Jabo CUFC League - Match 1 of 6 (Cambridge v Carlisle)

[shoddycollins]

After winning the CUFC league at the Abbey towards the end of last season, the next season kicks off the same way, although Colchester will probably be favourites to take the title with how things have started.

I had this down as a tough fixture on the scale of Mansfield, there had been a fair amount of positivity around Cambridge before the season began. They've not really gotten going though. I still think it will be tough for us to get anything from the game and would be satisfied with a draw. Should we nick three points (and to be fair, nicking three points has kind of been the hallmark of our season so far) we'd have taken more from the two games against Mansfield and Cambridge than I might have hoped for, despite being abysmal v Mansfield so you know, you take the points wherever you can get them.

On the topic of stealing points, we only score goals from outside the area this season. Well in all competitions we've managed 11 goals, only five of them were from in the area and that was a penalty. The positive side of that is they've been good goals to watch, though it is a concern as we're rarely even getting into the area and have arguably just been lucky so far that so many of our speculative efforts have found the back of the net. Harder to explain is why our opponents this season (apart from Blackburn) have been so wasteful. We're also bottom (or top depending on your point of view) of the fair play league, the only team in the division to be averaging less than one booking per game, though again that could be in part due to how little impact we have on the game, with very little possession and often with the opposition looking comfortable on the ball for long periods.

So in summary, we can't defend, we don't tackle, we don't foul, we can't keep possession, we can't take the ball into the area, we don't shoot and we don't make substitutions either, yet in half of our games we've gone away with the opposition struggling to understand why we won. Either this is going to be a long season of struggle or Sheridan is the greatest manager to have ever lived.

 

[hellogregory]

4 of us were supposed to be going to this, but we’ve sacked off the idea after last weeks complete and utter pointless waste of time that was Mansfield away. The performance had nothing and but for some diabolical finishing from Mansfield we would have deservedly been beaten 4 or 5-0 and whilst I don’t think we can possibly be as bad again, I’ve got no desire to even risk it. To be honest even if we’re half as bad we’ll still get beat.

I’m instead going to watch this one on ifollow. Apparently the 3pm Saturday TV blackout doesn’t apply to international weekends so instead of the time and expense of getting to Cambridge, I’ll watch from the comfort of my own home.

Yes I’m expecting defeat. We’re just not a very good team, poor at the back and toothless up front. I’d take a point right now but I reckon Cambridge will have too much for us.

 

[Laker]

It’s intetesting reading negative/low expectation posts from Carlisle fans as generally we feel quite similar about our own team! I think you might be surprised tomorrow - we’re not that good either.

Regarding pre-season positivity, there really wasn’t any from us. We lost two big players in Ikpeazu and Legge, and replaced the latter with probably a weaker player (John) and the former not at all. We’re consequently really struggling up top and our defence had been worth a mistake or two each game up to the Stevenage win last week. We really need Greg Taylor back ASAP.

We need a win just to pull away further from the bottom 2 as this season is likely to be very long, especially if we get a few more injuries again.

Prediction: 5-0 to the U’s.

 

[hellogregory]

You have Jabo Ibehre leading your attack, we have Richie Bennett leading ours. We win the "we're not very good" comparison for that alone.

 

[Laker]

You have Jabo Ibehre leading your attack, we have Richie Bennett leading ours. We win the "we're not very good" comparison for that alone.

The Jabo we have is several years older than the one you remember. Therefore the “we’re not that good” comparison is not that clear cut.

Edit: according to the stats I can find, he scored 7 in 27 last season and none this season in the half a dozen or so so far. Not exactly Ruud can Nistelrooy.

 

[hellogregory]

For us, even when he Jabo wasn’t scoring his all round game was so good that he was nearly always contributing in some way. Richie Bennett contributes by miscontrolling the ball and passing it straight to the opposition.

 

[Vanni]

'there had been a fair amount of positivity around Cambridge before the season began'

I hope Shoddy isn't referring to me when I was feeling bullish after thrashing Step 4/5 sides during pre season? That was all done in jest, my point being not to read too much into the results of PSF's. Or it could be that he has misinterpreted the general feelgood factor among the U's fans after Derry's sacking and Dunne's appointment. IMO this wasn't because we thought we had/have a top 7 side or anything, but more that Dunne's approach to games was/is wholly different to his predecessor's. It's not a lot of fun watching your side trying to keep it tight for 60 or 70 mins and then trying to grab to late winner, which is exactly what Derry's game plan seemingly consisted of.

Anyway, back to this game and I'm hoping Carlisle don't sit back too much a la Cheltenham - if they do that then we'll struggle to break them down as I think our greatest strength is hitting our opponents with quick breakaways. I'm actually feeling positive for this one after watching a much improved performance at Boro, all the players were excellent bar Brown and Jabo, who both had a rather average game.

I'm going for a 2-1 win, and hoping that the more experienced players in the squad do not go missing for large chunks of the game, esp. the aforementioned Brown and Jabo. Taft not handing over any gift wrapped goals to the opposition would be helpful too.

 

[hellogregory]

My post in this thread has been used by the Accrington owner as an example in his twitter rant at the EFL for allowing the streaming of 3pm kick offs.

We’d sacked Cambridge off anyway, pretty much straight after the Mansfield performance. Even if it wasn’t on ifollow we still wouldn’t be going.

I do however see his point of view. I thought the 3pm Saturday blackout was to protect lower league attendances. The fact it’s being allowed during the international break suggests to me that it is in fact designed only to protect premier league and championship attendances.

