The BELEAGUERED Carlisle Utd Thread

[Carver]

It’s been a wonderful few days. I’ve loved being out of the relegation zone, I’ve embraced it and throughly enjoyed it, but all good things must come to an end, and back in to the bottom two we go.

Hopefully we get another chance to be out of it, but if not then I’ll always have those 3 days and will treasure the memories

Weirdo

 

[hellogregory]

In all seriousness, it’s a big few weeks for us ahead of January. There’s a gap between the 3 showers of shite at the bottom and the slightly less crap above. It’s 4-7 points at the moment between us and that less crap group. We can’t be letting the gap get bigger. Which means we need to actually start winning some games, not just talk about it like we’ve done for 4 months. Actually win some fucking games!!

If we don’t start turning it around now the damage will be too much. It just stinks of last season and I’m still concerned about relegation unlike some. And what also concerns me is the apparent relaxed attitude from our fans, you’d think we were comfortable mid table and not in a battle for survival the way some talk. I hope this doesn’t rub off on the players that they are “too good to go down” because let me tell you they are not.

Its time for action, December needs to bring some wins or we’ll be as good as down before it even gets to January.

 

[Carver]

In all seriousness, it’s a big few weeks for us ahead of January. There’s a gap between the 3 showers of shite at the bottom and the slightly less crap above. It’s 4-7 points at the moment between us and that less crap group. We can’t be letting the gap get bigger. Which means we need to actually start winning some games, not just talk about it like we’ve done for 4 months. Actually win some fucking games!!

If we don’t start turning it around now the damage will be too much. It just stinks of last season and I’m still concerned about relegation unlike some. And what also concerns me is the apparent relaxed attitude from our fans, you’d think we were comfortable mid table and not in a battle for survival the way some talk. I hope this doesn’t rub off on the players that they are “too good to go down” because let me tell you they are not.

Its time for action, December needs to bring some wins or we’ll be as good as down before it even gets to January.

Come on, you know we’re going to stay up since turning a corner as we are now harder to beat and made the likes of Doncaster and Crewe look fairly ordinary.
Yes we need to turn these draws into wins but just look at our players compared to the teams around us who have zero quality at all and it’s highly unlikely they’ll be getting any backing in January to sign better players than us, whereas we’ll have good backing next month and I trust our new management team to make the right signings.

So just lift your chin up mate and stop fretting over something that’s not going to happen.

 

[hellogregory]

Come on, you know we’re going to stay up since turning a corner as we are now harder to beat and made the likes of Doncaster and Crewe look fairly ordinary.
Yes we need to turn these draws into wins but just look at our players compared to the teams around us who have zero quality at all and it’s highly unlikely they’ll be getting any backing in January to sign better players than us, whereas we’ll have good backing next month and I trust our new management team to make the right signings.

So just lift your chin up mate and stop fretting over something that’s not going to happen.

Ok, but as I say it’s important we win some games between now and January so these new signings we bring in don’t have an absolute mountain to climb. Remember we spent all November and December last year talking about January. We need to turn things round on the pitch before that this time.

It’s all well and good saying it’s not going to happen and we have quality that others don’t, but we’ve been in the bottom 2 all season barring the odd week here and there. That’s why I say we need to start winning games instead of just talking about it. Big few weeks that could go along way to deciding our fate.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

Can we have our own beleaguered thread please?

 

[Carver]

Can we have our own beleaguered thread please?

Getting a poor draw against the shite that is Barrow does warrant it.

 

[Agombar stool]

Can we have our own beleaguered thread please?

And us!

 

[Limerick Mariner]

And us!

I understand you are bewitched rather than beleaguered ...

 

[hellogregory]

No club here is as consistently BELEAGUERED as Carlisle United

 

[Agombar stool]

I understand you are bewitched rather than beleaguered ...

That's true, maybe I'll pop onto the beleaguered Gillingham thread for some lucky white Heather.

 

[Optipez]

And us!

I worry about your team. You've been circling the plughole for a couple of seasons and seem to have that listlessness as a club that teams who drop have. If Holloway doesn't work out you end up with the three manager season which rarely ends well.

 

[hellogregory]

Our fans are deluded if they think there’s no chance of us going down. Not just talking carver here, a lot of our fans seem convinced everything is ok. Delusional.

