Recruitment and Starting Line-up’s

[Posh Harry]

I assume the ‘one year contract policy’ is fucking you over?

Seems a bonkers thing to stipulate as only a small proportion of players would take a year’s deal, when they can get 2 years elsewhere. It’s even more crazy when you consider how far Carlisle is from anywhere. We have similar issues with location, so can only imagine how difficult things would be if we only offered one year deals.

We had a similar policy a few years back.

We were already in non league at the time though

 

[Brooky]

Doubt McAnuff starts ahead of Wright, and Turley or Sam Ling will play at RWB, I reckon. If we start the season with Matt Harrold as a first choice striker, we’ll get relegated.

In for a long season if you're relying on Josh Wright!

 

[E10rifle]

In for a long season if you're relying on Josh Wright!

He’ll be fine. Completely out of his element oop Narth.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

He’ll be fine. Completely out of his element oop Narth.

What was his excuse at Sarthend and Giliingham, to big a shitholes?

 

[Brooky]

He’ll be fine. Completely out of his element oop Narth.

Being up north doesn't stop you from running, the very minimum requirement from a footballer is to effort. He just let folk run right past him, it was embarrassing to watch at times.

 

[hellogregory]

I assume the ‘one year contract policy’ is fucking you over?

Seems a bonkers thing to stipulate as only a small proportion of players would take a year’s deal, when they can get 2 years elsewhere. It’s even more crazy when you consider how far Carlisle is from anywhere. We have similar issues with location, so can only imagine how difficult things would be if we only offered one year deals.

Yeah I think it is. For example Jamie Devitt wanted to stay, he was settled here but wanted a 2 year deal as a bit of security. We wouldn’t offer him it, despite the fact he’s proven at this level.

I get it for young unproven players, offer them a 1 year deal and let them prove themselves before earning a longer term deal. But exceptions should be made for certain players.

I think come May 2020, myself, shoddycollins and other cufc fans will be looking back thinking if only the club had been willing to hand out a few 2 year contracts we might still be a football league club.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Olejnik (Logan till September when he's fit)
White Pearce Preston/Sweeney Benning
Bishop Mellis
Khan
Maynard Cook Hamilton

 

[Casey]

I'm a little concerned about Crawley. We have too many forwards and not enough defenders.

I expected Palmer and Poleon to be gone by now and a proper left back and a starting centre half to be signed....oh and a keeper.

No rumours, no hints, no nothing from the club. If we go into the season with Dalison and McNerney as our only centre backs and Morris as our only keeper I would expect problems.

Casey

 

[shoddycollins]

I assume the ‘one year contract policy’ is fucking you over?

Seems a bonkers thing to stipulate as only a small proportion of players would take a year’s deal, when they can get 2 years elsewhere. It’s even more crazy when you consider how far Carlisle is from anywhere. We have similar issues with location, so can only imagine how difficult things would be if we only offered one year deals.

It's a big factor, like you say, we've always had difficulty convincing players to join Winterfell United; there have been times when the fans have been critical of the club for offering older or injury-prone players contracts which were too long (Troy Archibald-Henville and Danny Cadamarteri for example) but the excuse was usually that we had to offer something more to get players of this caliber.

I'm not sure why we're doing it so differently now. If it was just about cutting our cloth to fit then surely we could still make a few exceptions for the likes of Devitt and maybe some of the players we've been chasing who have gone elsewhere. If you offer a two-year contract and the player suffers a long term injury or dramatic dip in form then it's only in the second year when that becomes a burden to the club. A much lesser burden than the burden we'll have if we get relegated, while a player who does well on a two year contract may keep us up or even get us promoted and then could still be sold for a fee. Just makes no sense financially.

Our 'owners' have been with the club now for between a decade, and in Jenkins' case, six decades. It's not like they don't know all this, it's fairly basic stuff. They may be obtuse, secretive and defensive and sorely lacking when it comes to ambition, innovation and communication; but I don't believe that they're so clueless when it comes to the basics of running a football club that they can't see the benefits of offering your best players two and three year contracts, they've all overseen periods of success and of longer contracts awarded while at the club. I doubt David Holdsworth is oblivious to it too.

I suspect the invisible hand of Edinburgh Woolen Mill is at work here. They'll bail us out of financial difficulty but aren't really interested in the long-term sustainability of the club. Philip Day couldn't sound less interested despite his bailouts, (makes it clear he doesn't want to own a football club, claims he doesn't even like football and is just doing it because most of his staff support Carlisle) Their input is secured on the stadium and that will be worth the same no matter what division we're in (I'll avoid going full conspiracy theory and suggesting they want the club to go under so they can get their hands on the stadium, it's hardly a prime development site what with it being right in the flood plain, but many United fans do think this). Holdsworth is their man and they just don't want to see their money being used to make commitments beyond a year because their only concern is whether they can get out of such commitments, not what division the club is in.

 

[E10rifle]

What was his excuse at Sarthend and Giliingham, to big a shitholes?

He was fine at Gillingham and heartbroken to be turning out for the Mudrats. He’s a good lad and an Orient boy at heart.

Being up north doesn't stop you from running, the very minimum requirement from a footballer is to effort.

Tell that to Zlatan.

Look lads, I know Josh was a convenient embodiment of everything that was shite up your way last season, but we’ve had him before and are well aware of his strengths (passing, taking penalties) and weaknesses (everything else). He’s perfectly adequate for League Two and, as hard as it seems for you to accept, will be a lot more motivated for us than he was for you. You concentrate on the promotion you seem to think you’re going to walk to, and we’ll concentrate on quietly re-establishing ourselves as an EFL club after the insanity of the past few years.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

He was fine at Gillingham and heartbroken to be turning out for the Mudrats. He’s a good lad and an Orient boy at heart.



Tell that to Zlatan.

Look lads, I know Josh was a convenient embodiment of everything that was shite up your way last season, but we’ve had him before and are well aware of his strengths (passing, taking penalties) and weaknesses (everything else). He’s perfectly adequate for League Two and, as hard as it seems for you to accept, will be a lot more motivated for us than he was for you. You concentrate on the promotion you seem to think you’re going to walk to, and we’ll concentrate on quietly re-establishing ourselves as an EFL club after the insanity of the past few years.

Wasn't he sacked by Gillingham? Actually by his pathetically low standards that is fine. His brother and Daddy will stick up for him though.

 

[Brooky]

He was fine at Gillingham and heartbroken to be turning out for the Mudrats. He’s a good lad and an Orient boy at heart.



Tell that to Zlatan.

Look lads, I know Josh was a convenient embodiment of everything that was shite up your way last season, but we’ve had him before and are well aware of his strengths (passing, taking penalties) and weaknesses (everything else). He’s perfectly adequate for League Two and, as hard as it seems for you to accept, will be a lot more motivated for us than he was for you. You concentrate on the promotion you seem to think you’re going to walk to, and we’ll concentrate on quietly re-establishing ourselves as an EFL club after the insanity of the past few years.

He was given the captaincy he should of needed no more motivation than that. Can't really comment for his passing as all he did was pass it sideways and backwards, I'll have to find the clip of him trying defend in the middle of the park..... It was absolutely tragic.

 

[E10rifle]

He was given the captaincy he should of needed no more motivation than that. Can't really comment for his passing as all he did was pass it sideways and backwards, I'll have to find the clip of him trying defend in the middle of the park..... It was absolutely tragic.

Handing him the captaincy was a very strange decision. He’s a useful player in a good side, but anonymous when a team is struggling. Hopefully he’ll be dead average in what I expect to be an utterly middle-of-the-pack side.

 

[Brooky]

Handing him the captaincy was a very strange decision. He’s a useful player in a good side, but anonymous when a team is struggling. Hopefully he’ll be dead average in what I expect to be an utterly middle-of-the-pack side.

A lot of strange decisions that cost us under last years heirachy. But he genuinely looked complete turd. Like you say division below and moving closer to home might make a difference but I wouldn't want him anywhere near my team.

 

[Moomin]

7 new players in, all permanents. MT says he will add a couple of loans and then we’re done. Definitely need a right back as a minimum.

In light of Ajose signing, think we’ll go 4-4-2

G - Jonny Maxted/ Lewis Ward - Unsure who yet but both sound good.

RB - Pierce Sweeney
CB - Tom Parkes
CB - Dean Moxey
LB - Craig Woodman

RW - Randell Williams
CM - Nicky Law
CM - Jake Taylor
LW - Lee Martin

S - Nicky Ajose
S - Ryan Bowman

Subs: Lewis Ward, Gary Warren, Aaron Martin, Nigel Atangana, Archie Collins, Alex Fisher, Matt Jay

Get a right back, preferably Kane Wilson back on loan and I’d still like a left back as Woodman is getting on, but is still dependable.

Overall we looks solid with some very good players for this level. Expecting lots from Law, Martin and Williams in midfield plus I can see a fruitful Bowman/ Ajose partnership. Looking forward to the season.