 

[Laker]

My post in this thread has been used by the Accrington owner as an example in his twitter rant at the EFL for allowing the streaming of 3pm kick offs.

We’d sacked Cambridge off anyway, pretty much straight after the Mansfield performance. Even if it wasn’t on ifollow we still wouldn’t be going.

I do however see his point of view. I thought the 3pm Saturday blackout was to protect lower league attendances. The fact it’s being allowed during the international break suggests to me that it is in fact designed only to protect premier league and championship attendances.

You’re famous!

 

[shoddycollins]

My post in this thread has been used by the Accrington owner as an example in his twitter rant at the EFL for allowing the streaming of 3pm kick offs.

We’d sacked Cambridge off anyway, pretty much straight after the Mansfield performance. Even if it wasn’t on ifollow we still wouldn’t be going.

I do however see his point of view. I thought the 3pm Saturday blackout was to protect lower league attendances. The fact it’s being allowed during the international break suggests to me that it is in fact designed only to protect premier league and championship attendances.

Fucking hell he has too. 1) You've gone viral (and not in the way Carver did after he hired that prostitute either) and 2) Andy Holt reads this messageboard, I wonder which one of the 25 who read this thread listed below he is.

EDIT: He actually retweeted someone else who used your post, who if you look it up is a Vale fan, and therefore obviously valefan16

 

[cufc17]

1-0 Devitt. Jabo to have a shocker as he still loves us. That’s all.

 

[Vanni]

Some guy asks the Accy owner what he thinks about streaming the match when the away tickets sell out. His reply? Buy your tickets early As if that helps whenever some big L1 side is only allocated some 2000 tickets for a game at Accy's ground.

Then there's his disrespect for those Accy fans that do not live in the UK by not streaming their matches. I know they don't have loads of fans but still. It's almost like he wants the expats to fly over for every home game

He may have a point on this latest iFollow dilemma (UK based fans can watch tomorrow's games) but it's hard to take this guy seriously I think.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

I do quite like Holt, but I do find it a bit ironic that he has voted yes on the Checkatrade because of the money, and is now having a hissy fit about the EFL chasing the money. Generally he's on the mark though and is willing to tackle the league unlike most of the rest.

As for tomorrow, fuck knows, one goal either way at most, so 1-1.

 

[shoddycollins]

bollocks, hard to see us winning another game this season. We're completely absent from yet another game.

 

[shoddycollins]

just a case now of whether Cambridge take their chances. If they do they'll win 5 or 6 nil. If they don't they'll win 1-0

 

[hellogregory]

I’d put that as our best performance and most deserved win of the season so far.

Aside from the first 20 minutes which were a disjointed mess, not quite as bad as last week but bad. After that when we took Nadesan off the wing (never play him on the wing again) I thought we dominated, controlled, looked dangerous and should have won more convincingly. Etuhu and Glendon were good, Yates was excellent as was Gerrard.

 

[Laker]

We are abysmal. I’m already looking at results of the likes of Morecambe and Macclesfield in the hope there’s a couple of sides even worse. I can’t see us staying up based on our own ability.

 

[Vanni]

Yep, thank the good lord for the likes of Notts Co is just about all I can say right now.

 

[Arbury]

Frustrating watch that, first half was ok and felt we should have gone in with a lead but that 2nd half was abysmal, we offered absolutely nothing and looked really disjointed, was all to easy for Carlisle, saying that I don’t really think they done enough to win the game either, the goal came from nowhere really and I never felt we was under pressure, we just know how to switch off at the minute and give the opposition the upper hand.

It’s gonna be a long season fellas.


KTF

 

[hellogregory]

We definitely did more than enough to win. Off the top of my head, other than the 2 goals, there was Devitt’s chance that he blasted over, should be scoring with his ability. There was also Adam Campbell’s sitter that he really should be burying, there’s no excuse for putting that past the post from that position.

Admittedly you also had anothe great chance at 0-0 that forced a great save from our keeper

 

[Pablosammy]

Quick summary from a neutral's perspective.

First half was Cambridge's - they looked sharper, faster, more incisive and more disciplined. There were a number of clear chances for them to take the lead, and their goal was a surprise to nobody. Carlisle looked a bit of a mess, and showed few glimpses of promise - the equaliser was a bit undeserved.

Second half, Carlisle looked like they gained a lot of confidence from the goal just before half time and suddenly looked like a different side. They were still a bit shaky at the back, but Cambridge weren't at the races and couldn't take advantage. Carlisle pressed and pressed and finally forced one home to win the game.

A game of two halves, but I'd say Carlisle did just enough to deserve the points.

 

[shoddycollins]

Had we continued in the vein we started it could well have been an easy won for Cambridge, and maybe if they'd taken their chances in the first half, it would have been over before half time.

Sheridan has shown though, he knows how to read a game and do what needs done when improvements are required. Sounds like we came out very well after half time and Cambridge perhaps showed signs of a team struggling and who lose confidence very quickly. That said based on their first half performance they surely have more than enough to steer clear of danger.

 

[hellogregory]

Jabo was almost unplayable in the first half, first touch, pace, power, assist. It was like the jabo we had. Thankfully he faded a bit second half but probably partly due to us getting on top of the game.

 

[Carver]

Fucking hell he has too. 1) You've gone viral (and not in the way Carver did after he hired that prostitute either) and 2) Andy Holt reads this messageboard, I wonder which one of the 25 who read this thread listed below he is.

EDIT: He actually retweeted someone else who used your post, who if you look it up is a Vale fan, and therefore obviously valefan16

What's this about me hiring a prostitute?

 

[shoddycollins]

What's this about me hiring a prostitute?

You tell me.