CUFC Play Off contenders' knockout cup final (Cambridge v Carlisle)

[cufc17]

So we finished with 9 men, Ellis sent off at the death. 2 red cards and 2 injuries. Keith Curle could be starting on Tuesday.

I guess that's both sides out of the play off race, onto next season.

 

[hellogregory]

Yeah a point does nothing for either team. That's us both out of the playoff hunt barring a monumental fuck up from Wimbledon.

Cambridge were woeful in the final 3rd. Didn't test our keeper anywhere near as much as they should. We actually could have nicked it through Asamoah with a glorious chance. Shocking miss.

The referee was, well I don't even know how to describe it. Bad for both teams but we got the worse of it. Shouldn't be a football league ref.

 

[Laker]

First red was never a red in my book. We played for an hour against 10 men and couldn't score, only came close a couple of times. Woeful and embarrassing really.

That said, Carlisle were awful. Yes I know they only had 10 men but to time waste their way through a game we both needed to win was cuntish frankly. Got no time for Carlisle at all after that.

 

[Carver]

Fantastic defending and a good away point considering we were down to nine men!

Let's look forward to next season with a fresh start and we must aim for a promotion push, top 7 should be our expectation, nothing less.

 

[Laker]

Fantastic defending and a good away point considering we were down to nine men

It's a shit away point when you need a win.

 

[Carver]

It's a shit away point when you need a win.

No we were fantastic defensively and we're proud of our lads and more importantly stopped you from going above us, us making the play offs were always going to be a long shot so we're not too bothered about that anymore.

 

[hellogregory]

No it's a shit away point but given what we were up against, we did well to get the point. Had s golden chance to get the win though.

 

[Laker]

No we were fantastic defensively and we're proud of our lads and more importantly stopped you from going above us, us making the play offs were always going to be a long shot so we're not too bothered about that anymore.

Which demonstrates a total lack of ambition. What a sad state some clubs have become.

 

[hellogregory]

First red was never a red in my book. We played for an hour against 10 men and couldn't score, only came close a couple of times. Woeful and embarrassing really.

That said, Carlisle were awful. Yes I know they only had 10 men but to time waste their way through a game we both needed to win was cuntish frankly. Got no time for Carlisle at all after that.

Oh well, seeing as we're both staying down, that's 2 Saturday's you'll have free next season.

 

[Vanni]

I'm hearing it was a definite sending off that first one, from people who had a better view than myself, so I'll judge later.

But the real reason I'm actually bothering to post is not about that, it's to say that I'm having a hard time putting up with the shite Derry is coming up with post matches. I'd much rather Money with his 'erm'/'yes'/'no'/'listen' answers than this guy. The reason we didn't win today is only because you Mr Derry is tactically inept, nothing to do with playing against 10 men blah blah blah.

And oh I forgot, the football's pretty dull nowadays too. The County fans were right after all.

 

[daviejones]

First red was never a red in my book. We played for an hour against 10 men and couldn't score, only came close a couple of times. Woeful and embarrassing really.

That said, Carlisle were awful. Yes I know they only had 10 men but to time waste their way through a game we both needed to win was cuntish frankly. Got no time for Carlisle at all after that.

Don't pretend that any team a man down with 70+ minutes to play wouldn't have time wasted too, we needed a win but not as much as we needed to not lose.

 

[sam95]

Don't pretend that any team a man down with 70+ minutes to play wouldn't have time wasted too, we needed a win but not as much as we needed to not lose.

No - you (and we) needed to win and nothing else. One point is useless for a team who wants to be in the playoffs whether you've got 10 men or 11.

 

[Habbinalan]

it was a red card all day in the current climate - right in front of us in the Habbin. The context was after a cracking 50:50 tackle between the two of them less than 5 minutes earlier and an intent by Hope to bully or get some afters on a young fullback. He got the ball but that was incidental to his intent to follow through out of control.

The referee was clearly struggling but that again was in the context of Carlisle playing more like Morecambe/Wycombe as the method of dealing with going 1 man down. I don't blame them but it meant that the game was gone as a proper contest and spoilt after the sending off.

