On The Spot

Will Jones tackles David Preece

Every week Roy McFarland gives an exclusive weekly interview to U's Net and answers a selection of questions from supporters. We do our best to ask every question but inevitably if they have already been asked or there are a lot of questions we have to pick the best or most topical questions. Please don't give up!

This week David Preece stands in for Roy McFarland to look back on the excellent win against Preston North End that made Cambridge United safe in Division Two, and looks forward to this weekend's trip to Burnley. He also responds to the questions you want answered as U's Net reporter Will Jones once again puts him … "On The Spot".

Q. Looking back at the Easter weekend David, a truly awful performance at Colchester was followed up by a tremendous victory here at the Abbey Stadium against the Champions Preston. What were your views on the games?

I couldn't believe it. On Saturday we thought we were going to get the three points to keep us in the division but it was a awful performance from the lads but they come back on the Monday and beat the Champions. They fully deserved that.

Q. Do you think that result against Preston has shown how far we have come over the last three months?

It probably sums up our season that we can lose so easily to a side in the bottom half of the table then beat a top team like Preston. It sums up our season and shows why we are where we are in the league table.

Q. Obviously that result against Preston as good as secured our survival in the second division. Did you ever doubt that would be the case?

I think there has to be a slight doubt when you are bottom of the league with a big gap between you and safety. We closed the gap gradually by getting a few wins on the trot and have progressed slightly and put a good run together since Christmas to keep us in Division Two.

Q. Is there any one thing you can point to as a reason for us staying up?

We changed the formation from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2. Also with Eustace (left) coming back to the side and being outstanding and Paul Wanless has been outstanding in midfield despite the problems with his baby.

I think since deadline day Perez has come in goal and, not knocking Shaun Marshall who has done very well, has given us that firm base at the back.

Q. A thing a lot of the fans are pointing towards the sale of Martin Butler. People thought we might struggle once we sold him, but since he left the results seem to have picked up?

Martin was a good player and scored lots of goals. The system we played with three up front helped Martin a lot, but probably didn't help Trevor. We changed the formation and that has helped Trevor to score the goals.

Q. With us now being safe does it give yourself and Roy the chance to look at some of the younger fringe players in the first team, such as Adam Tann?

There are always points at stake and we want to win every game. I do think the boss will blood one or two of the boys. Not to start them but have them on the bench and give them a few minutes. The Gaffer is an old pro and he will want to play his most experienced side but bring a few of the youngsters on. We would have liked to have done it earlier but they will benefit next season as we will still be in Division Two.

Q. Now we are safe we can look and plan towards next season. Have any of the players who are out of contract in the summer - Scott Eustace, Neil Mustoe and Marc Joseph - been signed up to new contracts?

I know there are quite a few players out of contract and the boss has been speaking to them. He has asked my advice and John Taylor but it is down to the boss at the end of the day - he knows who he wants and who he doesn't. It is up to the boys as well, we would love to keep some of the players you have just named but at the end of the day it will be up to them.

Q. Looking forward to this Saturday we travel to play Burnley in what is a massive game for them, how nice is it going there knowing that we don't, in a sense, need the result?

I think it is quite nice as we are going to one of the bigger clubs in the league. They get big crowds and I think their fans will get a little bit apprehensive if they don't score in the first 20 minutes and they need to win as they are joint second in the league but behind Wigan on goal difference. They will need a few goals so if they don't score early they will get a bit edgy.

Q. Roy has often said to me that when playing a side that are safe, you never know what way they will go. They could either relax and play their football or relax and not play to their full potential. What one of these do you think Cambridge United will do on Saturday?

I think hopefully we will go and enjoy our football, as we play better when we aren't tense. We also tend to play better against the top teams so hopefully on Saturday we will produce the goods.

Q. Are there any major injury concerns going into the game?

Everybody has come through training all right. Neil Mackenzie, Andy Duncan and Alex Russell are back in training so we have a full squad apart from Michael Kyd.

Will Jones

Richard Mead of Swaffham Prior, and Luke Kinsella both ask: For most of the season we have shown we can play good football, so what do you believe the club's prospects are for next season?

For a club of our size we would like to progress. I don't think we can make a major step but I am looking for about four places above this season, and then we would have progressed. If we finish sixth from bottom this season and tenth from bottom next season then that will be a step forward, for me - that would be progression. It is a hard league and we have found it hard. We are hoping to buy a few players during the summer and progress.

