Scunthorpe v Carlisle (the cricketers who played football derby)

[shoddycollins]

Ian Botham v Chris Balderstone

Still got the Carabao cup game to come this evening, but talk on the radio about this upcoming fixture which is massive for both clubs has prompted me to start the thread.

We haven't won since the opening day and while our performance improved in the game against Salford, a point really wasn't enough to ease the pressure and we find ourselves down the wrong end of the table.

Scunthorpe's start to the season has been even worse and they're under all kinds of pressure.

So what prompted me to start the thread was Olufela Olomola, scored two goals so far for us and played well, he's quickly becoming a fan's favourite. James Phillips, the commentator on Radio Cumbria apparently knows something about Fela's loan deal relating to whether he's allowed to face his parent club that he came over all coy about and refused to divulge when asked about. Sounds like Olomola may be eligible to play? Watch this space.

 

[GTFCfish]

I hear that this game is being sponsored by The Samaritans.

 

[hellogregory]

I have no desire to go to any away games under pressley.

The away games I attended second half of last season were so bad that it’s put me off. I said before the season started I’d wait and see if there’s any signs of improvements in our away performances before I start going to some, but at the moment nothing.

Far too early for me to start thinking we should sack him, but if we lose this one then I think I’ll be edging close to it.

 

[Bottega Don]

If Olomola can play hes scoring and cupping his ear at Hurst.

Another loss incoming, we can't keep em out and we can barely score. Will make it 16 games without a win.

 

[hellogregory]

If Olomola can play hes scoring and cupping his ear at Hurst.

Another loss incoming, we can't keep em out and we can barely score. Will make it 16 games without a win.

We haven’t won away in the league since January.

 

[northstandexile]

A draw it is then

 

[hellogregory]

If we lose this one I’m certain that there’ll be huge calls from sections of our fan base for Pressley to be sacked and whilst I think Its a bit too early, it would be hard to defend him.

 

[shoddycollins]

Scougall will be missing for this and 'several weeks' according to Pressley.

This should mean Carroll will come into the midfield in his place and for his first start of the season. The outcome should be a more physical midfield which I think will be a good thing, though at the expense of Scougall's industry in the attacking third as Jones and Carroll are both defensive midfielders. I would have named a midfield of Jones, Carroll and Scougall but at least this forces us to mix things up.

 

[Bottega Don]

I saw Byron Webster has sarcastically said he expects a great reception when he returns. Enjoy that answer rather than the generic stuff. He was booed off quite badly against Plymouth on the end of last year.

Sadly we cannot defend set pieces or crosses which almost ensures he will score

 

[shoddycollins]

Sadly we cannot defend set pieces or crosses which almost ensures he will score

Olomola scored a header at the weekend. Beat Salford's 6'2" centre back in the air and everything.

I'm sure he'll be ineligible to play though. Not sure what was going on with our commentator the other day but if he was eligible it would be known by now.

 

[hellogregory]

If he starts Ryan Loft I think I’ll jump off a building

 

[shoddycollins]

So the news on Olomola is that he is eligible to play, but we've given Scunthorpe our word that we won't play him.

 

[shoddycollins]

Startling line-up I would go with:

Collin
Elliot, Webster, Knight-Percival, Iredale
Carrol, Jones, Bridge
Thomas, Hope, McKirdy

Bench: Gray, Hayden, Branthwaite, Mellish, Sagaf, Sorenson, Loft

I think McKirdy is ready for another run out. I've just seen his run against Rochdale that resulted in our penalty and it was outstanding. He won't do it every game and was rightly left on the bench after a couple of quiet games but at the same time I think he has to be rewarded for an excellent performance on Tuesday.

I feel like I've crowbarred Hope in there. He's not a natural centre-forward, though his finishing is enough for him to get into the teens he's a good player and should be on the pitch somewhere. I've said this before about him but he's a talented player who is difficult to find a position for because he doens't neatly tick all the boxes you'd expect for a winger either, he's more like a 1920's inside-forward. With Olomola out it's between him, Sorenson and Loft to go up front and I'd go with Hope.

Sorenson will continue to get chances, usually off the bench though. I think he will go on a scoring run at some point but it's up to him to get that going. I wouldn't be starting him in expectation of him going on a scoring run.

Starting line-up I probably expect:

Collin
Elliot, Webster, Knight-Percival, Iredale
Carrol, Jones, Bridge
Thomas, Loft, Hope

 

[hellogregory]

I’d be happy with your 11 shoddy, although I think jones might be a doubt. We’ll see.

I wouldn’t be against starting Sorensen. Against a struggling team it might be the game to get him going, but would be equally happy starting Hope as he’s the only proven forward we have.

I expect Loft will start and if he does we’ve next to no chance of winning.

 

[Bottega Don]

So the news on Olomola is that he is eligible to play, but we've given Scunthorpe our word that we won't play him.

I would play him if I was Carlisle, we are the idiots that didn't put that in his contract. I'm gonna assume Carlisle are doing this so we're more likely to let his deal be extended though.

 

[shoddycollins]

I would play him if I was Carlisle, we are the idiots that didn't put that in his contract. I'm gonna assume Carlisle are doing this so we're more likely to let his deal be extended though.

