's a really good system to play if you play it right. We've played it right today, 4-5-1 if that's what everyone wants to call it, they can call it what they want for me. I've just seen an attacking display with a fantastic formation if you want me to be perfectly honest with you.

" He (Cleveland Taylor) has got no critics within this club, I have to say that. We come as a 20-man squad and that's how we are, and nobody gets singled out good or bad. He's come and he's missed a lot of football with Scunthorpe being in-and-out and he's come here. He's a character that is terrific to have around us and there is going to be more come from him, I still don't think we've seen the best of him, I think there is more to come. "



" He's getting better and better and he gives us great balance because he is a natural wide player. With Simon (Hackney) flying down the other side, we've got, I'll tell you now, opposition teams will be thinking that we must stop those two wide players playing. It puts people on the back-foot and it gives us an added threat and dimension and I still think there is more with him.

" Monday's game can come tomorrow morning for me, because I'm doing nothing else by the way, I'll only end up eating Easter eggs. I think at the moment that we can't play enough football can we, the boys you can see, if you can't see that they are enjoying themselves then there is something wrong with you. They are terrific, the determination and the attitude and the desire that they have got is fantastic and we just work around them.

" We just keep on nudging away at them, but I think that they'll want to play tomorrow if they could, they'd play tomorrow. They've got no problems, they're all young, they're all going in the right direction aren't they, their careers are going forward rather than being big players and coming down a peg or two. They are all going in the right way and they are really refreshing and terrific to work with.

" I went to the Forest game last night against Northampton and (James) Perch got sent off for what I thought really, really was a tame tackle. (JJ) Melligan has got no excuse though, it's a sending-off, I don't care, I would argue with their people. He's run and lunged and jumped with two feet, in this climate with the way things are going you can't do it. He has to walk, it's a ridiculous tackle, it could have hurt Evan (Horwood) really badly. Fortunately for me though he's got up and he's played on and he's done really, really well after that, but I don't think they can have any complaints about that.



" I think they (the defence) have had a nice afternoon haven't they in relative terms because everything above them has been so good. Keiren (Westwood), we've had to call on him at some points, last week he has been like the Alamo wasn't it against him and he's dealt with that. This week it has not been so bad for him and he's had a comfortable afternoon compared with last week. They are consistent and they keep things right, and they want things in front of them right. If you get that right then they will have easier afternoons more often than not.

" We want 10,000, 11,000 or 12,000 on Monday, we want them to come and be the extra man. I think what the players are doing, and I can't guarantee that we'll play as well on Monday as we have done today, but we want that extra man. We want 12 v 11 on Monday, we want the crowd to come in their thousands and get us up to 11,000 or 12,000. Because I think the players, honestly I think the players deserve that sort of support and the people of Carlisle are acknowledging that.

" They are getting, the numbers are swelling a little bit you know, but we really need them because they will be a little bit leg weary and they will be a little bit tired. Things might not go their way, and I'll tell you what, you've got 12,000 people shouting and bawling you on. It just really does give you a massive, massive advantage and to be fair they can play their part, they don't realise how important they are at times, they are vital to what we do.

" They (the away fans) are outstanding, we get 50 or 60 fans come up when they come to Carlisle and we are taking nearly 900 people to the coldest bleakest part of the country at this particular moment on Easter Saturday. They are fantastic and we need them, come back again on Monday, shout even louder because they were fantastic today and bring the other 11,500 with you and we'll try to get them a win. Let's hope we can achieve the same as today on Monday and we'll be having a fantastic right go at it. "