League 2 relegation thread 14/15

[AdamStag]

Average position of opponents
Dagenham's - 8.9
Tranmere - 9.6
Cheltenham - 10.4
Mansfield - 13
Carlisle - 13.2
Oxford - 13.4
Cambridge - 13.6
Hartlepool - 13.9
York - 14.7

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

My biggest worry in respect of Carlisle having made my first game is the resignation around the place, our fanbase has pretty much given up already, well the large majority of them.

I've been involved in many a L2 relegation battle in my time mostly because Carlisle have been in many a scrap and while as you'd expect the first half of season is always doom, gloom, despair and annoyance because you start full of hope then find its sh*te

but I always found about mid-feb time the fans decide to rally behind the side because they realize the team is in danger and they need to therefore back the team, but watching sat there was nothing really, when we went 2-1 down I expected abit of an encouraging cheer, abit of a 'come on' approach, instead all I seen was an 'oh well that is that' feel to the place and that is very worrying because if you lack fight for a relegation battle your in trouble.

ah well only positive is Chelts, york and tranmere seem as poor as us so gives us hope, looks like iit'll be 2000 all over again a battle between 2-3 really poor undeserving to survive clubs who survive by luck that some others are a poor.

 

[hellogregory]

My biggest worry in respect of Carlisle having made my first game is the resignation around the place, our fanbase has pretty much given up already, well the large majority of them.

I've been involved in many a L2 relegation battle in my time mostly because Carlisle have been in many a scrap and while as you'd expect the first half of season is always doom, gloom, despair and annoyance because you start full of hope then find its sh*te

but I always found about mid-feb time the fans decide to rally behind the side because they realize the team is in danger and they need to therefore back the team, but watching sat there was nothing really, when we went 2-1 down I expected abit of an encouraging cheer, abit of a 'come on' approach, instead all I seen was an 'oh well that is that' feel to the place and that is very worrying because if you lack fight for a relegation battle your in trouble.

ah well only positive is Chelts, york and tranmere seem as poor as us so gives us hope, looks like iit'll be 2000 all over again a battle between 2-3 really poor undeserving to survive clubs who survive by luck that some others are a poor.

Now you'll understand why I think there's no hope and we'll finish bottom.

 

[shoddycollins]

My biggest worry in respect of Carlisle having made my first game is the resignation around the place, our fanbase has pretty much given up already, well the large majority of them.

I've been involved in many a L2 relegation battle in my time mostly because Carlisle have been in many a scrap and while as you'd expect the first half of season is always doom, gloom, despair and annoyance because you start full of hope then find its sh*te

but I always found about mid-feb time the fans decide to rally behind the side because they realize the team is in danger and they need to therefore back the team, but watching sat there was nothing really, when we went 2-1 down I expected abit of an encouraging cheer, abit of a 'come on' approach, instead all I seen was an 'oh well that is that' feel to the place and that is very worrying because if you lack fight for a relegation battle your in trouble.

ah well only positive is Chelts, york and tranmere seem as poor as us so gives us hope, looks like iit'll be 2000 all over again a battle between 2-3 really poor undeserving to survive clubs who survive by luck that some others are a poor.

Things actually did start to pick up atmosphere wise until we went on that four game losing streak. The atmosphere at the Mansfield game was as good as any I've seen there in the last couple of years, and it did seem exactly as you said. It was right after Curle appealed to the fans to get behind the team and they did. If we can string together a couple of wins it'll probably lift again, or if some good news comes from the boardroom, but who knows.

 

[Murphy]

I reckon it'll be Carlisle now. I think Cheltenham have recruited fairly well in recent weeks, and with Shaun Harrad up top have a good chance of scoring the goals they need to stay up - if they can get him firing of course. Massively surprised at how badly Tranmere are still faring mind, as I've said for a while I thought with Micky Adams in he'd see them right, but they seem to have gotten even worse! They have a fairly decent squad as well looking through briefly, so not sure what's going on there.

From a personal point of view, I'd probably prefer Tranmere or York to go. Not that I have anything against the two, both sets of supporters have been great that I've encountered, and York I know for a fact is a pretty good away day. Just know a fair few Cheltenham supporters and it's probably my favourite away day of the season, and Carlisle we always pick up points from so we can't let them escape through the trap door Hope it's sorted by the final day mind, don't need those nerves, trust us!

