Friday 17th & Saturday 18th January

[Alfie]

 

[Alfie]

 

[Alfie]

 

[Alfie]

 

[bantamjay]

Just as night turns to day, Bradford lose at Carlisle, irrespective of form! I’ll be very surprised if this changes.

2-0 Carlisle

 

[valefan16]

Mad odds those on our game!

 

[Scum.]

Top of the form table Walsall at home to bottom of the form table MK Dons.

Surely an easy MK Dons victory…we beat Walsall 1-0 at our place and they didn’t look anything special. League Two truly is shite.

 

[Mighty_Bantam]

Carlisle win. To nil.

We never win and never even score up there.

Our last three scorers at Carlisle are Matt Derbyshire in the playoffs two years ago, Paudie O'Connor in 20/21ish who left us nearly three years ago and Eddie Johnson, in 2006.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

If Carlisle lose this one you could say the football gods have deemed it we have no way back as mentioned it’s written we never win at Bradford and they never win at Carlisle.

I like the Carlisle approach this transfer window reminds me of the old days of championship manager bidding for 15 players randomly with a balance of different types only to find you got the 6 minfielders but none of the forwards and defenders…..then just play some random 1-2-4-2-1 formation

 

[BarraMatt]

The weekend just gone was very relaxing. Hoping for another lovely postponement.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

The weekend just gone was very relaxing. Hoping for another lovely postponement.

No chance of that down here mate

 

[SaddlerJonny]

Top of the form table Walsall at home to bottom of the form table MK Dons.

Surely an easy MK Dons victory…we beat Walsall 1-0 at our place and they didn’t look anything special. League Two truly is shite.

Was up there with our worst performances this season, which have been few and far between. Think we rotated and had Evan Weir as wing back and George Hall off the striker. That experiment lasted till half time for a reason!

 

[hellogregory]

As I’ve already said, I think we’re 100% down. Can’t see how we get out of the grave that we’ve dug for ourselves.

So with that in mind I’d like us to play this with a bit of freedom, try and build up some patterns and cohesion between now and May ahead of the National League season.

As for the result, well the league table doesn’t lie… and I can’t see anything other than a comfortable Bradford win.

Carlisle United 0-3 Bradford City

 

[JJ1990]

Morecambe away is always a great pick me up for us. We've not lost at their new stadium in 8 visits stretching back to 2010. We need to start finding wins on the road, especially because after this trip and then the visit to Harrogate, we have a very tough stretch of away games. Hoping for a better display in non-horrendous conditions.

 

[Scum.]

Was up there with our worst performances this season, which have been few and far between. Think we rotated and had Evan Weir as wing back and George Hall off the striker. That experiment lasted till half time for a reason!

In all seriousness, you’ll smash a few past us I reckon. Not with it atm.

 

[Jimmy Anderson]

Mad odds those on our game!

Yeah considering we havent been great at home for a good while and we don't have the best of records against Newport 6/1 is big odds for an away win.

 

[Kauto Star]

I can see us coming away with our first victory at Brunton Park since 1985.

1985 was my first and last visit there, it was the first competitive game for us after the Valley Parade fire tragedy.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

In all seriousness, you’ll smash a few past us I reckon. Not with it atm.

Without Lowe it may not be a smash, it may be a squeak!

 

[leedsvaliant]

We have to beat Newport, it's as simple as that. The definition of an average league 2 team and we need to start putting these sides to bed. 2 x 0-0 draws against Cheltenham and Carlisle simply wasn't good enough in our last 2 home games.

I think, for the first time this season, we'll have a virtually fully fit squad to pick from. No excuses for Moore, who has hopefully stumbled on an effective formation with 2 up front.

Put it this way, every team around us would be expecting to beat Newport at home, so if we want promotion we need to do the same thing.

 

[SuperHans]

Bim Pepple masterclass against Grimsby

 

[Scum.]

Without Lowe it may not be a smash, it may be a squeak!

