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" We've had a Dutch under-21 international (Reginald Faria) with us this week, he came on Monday. He came across recommended through a friend of mine, an agent, he's got a very good pedigree. He's stepped down the leagues for one reason or another, he's a winger, he can play on both sides, we're looking for a wide man as well. We've had him in for a couple of days, he looks decent enough on the ball, good size, he looks quick.
" As we build the training up this week leading up to the game then hopefully he'll be able to play in the game on Saturday and we'll have a better look at him. He was at Ajax and I think he went to AZ Alkmaar and then he's dropped down into the second tier. He's played a fair few games though and we're just having a look to see what we can get out of the week. See whether or not he enjoys himself, he can have a look at us and we can have a look at him and hopefully finish it off with putting him in a game situation where we can have a better look at him.
" I can only talk about Matt Jansen, Matt Jansen has come in, I was speaking to him sometime last year anyway. He phoned me at the start of the week asking if there would be any chance of coming in and just joining in and playing some football with no strings attached and I said that yes he could. I'm not putting any pressure on, he hasn't played any football or trained football-wise for quite a while so lets see how it develops. See whether or not he enjoys what we do and then we'll really take it from there but there is no pressure on both ways.
" He just wants to come in and play a little bit of football and we're accommodating him. He's a lovely lad, he's settled in really well over the two days, he's still a decent player on the ball. He's still finding his feet and he even said to me today that he felt a little bit flat-footed but that's only natural when he hasn't done anything for quite a while. He (Peter Murphy) has come in and done a little bit of training but apart from that I don't really want to comment. It's nice for him to come in and if we've got any news on that then we'll let you know.
" What we've been doing is that we have been trying to build the fitness up over the last couple of weeks to make sure that they are capable of playing at least 45 minutes at Barrow. Some might play a little bit extra which is excellent, and that proves how well the fitness has gone this week along with the football. We'll try to play two teams which we always do for the first game to just get them back into it, get them a feel and to have a little bit of competition. "
" The end product is Walsall and we won't take our eye off that even though we've got some fantastic games coming up in pre-season. Everybody is fit, we've got no injuries which is excellent, if we can get through the next three or four days leading up to the game then everybody will be involved. That includes Chris Howarth, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, Danny Graham and Danny Carlton, so the four brand new ones will be taking part in the game which is excellent.
" It's about building up the match fitness from 45 minutes to possibly 60, if anybody plays 60 minutes, and just getting a feel of the ball. Getting back a little bit of shape and just passing and moving the ball like we did last year and hopefully create a couple of chances. Nothing else, the most important thing is that everyone gets through without getting injured.
" I've been at a football club where I think the first four games we lost 4-0, 5-0, 6-0 and 5-0 and then went on for the rest of the games in the pre-season and never won a game. Yet we went into the season and won ten on the trot, I've been at a football club where we have won almost every game and not started off very well. So it's very difficult to put your finger on what it is a good pre-season. I think the first five games tells you whether or not you've had a good pre-season and if everything has worked out by the results in probably the first five games to set you up for the rest of the year.
" We've got our fingers crossed that we can make additions, the sooner the better. We are looking for defenders of course and if we can add another forward to make the squad make very, very competitive then it would be excellent. If we need to go out and just nail one more to make the squad even stronger then that would be an extra bonus but we definitely need a couple of defenders and if at all possible another forward to make the squad strong.
" You do get knock backs on players, we're competing in a competitive environment in football with some big clubs in our league now. Obviously we are trying to attract people to come to Carlisle, we've been extremely fortunate and have worked hard behind the scenes to get four in so far. We just have to be, as I've always said, a little bit patient because things come to a head where not so much the players panic but players become available that you never thought would become available.
" It's up to us to try to impress them and tell them what Carlisle is all about. I think we've got a great chance, especially the two seasons they have had before last with the promotions and then finishing eighth last season. So we're in a healthy position to try to recruit players, as I say, we've got four in so far and hopefully they're not the last. "
" Simon (Hackney) has come back fantastically well, he's joined in and hasn't missed one training session so far, so I treat him as 100% fit which is excellent. Danny Livesey has come back much better than he has done in the past, he is looking fit and looking strong. As for the rest of the players there is plenty of competition for places, that drives you on and that pushes you on that little bit further. We've just got to control that to make sure that we don't get any injuries all the way through.
" You try to aim yourself to go further up but I've still got a lot to learn on the management side. Especially off the field which I'm trying to readdress by working alongside John Nixon and Fred Story, I'm doing a course on that as well, an Applied Management Course through the League Managers Association. I'm trying to learn everything and how to do it properly, coaching-wise I've got the experience and all the coaching badges on that.
" So if I progress then that is fantastic, if I have a great season then that is superb for Carlisle and let's try to do both. Why not put Neil McDonald in the spotlight but also let's try to get Carlisle as high as we possibly can, if that means going into the Championship then that is absolutely fantastic.
" Realistically we want to finish in the top twelve again, which shows signs of progression of course, at the same time though the quicker we do that the better. What we did last year was set, not a points total or a target or a position to finish in. It was to try to get to a certain level at a certain time and then set the next goal, and we'll do that. Obviously the first one is to finish in the top twelve if we possibly can. If we get there early and we're pushing on and we have a good start and the team is clicking like it did at stages in the season then there is no reason why we can't aim higher. It would be fantastic if we could finish above where we finished last season.
" I don't know so much about Barrow really to be fair, I don't really concentrate on teams that we are playing in the pre-season. You have to do a tiny touch of homework but the game will be difficult, there are never any easy games, it's classed as a local derby as well and they'll be up for it. They'll rise to the occasion because they are playing Carlisle I suppose. Even though we have only had two weeks training we are looking forward to the game, it will be a competitive game but a competitive game is what we are ready for after two weeks of training.
" I'm sure the local crowd will be hostile, it's all hopefully good banter that they can shout on their team and give, for the first time in probably a while, some stick to their local rivals. I hope there is a good crowd for everybody, I hope that Barrow get a good turnout. We'll have a full squad travelling so it's a chance for everyone to see our four new signings as well as how the team is going to start for a very difficult season. "