Boxing Day Fixtures

[denzel ecfc]

News from Exeter is that the upcoming fixtures are going ahead as normal, despite a couple of tests coming back as positive.
Good news for both FGR & Exeter fans.

Depends which players are missing....

 

[BarraMatt]

Not sure what this means for Carlisle and Barrow's upcoming home games which are supposedly allowed fans...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1341740951681855488

 

[hellogregory]

Not sure what this means for Carlisle and Barrow's upcoming home games which are supposedly allowed fans...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1341740951681855488

Watching the press conference nothing about cumbria in the list of places going into tier 4. Yet.

 

[Casey]

Sussex into tier 4. No fans for the Newport game and beyond.

Very doubtful we will be out in time for the fa cup game v Leeds. This is all just to spite me. I know it is....the bustards!

Casey

Ps. Thats a joke.

 

[BarraMatt]

Watching the press conference nothing about cumbria in the list of places going into tier 4. Yet.

Yeah just seen on BBC Cumbria Sport twitter. Happy about that, the news of possibly going into 4 had somewhat dampened my finishing work for Christmas mood.

 

[masi51]

Depends which players are missing....

Does not matter you have two teams of players ?

 

[Robshep]

Watching the press conference nothing about cumbria in the list of places going into tier 4. Yet.

Good luck on saturday.

 

[Vanni]

As expected, our home games are now BCD, including the boxing day game against the O's. A shame really but at least they won't be stealing the U's fans as well as the players now.

Anyway, I fear this BCD thing is all a moot point as I'm not expecting there to be any more football from now 'til the end of January at the very least. It's looking almost inevitable the EFL will suspend the league for a month or so with the way things are going.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Annoyingly whilst there are spectators at our game on BD I can't go as I'm now Tier 3.
Back to watching on ifollow then.

 

[GTFCfish]

PPG would allow us to finish above Grimsby as of tonight.

PPG right now please, lets not wait until after boxing day

Why, are you actually expecting us to get any points Boxing Day?
The 0 points we will pick up at Morecambe will still leave you above us come what may.

 

[Bottega Don]

Why, are you actually expecting us to get any points Boxing Day?
The 0 points we will pick up at Morecambe will still leave you above us come what may.

I just can't see the next game we will pick up any points, I was assuming Grimsby may pick some points up soon

 

[valefan16]

As expected, our home games are now BCD, including the boxing day game against the O's. A shame really but at least they won't be stealing the U's fans as well as the players now.

Anyway, I fear this BCD thing is all a moot point as I'm not expecting there to be any more football from now 'til the end of January at the very least. It's looking almost inevitable the EFL will suspend the league for a month or so with the way things are going.

They will have to be quick as tomorrow is the last day to end it before Boxing Day realistically!

Would make sense though as a few games off already and the situation is deteriorating fast. Without the testing in place for L1 and 2 it’s just not worth it and we can finish it into the summer if need be and with a better chance of fans seeing the conclusion of the season at least.

 

[The Terminator]

I'm not looking forward to our game at the Abbey, mainly because we've been shockingly bad for a game and a half, after playing very well for a game and a half.

Also our record at the Abbey in the main is fucking shite - especially on Boxing Day - Think we've lost all the Boxing Day meetings there, last seasons 3-2 win for us there was our only win there in the league in many years.

Embleton has been saying for a few weeks now, that players are going to come and go in January. Since he's done that we've been flat. Hopefully Conor Wilkinson can at least return, on his day he's capable of pulling one out of his hat.

Also the meeting of the leagues top two strikers Danny Johnson and Paul Mullin, both January signings this year who turned out to be decent.

 

[shoddycollins]

quick change to my prediction.

Carlisle United P-P Bolton Wanderers

as will be the case with every fixture if these circuit breaker rumours are true.

Don't think anything like that would come in till after Boxing Day, they usually make an announcement that changes are coming a few days down the line... this I think is definitely the last match we'll be able to attend in a while... if no nationwide lockdown then Cumbria will probably be in tier 3. Whether they'll actually postpone matches as opposed to playing them BCD I don't know.

 

[shoddycollins]

Yeah just seen on BBC Cumbria Sport twitter. Happy about that, the news of possibly going into 4 had somewhat dampened my finishing work for Christmas mood.

