Andrea Thrussell puts new manager Gary Brabin 'on the spot' with your questions for the first time.

Click on the "Q&A" link on the left to access previous similar interviews.

Garry Wright kicked off by asking: "Welcome to Cambridge United, Gary. My question is, what formation will you use? Jimmy Quinn used 3-5-2, will you?"

Gary: "I like a back four but I'm not rigid about what formation I use in front of the back four. I like to play fast attacking football and I'll adjust the system depending on the game and the opposition."

Tom Francis asks: "Are we going to do better than last season and how we going to make up for our big losses like Lee Boylan and Rob Wolleaston?"

Gary: "I will certainly be trying my best to better last season and we need to get promotion. Those players leaving happened before I came to the club and hopefully the players I bring in will be better than them."

Craig Cooke asks: "Now that Dan Gleeson has taken up the number 2 shirt, can we take it this means he will be playing the right back position this season?"

Gary: "He's a right back and that's where he'll play for me."

Andy Gathercole asks: "What level of support are you expecting from the Amber Army at your first game in charge of this wonderful club?"

Gary: "I know they're a noisy bunch and I'm hoping I get the full backing of them all. They can rest assured that I'll be giving this club 100%"

Andy also asks: "What position on the field do you prefer your captain to occupy, and why?"

Gary: "I've got no real preference, I just want someone who's a leader. It's got more to do with their character than their position."

Dan Goddard asks: "After our very disappointing end to last season with the defeat to Exeter at Wembley and then our manager and some players leaving, what expectations do you think us fans have for this season and what expectations do you have?"

Gary: "I think we should definitely be a top six side all season and pushing for promotion."

Scott Sawers asks: "How does life as a manager compare to life as a player?"

Gary: "It's ten times more work! As a player you get up every day and come in and everything's prepared for you. You work hard for a couple of hours a day in training and you feel better for it afterwards, then you can go and relax and switch off.

"As a manager you don't. You've got make sure everything's all right, the preparation for training, for games, watching other players. It is very different and even though you're still involved in football I miss the buzz of playing and feeling good after training every day, but being a manager is more challenging.

"You're in charge of a team of players and trying to get things across to younger lads."

Andrea: "So how do you switch off away from football these days?"

Gary: "I very rarely switch off. I'm not a golfer or anything like that, and I find it very hard to switch off. I know it sounds a bit corny but football is my life 24/7. I've got close family and probably I'll have a nice meal and the occasional glass of red wine."

Andy Coe asks: "Being thrust into a potential promotion campaign after last season's near miss do you feel that you have all the plans in place to sustain a challenge or will it take time?"

Gary: "I've set my sights high straightaway and I want to win promotion. I'd like to think that the fans and the club can see that I'm trying to do things the right way structure-wise right through the club, and I'm confident that over a number of years I can move the club forward."

Jamie Cox asks: "Having re-signed two of the players Quinn disposed of at the end of last Season (McEvilly and Pitt) are there any others that you are a tad disappointed to be without?"

Gary: "No, not really. These things have happened and I'm not going to dwell on that. The players who have come back are the ones that I knew were keen to come back, which was a big factor for me. They want to be at the club."

Jamie also asks: "What do you think of Gavin Hoyte? I know that you haven't had long to study him but I feel he's a player with great potential. Do you agree?"

Gary: "Definitely, I think he is a player who has great potential. He's just a young lad and he's got a lot to learn, and the quicker he learns will decide whether he's going to be a top player or not."

Jamie also asks: "Which player so far has really stood out for you?"

Gary: "The big thing for me is attitude. I want people to be professional and do things properly, work hard in training and try to better themselves, and give 100% for the club. Those things impress me more than anything."

Jamie also asks: "What do you think of Mark Beesley as a player? He was very happy in the local press when you received the job and paid you a lot of compliments. I feel Mark took a while to get going after joining us (understandably) but towards the end of the season he really impressed me and I thought he should have been involved more in the play-offs."

Gary: "He's a quality player and he's definitely one of the best strikers in this league. I'm absolutely delighted that I've inherited a player like him in the squad when I took the job here."

Jamie's next question: "Was there a lot of competition for Courtney's signature?"