Bottom of the league again. We’ve been stuck in the bottom 2 all season, barely been able to get our heads above water. We’re going to be halfway through December and still rock bottom. 2 really tough games to come over the next fortnight as well. Need to somehow find some wins or things will become very bleak.

People need to wake up and smell the coffee.

 

[Tallow]

Our fans are deluded if they think there’s no chance of us going down. Not just talking carver here, a lot of our fans seem convinced everything is ok. Delusional.

Bottom of the league again. We’ve been stuck in the bottom 2 all season, barely been able to get our heads above water. We’re going to be halfway through December and still rock bottom. 2 really tough games to come over the next fortnight as well. Need to somehow find some wins or things will become very bleak.

People need to wake up and smell the coffee.

We're bottom of the league again, but people are realistic rather than delusional.
It can't be denied that performances and results are miles better now than they were in Sept/Oct.
We're going to be in the bottom 8 for the rest of the season, but we're good enough to finish above the bottom 2.
What happens off the pitch is as important as what happens on it, and we have stability in the boardroom and coaching staff.
Other clubs in the bottom half of L2 don't.

 

[hellogregory]

We're bottom of the league again, but people are realistic rather than delusional.
It can't be denied that performances and results are miles better now than they were in Sept/Oct.
We're going to be in the bottom 8 for the rest of the season, but we're good enough to finish above the bottom 2.
What happens off the pitch is as important as what happens on it, and we have stability in the boardroom and coaching staff.
Other clubs in the bottom half of L2 don't.

So I keep hearing. 18 games in I’ve seen zero evidence of that. The table does not lie. We’ve been bottom 2 all season so far for a reason, because we’re the worst or one of the two worst teams in the football league.

Until I see that we’re capable of putting some actual wins together, I’m not buying this “we’re good enough to finish above the bottom 2” stuff.

The same was probably being said 10 games ago. Only so long we can talk about it. The team actually needs to do it.

 

[Carver]

Swindon getting that win today is quite a concern because they were looking doomed but surely it’s just a one off.

I’m looking at Tranmere, they’ve been shitd for ages now and deserve to be in the relegation zone.

 

[Tallow]

So I keep hearing. 18 games in I’ve seen zero evidence of that. The table does not lie. We’ve been bottom 2 all season so far for a reason, because we’re the worst or one of the two worst teams in the football league.

Until I see that we’re capable of putting some actual wins together, I’m not buying this “we’re good enough to finish above the bottom 2” stuff.

The same was probably being said 10 games ago. Only so long we can talk about it. The team actually needs to do it.

Zero evidence?
Unbeaten in 5, 3 clean sheets in these 5 games (if I include Wigan).
Tougher to beat.
Hammerings at Gillingham and Wimbledon are long gone.
We're under transition, survival this season and build for next.
I'm 100% convinced we'll be safe.

 

[hellogregory]

I sure hope you’re right Tallow

When I say zero evidence I’m talking that I’ve seen zero evidence that we’re capable of getting ourselves out of the bottom 2. Given the fact that it’s December and we’re STILL in the same position that we were 3 months ago. Upturn in performances I agree with, but we’ve still shown no sign that we’re capable of stringing wins together. One win every 6 weeks or whatever it is isn’t going to cut it. Even last season we picked up a win now and then.

My worry is the season is going on a similar path to last. Plenty of talk about turnarounds, pinning our hopes on January, hoping the signings hit the ground running. Only we’re on less points this time round.

For me this month is big, 3 home games, we need to get 7 points from them. For the belief of the players as much as anything.
Last seasons festive period was a disaster, we can’t afford the same this time. If come 1st January we’re still bottom with maybe 2 extra points at best, I don’t think we’ll recover from that position and points total.

 

[hellogregory]

Swindon getting that win today is quite a concern because they were looking doomed but surely it’s just a one off.

I’m looking at Tranmere, they’ve been shitd for ages now and deserve to be in the relegation zone.

This is the thing with our fans. We talk about other teams being shite for ages. But we are! We’ve been shite all season when you look at our results over a consistent period of time. Shitter than Tranmere, shitter than Swindon… were bottom. You say Swindon’s win might be a one off, well so far every win we’ve had has been a one off. We’ve never backed it up.

We’ve got to start winning ourselves, because other teams being shit isn’t going to save us while we’re shit ourselves.