 

[cufc17]

But we have Charlie Wyke, who has 5 in his last 9 I think, problem is he and Rigg get little support up top. Sadly, our defence is terrible and we need to score 2 or 3 to grab a point most weeks.

 

[shoddycollins]

Yeah if Cheltenham are looking at adding goals to their team, we already have plenty in ours... Well more than any of the other relegation contenders at least. My only hope is that as you start to get to the end of the season and everyone gets a bit tired, having goals in your side will help you more than having a tight defence.

 

[Murphy]

Yeah I was looking at the table earlier and I think Carlisle have actually scored more than Southend, which just shows how appalling the defence is. 62 conceded is it? Most annoying thing must be, from the outside certainly, you've had that problem for a good few years. Certainly remember last season in L1 you shipped 4 or 5 a good few times, maybe twice against Orient alone? Just seemingly hasn't been addressed, sort of in the same way Hartlepool have never properly addressed the goal scoring problem that they've had for a similar amount of time.

 

[shoddycollins]

Yeah I was looking at the table earlier and I think Carlisle have actually scored more than Southend, which just shows how appalling the defence is. 62 conceded is it? Most annoying thing must be, from the outside certainly, you've had that problem for a good few years. Certainly remember last season in L1 you shipped 4 or 5 a good few times, maybe twice against Orient alone? Just seemingly hasn't been addressed, sort of in the same way Hartlepool have never properly addressed the goal scoring problem that they've had for a similar amount of time.

Yeah, as Dave has said in this thread or another full backs are a problem this season and have been for a long time. Abbott and Kav both seemed to have this weird fetish for playing midfielders and wingers at full back. We started this season with no right back on our books and haven't been able to satisfactorily plug the gap with loanees. We started off with Kav saying the the winger Dave Symington was our right back, the season before, Abbott seemed set on playing the central midfielder Brad Potts there. Between Sean McDaid retiring through injury in 2010 and Danny Grainger signing this summer just gone we've had no contracted left backs at the club. Matty Robson was a winger and Chris Chantler was a central midfielder both of those filled the gap, along with various loanees.

We've also had an assortment of crap centre backs and midfielders put into centre back in that time but seem to be alright there at the moment.

Orient have beaten us something like 4-1, 4-1, 5-1 and 4-0 the last four times we've played them. Last season started much the same as this one, with a ridiculous set of thrashings that ultimately led us to sack the manager and left us in a relegation scrap before August was out. Last season we conceded 20 goals in our first 5 games.

 

[daviejones]

Yeah I was looking at the table earlier and I think Carlisle have actually scored more than Southend, which just shows how appalling the defence is. 62 conceded is it? Most annoying thing must be, from the outside certainly, you've had that problem for a good few years. Certainly remember last season in L1 you shipped 4 or 5 a good few times, maybe twice against Orient alone? Just seemingly hasn't been addressed, sort of in the same way Hartlepool have never properly addressed the goal scoring problem that they've had for a similar amount of time.

We've conceded 3+ goals in 11 games this season which is shocking really. We've been slightly better defensively since Curle joined, certainly better than Kavanagh and Abbott were last season and start of this one. We'd be in much bigger trouble if we didn't have plenty of goals in us, although maybe our bad defence can be put down to us being a bit too attacking. Certainly makes for exciting games for neutrals watching the FLS on a Saturday night though, and means we at least have a potentially good team next season as it's surely harder finding goalscorers than it is finding decent defenders to counteract the generally average strikers in this league.

 

[Boz]

I reckon it'll be Carlisle now. I think Cheltenham have recruited fairly well in recent weeks, and with Shaun Harrad up top have a good chance of scoring the goals they need to stay up - if they can get him firing of course. Massively surprised at how badly Tranmere are still faring mind, as I've said for a while I thought with Micky Adams in he'd see them right, but they seem to have gotten even worse! They have a fairly decent squad as well looking through briefly, so not sure what's going on there.

From a personal point of view, I'd probably prefer Tranmere or York to go. Not that I have anything against the two, both sets of supporters have been great that I've encountered, and York I know for a fact is a pretty good away day. Just know a fair few Cheltenham supporters and it's probably my favourite away day of the season, and Carlisle we always pick up points from so we can't let them escape through the trap door Hope it's sorted by the final day mind, don't need those nerves, trust us!

Where do I start...

