Neil McDonald - Radio Cumbria Interview

Last updated : 23 July 2007 By Thetashkentterror

Blues manager Neil McDonald
United boss Neil McDonald spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria on Friday evening as he talked about how pre-season preparations are going for the Blues, McDonald also chatting about the need to bolster the playing side with some new signings :


" We're still in good discussions with the people that we are talking to, it does take time. They are thinking over the offers that we have had and we've just got to keep our fingers crossed that they want to come and join us. Hopefully in the next week we should have some answers on whether or not it's going to be green light or we have to move on to the next target. We're in very, very good discussions with another striker and that would make us very, very competitive upfront if we can get the person that we are trying to get.

" Training has gone fantastically well this week, we're in tomorrow morning as well so they've worked all day Monday to Thursday, they've had a single session today and we'll have a single session on Saturday morning. They can have Sunday to rest and get over their aches and pains then we'll be back at it fully 100% on Monday leading up to the game against Barrow on Saturday. The first week has gone fantastically well, I couldn't ask for anything more, they all look really, really fit, they look sharp and they have thoroughly enjoyed their week of training so far.

" It's great to have him (Simon Hackney) back, he's worked very, very hard over the summer, he's a dedicated lad and he tries to do the right thing. Unfortunately he had a bad injury leading up to the Swansea game but he has been patient. We've worked very hard behind closed doors, Dolly (Neil Dalton) on his rehabilitation which is excellent, he's back fully fit now and he's looking the part to be fair in training. Running-wise and especially football-wise because he is a fantastic player when we have got the ball.

" We have four or five people who are very, very capable of being the captain of the football club but we've still got six games to go in pre-season before the games start. There is no rush on that and whoever I choose will be the right man, he will be well respected, and he'll be the right person for the job to drive us on. Especially on the field, organisation and keeping all the rest of the players organised, and off the field to make sure that we do things right.

" Joe Garner is a Blackburn player, he did extremely well when he came to us towards the end of the season. We'll see how it goes, we're trying to have discussions with Blackburn on seeing how that is going but we've got other irons in the fire. Joe did extremely well for us though, I'm sure everyone would agree.

" Pre-season is all about making sure we are ready for Walsall, in the past I've been involved at football clubs where we have lost every single pre-season game and went on a run that would be fantastic. I've been at clubs where we've won every pre-season game and gone on to an absolute nightmare. So that is the most important thing, making sure that we are ready, fit, strong and organised to make sure that we can beat Walsall away.

" It's been good, the players have come back probably in better shape than they did last year. They came back last year with a new manager on the back of a promotion, they have come back this year with a desire to try to do better than they did last year and prove that they can compete in a league which is very, very strong. I'm happy with everything so far and I'm sure the weeks leading up to the Walsall game will be fascinating because hopefully we can add to the squad and then the competition for places is on. Who is going to be in the team from the start which is what you want. "