Carlisle showed fight and defended well. We huffed and puffed but didn't test the keeper despite all the crossing and shooting opportunities.

Puts both of us out of our misery for the season now. I'm really looking forward to booing Kevin Ellison on Tuesday (not) and just hope that Leon is fit to start. Roberts in the middle of our defence is not a happy way to end the season.

 

[cufc17]

We're shit anyway - even if we'd won today I doubt we'd have had much chance of the playoffs. Cambridge are the team who should be greatly disappointed, failing to beat, or even score against an out of form side on home soil, despite having a man advantage for over an hour. Playing with 10 men is always a tough task, and Curle actually made a positive sub bringing on Asamoah for Raynes - we weren't ever going to go all-out attack I think, instead hope to knick an unlikely goal (sounds like Asamoah should've done so).

The highlight for me today was probably the several Cambridge supporters who expressed their views of our football to BBC Radio Cumbria commentators, it's hardly their fault is it?

 

[Carver]

Which demonstrates a total lack of ambition. What a sad state some clubs have become.

Well it's not my fucking fault is it!

 

[Vanni]

We're shit anyway - even if we'd won today I doubt we'd have had much chance of the playoffs. Cambridge are the team who should be greatly disappointed, failing to beat, or even score against an out of form side on home soil, despite having a man advantage for over an hour. Playing with 10 men is always a tough task, and Curle actually made a positive sub bringing on Asamoah for Raynes - we weren't ever going to go all-out attack I think, instead hope to knick an unlikely goal (sounds like Asamoah should've done so).

The highlight for me today was probably the several Cambridge supporters who expressed their views of our football to BBC Radio Cumbria commentators, it's hardly their fault is it?

Well said, spot on. I don't blame your players - they only did what all sides do when going a man down. And yes, we're the ones who are more disappointed. Sure, I understand why playing against 10 men is awkward in some cases (but not all), but we made things harder for ourselves by having all of one shot on target (!) against a side playing with 10 men.

I'm also bored of this 'holding out for a draw then try to go for it in those final 15 mins'. I was on the fence on Derry but I'm afraid I've made up my mind now. His brand of footy isn't suited for promotion seeking sides but for those lower mid/bottom 4 sides. Today was another case where we needed all 3 pts at stake, and yet the uppermost thing is his mind is avoiding defeat, and spouting shite on how good our opponents are. FFS, he also said Newport were hard to beat last week. And I would be moaning more if I was one of those unfortunate fans who go to every away game and witness our players trying desperately to hold out for a point. To think it all started so well under him with an excellent attacking display at Morecambe.

I never thought I'd be saying this so early before the season has even ended, but I think we can wave goodbye to making the playoffs next year too if he's sticking around. I'm tired of being a happy clapper.

 

[Wombling Kiwi]

yes a draw....yes a draw....yes a draw....yes a draw....

thanks boys

 

[shoddycollins]

No - you (and we) needed to win and nothing else. One point is useless for a team who wants to be in the playoffs whether you've got 10 men or 11.

I agree with Dave, a man down so early in the game, like it or loath it the only way we were going to win was to slow the game down and yes, waste time in the hope that we could nick a goal at some point. I don't think it's playing for a draw, I think it's accepting the best chance you have of winning is if the game turns to shit.

 

[hellogregory]

I've watched it again and never a red card. The ball was loose, the Cambridge player wasn't in possession of the ball, Hope got to it first and won the ball. The Cambridge player came in late so only has himself to blame if he got hurt.

If you're giving a red card because a player arrives late and gets hurt then we might as well all tell our players to hurl themselves in front of a players foot as he's striking a shot on goal to make sure he connects with the player as well.

 

[Habbinalan]

I've watched it again and never a red card. The ball was loose, the Cambridge player wasn't in possession of the ball, Hope got to it first and won the ball. The Cambridge player came in late so only has himself to blame if he got hurt.

