Emphasis firmly on youth

Latics’ assistabnt manager writes every week for Chron Sport
TOMORROW'S is a massive game for Carlisle while as far as we are concerned, the target is to end a season of ups and downs on a high note.

Our campaign has finished in disappointing fashion, so especially in front of our home fans at Boundary Park we are striving to gain a positive result.

It should be a good atmosphere. Carlisle have delayed all their end-of-season functions because they know exactly what is at stake.

If you look at Carlisle, they have managed to keep hold of their better players and have gelled together over a period of time.

Last season, Francois Zoko was a bit hit-and-miss but this time he has really showed form.

Lee Miller is the same. And James Berrett is a quality player who came into the side last season, finding his feet, before becoming one of the stand-out performers in the division.

They have steadily built and hats off to Greg Abbott, who is someone I have a high regard for.

Yes, they are probably similar as a club in size to what we are in terms of home gates, but what Greg has managed to do is add to his squad while retaining his best men.

And he has kept his top players fit, too. We haven't been able to do that, for whatever reason.

We are now looking at fielding the younger players who will be here next season.

One, it is to get some experience. And two, it is to see where they are at in regards to growing up, being men, and being able to handle League One football.

It isn't to say we don't want to win. But it is more important that we start looking to build for next season.

Recruitment for next season will be hard — full stop. The thing we have to concentrate on is bringing in people with the right attitude and desire and to some extent, forget about technical ability and things like that.

That is where we are at. We can't afford to go out and buy all-singing, all-dancing players. We must

concentrate on one or two main attributes that a player may have.