“Performance Is More Important Than The Result”

I spoke to Carlisle City boss James Tose about the Carlisle United match day as a whole, and ahead of the Cleator Moor friendly on Friday evening:

“Saturday was a fantastic day for the club and it brought the local community together which had a good atmosphere. Wherever you looked, there were children and families about, as well as groups of lads having a pint and enjoying a decent game of football.”

“If someone had said before kick off that we were going to lose 4-0 I would have probably taken that. I just wish that we could have showed a bit more of what we can do, but you have to take the situation into account; playing against Carlisle United.”

“In the first half, United kept the ball well for long periods, but the positive for our point of view is that it was a good work fitness-wise. All of the lads put a shift in. In the second half, we changed the system and made it a bit more solid, which showed. We created a couple of chances, and on another day we may have gotten a goal.”

“Overall, everyone got minutes on the pitch, nobody is injured. A lot of positives came from the game, including some money for the club. And hopefully, we’ve made some friends.”

“It was an occasion which you have to rise to. A couple of the lads were a bit phased by it as they haven’t experienced something like that before, but they will learn for it and use the experience for the future. That will mean they will play the same quality football in front of nobody, as they would in front of a thousand.”

Moving onto Friday night, I asked James about the transition from Saturday's game:
“We have to treat Cleator Moor with the same respect as we do with every opponent and every game. Obviously, we want to win the game but the performance is more important to me. If we perform well, then the result will come.”

“A couple of the lads will miss the game, while some will return-such as Michael Slack who will get his first minutes of the pre-season campaign. Its about getting people more time on the pitch, playing the way we want to play, and increasing that fitness.”

-Will Stuart