Last updated at 11:19, Thursday, 04 February 2010

Billy Rafferty, John Halpin and Hughie McIlmoyle - three stars of Carlisle United teams past - give their thoughts on the big issues at Brunton Park to Amanda Little.

• Video: The full interview (25 mins)

We’re at the halfway stage and Carlisle are handily placed in a very tight League One with games in hand, one game away from Wembley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and they nearly took the scalp of Everton in the FA Cup. How do you see the season so far?

Rafferty: If you look at the last 20 games they have lost only five times and that is reasonable form.
The away form is like promotion form, it just seems to be at home where they are stuttering a little bit. If they improve their home form they will be fine. We’ve also had the bonus of good cup form which has put us a step from Wembley.

McIlmoyle: They have played brilliantly against teams above them but let themselves down against teams in the relegation zone. It has been a very inconsistent season.

Halpin: If we can find some consistency between now and the end of the season, we can really push ourselves up the league. The cup runs have been a real bonus and I don’t think they have been a distraction.

What will Carlisle look back on with a sense of satisfaction from the first half of the season?

McIlmoyle: To reach the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern final is fantastic for the fans and to get to the final at Wembley would be a huge achievement.

Rafferty: I think Greg Abbott has done a fantastic job with the budget he has had to work with. With crowds of 4,500-5,000 means there are restrictions on the kind of players you can bring in.
For me, the people he has brought in have done really well.

Halpin: A couple of good results in the next couple of games could push us into the top 10 which would be a great achievement.
Everyone understands that financially the club isn't in the same league as the likes of Leeds United and Southampton. To compete at this level is difficult but we have done really well so far.

What do you think they need to improve on? What would be the main concerns for Greg Abbott?

Halpin: Consistency is the key thing and Greg will be concerned that that can go awry, not even from game to game, but from half to half. I think the injuries and suspensions will be a worry to Greg as we don't have a big squad.

Rafferty: One of the main problems has been the tendency to concede cheap goals, especially at home, that opposing teams haven't had to work hard for. We’re still prone to doing that. My only other concern is up front as we still need someone to hold the ball up and lead the line properly. I haven’t seen Darryl Duffy yet, but none of the current players can naturally do that and it is important, which is why the team did so well with Vincent Pericard in the side. It gave the midfield time to get up there and support him.

McIlmoyle: They need someone up front, whether it’s a goal-scorer or a targetman to hold the ball up. For me, they didn’t keep possession in the last two home games, and the ball went straight back to the opposing back four who walloped it up to their strikers. Finding a striker has been a priority all season.

Who has caught your eye this season and who are the contenders for player of the year?

Rafferty: Matty Robson has really impressed me in home games. He’s had a tremendous season so far. He’s always very positive going forward and does his bit as well when we haven’t got the ball as he chases back and helps out the full-back. His quality of crosses have been good as well. Since moving to central defence, Ian Harte has been a big plus and Evan Horwood has done well since he came back.

Halpin: Tom Taiwo from Chelsea has been an excellent find. He’s a real throwback to midfield players you used to see as he is so tenacious.

McIlmoyle: The player of the season so far for me has been Richard Keogh. I like whole-hearted players who give everything for 90 minutes. When fans pay their money, that is what they like to see. When he gets the ball, he is always capable of doing something.

The longest-serving player Peter Murphy has been confined to the bench and there has been constant speculation he is on his way out of the club. Is that a surprise or do you think he is a spent force at Brunton Park?

McIlmoyle: Peter has been a good servant. Over Christmas, Carlisle had two or three good results with him playing just in front of the back four. He’s very versatile, and we will need all the players we can get until the end of the season.

Rafferty: Peter hasn’t played many games and when he returned over Christmas he looked a little bit off the pace, but that was to be expected. You can train all you want, but you will only get match fitness from playing games. He has been a great servant and I wouldn't want to be too hasty in pushing him out the door.

Halpin: With injuries and suspensions, he will have a big part to play in the second half of the season, and I think Greg knows he still has a lot to offer. People may question if he is a spent-force but he has a lot to offer the football club.

Adam Collin has emerged as first-choice goalkeeper and that’s quite a turnaround from playing for Workington Reds last season. How highly do you rate him?

Halpin: He's been excellent for us. Our goalkeeping coach Tony Caig has worked really hard with him in the last three or four months and it’s paying dividends. You could see on Saturday how he has grown in confidence. Greg has 100 per cent faith in him and that is helping him.

Rafferty: I think the boy has done fantastically well. He looks comfortable coming for crosses and he’s a decent shot-stopper. Considering the level he has come from he’s done really well and that’s a compliment to Caigy, who has worked with the boy and given him a lot of confidence. He’s a real find.

McIlmoyle: I think he can play at a higher level again one day. Goalkeeping is all about making decisions and you can see game by game he is getting more and more confident. He has a good physique as well.

Greg Abbott is now putting his own stamp on the team and has finally won over the boo-boys. How do you think the manager is shaping up?

Rafferty: For me, Greg is doing a super job and I hope they can keep things going. Sometimes fans’ expectations are too high. I was a bit concerned at the start of the season that we might hover above the relegation zone but I'm optimistic we can start moving up the table. We’ve good team spirit which is one thing Greg has created. The lads seem very together.

Halpin: Greg has a lot of potential and he is beginning to realise it now. It takes time for a manager to get their own players in and put their stamp on the team.
Sometimes the boo-boys can be a bit quick and demand a manager is sacked, but any club that is successful gives a manager time.
Look at Manchester United, it’s no coincidence they haven’t changed their manager for 20 years and been so successful.

McIlmoyle: You need consistency and you should give a manager the chance to get his feet under the table. Greg is doing remarkably well on limited resources.
There was a dodgy time when he first took over but I would be happy if he stays here for another five or six years.

Huddersfield on Saturday – not going to be an easy trip for Carlisle. How do you see that game going?

Halpin: It’s never easy going to Huddersfield.  They are going really well and Lee Clark has done a good job. It’s a tough game but our away form has been excellent all season.

Rafferty: On our day, we are as good as any team in the division and we showed that against Norwich and Leeds. They have nothing to fear going to Huddersfield as our consistency levels away from home has been super.

McIlmoyle: I’m not worried about away games, it’s the home form that concerns me.

Where do you think Carlisle will finish in League One and do you think they can finish off Leeds on Tuesday night and reach Wembley?

Rafferty: I’ve a feeling it will be our turn to beat Leeds this time after they sneaked a late goal in the play offs. I think there is a great chance of getting to Wembley and finishing in the top half of the table.

McIlmoyle: I think top half of the table and a trip to Wembley will be a great season. The frustrating thing is that they could be further up the table. They need their home form sorted out.

Halpin: If we finished in the top half of the table that would be excellent.  Getting into the play-offs every year isn’t realistic for a club the size of ours. I don’t see why we can’t beat Leeds again next week. What a fantastic season it would be if we got to Wembley.

First published at 11:13, Thursday, 04 February 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk