If you follow a side with limited expectations.....how do you get worked up for the start of season?

[BigDaveCUFC]

I know a lot of time people say we all have a chance at this time of season but there is usually a clump of sides can be or will be written off before the season starts........like say no offence to these sides but Accrington, Dagenham always good examples most seasons.

then you get the sides struggling this summer, a Newport or Crawley......already being battered down for relegation dogfights before a ball is kicked. Or the negativity group teams who spell doom and despair and little hope of a top 7.

so when you follow a side who realistically isn't going to have a promotion season...............how do you get your excitement for the season??

can be same all levels, prem of a lot of fans who literally have nothing to look forward to.

 

[Saddlerrad]

It's the hope that gets you, every single time.

The other thing for me is that 'buzz' moment, that wininng goal, the comeback etc. You tend to get 1, perhaps 2 a season. A goal where you stop celebrating and you can't keep still or the adrenaline is still running 5 minutes later. I also think, having a couple of players with potential is something to get yourself up for a new season. The progress of a player, be it a youngster, or a forward that's just started scoring. For example, Bradshaw last season - a league 2 reject who played on the wing (Despite being the least obvious winger I've ever seen) or was benched for previously relegated Shrewsbury, comes in, works hard, improves his physique and then you see him go on to be mentioned as a 'good forward for this league' or 'I'd take Bradshaw from Walsall' by other fans around the country and media.

All part of his journey, but when you have nothing to be excited about team-wise, watching a player develop and move on is good fun. The finances you get from that said player may actually improve team fortunes down the line too.

 

[Shrimpurh]

You never know what is going to happen either going into seasons with lot's or no expectation. Things don't always run as they should that's what keeps everyone going.

 

[BeesKnees]

Generally not fussed about where we finish. I realise before I say it that its crazy considering who I support but I look forwards to seeing moments of quality, last season it was Luisma Villa and Lee Cook. This season hopefully it will be Shomotun and Gambin. Our most successful years in League 2 under Still I stopped going because their was no flair or creativity, just dull football by numbers.

 

[CrazyImp]

I'm going to state a specific example for me, even though my side is in the Conference - the Bristol Rovers side of 2006/07, who beat us in the play-offs.

Proof that you can be utterly mediocre to shite for 36 games, catch fire for the last 10 and carry the momentum to win promotion at Wembley.

As long as you're within 6-8 points with those last ten left, then there's always the tiniest bit of hope, as rare as it is that it will happen. Just a case of keeping touch in the meantime, as grim as it can be.

 

[Clapham Womble]

With lower expectations comes greater joy when wins come along, let alone wins where we display some level of flair. It's quite refreshing going into seasons without the feeling that if we lose our first few games our season is ruined.

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

On a clear day you can see for miles from my seat at the top of our main stand. Years I've sat and watched the rain clouds gather in the north-east, though occasionally someone will raise their voice to remind me that recreation is trying to occur in the vicinity.

 

[wilsontown]

There's always some away trips to look forward to.

 

[Pliny Harris]

With the Shaymen in the Conference, there ought to be few expectations beyond mediocrity but there still are. We're bang average for overall support, slightly top half for core support, and easily bottom half for budget when it seems a good half of Conference sides have consistently good gate receipts, or a "vision". Yet if we're not up there it's bloody rubbish, fans harp on about how disenchanted they are and we ought to have an inquiry as to how the team's being managed. I think the most likely outcome for our supporters is to have a dwindling expectation to reach the playoffs, year after year.

 

[Youpies]

Drink. That's how I got through last season.

 

[Judge Red]

Although it's nicer near the top and during the good times, there is a buzz about keeping out of the drop zone. I'm not convinced that we'll manage it but I was watching Crawley way back when we were in maybe the seventh or eighth tier - and the old ground was a damn sight worse than our current one, for all its tinpottedness.
My first ever game was in the mid-60's. It was some non-league cup competition and we were the underdogs against Romford (that's in Essex BTW ). I even watched us when we had an 11 point season - some of my old schoolmates were in the team (I kid you not).
Whatever level we end up at, the important bit is staying solvent so that at least there is a club to support.

 

[Murphy]

Resigned to losing on the opening day, more looking forward to getting into Portsmouth at 11 for a proper away day. Missed that big time.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Pre match sessions followed by post match sessions.

 

[StagsForLife]

Pre match sessions followed by post match sessions.

Followed by in match sessions right?

 

[Richard Cranium]

Followed by in match sessions right?

Only at Dagenham!

 

[Glasshalffullpools]

The playoffs mean , unless your anchored at the bottom like wot we were , your only ever a couple of good results away from nearly being in it , up till late Feb early March

 

[3Loggerheads]

A couple of good loan signings in January can transform any team from no hopers to promotion contenders, whilst 2 sales from teams in the promotion hunt can destroy their chances.

 

[WSBee]

You're a Carlisle fan, you tell us

 

[WAP]

Resigned to losing on the opening day, more looking forward to getting into Portsmouth at 11 for a proper away day. Missed that big time.

How many should we expect?

 

[Murphy]

How many should we expect?

Big numbers.

Maybe 7 or 8 pints.

 

[ComeOnIrene]

I'm going to state a specific example for me, even though my side is in the Conference - the Bristol Rovers side of 2006/07, who beat us in the play-offs.

Proof that you can be utterly mediocre to shite for 36 games, catch fire for the last 10 and carry the momentum to win promotion at Wembley.

As long as you're within 6-8 points with those last ten left, then there's always the tiniest bit of hope, as rare as it is that it will happen. Just a case of keeping touch in the meantime, as grim as it can be.