From the sounds of things, if they're saying 'part of Cumbria' then it will be Eden... Copeland currently has the lowest infection rate in the whole of the UK, even lower than those parts that have been in tier 1. I think now there'll be no specific changes to Cumbria's tier though, probably a national lockdown.

 

[shoddycollins]

Anyway, back to football.

Expectations are high. With a four game winning run coming to an end with a narrow defeat in a scrappy encounter in terrible weather away at now 2nd placed FGR, you'd think us Carlisle fans would just be happy with how things have been going and not say we need to win. Bolton have shown a lot of improvement but they're pretty inconsistent.

Could really do with a win though because it's form at this time of the year that determines whether we're part of a breakaway group (looking like Newport, Cheltenham, FGR and Exeter) who will battle for automatic places, or a larger group battling for playoff places... also if we can't beat the top teams then we need to be on imperious form when playing everyone else.

Think it'll be a tense encounter. Ian Evatt is already trying the mind-games by implying we're an anti-football side who will bombard the penalty area and saying that we should 'own up to what we are'.

FWIW, though I might be biased, I don't think we're as ugly as opposition managers tend to think. We're a bit ugly when playing in our own half and we go after second balls and tackles to win it in midfield, but once we get the ball into the attacking third we have plenty of nice players who can pass it around and sit defenders down. We like playing attractive passing football, we just don't like playing it in front of our own goal. Evatt points out that we have the lowest possession percentage and lowest number of passes in the division, but how much of his team's playing keep-ball happens in parts of the pitch where you're more likely to lose possession and concede than get it forward and score?

 

[hellogregory]

Don't think anything like that would come in till after Boxing Day, they usually make an announcement that changes are coming a few days down the line... this I think is definitely the last match we'll be able to attend in a while... if no nationwide lockdown then Cumbria will probably be in tier 3. Whether they'll actually postpone matches as opposed to playing them BCD I don't know.

If that’s the case, I’ll revert back to my original prediction...

Carlisle United 4-0 Bolton Wanderers
Bolton to have 65% of the possession.

 

[masi51]

Anyway, back to football.

Expectations are high. With a four game winning run coming to an end with a narrow defeat in a scrappy encounter in terrible weather away at now 2nd placed FGR, you'd think us Carlisle fans would just be happy with how things have been going and not say we need to win. Bolton have shown a lot of improvement but they're pretty inconsistent.

Could really do with a win though because it's form at this time of the year that determines whether we're part of a breakaway group (looking like Newport, Cheltenham, FGR and Exeter) who will battle for automatic places, or a larger group battling for playoff places... also if we can't beat the top teams then we need to be on imperious form when playing everyone else.

Think it'll be a tense encounter. Ian Evatt is already trying the mind-games by implying we're an anti-football side who will bombard the penalty area and saying that we should 'own up to what we are'.

FWIW, though I might be biased, I don't think we're as ugly as opposition managers tend to think. We're a bit ugly when playing in our own half and we go after second balls and tackles to win it in midfield, but once we get the ball into the attacking third we have plenty of nice players who can pass it around and sit defenders down. We like playing attractive passing football, we just don't like playing it in front of our own goal. Evatt points out that we have the lowest possession percentage and lowest number of passes in the division, but how much of his team's playing keep-ball happens in parts of the pitch where you're more likely to lose possession and concede than get it forward and score?

We started shockingly mainly because Evatt was way off knowing his best 11. Think the is only 5 players who started the season against FGR. Our main problem is at lwb Evatt/Phoenix signed two who are just not good enough for league football. I still think our system does not suit the players we have yet he persists with it.
Crellin was brought in because he plays it out from the back.....unfortunatly he made too many mistakes.
Gilks is a organiser but he would never call himself a footballing keeper and he shanks it forward.
We have played a centre half at lwb the last 8 games because he had no confidence in the 2 lwb and either Jones or Kioso who are decent right footers have been injured.
Tutte has been awesome in a defensive midfield role when he plays we usually win.......He will be back boxing day after missing the last three games, likewise Kioso.
Up front we have no options if Doyle/Delfounso get injured as cover for them are out long term injured.
The will be no excuses if Carlisle turn us over Evatt will have a decent squad to choose from for the first time in 5 weeks
Rumours of another 4 coming in January, think we will be trying to get rid of twice that in deadwood

 

[Back in the DHSS]

Can’t imagine Bradford being anywhere near as poor as what last week’s opposition were. Think a more consistent performance is required from us if we are to take anything from a rejuvenated Bradford.