If the Dan Crowley signing gets over the line before then, I’m reverting back to my original sentiment and going Walsall 0-3 Crowley.

 

[FiRTHYY]

What can I say about Carlisle away that hasn’t already been said. Our record up there is truly awful.

We haven’t won at BP since 1985 (12 attempts - scoring just THREE times).

If I was Alexander, I’d be drumming this into the lads all bastard week. Whatever it is about Carlisle United away, it needs addressing.

GK: Sam Walker

CB: Aden Baldwin
CB: Jack Shepherd
CB: Cieřan Kelly

RWB: Brad Halliday
LWB: Lewis Richards

CM: Ritchie Smallwood
CM: Alex Pattison

AM: Antoni Sarcevic
AM: Tommy Leigh/George Lapslie

ST: Micheal Mellon

2-2 (1,400 City) last min equaliser for Carlisle

 

[GTFCfish]

Bim Pepple masterclass against Grimsby

I’m hoping he produces a similar masterclass to one of the ones he regularly produced for us.

 

[valefan16]

We have to beat Newport, it's as simple as that. The definition of an average league 2 team and we need to start putting these sides to bed. 2 x 0-0 draws against Cheltenham and Carlisle simply wasn't good enough in our last 2 home games.

I think, for the first time this season, we'll have a virtually fully fit squad to pick from. No excuses for Moore, who has hopefully stumbled on an effective formation with 2 up front.

Put it this way, every team around us would be expecting to beat Newport at home, so if we want promotion we need to do the same thing.

Newport have often been a bit of a bogey side for us, prior to this seasons 4-1 win since rejoining the league we've only beaten them once behind closed doors, as said though looks like Byers, Harper and Stockley are back for this one, add in Umolu signing and we should be virtually full strength and go from having 1 of our main midfielders for months to having 4 decent ones to pick from.

We need to click back into gear now we have our big players available and re-capture the form from September/October.

Newport, Colchester, Accrington and Swindon in the next 5 games so need to find a solution to our modest record against sides in the bottom third, knowing us this season 4 draws there and beat Chesterfield away with 28% possession (now that would be a miracle with our record there!) though!

 

[Si Robin]

We're due a defeat against Harrogate, so will snap your hand off for a draw.

 

[Meadow]

Engineering work between Clapham Junction and Earlsfield this weekend. Best route from the north is Northern Line to Tooting Broadway then walk or bus.

 

[Cloudy]

Engineering work between Clapham Junction and Earlsfield this weekend. Best route from the north is Northern Line to Tooting Broadway then walk or bus.

This route allows for a visit to Craft Tooting. Been the last couple of seasons and well worth the visit

 

[Limerick Mariner]

This route allows for a visit to Craft Tooting. Been the last couple of seasons and well worth the visit

A crafty toot from a hip flask is good as well - can be smuggled in within a tube of Pringles - although I've only done that for cricket not footie...

 

[leedsvaliant]

This route allows for a visit to Craft Tooting. Been the last couple of seasons and well worth the visit

Some belting places in the old Tooting indoor market.

 

[loz]

What can I say about Carlisle away that hasn’t already been said. Our record up there is truly awful.

We haven’t won at BP since 1985 (12 attempts - scoring just THREE times).

If I was Alexander, I’d be drumming this into the lads all bastard week. Whatever it is about Carlisle United away, it needs addressing.

GK: Sam Walker

CB: Aden Baldwin
CB: Jack Shepherd
CB: Cieřan Kelly

RWB: Brad Halliday
LWB: Lewis Richards

CM: Ritchie Smallwood
CM: Alex Pattison

AM: Antoni Sarcevic
AM: Tommy Leigh/George Lapslie

ST: Micheal Mellon

2-2 (1,400 City) last min equaliser for Carlisle

I think Bobby has earned the right to keep the shirt. His partnership with Richards is exceptional and he shows his passion every appearance.