This is the club that once offered a one year extension to a manager despite a steady decline towards relegation over a few years because even though there was no legal obligation for us to give him a new contract, we'd given him our word 12 months prior. He was then sacked three games into the season.

I would play him though. If Scunthorpe start to do better while we continue to struggle it'll only increase the likelihood of him going back in January.

What happened when we loaned Paddy Madden to Yeovil was that they proceeded to challenge for promotion while we struggled and Madden became the league's top scorer. We accepted an offer for Madden in January instead of recalling him because we'd only be stuck with an unhappy player for four months before he gets to leave on a free anyway.

 

[Luke Imp]

So the news on Olomola is that he is eligible to play, but we've given Scunthorpe our word that we won't play him.

Why wouldn't you just stick a clause in?! Can't be that much more effort! Mind you, if David Holdsworth had anything to do with it, then he has previous with lack of clauses.

We did a loan swap with Telford for their CB Robbie Williams (now sport scientist at Salford) and we sent them ST Kyle Perry in return. A month later, we played Telford and Holdsworth, in his wisdom, decided to not insert clauses because he *really* wanted to be able to play Williams (who was a sack of shite, btw, and would perhaps get a mention in a worst Lincoln XI).

Kyle Perry subsequently scored an absolute peach of a goal to put them 1-0, played well and we only drew 1-1 despite needing the points and they were down at the bottom of the table with us.

He made some baffling decisions in his time here and that one was up there.

 

[shoddycollins]

Why wouldn't you just stick a clause in?! Can't be that much more effort! Mind you, if David Holdsworth had anything to do with it, then he has previous with lack of clauses.

We did a loan swap with Telford for their CB Robbie Williams (now sport scientist at Salford) and we sent them ST Kyle Perry in return. A month later, we played Telford and Holdsworth, in his wisdom, decided to not insert clauses because he *really* wanted to be able to play Williams (who was a sack of shite, btw, and would perhaps get a mention in a worst Lincoln XI).

Kyle Perry subsequently scored an absolute peach of a goal to put them 1-0, played well and we only drew 1-1 despite needing the points and they were down at the bottom of the table with us.

He made some baffling decisions in his time here and that one was up there.

It's the other way around, Scunthorpe are the ones who neglected to put a clause in, but we're gonna abide by the nonexistent clause cos we're nice like that

 

[shoddycollins]

See Scunthorpe now have Jamie Proctor on loan from Rovrum. Good striker he is.

 

[hellogregory]

Yeah proctor is good. Doubt they’ll stay in trouble if they keep him fit.

 

[shoddycollins]

Yeah proctor is good. Doubt they’ll stay in trouble if they keep him fit.

He'd never be playing at this level if he hadn't had that bad injury a couple of years ago.

 

[hellogregory]

Prediction time:

Taking into account our away record under Pressley, our current winless run, how poor we are defensively, the likelihood that Loft will probably be our striker... I can only see a home win unfortunately.

Scunthorpe United 1-0 Carlisle United

Don’t normally predict scorers but have a feeling Proctor will score on his debut.

 

[Bottega Don]

Rumours our end that someone at the club has fucked up and didn't register Proctor in time meaning he can't play. That means we have one fit striker. We're never going to win a game.

 

[Bottega Don]

Club has confirmed they failed to register Proctor before the deadline despite completing the transfer beforehand. Absolute joke.

Another loss coming to just sum up this club.

 

[shoddycollins]

Line up as follows:

____________________Collin_____________________
Elliot_____Webster_________NKP________Iredale
________Carroll_____Jones____Bridge___________
Thomas_______________________________McKirdy
__________________Sorenson___________________

Bench: Gray, Mellish, Branthwaite, Sagaf, Hope, Loft, Charters

Reasonably happy with that, good to see McKirdy back in the starting line-up, big chance for Sorenson.

 

[shoddycollins]

Another loss coming to just sum up this club.

Won't be that simple

 

[hellogregory]

Line up as follows:

____________________Collin_____________________
Elliot_____Webster_________NKP________Iredale
________Carroll_____Jones____Bridge___________
Thomas_______________________________McKirdy
__________________Sorenson___________________

Bench: Gray, Mellish, Branthwaite, Sagaf, Hope, Loft, Charters

Reasonably happy with that, good to see McKirdy back in the starting line-up, big chance for Sorenson.

Yeah I’m happy with that.

Still think we’ll struggle because of how shite we are on the road under pressley, but I’m a little more confident than I was an hour ago.

 

[Bottega Don]

Our starting 11 is absolutely horrendous. Our bench is even worse with only 5 senior players, injuries are killing us at the moment. We absolutely need a win today but I just can't see where it's gonna come from

 

[shoddycollins]

Our starting 11 is absolutely horrendous. Our bench is even worse with only 5 senior players, injuries are killing us at the moment. We absolutely need a win today but I just can't see where it's gonna come from

Oh ye of little faith, see if you still feel that way at full-time.

 

[Bottega Don]

This is so similar to last week. We have dominated that first half, don't think Carlisle have had a shot. Yet we have wasted chance after chance. Can't wait for a lapse in concentration to let Carlisle score from their first shot.