Adams was fine when using the squad he inherited, bolstered by a few loan signings. When the window opened, he was given backing to recruit players, but didn't bring in another defensive midfielder to compliment/compete with Jennings or a winger to replace Baggie, who he never gave a chance to. Also needed a stong organiser at the back, instead of Dugdale who has been hopeless.

Adams hasn't kept a settled line-up and his team selections have been debatable. Think we're around 45 players who've pulled on the white jersey this season. For the Dagenham game, Holmes, our most consistent player, Laird who's been decent in midfield and Odejayi were all dropped, yet Dugdale, Jennings and Power get picked every game irrespective of poor form. When Jason Koumas finally gets a chance, he is influential, but picked up an injury around 40 minutes and will probably miss the rest of the season.

The current squad ought to be strong enough to stay up. However events on the pitch suggest otherwise.

 

[AdamStag]

It's far from ideal, but you can get by on not many goals.

We are the second lowest goalscorers in the league after hartlepool but we also have an alright defence at home for instance, only conceding 2 in the last 5, while scoring only 6 - but we picked up 3 single goal wins in that run and 11 points in total.

When we beat carlisle 3-2 at home in September I was astonished by some of their defending in the first half, it was terrible.

Can't you get any decent defenders in on loan? Adam Murray correctly realised we were struggling upfront and has brought in billy kee - who appears to be slowly starting to make the difference

 

[localhero]

It's far from ideal, but you can get by on not many goals.

We are the second lowest goalscorers in the league after hartlepool but we also have an alright defence at home for instance, only conceding 2 in the last 5, while scoring only 6 - but we picked up 3 single goal wins in that run and 11 points in total.

When we beat carlisle 3-2 at home in September I was astonished by some of their defending in the first half, it was terrible.

Can't you get any decent defenders in on loan? Adam Murray correctly realised we were struggling upfront and has brought in billy kee - who appears to be slowly starting to make the difference

If Carlisle are need of defenders they can have Adam Dugdale. I don't have a car to drive him there myself but would give him a piggy back the whole way up to Cumbria if it meant that he didn't play another game for us this season.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

You really need to get rid of Micky lads, if you give him a chance next season all he'll do is sign Crewe rejects like he did at the Vale for a number of years and trust me, you won't want Vadaine Oliver, Shaun Miller and Jon Guthrie joining Molyneux and Dugdale next campaign.

I don't know how Dugdale was a regular for us in League One for two seasons, I really don't. Nice lad and a cult hero for us but when I saw him get done by Charlie Wyke the other week it didn't surprise me one bit cos he's absolutely awful in the air and can't handle players with pace running at him.

 

[Richard Cranium]

You really need to get rid of Micky lads, if you give him a chance next season all he'll do is sign Crewe rejects like he did at the Vale for a number of years and trust me, you won't want Vadaine Oliver, Shaun Miller and Jon Guthrie joining Molyneux and Dugdale next campaign.

I don't know how Dugdale was a regular for us in League One for two seasons, I really don't. Nice lad and a cult hero for us but when I saw him get done by Charlie Wyke the other week it didn't surprise me one bit cos he's absolutely awful in the air and can't handle players with pace running at him.

Vadaine Oliver isn't doing a bad job for us to be fair.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Yeah, as Dave has said in this thread or another full backs are a problem this season and have been for a long time. Abbott and Kav both seemed to have this weird fetish for playing midfielders and wingers at full back. We started this season with no right back on our books and haven't been able to satisfactorily plug the gap with loanees. We started off with Kav saying the the winger Dave Symington was our right back, the season before, Abbott seemed set on playing the central midfielder Brad Potts there. Between Sean McDaid retiring through injury in 2010 and Danny Grainger signing this summer just gone we've had no contracted left backs at the club. Matty Robson was a winger and Chris Chantler was a central midfielder both of those filled the gap, along with various loanees..

That has been what caused our downfall from a top L1 side to just about non-league is due to managers constantly trying to just 'shove' someone into a position and hope for the best all in an effort to save money.

Strikers on wings, midfielders in central defence, wingers as full backs, etc, etc we're always trying to do make-sh*te stuff and keep fingers crossed and 100% of the time it has never worked.

that and constantly changing the side, be lucky if we've played the same team 3 games in a row for about 5 years now, that is the advantage the smaller clubs like Accrington and Dagenham have in these battles, what they lose in respect of finances and player quality they gain in team unity and battle

we swap and change, swap and change, do this, try that, try another thing, ditch this, look at that, change it back to the first idea then decide against it yet again.....I think if we had plans this season Carlisle would be.