Gary: "There were a few people interested. I'm not sure of how many but I know other clubs were interested in him."

Jamie also asks: "I still feel we need at least two strikers (we only have McEvilly and Beesley at present). Do you hope to bring in a couple of strikers, one being a young striker with potential?"

Gary: "Yes, definitely. We're looking at people at the moment but I won't bring someone in for the sake of it. I'm only looking for quality."

Jamie's final question: "Were you surprised that Jimmy Quinn was sacked after building a squad that took us to second in the League and a play-off final? Does that make you feel under a lot of pressure?"

Gary: "Not really because I think he did a good job last season and I was a little bit surprised, but I don't feel any particular added pressure."

Matt Aldridge: "Now you have settled in with the squad, are there any players you wouldn't fancy have to chuck out of a nightclub?"

Gary: "None of my players drink and go to nightclubs... I hope!"

Ian Elliott asks: "What attracted you to Cambridge United?"

Gary: "I think the Conference is a great league and I think a club this size is a League club and that's where it belongs, so those were two of the main factors."

Ian also asks: "As a player you certainly had a fairly aggressive side to your game. How do you feel that influences your managerial style?"

Gary: "I didn't set out purposely to be aggressive; I think I was a 100%-er and I wanted to win, and I think I can try and help our players carry that out onto the pitch in a controlled manner."

Ian's final question: "What do you feel you need to achieve in your first season here to achieve 'success'?"

Gary: "Win football matches! I just want to see the club moving forward and getting better while winning football matches and competing at the top of this league. Hopefully we can achieve promotion in our first season but that's not the be-all and end-all because I want to put a good structure in place at this football club."

Daniel Lowe asks: "As was already highlighted in our first pre-season game and was a problem last season, how do you think you will give us a better ability to defend corners?"

Gary: "We've been working on it already. It's something I'm aware of and we're working very hard in training to fix that problem."

Chris Dodman asks: "From your first impressions of the squad, who do you think will end the year being voted fans player of the season and why?"

Gary: "It's too soon to answer that one."

Andy Spriggs asks: "Can you confirm whether the players have weight targets set by the club on return to pre-season training? If so, are these targets monitored throughout the season and fines imposed if not met?"

Gary: "Weights are taken every week and monitored, and I have my own in-house discipline for people who aren't reaching that, but there's no reason why anyone will be putting on too much weight; I'm confident of that."

Liam Plumridge from Haverhill asks: "Gary, do you prefer to manage by getting others to train the squad and concentrate on managing instead of coaching, or do you prefer to coach the squad yourself and be a part of the training process?"

Gary: "No, I'll be doing everything myself. I enjoy that and I think I can put my own stamp on things."

Ben Yelton asks: "Did you apply for the job as United manager, or were you approached by the board?"

Gary: "I was approached by the board."

Radders asks: "My Mum and Dad are both originally scousers and are Habbin regulars - my dad finds it very similar to when he stood on the Kop as a boy - are you a red or a blue? Also, has the 'Scouse revolution' been purposefully pursued or is it just a coincidence that the side is becoming Cambridge United a.k.a South Liverpool?"

Gary: "I'm a blue, and the 'Scouse revolution' is just a coincidence!"

Matt Frost asks: "A lot of managers set themselves and the team a points target as they progress through the season - do you do this and what's your first one if so?"

Gary: "Not really. I do set certain targets in my head but don't pass them on to the players."

Matt also asks: "On a totally different point, are footballers 'slaves'?"

Gary (laughs): No, they're certainly not."

Jon Beaumont asks: "Following the departures of Michael Morrison and Mark Albrighton, are you looking to bring in an experienced central defender?"

Gary: "Watch this space...!"

'Pingu' asks: "Just a quick one - will you bounce?"

Gary: "I'll try not to!"

Andrea Thrussell

Is there a player or member of the backroom staff you'd like to put on the spot? Nominate them now by writing to web@cambridge-united.co.uk

Make Your Click Count For The U's - talk about it on the Message Board!

You are respectfully reminded that any article, as with all content on this website (unless otherwise stated), is subject to copyright and the Official Cambridge United Website must be acknowledged as the original source.

AT080724