Carlisle v Tranmere (The Cole Stockton cometh)

[shoddycollins]

Nice to have Tranmere back in the league.

Seems that Stockton hasn't made the strongest of impacts over there, but they have Norwood and we have plenty of reasons to fear Norwood, what with our non-defence and all. Just looking at their results I'd say they've made a fairly solid start, they've played a number of the same teams we have and just shaded it in results against those teams, getting a point off Mansfield. Results do look similar to ours, their goal difference is the same, they've scored one fewer and conceded one fewer, I'd say they've drawn games where we've either won or lost and that's left us three points better off.

I can't see us keeping them out, we've lucked out so far with the wastefulness of our opponents and that's where Norwood comes in. He could bag a hat trick if the opportunities fall to him that have fallen to the likes of Mansfield, Cheltenham and Port Vale. We'll just have to hope the opportunities fall to someone else. Also, former Carlisle players have a tendency to have poor games against us, with the exception of Jabo who instead has a good game while the rest of his team have a poor game. Maybe Ellis will get done for pace by Nadesan, we shall see, he's just as likely to head in a 90th minute winner.

I'd have them down as favourites for this. Most likely result, 2-1 to Tranmere with 3-1 being a distinct possibility. I'd take a draw.

 

[White Army]

We've been solid so far this season, not blowing teams away but certainly not looking out of our depth either. Carlisle seem to have had a better start than most expected so imagine this will be another tough away game.

Last time I went to Carlisle was under Rob Edwards in our relegation season in what was one of the worst performances ive seen a Tranmere team put in.

I can see another 1-1 draw here. Norwood will obviously score. We've sold our initial allocation of 500 tickets, so imagine we'll have around 700 on the day. Looking forward to it.

 

[Carver]

So I wonder if playing in the non-league has made Tranmere a Lincoln type of side who will make us hate them after we've played em.

 

[Huntsman94]

Both teams started the season well so should make for a good game! Again I'm going to go for a 1-1/2-2 draw and would be happy with that. As mentioned above 500 sold out from the initial allocation so can see us taking around 900 tomorrow.

 

[Boz]

I expect Rovers to have an unchanged starting xi, so Mark Ellis won't start. Cole Stockton probably had his best game since returning last time out, maybe he'll want to make a point in this game. We're not making that many chances and Norwood's the only one converting at present. Would think a draw the most likely outcome.

 

[shoddycollins]

We've been solid so far this season, not blowing teams away but certainly not looking out of our depth either. Carlisle seem to have had a better start than most expected so imagine this will be another tough away game.

Last time I went to Carlisle was under Rob Edwards in our relegation season in what was one of the worst performances ive seen a Tranmere team put in.

I can see another 1-1 draw here. Norwood will obviously score. We've sold our initial allocation of 500 tickets, so imagine we'll have around 700 on the day. Looking forward to it.

we do seem to have a decent record against tranmere, especially at our place. A number of famous victories come to mind, and also one incredibly dour 0-0 draw at your place that confirmed neither of us really had the stomach for avoiding the drop from league one.

 

[codaplenty]

Delighted you have John Sheridan as manager, he did a superb job at Fleetwood keeping us up.You have made a solid start, heres hoping you will be right up there come season end.How are our Fleetwood lads doing ? see Nadesdan was on the score sheet last weekend, I'm a great believer in young lads going out on loan and to my mind its win win all round
Btw Mickey Mellon has done well at Tranmere, guess its a battle of ex Fleetwood managers eh !

 

[RLC]

Probably our toughest game of the season so far and I would be happy with a point. Carlisle's squad does not look that flashy on paper, but Sheridan is obviously doing a good job there. As for Cole Stockton, I think he has played well since returning, but other than Norwood none of our strikers are prolific.

In addition to the Rob Edwards game cited above, I remember a shambolic 4-1 defeat a year earlier in our League One relegation season. I think we took barely 200 fans to that match which just shows how much our away support improved in our non-league wilderness years.

 

[shoddycollins]

Probably our toughest game of the season so far and I would be happy with a point. Carlisle's squad does not look that flashy on paper, but Sheridan is obviously doing a good job there. As for Cole Stockton, I think he has played well since returning, but other than Norwood none of our strikers are prolific.

In addition to the Rob Edwards game cited above, I remember a shambolic 4-1 defeat a year earlier in our League One relegation season. I think we took barely 200 fans to that match which just shows how much our away support improved in our non-league wilderness years.

was our biggest win of the season that.

 

[cufc17]

Fancy us in this one, maybe a gritty 2-1. Sheridan has done a brilliant job so far in my opinion, I genuinely couldn’t see us starting this well at all, definitely getting the best out of the squad at his disposal.

As others have said, it’s nice to have Tranmere back, and it’ll be good to have a decent away following and with it a bit of atmosphere I hope. If Stockton plays and does anything of note I’ll be shocked (incoming hat trick), he was absolutely woeful for us.

4700 with 650 up from Tranmere.

