Martin Allen Talks About The Game

Last updated : 27 April 2009 By Thetashkentterror

Martin Allen
Robins boss Martin Allen spoke to the assembled press after his side's 1-1 draw against Carlisle at Whaddon Road, the result doing neither club a favour as Cheltenham were relegated into League Two while United now look very likely to face the same fate next weekend :


" I thought that the team played very, very well in this game, especially in the first-half where we absolutely dominated the game. We found ourselves 1-0 down to what I think was their only shot of the half, it was a brilliant free-kick. Full credit to the players though, the way that they came back out in the second-half.

" We knew that we had to get a win and we wanted a win, not only for ourselves of course but the supporters. It was a very enthusiastic, energetic support that we had from start to finish, created a great atmosphere. I think that any neutral that would have been here couldn't really believe that the whole club is near the bottom in the relegation zone because the whole place is buzzing.

" It gives us real hope for next season, better than if we had been moping and sulking and had been rubbish. The young players that have come in, I think that we have given five debuts now to our youth team players, and there is probably going to be one more in the last two games. These young players, we are developing them and also there is a little group that were in and out of the team.

" The way that they are coming on and with the responsibility that has now been passed their way to carry it on their shoulders. The young players, plus those, plus three or four more players that will join in the summer, we are going to have a decent little team. I am confident, I am excited and I just wish that the season wasn't finishing to be honest. "



" I do know who I want, whether we can afford them and whether we can get them remains to be seen. Players do want to come here but you have to pay them money, you don't always get what you want and then you have to go to the second tier. We will keep looking though, we will keep shopping and we will keep waiting, but there are players targeted.

" There are also some players here though that I want to get tied up to be here, first and foremost that is my most important challenge in my mind at the moment. There are certainly a couple that I do want to keep and that I want to get in here.

" It would be disrespectful to all the other players to say who I want out. There are quite a lot of players out of contract and we will have to wait and see what comes available. The lists are coming through now from various clubs, from agents left, right and centre. We have to sift through it all, put ourselves forward, and then see if we can afford them, and we will have to wait and see.

" (Shane) Duff, (Michael) Townsend, (Andy) Gallinagh, (Frankie) Artus, (David) Hutton, (Michail) Antonio, (Yuri) Berchiche are all young and hungry and listening. They have been playing for the team and they have been magic, they have been magic, and they add athleticism and energy and legs, and that has been the difference recently. "



" I'm fine, of course I am hurt, when I get in my car and drive over the hill of course I am hurt. I have seen the development and players' personalities and characters grow though. The goalkeeper (Scott P Brown), (Lee) Ridley, (Dave) Bird, Gallinagh, have stepped out of the shadows and they have been in the shadows. We have given them responsibility, (Paul) Connor is another one, he has grown in stature and belief.

" I am very proud of them, very proud, and the boys that have come in on loan have given us all a lift of course. Some of those players that are here and that are going to be here next year though, they are a key part of it and they have got to now take the responsibility to take this club forward. I am excited also about the development of the young youth players that we have got here, about bringing those boys like Marley Watkins, Kyle Haynes through.

" There are a few young boys here that are ready to kick on and we might have to put them in next year, 18 and 19-year olds and they will have to give them a push. Jake Lee, I am not frightened of putting them in, I showed against Yeovil, I'm not frightened of putting them in.

" I said about three or four months ago that all those kids who have been playing in our reserves, and for the first few games they got absolutely hammered. If you had seen them play last week at Bristol City against a very strong team, you would realise that they aren't that far away. "



" Behind the scenes they have been worked very, very hard physically, they are going to be worked very hard physically for the next three weeks because their last game is on Tuesday. Then they will be given programmes to work on through the summer because those 17 and 18-year olds are going to have to step up pretty rapidly to be involved with us on July 1st with the first-team squad. When we go away to the Army camp then they will all have to be ready.

" The supporters got behind us and the supporters have been naffed off as I have been, I don't blame them to be honest, they pay their money and expect better. I found it hard at the end coming out here with all the players, and all the supporters giving them so much credit. The players at the moment deserve it but I did find it hard.

" I want to be stood here next year with the players doing a lap of honour in a different scenario. I am not going to go into the detail but when I was stood next to the dugout that is what I was visualising, and that is what I am seeing and that is what I aim for. I don't want to be at the bottom, I want my team at the top and challenging and seeing the type of football that we have played today.

" With young players, fast, energy, skill, being positive in possession and defenders that defend, and putting on a good football show. It is not always easy to do that when you are down the bottom of the league but the players have done it. The supporters respect that, enjoy that and that is the sort of football that I want the team to play. "






Meanwhile Cheltenham goalscorer Drissa Diallo commented to the Gloucestershire Echo :

" I have taken penalties before in Belgium and for MK Dons in penalty shoot-outs last season. We needed to score. The manager didn't say who was taking penalties before the game, but I said I knew I would score and the lads said, "Are you sure?", and I said, "I know I am going to score". We then had ten minutes to nick another goal, but it wasn't to be, unfortunately. "