Tom Taiwo - Radio Cumbria Interview

Last updated : 08 January 2010 By Thetashkentterror

Tom Taiwo
United midfielder Tom Taiwo (TT) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Paul Newton (PN) on Friday evening after earlier in the week turning his loan spell from Chelsea into a permanent deal on a two and a half year contract, Taiwo hoping to now concentrate on his football :



PN

How relieved are you to have finally got things sorted out?

TT

It is great to get everything out of the way and everything signed, and now myself and the lads can just concentrate on getting the football side of things underway.

PN

Why in the end did you decide to stay with Carlisle United? Because there was interest from other clubs.

TT

It was basically because I have enjoyed my time, I have built up a really good relationship with the boys, the managing staff and also the fans. At the moment I am just wanting to get some games under my belt and just keep playing and try to impress people.

PN

How much interest was there from other clubs in signing you?

TT

There was reported interest from clubs in the Championship and some other League One teams but there was nothing ever as concrete as the interest shown by Greg (Abbott) and he made sure that I knew that he wanted me to stay right from early on in my loan spell. So it was always on the cards for me to stay.

PN

Some have expressed surprise that you didn't go to a Championship club, was there perhaps a temptation to do that?

TT

No, I spoke to the manager before and we both agreed that in my best interests it was for me to play more League One football. There would be no point going to another club and finding myself on the bench and back in the position I was at Chelsea. So basically I thought that with the managing staff looking after me as well as they have, then Carlisle would be the best place for me.





PN

At what point did you know that your future lay away from Chelsea?

TT

I probably knew in the summer to be honest, I was quite far away from the first team and I knew that if I was going to make a career I had to go out and start playing some men's football. Thankfully the gaffer gave me a chance and hopefully I have repaid him.

PN

Do you feel as though you never really got a chance at Stamford Bridge to prove yourself?

TT

It is a tough question, I was very unlucky with injuries in my time there. I got a broken leg as soon as I joined the club, that happened in training, and ever since then things didn't really look up. Chances were limited but at the same time maybe I wasn't good enough and I have definitely got to prove myself now.

PN

Is your ambition ultimately to get back to the Premier League one day?

TT

Yeah, I think it is every player's dream to play in the Premier League but for me it is just about reaching my potential and making myself, and the people who supported me, making them proud as well.

PN

What was it like being around a club like that with all those big names? Is it harder for the fringe players if you like, the second string, to feel as though you are involved?

TT

Not necessarily, all the boys got the chance to shine, whether it was through training or travelling with the first team. But the competition was so great that only a select few can make that step up and unfortunately that wasn't me.

PN

How much do you feel as though you have improved as a player over the last six months at Carlisle?

TT

Massively, I have been looked after by a lot of people, not just the management staff but also the more experienced players. From just a quick word after a match or after training to people staying out after training with me and helping me work on weak sides of my game. So it has been a lot down to myself but also a lot down to the hard work from other people as well.

PN

How much of an influence have players like Graham Kavanagh and Paul Thirlwell been for you?

TT

Yeah, massively, they have always got time for you, Graham Kavanagh has stayed out after training and done shooting with me. But even players like Marc Bridge-Wilkinson who hasn't been getting in the team and has obviously been trying to think about his own performance, he has always been there helping me and helping me in that midfield role.





PN

How good was that Everton game to play in?

TT

Oh it was brilliant, it was just great to play in front of a big crowd against international players, like Phil Neville and (Marouane) Fellaini and just test yourself against the elite.

PN

There has been quite a bit of speculation surrounding Vincent Pericard's future, how disappointed would you and your team mates be to see him go?

TT

Vincent is a great player, and he has shown through his goals and also his link up play that he is a top player and it would be a great shame for us if we lost him. But I think people are forgetting that we have got great strength in depth in that position, Joe Anyinsah and Scott Dobie there, they are great strikers and even before Vince came they started to show that they could score goals. I think if he does leave it would be a shame but we have also got great back up there.

PN

And as for you, what are your plans now? Are you planning to move up here full time or will you be one of the travelling party?

TT

I think I will be one of the travelling party, I have just bought a new flat in Leeds and I am just going to travel up with some of the lads.

PN

And a quick word about those supporters as well at the club, they have really taken to you over the last six months haven't they?

TT

Yeah, they have all been so supportive, it is nice to feel wanted by a club, and not just by the staff but also the fans. That was also a key factor into why I stayed.