 

[Carver]

Delighted you have John Sheridan as manager, he did a superb job at Fleetwood keeping us up.You have made a solid start, heres hoping you will be right up there come season end.How are our Fleetwood lads doing ? see Nadesdan was on the score sheet last weekend, I'm a great believer in young lads going out on loan and to my mind its win win all round
Btw Mickey Mellon has done well at Tranmere, guess its a battle of ex Fleetwood managers eh !

We are basically becoming your B team now.

 

[shoddycollins]

Delighted you have John Sheridan as manager, he did a superb job at Fleetwood keeping us up.You have made a solid start, heres hoping you will be right up there come season end.How are our Fleetwood lads doing ? see Nadesdan was on the score sheet last weekend, I'm a great believer in young lads going out on loan and to my mind its win win all round
Btw Mickey Mellon has done well at Tranmere, guess its a battle of ex Fleetwood managers eh !

We haven't really seen much of Sowerby yet, and this will be our first home game since he signed so can't offer comment on how he's done. Nadesan looks the same player he was last year, which is good, and his experience will grow with every game. Though Raynes isn't the fastest defender in the world, Nadesan absolutely done him for pace to get to a ball and score when normally you'd have been expecting the defender to tidy it up no bother. He can take defenders by surprise that way, they think he's miles away and there's no rush and then suddenly he's going past them.

 

[hellogregory]

We played well last week, well for an hour we did. We looked in control and relatively comfortable but Cambridge were very poor which helped.

However I can’t see anything other than a Tranmere win today. We’ve been lucky with the results we’ve picked up, but I expect Tranmere to be a bit more efficient today and will no doubt take their fair share of the numerous golden chances they’ll get against us. We’ve fell short in the 2 games we’ve played against the better sides in this league and although I don’t class Tranmere as good as Exeter or Mansfield, I expect them to be much better than the teams we’ve scraped wins against.

Carlisle 0-3 Tranmere

 

[shoddycollins]

[Positive about last game]
[Massive caveat to previous statement]

However I can’t see anything other than a [Opponents] win today. We’ve been lucky with the results we’ve picked up, but I expect [Opponents] to be a bit more efficient today and will no doubt take their fair share of the numerous golden chances they’ll get against us. We’ve fell short in the [number] games we’ve played against the better sides in this league and although I don’t class [Opposition] as good as [Some teams that beat us], I expect them to be much better than the teams we’ve scraped wins against.

Carlisle 0-3 [Opposition]

Looks like you've edited it now but you accidentally posted your pre-match template without filling in the gaps.

 

[hellogregory]

That’s good shoddy
For you, that is good



Remember I didn’t predict defeat against Crewe.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

We seem to be a really hard to beat team. That’ll probably be the basis of our season. I think Carlisle only shot on target was the penalty?

Our only loss coming from Swindon with Jay Harris idiocy.

Cautiously optimistic of a playoff challenge.

 

[getoutofit]

We seem to be a really hard to beat team. That’ll probably be the basis of our season. I think Carlisle only shot on target was the penalty?

Our only loss coming from Swindon with Jay Harris idiocy.

Cautiously optimistic of a playoff challenge.

Steady on now, last time we were in this league some of our fans started talking about playoffs after a brief mid season resurgence, then we finished rock bottom.

8 games in and we're doing just fine, probably better than expected, but it is just 8 games. I'm still concentrating on keeping clear of the wrong end, though even a perpetually pessimistic bastard like me has to admit it's unlikely this team and manager could cock things up quite as spectacularly as the 14/15 lot.

 

[Huntsman94]

Brilliant win that. One of those that looks cert for a draw with 20 mins left. To save the penalty then go and grab the game was impressive. Delighted for Mullin with his goal.

We've started very well and as has been said, we're tough to beat which is crucial. I keep looking at the gap between us and the bottom two however! First thing I'm looking for after each set of fixtures!

 

[hellogregory]

We played quite well I thought for our standards. We edged first half and Tranmere edged second half. I’d say a draw would have been fair, even had we scored the pen and won. We defended well on the whole but it suited us because we weren’t tested with pace.

What cost us today was our obvious lack of quality in the final third. When you have a striker who misses free headers from 6 yards out after non existent Tranmere marking then you’re going to struggle. Then there was other good chances for him that also went begging. So when we get the penalty we simply have to score. It was obvious what was coming once we missed.

Great win for Tranmere, really hard fought. I was impressed with you, you look solid but not sure you’re quite playoff quality, but definitely enough for top half I’d say.

Positive performance from us but the same old problems with our lack of quality where it matters that will continue to cost us against half competent teams. Still 13 points is not a bad return from 8 games and gives us the foundation to hopefully go on to survive relegation.

 

[Back in the DHSS]

My first away game of the season and my first visit to Brunton Park for 30 years. Mostly a poor game I thought in which Carlisle looked the most likely to score with the scores locked at 0-0. Thought the penalty decision was harsh. The substitions worked in Tranmere’s favour taking off the woeful DMH and the ineffective Stockton for Smith and Mullin.

