League One 2013-14 Preview from the fans, Part 5: Preston NE and Carlisle

Evening all,

Well it only seems like yesterday that Yeovil defeated Brentford to close the 2012-13 League One season - well 60 days to be exact. But already the ball has started rolling for the beginning of the new 2013-14 League One season.

And as part of my build up  for a new season where i will be covering as many of the Gillingham games as I physically can, I have recruited fans from all 24 clubs from League One and get their options for their clubs as the new season starts on August the 3rd.

Today we continue with looking at two sides from the north west of England that have been in this division for a few seasons now and both sides are rebuilding their own sides in order to move up into the championship. and this is the first of my ITV News Double headers as well. I'm talking about Preston North End and Carlisle United.

PRESTON NORTH END

Name: Richard Frediani

Occupation away from supporting your club: 

Programme Editor, ITV News at 6.30 pm

How long have you been a supporter of Preston North End and how did you start supporting them?

Since the early 1970's when i was around 7 or 8. I can remember Sir Bobby Charlton's brief reign as manager, promotion under Nobby Styles and the nightmare management of Tommy Docherty.

Let’s get this ball rolling:

What would be your Dream season?

Promotion, Isn't that the dream of every lower league football fan? Or a 'Bradford City' style cup run that gives us 15 minutes of glory.

And what will make it a Nightmare season for you?

Relegation, and losing to Blackpool in the First Round of the League Cup.

Our own fans think our team is:

Rebuilding, in the wrong division

Other teams’ fans think our team is:

Dirty. Busted flush. Not as big as we think we are.

The new season:

How has Pre-Season been for you this time around?

After last summer's 'Westley Revolution' it's been a much more conrolled pre season. We've yet to play any warm up games - but I never take those as a barometer of the season ahead. Rather you look at the changes made on and off the field. We've had 5 managers in 5 years and a huge overhaul in playing staff. All of the changes were made for what seemed like sound reasons at the time - but with hindsight we were probably wrong to dump Alan Irvine back in 2009.

Have you got the right manager and how popular is he?

Hopefully! Simon Grayson has a great track level in League One with Blackpool, Leeds and Huddersfield and hopefully he will extend that with us. He steadied the ship at the end of last season and took us out of a relegation nosedive to mid table safety. I just hope he is given the time and resource to get us in a challenging position.

Are there any new signings that you are excited about?

Resigning Declan Rudd at goalkeeper and doing a new deal with youngster Will Hayhurst are both good moves. Then we signed Kevin Davies on a free transfer. There are always going to be two camps on the signing of an 'old pro' like Kevin Davies. The 'knockers' will point out he is 36, at the end of his career and is finding a last club to see out his playing days. But, I'm not in that camp. Kevin Davies has always prided himself on keeping fit and considering how he 'puts himself about' his stats at Bolton show he was rarely injured. Opponents always talk about the difficulty of playing against him and, if nothing else, defenders will know he is there and that will make them think more about him thereby allowing others to finish the job. It's a gamble but one that makes I'm more, not less, positive about the season ahead. Roll on the first chant of 'Super Kevin Davies'.

Name the player that you would happily drive to his next club (and pay for the taxi as well):

Iain Hume. Overpaid and never settled.

Name an opposition player you despise:

Anyone wearing Tangerine!

Name an opposition player you would love to have at your club?

I hear Wayne Rooney is looking for a move.

If I was to visit your club on an away trip this season, name one thing I must do in your town? (Can be anything, football-related or otherwise... from visiting a famous sight, to making sure you don’t park your car somewhere, to find a certain drink in a pub or a nice place to eat:

There's an excellent Fish and Chip shop in Preston called Umberto's. I can highly recommend it! Failing that get your picture next to the Sir Tom Finney statue, visit the National Football Museum (hang about that's moved to Manchester)and make sure you leave without three points!

Onto other important matters:

Simon Grayson was brought in towards the end of the last season; given his credentials as an ex-manager of Leeds United, do you think he is the man to take Preston back into the Championship?

Yes. Despite 'Larry' also having managed Blackpool he has a track record which fans ultimately respect. He's worked with clubs on small transfer budgets and made sensible decisions and I see no reason why it shouldn't be 4th time lucky.

Deepdale used to be a fortress for Preston for a number of years, but this has diminished over the past few seasons, why do you think this has happened?

Too much change has caused too much instability. Darren Ferguson wanted his Dad's players to help him out to gain success, Phil Brown wanted old players to get him up and Graham Westley wanted booted out the entire team and his own players (mainly from Stevenage)to sort it out. Grayson will build from the back, hence signing Rudd, and I think will make sure we become a tighter unit.  

Stuart Beavon was brought into the squad and has done well scoring nine goals last season; will he be an important asset to Preston this season?

He had a difficult time last season with poor service. Hopefully with Hayhurst firing in crosses he will be more effective in front of goal. And since Davies joined us – he will be even better.