 

[F!RTHY]

I’d love Nicky Law back at Valley Parade.

 

[Moomin]

I’d love Nicky Law back at Valley Parade.

Class at this level, won all of our POTY awards.

 

[Son of Cod]

Adding Exeter to the OFFICIALLY GOING FOR IT™ list.

 

[Trapdoor]

I don't think we are "going for it" like Mensfield and Bratfurt but if that line-up finishes outside of the playoffs it has to be considered a failure. I reckon we'll end up 5th.

 

[Lborostag]

Any Exeter fan expecting a 'fruitful relationship' on a strikeforce containing Nicky Ajose is going to be disappointed. He is awful.

 

[Conker]

He was awful for us, but he’s clearly a talented player and I think he will do well at Exeter with the right partner uptop.

 

[Moomin]

He was awful for us, but he’s clearly a talented player and I think he will do well at Exeter with the right partner uptop.

I think this is more accurate. I really think Bowman is the ideal partner for Ajose as he is your typical work horse type of forward who press and run his bollocks off all day, which should suit Ajose.

That being said, he’s obviously not performed at some clubs so I’m not going to say he’s definitely going to be a hit, time will tell on that, but he’s certainly got the potential to be great for us.

 

[Agombar stool]

I know he was poor at both Charlton and Mansfield but the comments being made by some fans about how shit he is remind me (and I may have used this anecdote before so please excuse me if I had) of when we signed Sam Parkin permanently from Chelsea. He had been on loan at Northampton scoring 4 goals in 40 games and when it was announced we had tens of Northampton fans coming onto our forums to say how shite he was and how they couldn't believe we had signed him.

He scored a hat-trick on his home debut and went on to score 67 goals in 124 games and sold him for 600k ish.

He sadly never really hit the heights anywhere else after we sold him but its worth remembering that past performance doesn't always play out as you may expect.

I put it in the transfer thread, but I reckon Ajose will be in the top 5/10 scorers this season. I may even put a small amount on him being the top scorer in my Top scorers accumulator I usually do.

 

[Big Bird]

Silly to write Ajose off. If he clicks like he did here it's goals galore. Admittedly not really done it anywhere else but us Town fans have seen how ruthless he can be in front of goal. Should also now be in his prime at 27.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

So after 7 signings we're looking like.

GK: Liam Roberts

RB: Shay Facey
CB: Dan Scarr
CB: James Clarke
LB: Cameron Pring

CM: George Dobson
CM: Liam Kinsella
CM: Stuart Sinclair

RW: ? (James Hardy maybe though I think he's more of a 10)
ST: Josh Gordon
LW: Morgan Ferrier (Though more of a striker than a winger)

Then in reserve we have:
RB: Cameron Norman
CB: Kory Roberts
LB: Callum Cockerill-Mollett
CM: Alfie Bates
CM: Jack Kiersey
ST: Elijah Adebayo
ST: Mitch Candlin

Plus two first year pro's Luke Little and Tom Leak.

We're looking good through the spine, three excellent CM's for this level, two good starting centre halves with the very exciting Kory Roberts in reserve. 4 solid full backs, and a promising keeper in Liam Roberts who dropped off last season but has all the potential to get back to his old form under a new GK goach. A very hard working and talented striker in Josh Gordon who will definitely get 10+ I reckon with Morgan Ferrier who will also get at least 5+, and Elijah Adebayo who will give us a different element going forwards too. Plus our manager in Darrell Clarke who I hope will turn some of the average or solid players in that squad into better footballers as that is what we will need to be competing where we want to compete.

Issue's come in a lack of experience (Only 2 players over 25) and no wide men which Darrell Clarke reportedly likes to use. So if we manage to bring 2 or 3 in and maybe an experienced striker, CB and then a GK - we will be looking good. Issue comes with our budget probably not having the flexibility for all that.

I know Swindon are apparently in for him but I wouldn't be surprised if we were after Kyle Bennett as it was Darrell Clarke who brought him to Rovers and so might be tempted to bring him here. Doubt we could compete with them though if they're trying to sign players like Zach Clough for transfer fees.