 

[codaplenty]

We haven't really seen much of Sowerby yet, and this will be our first home game since he signed so can't offer comment on how he's done. Nadesan looks the same player he was last year, which is good, and his experience will grow with every game. Though Raynes isn't the fastest defender in the world, Nadesan absolutely done him for pace to get to a ball and score when normally you'd have been expecting the defender to tidy it up no bother. He can take defenders by surprise that way, they think he's miles away and there's no rush and then suddenly he's going past them.

Cheers mate, the more game time Nadesan gets the the more his game will improve. I like the lad, he's only young and look forward to see him establishing himself at Fleetwood, ditto Jack Sowerby who has definitely improved over the last 2 years. Good luck for this season

 

[shoddycollins]

We were pretty poor I thought, but in a different way to usual. The defence actually looked fairly competent and we played some nice football at times but there was just no real urgency to get forward and trouble their keeper. Most of our attacks ended up with the ball being fired in from the corner flag in the hope someone might get on the end of it, when we're probably better so far this season attacking through the centre. The movement wasn't there, Hope, Yates and Devitt often ended up on the edge of the box with noone in support. I noticed later in the game, Yates and Hope switched flanks, possibly to encourage them to come inside more but to no avail. Nasedan was our only real threat but he doesn't usually last the full 90 due to running himself to the ground and once he went off we were never going to score, even when we got the penalty, I could just sense it would be missed.

We came alive briefly between the Tranmere goals, and for about five minutes it looked like an equaliser might just be possible, but then Tranmere scored again and we might as well have packed up and went home.

 

[Boz]

From watching the brief highlights, agree with BITDHSS that the penalty was harsh, attacking player not in total control of the ball and keeper trying to get it. Justice was done with the save. Good result for Rovers.

There seems to be a clamour for Mullin to replace Stockton in our starting xi. Cole did bring a save out of the home keeper, but aside from that..? Would be interested if the Carlisle fans think he was better/worse/unchanged than his spell with you.

 

[shoddycollins]

From watching the brief highlights, agree with BITDHSS that the penalty was harsh, attacking player not in total control of the ball and keeper trying to get it. Justice was done with the save. Good result for Rovers.

There seems to be a clamour for Mullin to replace Stockton in our starting xi. Cole did bring a save out of the home keeper, but aside from that..? Would be interested if the Carlisle fans think he was better/worse/unchanged than his spell with you.

I'd say Cole looked just about the same player he was in his brief spell with us.

It was a clear penalty, the fact the ball had gone is irrelevant to whether it was a penalty or not, that's only on whether it should be a red card or not. A foul in the box that would result in a dfk elsewhere on the pitch is always a penalty, regardless of whether it prevented a goal-scoring opportunity or not. Your gk took out Liddle's legs and brought him down, the fact he no longer had the ball doesn't mean it's not a foul.

 

[hellogregory]

Hope and Yates were switched before half time. Hope got into some great positions from some good football but lacked the quality to make anything from them. I disagree with you shoddy about lack of urgency to get forward. The urgency was there, the chances were there, just a real lack of quality to make anything from them.

If we had a half decent forward we’d maybe be looking at a 2 or 3 goal win and a decent performance. This will cost us a lot during the season, especially on days like yesterday where we do actually defend reasonably well.

 

[hellogregory]

From watching the brief highlights, agree with BITDHSS that the penalty was harsh, attacking player not in total control of the ball and keeper trying to get it. Justice was done with the save. Good result for Rovers.

What has that got to do with it? The ball could be at the other end of the pitch but if you wipe out a player like that it’s still a foul.

 

[Boz]

What has that got to do with it? The ball could be at the other end of the pitch but if you wipe out a player like that it’s still a foul.

Whatever your view of the penalty, your player was hardly wiped out. If he had been, the referee would have sent Davies off. From the initial match reports, I was expecting something much more clear-cut for the penalty, having looked at the clip a few times, still not totally convinced it was.

 

[hellogregory]

The keeper got no where near the ball and took the player down. It’s the most clear cut foul you’ll see.

As I say Gary Liddle moving the ball past him and not having control of it, isn’t a factor in th decision. The only thing that matters is the keeper took the player out without getting anything on the ball. Foul. Penalty.

 

[shoddycollins]

What has that got to do with it? The ball could be at the other end of the pitch but if you wipe out a player like that it’s still a foul.

Well the ball has to be in the penalty area I think, which it was, but yeah exactly.

 

[shoddycollins]

Whatever your view of the penalty, your player was hardly wiped out. If he had been, the referee would have sent Davies off. From the initial match reports, I was expecting something much more clear-cut for the penalty, having looked at the clip a few times, still not totally convinced it was.

I mentioned that it would have been a red had he prevented a goal-scoring opportunity, and was only a yellow as he didn't as the ball had gone. But if you, as an outfield player went in to a tackle late after the ball had gone and completely upended the opposition player it would be a foul and a direct free kick, the rule isn't different for goalkeepers and it isn't different because it was in the penalty area. On another day the ref might not have even booked him as it wasn't especially dangerously late, but a foul is a foul and there's no avoiding it.