 

[LS Bantam]

We won’t embarrass ourselves as we would’ve done under McCall but I do think that Tranmere squad will be a step too far in our recent upturn, home win, 2-0 ish.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Weather forecast isnt great for Boxing Day so expect a repeat of the scenes when we last played FGR on Boxing Day

 

[Boz]

Expecting a tight game with Bradford. We have a few unspecified injury doubts and while we've got cover in most areas would struggle in particular if Vaughan or Clarke aren't available.

 

[masi51]

Can’t imagine Bradford being anywhere near as poor as what last week’s opposition were. Think a more consistent performance is required from us if we are to take anything from a rejuvenated Bradford.

hahaha you did what you have done since the was a human settlement at the Wirral..........You came you stole the game and got the hell out of town sharpish.

 

[FGR Stroud]

hahaha you did what you have done since the was a human settlement at the Wirral..........You came you stole the game and got the hell out of town sharpish.

Naughty reply but it did make me smile

 

[pontoonlew]

The Grimsby boycott starts tomorrow, would love to be watching but it’s for the greater good.

Hope we win, further away from relegation we can get during this boycott the better.

 

[BlackHaddock]

The Grimsby boycott starts tomorrow, would love to be watching but it’s for the greater good.

Hope we win, further away from relegation we can get during this boycott the better.

No Boycott from me, GTFC is like a drug; I don't want to watch us but can't help myself.

 

[kieran_vale]

Don't know a huge amount about Barrow other than a few of their players played for us in that abysmal season under Aspin. I am really hoping we are going to see some big changes in the defence today. For me both Smith and Legge need to sit it out for Crookes and Brisley. I've seen enough of the them two together now and for whatever reason it's not working there so need to try something different.

Up front I'm actually quite content with where we are at and when Worrall is fit again those are some decent attacking options especially with Hurst really putting forward his case lately. Just can't be going into games needing to score more than three constantly to win or draw, that is only going to lead to one outcome.

 

[Stripes]

Some interesting dynamics to this game. Very hard to separate. Covid intervention, Home advantage with a passionate crowd, free scoring home side, against a team with a very good away record and a mean defence, plus this season a good record playing teams contending the top positions. I think the home crowd and the increased focus that should bring, makes Exeter slight favourites. A draw has to be a good result for us today. Christmas fixtures have often been known to bring some extreme and unexpected results. You just never know where they will happen. Should be fun.

 

[valefan16]

Don't know a huge amount about Barrow other than a few of their players played for us in that abysmal season under Aspin. I am really hoping we are going to see some big changes in the defence today. For me both Smith and Legge need to sit it out for Crookes and Brisley. I've seen enough of the them two together now and for whatever reason it's not working there so need to try something different.

Up front I'm actually quite content with where we are at and when Worrall is fit again those are some decent attacking options especially with Hurst really putting forward his case lately. Just can't be going into games needing to score more than three constantly to win or draw, that is only going to lead to one outcome.

These have never won at Vale Park and haven’t beaten us since Hitler was taking the Sudetenland. It’s a huge game and we need a massive reaction from the boys today. Looks like the defensive players got a real roasting last weekend and Legge for instance has been off social media.

He might change it, he might have just threatened their place and slammed them publically to get a reaction.

I thought Brisley and Legge did well together in the spring when Smudge was out so wouldn’t be averse to that. Crookes is a funny one and in the Leasing games they didn’t always look solid enough to play Crookes and Bris.

Nothing against any of the three ex Valiants in Barrow colours; they came into a god awful side, Quigley was very poor but Angus had potential and was a pointless signing in as much as he was never given a chance. Hardcastle I don’t think got much game time either.

It’s a must win game really, they are one of a few sides in worse form that us recently so we need to get at them and carry on our attacking prowess with a more solid defensive effort. Lose this Askey will surely be on very thin ground.

It will be tough though as they all are and we will need to be on it. If we get a result it will be 1 loss in 6 which will start to feel a little better.

 

[Bottega Don]

We have been shocking lately and I expect that to continue. Not only that, our games have been so boring. We barely have any shots and neither do our opposition.