John Ward On The Chester Win

Last updated : 23 July 2008 By Thetashkentterror

John Ward
United boss John Ward spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey on Tuesday night as he talked about Carlisle's 3-1 pre-season victory at Chester, Ward also looking forward to the next two home games coming up against Preston and Middlesbrough :


" We've played the three games now and we're unbeaten in all three, and we've been away from home each time. I think that is the key, we have just talked in the dressing-room there that three of our first four games are away from home. So we are going to have to be really tough in those fixtures at the beginning of the season to get a good start, which is what we want to do. So these are a really good test for us, and the games in my mind get tougher as we go along.

" We've got two very, very difficult home matches against Preston and Middlesbrough which are a great test for us, with some good teams and good players coming to our place. Then Morecambe is obviously going to be like this, a very difficult game a week to go before the season starts. So at the moment I am really pleased with the way things are going. The fitness levels are good and we have got more players more playing time on the pitch tonight, so I am a pretty satisfied person tonight.

" He (Tyrone Cameron) is a decent little player, I was pleased with him, as I said when he came, he has got some pace and a good touch. He has got a super attitude, he came all the way up from London on the train on his own on Sunday and got himself up here to try to further his career. Tonight he has shown that determination on the pitch as well, so we are pretty pleased with what we have seen from that kid.

" This will be the biggest game the young man has played in, he has been at reserve team and junior football and academy football. Which is nice football, it's not really as tough as this against people of the experience that Chester have put against us. We're pretty pleased with that, so we'll see what we do with the young fella, but I'm happy so far.

" His goal (Gary Madine's) will be good for him, nice little movement, nice little run cutting across the defender. A nice little header in there, the keeper (John Danby) has got no chance. It's nice for him, it's a little confidence boost, as is Scott Dobie's. Strikers like to get their goals, they'll forfeit other bits and pieces but when you go in early on you want to get a goal or two. We've seen two or three now off Dobie, and now Gary has got one, it's pleasing. "



" It will do Scott's confidence the world of good, and the fitness levels, you know that if you are fitter physically then you are mentally fitter and brighter as well. I think that is another key thing that we have put to the team, the fitter they get physically their thinking will be bright and sharp. Chester are a good side and gave us a really tough game I thought tonight, but in the last 15 minutes there was some bright play from us. In the box we got a couple of goals out of it because of our bright football, again, talking about the fitness levels, I'm pleased with that.

" It gets tough now, we are going to have to be on our toes on Saturday, Preston are a good side, I don't think that they have conceded a goal themselves in pre-season. Middlesbrough obviously have got top quality players of Premier League and international level. So we've got two fantastic games to test our team out, whatever the results on that we have to be spot on, just as Chester were trying to be tonight and Partick Thistle were on Saturday.

" We are going to be those underdogs now and see if we can get a result against two big teams. Certainly in fitness-wise eleven v eleven they are going to be very difficult games but they are going to be good for that. If we can produce some decent football at times in those games as well then we can come out and be pleased with that too.

" There are one or two things to work on in terms of just being a bit more clinical with some passing. We maybe over-pass now and again, we've talked to the team about passing the ball and shifting it quickly. I get annoyed when some of those get cut out, particularly if we are taking risks around the back third of the pitch, which we're not too bad at. In the main though I am happy with what I have seen, we've defended very strongly again tonight, as we did on Saturday, against headers coming in and balls coming in the penalty box.

" We've moved that around a little bit, we started with Josh (Gowling) and Danny (Livesey) who have done exceptionally well in the middle. We know (Peter) Murphy is a good player, so that looks a strong area for me now with Josh coming in. So good stuff, a lot of good things rather than negatives, I am very pleased with what I have seen so far with this team. "



" I'll possibly play closer to my first eleven as we go along. I'm going into some ways and thinking what I want to do, but we haven't seen Bristol Rovers play yet and that will have some bearing on what I want to do. I think that they are abroad at the moment for the next few days, so we'll only pick them up later on next week. So they'll have a bearing on what I select, but this squad is a good squad as I keep saying, and there are a lot of very capable players in it.

" I've used him (Luke Joyce) on the right side, and I've used him at right full-back which he thoroughly enjoyed. I spoke to him at length about that the other day about his position, where he wants to play, that type of thing. We are very congested centrally, we know that he can do that and get a goal from there but when we have branched him out in those wider areas he has enjoyed the play I think with a little bit more space in front of him in both positions.

" So he gives me really good options and more competition for places, which is exactly what I am trying to do with this squad. You keep talking to me about a team and I keep talking to you about a squad, I think the squad size is more important. It's very, very important that we have got enough capable players of doing things, and Luke Joyce is very much part of that.

" I think the squad is getting better, we haven't seen Chris Lumsdon tonight because of injury so he is available and we haven't seen Murphy tonight because I have left him on the bench and looked after him. We haven't seen Ben Williams tonight either, it's getting stronger all the time, and if I can add to it, as I want to do, then we will get better again.

" I think the players are OK tonight, I think that everybody is fit and well. There is a good mood in the place and when the fitness levels are as good as we are at the moment then you tend to veer away from them, but no problems just now. No more development on the Joe Garner front today, not since I have come here. Everything for me has been geared about getting this game, and obviously our directors have been here who are dealing with those sort of things, so not from my opinion no. "