Very good example, CrazyImp.

We were mediocre for a large portion of that season, but after beating City over two legs in the JPT in February, we became a totally different team. Our form in the final 10-15 games was incredible and nobody got anywhere near us. After beating Hartlepool away on the final day to cement a play-off place and deny Pools the title, I had absolutely no doubt that we would go on to get promoted. That's not because I underestimated or lacked respect for our rivals, but we were in such good form there was no way we were going to come unstuck. We beat Lincoln 7-4 (IIRC) on aggregate in the semis and then beat Shrewsbury 3-1 at Wembley.

What we did that season is proof, as Crazy says, that any team can have a successful season if they can keep themselves within touching distance with a dozen or so games remaining. Even if you have been uninspiring (or worse) in the previous 6 months of the campaign, just one moment going in your favour can change everything and propel you from mid table mediocrity to promotion candidates. That's why, at this level, I think every club has a genuine chance of enjoying success in May, even if they are unfancied or written off by many in pre-season.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Big numbers.

Maybe 7 or 8 pints.

Hope that's just a warm up for Mansfield away.

 

[thewwfc]

I find it difficult to get well up for the new season, effectively a good season for us is a financially stable one, maybe a cup run, maybe another flirtation with the playoffs. But we can't afford the pick of players at this level so we're never going to get the (relatively speaking) big signings that we could bring in when we had a sugar daddy.

We're still paying off the costs of the sugar daddy era so I'd rather live within our means, even if it means thinking "well, if we hit mid-table we've done well".

To be honest, I'd rather we dropped the endless gamesmanship bullsh1t than pursued the same approach this season.

Oh, if you want a motivational factor for this season, looking forward to seeing less hoofball now we haven't got a semi-concrete pitch, i.e. one of those partly artificial jobbies which we couldn't afford to replace properly, so just went back to grass instead now we're no longer sharing with a bugry team. Let's see how long our wonderful new bowling green lasts...

 

[hellogregory]

It's strange being a Carlisle fan. We all know the club should be at the top end of the league, but in reality we all know that we'll manage to make an absolute fuck up of everything on and off the pitch resulting in a season of disappointment.

But there is always still that slight glimmer of hope that maybe this season something is done right and we actually do have a good season.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

You're a Carlisle fan, you tell us

to be fair usually in the past I'd never ask as you just well...........turn up.

and for years and years you turn up and turn up, never even question why to bother.

but having spent nearly 2 years not bothering and deciding to get a ST again it just for once came into my head..........

why bother going back this season? we probably won't win anything, it'll probably be crap, everyone will be negative and place will have zero atmosphere etc, etc.

Its something we rarely question as the usual loyal go regardless kicks in, so was interested to see why.

I think the views of a hopeful goal or moment or game can be fair ones.................for all everyone is sick of hearing it that Jimmy Glass season you sat through months of horrendous rubbish then get a once in lifetime moment you'd missed had you not gone.

 

[Wombling Kiwi]

Great Thread question, It has taken me a couple of days to think up an answer. '
Following a club with limited finances, though ground size, I have a fair idea that a play off place is about our limit, but for me I get up on a sunday morning ,NZ time, check the results and think when we win that's 3 points towards the 50 target,safety most seasons, once that is got then it is seeing how high we can finish. I do before bed on the saturday night try to guess the score, the upset wins are the best feeling, not so great when we lose games I think we should win.
I am really looking forward to this season, knowing that I will get to see a couple of games the next season, hopefully at Plough Lane For this season would love to finish 10th or better.

Loving the message board, I do sort of miss Scumarmy, what happend to him ?

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

You're a Carlisle fan, you tell us

to be fair usually in the past I'd never ask as you just well...........turn up.

and for years and years you turn up and turn up, never even question why to bother.

but having spent nearly 2 years not bothering and deciding to get a ST again it just for once came into my head..........

why bother going back this season? we probably won't win anything, it'll probably be crap, everyone will be negative and place will have zero atmosphere etc, etc.

Its something we rarely question as the usual loyal go regardless kicks in, so was interested to see why.

I think the views of a hopeful goal or moment or game can be fair ones.................for all everyone is sick of hearing it that Jimmy Glass season you sat through months of horrendous rubbish then get a once in lifetime moment you'd missed had you not gone.

 

[Wombling Kiwi]

to be fair usually in the past I'd never ask as you just well...........turn up.

and for years and years you turn up and turn up, never even question why to bother.

but having spent nearly 2 years not bothering and deciding to get a ST again it just for once came into my head..........

why bother going back this season? we probably won't win anything, it'll probably be crap, everyone will be negative and place will have zero atmosphere etc, etc.

Its something we rarely question as the usual loyal go regardless kicks in, so was interested to see why.

I think the views of a hopeful goal or moment or game can be fair ones.................for all everyone is sick of hearing it that Jimmy Glass season you sat through months of horrendous rubbish then get a once in lifetime moment you'd missed had you not gone.

I do envy the fact that you can "turn up" when you want, takes me 3 years of saving just to get to a couple of games, although I do visit UK / Europe for 1 - 2 months when I do get there.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Do you not have any sides to watch in New Zealand?

There is a possibility I may have to move from Carlisle in a year due to girlfriend and job possibilities, thankfully though just to England but it sort've makes you wonder do you A: Watch Carlisle from distance, B: Follow the local other side or C: Follow a different sport.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Wellington Phoenix are based in NZ. Oh Chrissy Chrissy, Chrissy Chrissy Chrissy Chrissy Greenacre is on the staff there now.