Plan A - lasted 45 minutes
Plan B - lasted the other 45 minutes of game 1
Plan C
Plan D
Back to plan A
Ditch Plan A altogether and head right onto Plan X
Plan X didn't work so lets try a combo of Plan B and errrm Plan D and see what happens
No, no we'll do Plan C again
ah errm no we'll try Plan E
Plan F
Plan G
Plan C
Back to Plan X....no didn't work
Plan F mixed with Plan E and adding in Plan X for total effect
Plan H
Back to plan C for a 3rd time / Change to plan D after 45 mins

etc, etc, etc its ridiculous.

 

[shoddycollins]

Can't you get any decent defenders in on loan? Adam Murray correctly realised we were struggling upfront and has brought in billy kee - who appears to be slowly starting to make the difference

It doesn't seem we can get experienced heads in on loan. Location might be a factor when it comes to players who have already put down roots. We seem to bring in entirely young players on loan who may or may not work, although we've brought in very few loanees in total this season, 7 in total, 3 of whom have been right backs, and of the others 3 weren't good enough. The right backs have followed a pattern of bring someone in, if they turn out to be good then their parent club recalls them. Actually saw Connor Brown playing in Oldham's first team in FLS so fair play to the lad.

 

[womble76]

A point against a not in form Newport is not really good enough for Cheltenham imo.

 

[AdamStag]

Guess it's relative.

If tranmere lose at northampton its a decent point, especially with York and carlisle playing each other.

If one of york and carlisle win as do tran

 

[shoddycollins]

A point against a not in form Newport is not really good enough for Cheltenham imo.

Not ideal for either us or Tranmere though, cos neither of us are in the sort of form to be nicking points at top-half teams in form or not. Could have been a lot worse when Cheltenham led, so we just have to make to with the fact Cheltenham are going to claw the odd point here and there.

Since we don't draw, everytime Cheltenham do scrape a point back we need to wait for a win to come around in order to get back ahead of Cheltenham.

 

[hellogregory]

Hartlepool leading 1-0 at Morecambe. Will only be 6 points behind us tonight if they hold on for the 3 points.

I stand by what I said weeks ago that Hartlepool will catch us and we'll finish bottom.

 

[1884 Belmont]

Hartlepool leading 1-0 at Morecambe. Will only be 6 points behind us tonight if they hold on for the 3 points.

I stand by what I said weeks ago that Hartlepool will catch us and we'll finish bottom.

Looks like we will fight you for it...

 

[daviejones]

Looks like we will fight you for it...

God knows where we'd be if we hadn't done the double over you. I'd say probably below Hartlepool and on the verge of mathematical relegation already.

 

[Vanni]

Don't get this at all from the Carlisle fans. You're playing York right? So both sides in deep relegation trouble and it's exactly these type of matches that are the hardest. Don't need me to tell you that, points are much easier to come by against the mid table sides imo.

 

[daviejones]

Don't get this at all from the Carlisle fans. You're playing York right? So both sides in deep relegation trouble and it's exactly these type of matches that are the hardest. Don't need me to tell you that, points are much easier to come by against the mid table sides imo.

What's your point? If a side's scrapping at the bottom then it's all well and good them putting the effort in but the fact of the matter is they're probably pretty cr*p. Exeter, for example, turned us over last weekend at our place. Mid-table team with little to play for, they come to us and completely outplay us. Our best hope is outscrapping and/or outplaying teams near the bottom, as our game against Cheltenham showed.

 

[shoddycollins]

Don't get this at all from the Carlisle fans. You're playing York right? So both sides in deep relegation trouble and it's exactly these type of matches that are the hardest. Don't need me to tell you that, points are much easier to come by against the mid table sides imo.

Hopefully it becomes like that as more and more teams in mid table have little to play for, because most of our remaining games are against mid table opposition, but our record against anyone outside the bottom 10 is absolutely shocking.

 

[localhero]

We're losing. Been absolutely hammered from the start by the sound of it so exactly what we deserve.

 

[1884 Belmont]

Told you - we are down. End of story.

 

[daviejones]

Don't expect much from our game, sounds like a near certain draw barring a moment of inspiration from either side. Solid defending and lack of quality up front, which is the opposite to what we usually get from Carlisle.

 

[daviejones]

We've just gone and cleared 3 consecutive shots off the line!