You are in a division where some of your colleagues from ITV are supporting other teams; is there a lot of friendly banter between you and your colleagues about the football?

There's always chat in the office. Many of the team are 'big time Charlie' supporters glory hunting with Chelsea (Mark Austin). But our Sports Editor Steve Scott supports Bristol City, our Head of Foreign News Tim Singleton follows Wycombe and there's even a Blackpool supporter allowed in here.  

And now onto the really important stuff:

Who do you think will be the top 6 at the end of the season?

Not in this order but - Bradford City, Brentford, Peterborough, Preston, Sheffield United and Wolves.

Who do you think will go down to League 2?

Shrewsbury, Leyton Orient, Colchester, Carlisle

And finally, in all honesty, where do you think you will finish this season?

Play-offs!

CARLISLE UNITED

Name: Kenny Toal

Occupation away from supporting your club: ITV News Tyne Tees/Border correspondent and presenter

How long have you been a supporter of Carlisle United and how did you start supporting them?

My first game was when I was 3 so for the past 37 years. My dad took me as a boy and I was hooked. We were in the old third division at the time. I missed the glory days of our season in the old first. But there was no going back

Let’s get this ball rolling:

What would be your Dream season?

Play offs, a good run in the cup with a big name team in later rounds, Maybe a giant killing along the way and winning the Johnstone paint trophy again getting to Wembley. 

And what will make it a Nightmare season for you?

Another under achieving one like last year and relegation 

Our own fans think our team is…

A sleeping giant that regularly under achieves its potential 

Other teams’ fans think our team is…

A small club in Scotland the arse end from anywhere 

The new season:

How has Pre-Season been for you this time around?
Some decent signings. Securing lee miller again a big plus. We are  Looking good in friendlies. Big defeat against Burnley but Great win at home to Bolton. 

Have you got the right manager and how popular is he?

I think he's a great manager. He gets stick from fans and I can't understand why. He's got no money to play with and wheels and deals well. Last season was poor but he's done well in other seasons. He's the third longest serving manager in the football league now. He is a good pair of hands at lower league level

Are there any new signings that you are excited about?

Lee miller signing again will be the key. 

Name the player that you would happily drive to his next club (and pay for the taxi as well)...

Mike Edwards had a difficult season last year. Hoping it was a blip.


Name an opposition player you despise...

Despise is a strong word. Not a player more a manager ... Graham Wesley 


Name an opposition player you would love to have at your club?

Wish we still had Joe Garner. 

If I was to visit your club on an away trip this season, name one thing I must do in your town? (Can be anything, football-related or otherwise... from visiting a famous sight, to making sure you don’t park your car somewhere, to find a certain drink in a pub or a nice place to eat) 

Get a Brunton pasty down you, enjoy a pint in the beehive and if you have time take a jaunt to Hadrian’s Wall.


Onto other important matters:

After a mid table finish last season, how important is it for you not to get dragged into a relegation fight this time around?

Vital. We need a good start. Confidence breeds confidence. Steer clear of injuries and we will do well. But a bad start and the home fans will be on the managers back. The fans need something to cheer after last season. We need to improve on last year. A bad start and I fear the worst 

You let Paddy Madden move to Yeovil who then gets promoted to the Championship, were you shocked to see him do well at Yeovil?

No: personally I thought he was never given a fair chance at Carlisle. Pleased he's doing so well. Sometimes a player doesn't work out for one reason or another. But he is quality. And it's obvious that he's one that got away

You have let some key players go during the close season; do you think you will have the budget and the scouting capability of replacing them?

It will be difficult. We are one of the lowest paying teams in the league. We have a budget tighter than a Scotsman. We are looking for cheap deals and loans. That's where the managers ability to spot talent and bargains comes into its own. I'm happy enough with the signings he's made close season so far. We lack strength in depth but we have a good relationship with some big premier league sides and I think loan deals will make or break our season 

You are in a division where some of your colleagues from ITV are supporting other teams; is there a lot of friendly banter between you and your colleagues about the football?

I work in the north east. I usually get stick for supporting a league one side. But when I tell them how Carlisle looks after the fans and gives out tickets for kids 7 and under they usually pipe down. I wouldn't swap the blues and league one for the premiership. Success means so much more when you don't expect it! 

And now onto the really important stuff:

Who do you think will be the top 6 at the end of the season?

Wolves
Coventry
Sheffield Utd 
Peterborough 
Mk Dons
Bristol City

Who do you think will go down to League 2?

Shrewsbury
Oldham
Crewe

And finally, in all honesty, where do you think you will finish this season?

11^th, mid table, good start, mid season wobble, late finish that will just be too late. 

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Over the next few days, more fans from clubs in League One will be given their chance to speak out on the new season which begins soon.

To be continued...