If you're giving a red card because a player arrives late and gets hurt then we might as well all tell our players to hurl themselves in front of a players foot as he's striking a shot on goal to make sure he connects with the player as well.

I've finally watched the replay. Even without the context of "afters," which the ref was well aware off, I think we'll just have to agree to differ. From my view, the ball was the second thing on Hope's mind when he launched into that assault.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Give the bloke some fucking credit Vanni, we've picked up massively since Money left, he's fixed our defence, had to plug the many gaps we've had and had to deal without a 25 goal a season striker for the last 3 months, you just can't replace those at this level. We've absolutely hammered them yesterday but things just didn't fall our way, we were in control for the first 20 minutes as well. We're having to play a makeshift left back due to injuries, we've tried to plug the gap on the right of midfield but Ismail is only capable of putting in 20-30 minute cameos, and we're having to play with two #2 strikers up top. All things considered our points tally under Derry has been excellent, has it been pretty, no, but we've had to go through two phases under him of having to tighten up a defence that was leaking (bad) goals left, right and centre, and then deal with losing our main goal threat. The bloke is taking us in the right direction, it may not work out next year but that goes for every other manager in this division, it's the nature of football, we've made big steps forward from the shambles he inherited in November and we have half a team to be encouraged about, we could be in a far, far worse position. It may not get prettier next season but as long as we're in the top 7 then who gives a shit, and if he'd been here 6 weeks earlier this season there's a damn good chance that's where we'd be right now. Give him the summer FFS.

I didn't think it was a red at the time, watching the highlights I can see why he gave it, the second foot is high and it's wreckless, but I'm still not sure, it's very much one of those "in this day and age" jobs sadly. Carlisle's antics after that were nothing short of disgraceful but, it did what they desired and that's what it's all about at the end of the day, but it puts us both out of contention. It is probably in our best interests, we are not the finished article at all yet, with the right 4 or 5 signings and a fit Barry Corr though we should be in contention next year.

I'm struggling to understand why Spencer is getting so much stick on our messageboard, I thought he was excellent again yesterday, unlike Williamson who contributed absolutely nothing. Furlong did well, Berry looked lively, Clark did exactly what he was asked of both in midfield and left back, Dunne had an off day and as for my friend Mr Ledson, that foul throw and terrible cross right at the end just summed him up his time here, albeit I thought he actually had a decent first half, a rarity.

Get Tuesday out the way before a very good away trip next Saturday...

 

[hellogregory]

Not once yesterday did I ever think we were being hammered. I thought we were going to get hammered especially when the red was shown, but it never came or even threatened to come.

 

[Carver]

I don't blame Vanni for having a go at Derry because that sort of style is the sort that we've been playing too since January and it is awful to watch. People say it gets results but to be honest we were actually getting better results by playing exciting attacking football earlier in the season, not the ineffective shite we're playing now.

I can see our last few games being complete drab. So roll on next season and let's spend spend spend!

 

[Vanni]

Ok I'll be honest here about the sending off. I still can't make up my mind, and if I were the ref I probably wouldn't have sent him off. But then the rules say tackles like Hope's are a red so perhaps it's a good thing I'm not a ref. Still, I noticed a couple of things - only 2 or 3 Carlisle players come to his defence, plus Curle doesn't even glance at him as he's walking off the pitch, though I don't know if this is a normal thing with Curle.

Tom - My mates actually tell me that patience is one of my virtues. We had loads of players who weren't performing this year, and yet I always refrain from commenting after they've had a shocker. It's only after I'm positive they're not going to improve that I comment. It took me a long time to comment on Roberts for instance, even though he was having one poor game after another. Plus, and I know this is hard to believe , I actually defended Beasant after the first couple of howlers he made, and said we should give him some more time before recalling Norris.

