Neil McDonald - Radio Cumbria Interview

Last updated : 14 March 2007 By Thetashkentterror

Blues manager Neil McDonald
United boss Neil McDonald spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey on Tuesday afternoon as he talked about the draw at home to Oldham on Saturday and what he thought the last ten games might bring in Carlisle's quest for a play-off place :


" It was a battling point because we weren't free-flowing and we didn't play that well. Some of our decisions were probably wrong, we played the wrong ball at times. All-in-all I'm very, very satisfied with a point considering the way we played. To have an off day at home gets everybody frustrated I suppose, all I'm asking of everybody is to stay with us, which they have done all season. Also to sometimes recognise when we're not playing well to keep on lifting the players, because they really do appreciate it, especially when we scored. You can see that we possibly could have scored just before that with a header from Kevin Gall, then when we get the goal the whole place erupted.

" We need that a little bit earlier if we possibly can just to keep the lads going and to make sure that everybody is behind them, which they are to be fair. That frustration comes from me as well because I'm ranting and raving on the side, and the whole crowd is getting frustrated as well, but we have to stay with it as much as we possibly can, and keep on supporting the lads as they have done throughout the season.

" All due respect to Oldham, I thought that they started off really, really well and put us under pressure and they did play probably the better football. At the same time though I think we played better football against Yeovil and yet we were beaten 4-1. There are still plenty of twists and turns, we seem to be probably playing better football away from home at the moment which is a total change from the start of the season. We've only got ten games left, five home and five away, so fingers crossed that we can keep the form going in the remaining games.

" Once you get past Christmas I think the season flies, you never recognise January because January just disappears, then you're into February which is only four weeks, then you're into March and the season is almost finished. We're in a good position at the moment, we're in good form, one defeat in eight, although we probably could have done with a couple more wins out of that and that might have pushed us up. We've still given ourselves a chance to keep close to the play-offs though, and if we could get in there then that would be fantastic. "



" When you play the top teams, especially the top teams in the top six, you need your strongest team. I think it shows the measure of the squad that we can compete with them, even though we didn't play as well as we have done in the past. We're competing with losing Karl Hawley, Paul Murray, Jeff Smith and Simon Hackney as well, they are important players in the team, not have to them against the top teams sometimes finds you out. Luckily though we scrapped and we scraped and we gradually ground them down and got the point.

" Everyone keeps on telling us that the last time we were in this position we always seemed to get relegated. The remit, without a shadow of a doubt, was to stay in this league and I'm hoping that we've got enough points to do that now which is excellent and gives us stability. Then hopefully we can build on what we are trying to do over this season.

" There is no need for an operation, he (Karl Hawley) is in rehabilitation and road to recovery. Nature takes its course with his ankle, he's having full treatment two or three times a day. I had a look at his ankle, the bruising is really, really starting to come out now and the swelling has gone down so that's good. We'll see how that develops over the next week or so, that's the same for everybody else really, just taking their time and making sure that they are alright and ready, and if we can get them back before the end of the season then that will be a bonus.

" He (Paul Murray) is that type of player who is going to get injuries. He's had a lot of unlucky circumstances this year though. He started off fantastically, he scored our first goal after being out for a while and not being able to play for his hometown club. Then to get an injury which kept him out - he has battled back from that and played another five, but unfortunately he got another injury. We'll assess that as it goes along and when we get the full results, which we're still waiting for to be fair because we've had a little bit of a problem with the surgeon. In the bits-and-bobs looking at his knee with the hospital there has been a little bit of a mix-up, so we're just waiting for that to come back, then we'll take it from there.

" We've got an idea of who want for next season, we're just trying to talk to each individual player as we go along - the ones who are out of contract, to see what their thoughts are. It goes both ways but I think we've got a good idea of who we want to keep for next season. There are still ten games to go though and there is still a lot to play for, we're asking the boys to be a little patient - the ones who haven't already been told - and that will come gradually and at the right time. "



" I think they (Millwall) were one of the relegated teams last year and sometimes it takes time to find your feet, they've had a change of management as well but they seem to be coming on nice and strong now. They are one of the teams that have beaten us at home so we need to get a little bit back off them, it will be a very, very difficult game but it's a game that we're looking forward to because our away form is better than it has been. I think we're undefeated in four away so we'll try and keep that going but it is going to be a very, very difficult game on Saturday.

" I think the position that we are in geographically means we have to put up with the long trips but I think we've cracked it. We're training and then eating, and then travelling, and then having a little bit of food before we go to bed, so hopefully since the turn of the year I think we've cracked it travel-wise. We're missing the majority of the bad traffic when we set off a little bit later and the boys seem quite comfortable with that. That's the situation we are in, we have to put up with it and we have put up with it, I'm glad that we've seen an improvement over the last, not just four or five games, but six or seven since the turn of the year, and we aim to keep that going.

" It is great to see the supporters, before Christmas we hadn't been sending them home with a huge big smile, frustrated probably yes knowing that we had played some decent stuff but not stuck it in the back of the net. We're starting to do that now and we're starting to be difficult to beat away from home. Over the last few games away from home they've still had their travels to do but they have been going home with a smile on their face. That's all we are trying to do - make sure that the supporters come and watch the team and feel good about their team when they leave the opposition's ground, and they have been doing that since the turn of the year.

" I think for me ninth is a fantastic position to be in. Even early on in the season we've never looked down, believe what you may, but we've never looked down - we've always looked up. When we look up we are four points away from where everybody wants us to be I suppose. We've given ourselves a chance, if we're not good enough then we're not good enough. If we are then that's fantastic and we're on a rollercoaster ride. There are plenty of taxis waiting outside to take us but where they are going to take us we don't know. "