 

[Cobbler Baggy]

11 players in so far with 2-3 more to come at least, Curle has pretty much rebuilt the team from where we were last year. Currently we're looking like lining up like this:

GKP Arnold

RWB Nicky Adams
LWB Joe Martin
LCB Jordan Turnbull
RCB Charlie Goode
CB NEW SIGNING - REPLACEMENT FOR AARON PIERRE

CMF Chris Lines
CMF Alan McCormack
CMF Ryan Watson

ATT Harry Smith
ATT Andy Williams

SUBS: Junior Morias, Vadaine Oliver, Matty Warburton, Scott Pollock, Joe Bunney, Reece Hall-Johnson, Dai Cornell


A new CB signing is expected to replace the hole left after player of the season Pierre's departure to Shrewsbury and I think we'll also bring in a left winger and another attacking midfielder. Joe Bunney is looking to leave and if he does we will be bringing in LB as back-up for Joe Martin as well.

I think we underachieved last season due to the terrible start we made prior to Curle replacing Austin and that if Curle had been in charge from the season's start we would have been not too far away from the play-offs. We're massively improved from last season though, and I think a top 7 finish is almost an expectation this time round. It's going to be very competitive for a top 3 place and as such that may likely be beyond us but would be disappointed to miss out on the play-offs.

 

[Simpo]

Classy midfielder Mohamed Maouche has signed for another year at lower terms, which is a pleasant surprise. Apparently he could be made captain.

Aging lump of a striker Urko Vera has also returned for another year, which is a... surprise...

I fear we won't have enough steel about us this season, although Missilou in centre mid is a machine.

 

[Moomin]

I know he was poor at both Charlton and Mansfield but the comments being made by some fans about how shit he is remind me (and I may have used this anecdote before so please excuse me if I had) of when we signed Sam Parkin permanently from Chelsea. He had been on loan at Northampton scoring 4 goals in 40 games and when it was announced we had tens of Northampton fans coming onto our forums to say how shite he was and how they couldn't believe we had signed him.

He scored a hat-trick on his home debut and went on to score 67 goals in 124 games and sold him for 600k ish.

He sadly never really hit the heights anywhere else after we sold him but its worth remembering that past performance doesn't always play out as you may expect.

I put it in the transfer thread, but I reckon Ajose will be in the top 5/10 scorers this season. I may even put a small amount on him being the top scorer in my Top scorers accumulator I usually do.

Ahhh Sam Parkin, sadly by the time we signed him he really was shit! But I think injuries and age had ruined him by that point.

 

[Stringy]

It's a big factor, like you say, we've always had difficulty convincing players to join Winterfell United; there have been times when the fans have been critical of the club for offering older or injury-prone players contracts which were too long (Troy Archibald-Henville and Danny Cadamarteri for example) but the excuse was usually that we had to offer something more to get players of this caliber.

I'm not sure why we're doing it so differently now. If it was just about cutting our cloth to fit then surely we could still make a few exceptions for the likes of Devitt and maybe some of the players we've been chasing who have gone elsewhere. If you offer a two-year contract and the player suffers a long term injury or dramatic dip in form then it's only in the second year when that becomes a burden to the club. A much lesser burden than the burden we'll have if we get relegated, while a player who does well on a two year contract may keep us up or even get us promoted and then could still be sold for a fee. Just makes no sense financially.

Our 'owners' have been with the club now for between a decade, and in Jenkins' case, six decades. It's not like they don't know all this, it's fairly basic stuff. They may be obtuse, secretive and defensive and sorely lacking when it comes to ambition, innovation and communication; but I don't believe that they're so clueless when it comes to the basics of running a football club that they can't see the benefits of offering your best players two and three year contracts, they've all overseen periods of success and of longer contracts awarded while at the club. I doubt David Holdsworth is oblivious to it too.

I suspect the invisible hand of Edinburgh Woolen Mill is at work here. They'll bail us out of financial difficulty but aren't really interested in the long-term sustainability of the club. Philip Day couldn't sound less interested despite his bailouts, (makes it clear he doesn't want to own a football club, claims he doesn't even like football and is just doing it because most of his staff support Carlisle) Their input is secured on the stadium and that will be worth the same no matter what division we're in (I'll avoid going full conspiracy theory and suggesting they want the club to go under so they can get their hands on the stadium, it's hardly a prime development site what with it being right in the flood plain, but many United fans do think this). Holdsworth is their man and they just don't want to see their money being used to make commitments beyond a year because their only concern is whether they can get out of such commitments, not what division the club is in.

You should plonk one year options on as many contracts as you can.

 

[hellogregory]

You should plonk one year options on as many contracts as you can.

Most of the 1 year deals we’ve handed out do have 1 year options on them, based on making a load of appearances presumably. Still doesn’t seem to be enough to attract most of our transfer targets though. Like I say if players are coming here it’s because no other fuckers want them.