There's one thing that you and I can never agree on, and that is the credit Derry gets. I'm afraid guys like you give him far too much credit. You say he fixed the back line - I say he read our mb, and saw that everyone was calling for Coulson to replace Roberts, and to drop Beasant and bring back Norris. As for the full backs, they are only on loan, as are quite a few other players, and this is where I don't agree with Derry. He keeps spouting crap about looking/going forward blah blah, but the fact remains that we aren't going anywhere because the players he brought in are only loanees and if they leave we're back to square one.

The way he approaches games is perhaps the biggest concern I have. Yesterday's game was another example of his cautiousness. So we're playing against 10 men and need all 3 pts yet he took off Spencer instead of a midfielder or a defender. I strongly believe his main concern is not losing matches and he's going to turn us into a side like Wycombe or Mansfield.

I think all U's fans can see where I'm coming from. None of us want to see a repeat of last summer's poor recruitment drive and the inevitable sacking of the manager in November.

 

[shoddycollins]

Ok I'll be honest here about the sending off. I still can't make up my mind, and if I were the ref I probably wouldn't have sent him off. But then the rules say tackles like Hope's are a red so perhaps it's a good thing I'm not a ref. Still, I noticed a couple of things - only 2 or 3 Carlisle players come to his defence, plus Curle doesn't even glance at him as he's walking off the pitch, though I don't know if this is a normal thing with Curle.

Could be they thought from the view they had that it was a clear red. We're not a particularly nasty club but with such high stakes, they may have thought in the heat of the moment, 'well done for fucking over our play-off chances'. He's a loanee so perhaps thy don't get as much leeway as a contracted player.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Setting up a defence is far, far more than just plugging players in there. Remember how we used to just let teams cross balls in to the box under Money and conceded every fucking time from it? We used to piss around with it at the back constantly and get caught out, and we committed far, far more individual errors than we have done in the last few months, that's down to the way we're playing. We've got a tougher central midfield than we had before that actually contribute to our defending. He's also got far more out of Luke Berry than Money had previously, although he has had a few quiet games recently admittedly.

Derry has steered the ship away from the iceberg, you forget just how much of a complete shambles we were when he came in, the fact that we will still have a mathematical chance of making the playoffs with 3 games to go is a testament to what he's done so far. Once he took over this season was about overhauling the mess we created last summer and giving ourselves a steady core to build on, we've done exactly that. It hasn't been perfect, he, and we collectively, fucked up the Gaffney situation, we didn't address the right midfield issue soon enough, and we've had a 3 or 4 absolutely horrendous performances (but outside of Northampton who the hell hasn't in this division), but he has plugged the considerable number of gaps we had using the much more difficult to use transfer window in January and made us into a solid and competitive League 2 team, something we categorically were not 6 months ago.

It is not the finished product, I said earlier there's absolutely no guarantee that it will work out next season but the very, very least he deserves based on what he's done so far is a fucking chance!

Edit: Our record under Derry is P26 W11 D7 L8, 40 points, working out at 71 points over a full season, which when you factor in the deadwood we have in the squad, the gaps we've had to plug in the short-term, and the loss of Corr, is pretty damn good.

 

[TommoCUFC]

There's one thing that you and I can never agree on, and that is the credit Derry gets. I'm afraid guys like you give him far too much credit. You say he fixed the back line - I say he read our mb, and saw that everyone was calling for Coulson to replace Roberts, and to drop Beasant and bring back Norris. As for the full backs, they are only on loan, as are quite a few other players, and this is where I don't agree with Derry. He keeps spouting crap about looking/going forward blah blah, but the fact remains that we aren't going anywhere because the players he brought in are only loanees and if they leave we're back to square one.

I think that's really harsh on Derry, and completely undermines the job he's done since coming in. He's made two big calls in dropping the captain, and both goalies to bring back an out of favour CB and a young goalkeeper, he's on a hiding to nothing if fans like you are going to say 'oh he's just read that from our message board, he doesn't deserve credit'. The loan players point again, is irrelevant. He was completely hamstrung as to who he could/couldn't bring in, on what type of deal by the expensive pile of crap that Money had left him to sort out, short term loans were the only fix, and I'm afraid that as these players were on two year deals, that may happen again in Summer. He has got a right to talk about 'going forward', we're not great at the moment, but what Derry has built is a solid base of a team to build around in summer, and that's encouraging enough for me.