Ang Bennett of Ely asks: In your honest opinion, do the U's stand a chance of getting promotion to Division One within the next two seasons, or must we be resigned to the fact that we have gone as far as we can?

I don't think we have gone as far as we can but I honestly think it will take us more than two seasons to get out of this division. This is a very good division and the way the club is financially it might take three to five years before we consider pushing for automatic promotion.

If we can keep some of the boys we have got and with the new boys we have coming through it might be three but we just can't go out and buy players. There is progression at the club and underneath are some good players coming through but we can't blood them all.

Seb Short of Ipswich asks: Can John Taylor do another season, or will you be looking to get another striker with the £750K received for Martin Butler?

John can play part of the season, no doubt about it. We have been looking for a striker since Martin left and we have our eyes on one and the gaffer had made a bid. The bid wasn't big enough but we are going to get in contact against to see if they have chanced their mind.

Anthony Williams asks: Just before kick off in the Cardiff match, the Cardiff players formed a huddle. It is not the first time that we've seen this ritual performed by opposing teams this season, so what do you think of teams doing this and would you ever encourage our team to have a pre-match huddle?

The only time I like the lads to huddle is when we score a goal. The hardest thing to do in football is score and whoever scores the goals should get together and celebrate.

Simon Gleave of Utrecht, Netherlands asks: I have recently moved to Holland and wondered whether you might get the team over here for a pre season tour. Some of the lesser names in the top division would give us good games and the style is not dissimilar (although less physical) than the English game.

I would say for clubs like us to go abroad it costs us too much money. I played in the old first division with Luton Town it used to be financed by the other team we were playing. If anyone would like to pay for us to go abroad then I am sure the gaffer would take us as it would be great for the boys and a great idea.

On that subject, Scott Conway of Turnpike Lane, North London asks: I wondered if you have yet made any plans for pre-season opponents? If not, would it not be a good time now to try and get in some high profile opposition before they are 'booked' by other teams. Surely this would provide a means of boosting finances and testing the players?

You will find the big clubs are booked not just a year in advance but two years in advance. We can't think that far ahead. Three months ago we wrote to a lot of the clubs but they were all booked. We just take what we can get and hopefully that is good for us.

We would love to play the likes of Manchester United or Arsenal but sadly they like to go and play in these tournaments where they get paid. I think that is wrong as the revenue would be good for us.

A lot of fans have asked recently: What is the best way to get a trial with Cambridge United?

The best way to get a trial is to write to me, John Taylor or Ricky Martin depending on their age to tell us who they are playing for so we can send one of our people to have a look. That is the best way.

Several others have asked: What is the best way to get scouted by Cambridge United?

Write to us and tell us who you are playing for. We do have a look in all the leagues but sometimes we need to be told.

Dominic Drane of Wilburton, Cambs asks: Has Scott Eustace been offered a new contract with the club?

The boss has spoken to Scott and I don't think he was offered one there and then but I think he was told he would be offered one.

Scott Conway of Turnpike Lane, North London asks: I noticed during Mondays' game against Preston that at many of the dead ball situations both John Hansen and Jonathan Hunt were running over together to take the kicks, as if they were in dispute as to whose responsibility it was to take them. Are these not the decisions that should be made before the players enter the field of play?

Every week the set pieces are set out in training and put on the board. They should know the jobs. Sometimes in football decisions have to be made there and then but they know where they should be for set pieces.

Tim Summers of Cambridge asks: Congratulations on a great job this season. My question is: Around about this time of the season football clubs are arranging end of season events and giving out awards - will Cambridge United be sending an invitation to Martin Butler to attend as I'm sure that it's not already been forgotten what a sterling job he done for us until he left us for Reading?

I keep in touch with Martin as he is a friend as well as a former colleague. I am sure if he was around he would come. He is getting married in the summer and all the boys will be going. He loved it here, the fans loved him and he tried his best on the field ever week.

If you would like to have your question asked next week, please follow this link and complete the form. Whenever possible the answers will be available every Thursday night.

As ever, we would like to thank Graham Eales for the opportunity to put these questions to David Preece, and the player-coach for his co-operation.

If you have any comments about this regular feature, either for Will or myself or for David or Graham, please use this e-mail address: feedback@cambridgeunited.com