 

[Laker]

Yep, we're further up the table than I expected us to be when he took over so in that sense he has overachieved. As has been said, he has adjusted the team to deal without Corr, sacked both keepers and our captain, all of which have been big issues for any manager to deal with.

It hadn't been perfect though and the football is far from exhilarating. And I was very irritated by our lack of numbers up top against Carlisle (subbing Spencer for Simpson was non-sensical to me - we needed a win, not a clean sheet).

But he's more than earnt my respect for tightening us up and making us more competitive. If we can have a half decent summer, we'll be in very good shape under him.

I say "half decent" - clearly we don't need to overhaul the whole team. 4 signings should do it - 2 CMs, right winger and right back are necessities. Can argue either way on left back and attacking options. Therefore, the fact Derry has got us to this point is a credit to him.

 

[Habbinalan]

Ok I'll be honest here about the sending off. I still can't make up my mind, and if I were the ref I probably wouldn't have sent him off. But then the rules say tackles like Hope's are a red so perhaps it's a good thing I'm not a ref. Still, I noticed a couple of things - only 2 or 3 Carlisle players come to his defence, plus Curle doesn't even glance at him as he's walking off the pitch, though I don't know if this is a normal thing with Curle.

Tom - My mates actually tell me that patience is one of my virtues. We had loads of players who weren't performing this year, and yet I always refrain from commenting after they've had a shocker. It's only after I'm positive they're not going to improve that I comment. It took me a long time to comment on Roberts for instance, even though he was having one poor game after another. Plus, and I know this is hard to believe , I actually defended Beasant after the first couple of howlers he made, and said we should give him some more time before recalling Norris.

There's one thing that you and I can never agree on, and that is the credit Derry gets. I'm afraid guys like you give him far too much credit. You say he fixed the back line - I say he read our mb, and saw that everyone was calling for Coulson to replace Roberts, and to drop Beasant and bring back Norris. As for the full backs, they are only on loan, as are quite a few other players, and this is where I don't agree with Derry. He keeps spouting crap about looking/going forward blah blah, but the fact remains that we aren't going anywhere because the players he brought in are only loanees and if they leave we're back to square one.

The way he approaches games is perhaps the biggest concern I have. Yesterday's game was another example of his cautiousness. So we're playing against 10 men and need all 3 pts yet he took off Spencer instead of a midfielder or a defender. I strongly believe his main concern is not losing matches and he's going to turn us into a side like Wycombe or Mansfield.

I think all U's fans can see where I'm coming from. None of us want to see a repeat of last summer's poor recruitment drive and the inevitable sacking of the manager in November.

I'm more than pleased with what Derry has achieved so far in terms of player management/motivation, player selection and, in most cases, tactics - and of course results (especially away). He has made us difficult to beat or even score against, made us the stronger and fitter team in the last 20 minutes of a match and I think he's made the best of available personnel in getting results.

I'm probably happier with the performances, having seen so many away matches and missed some of the home stinkers, than I would have been if I'd only suffered the home frustrations. We still need to crack that one but I think it's about having better wings and a bigger stronger (Corr alternative) striker available to lead the line, rather than expecting a more offensive line-up and approach to deliver results with current players.

Until I see us doing the business at the Abbey and, in particular, how the summer recruitment goes, I've no great confidence that we'll be setting the Division on fire next season. We'll not need to be that much better for a top 7 finish but there'll be a lot of decisions to make on current and new players, without the backup of loans to paper over cracks. He doesn't seem to have a great track record at Notts County and he's still inexperienced in that aspect of the job. We can't afford as many duds as we signed last summer or County signed for his second season.

Overall, we did well to change managers when we did and I'd rather have had Derry than most of the usual suspect options that were being touted at the time, including Wilder - even though he's probably a better manager at the moment (as he was when we moved from Halifax to Oxford rather than the Abbey).

COYUs