 

[Tallow]

I sure hope you’re right Tallow

When I say zero evidence I’m talking that I’ve seen zero evidence that we’re capable of getting ourselves out of the bottom 2. Given the fact that it’s December and we’re STILL in the same position that we were 3 months ago. Upturn in performances I agree with, but we’ve still shown no sign that we’re capable of stringing wins together. One win every 6 weeks or whatever it is isn’t going to cut it. Even last season we picked up a win now and then.

My worry is the season is going on a similar path to last. Plenty of talk about turnarounds, pinning our hopes on January, hoping the signings hit the ground running. Only we’re on less points this time round.

For me this month is big, 3 home games, we need to get 7 points from them. For the belief of the players as much as anything.
Last seasons festive period was a disaster, we can’t afford the same this time. If come 1st January we’re still bottom with maybe 2 extra points at best, I don’t think we’ll recover from that position and points total.

Agree, this is a big month for us.
Last season is a different situation.
We had a losing mentality.
Simmo was publicly criticising his squad.
There was trouble behind the scenes (allegedly) with our S&C coach and players.
Simpson was old school and didn't know how to deal with the modern day footballer.
The Piataks were "raw" and put to much faith in the coaching staff.
Williamson and his coaching staff are miles better and more knowledgeable.
There's plenty of cause for optimism.
Sounds daft, but I'll be delighted if we finish 8th bottom after the rubbish 12 months we've just had.

 

[Tallow]

The only doubt I've got is our injuries.
Guy, Kelly, Thomas, Robson, Wyke, Jones, Davies.
All important players, two of them out for the season and the others with recurring niggles.
A good window and a lucky streak of no more major injuries, and fingers crossed, well be alright.

 

[hellogregory]

Priorities for January should be:

• A number 9. Someone who will put the ball in the net (difficult to find particularly in January).

• A midfielder (number 6) who is as good or nearly as good as Guy. We play with two 6’s anyway. The team turns to shit when Guy is out. Look at the difference in goals conceded last season before/after he got injured. Similar pattern this season before/since his return.
If anything were to happen to him again, with what we’ve currently got in reserve, it would be signing our EFL death certificate.

Get those 2 positions nailed as priority. We may need to spend big to get the required quality, but it’s a necessity, we can’t afford not to. Then after that if we can, bring in a RWB, a centre back and possibly a goalkeeper if we can get rid of Lewis.

And offload as much shite as we can, but if they have to stay unregistered so be it.

 

[Moonie]

Think we'll need two strikers. I can see Armstrong going, and Kelly's injury record is horrifying. With Wyke out for the season, that leaves just DAA up front...

 

[Carver]

Every player we signed last January can go they’ve mostly been awful and been stealing a wage.
Has to go down as one of our worst transfer windows ever when you take into account the money that was spent on them and big contracts signed.

Not one of those players was in good form when we signed them. Armstrong was out of favour at Harrogate, Lewis was in bad form at Bradford, Fleetwood were obviously keen to get rid of Vela and Kelly was still recovering from a long term injury at Rotherham.

When you break the club transfer record for a striker and a goalkeeper you expect them to already be in good form when signing them and for them to make an impact.

Simmo and Abbott were clueless and thanks to them we’re bottom of the football league and in serious trouble.

 

[hellogregory]

At least you’re recognising that we are in serious trouble.

Agree it was an awful transfer window. You could probably say the last 3 transfer windows have been awful. This next one simply can’t be. Get it wrong again and we’re in the conference, simple as that.

It does however concern me the thought of Greg Abbott having anything to do with another transfer window.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I’d head into the conference myself it’s expensive but signing players there from some sides in the top places will mean signing players in form with good morale and is a few northern sides in that mix Gateshead, York, Oldham, Rochdale, Altrincham, Halifax and Hartlepool….got to be someone in along that group of teams in decent form

 

[Carver]

At least you’re recognising that we are in serious trouble.

Agree it was an awful transfer window. You could probably say the last 3 transfer windows have been awful. This next one simply can’t be. Get it wrong again and we’re in the conference, simple as that.

It does however concern me the thought of Greg Abbott having anything to do with another transfer window.

I don't know how the hell Abbott is still at the club especially as we have a sporting director now. Three terrible transfer windows is more than enough to warrant our head of recruitment to be sacked and kept well clear of our club.

When Tom Piatak was asked why Abbott hadn't left with Simpson etc Tom said he thought our recruitment had been good which was an absolutely ridiculous thing to say after finishing bottom of L1 and then struggling at the bottom of L2.

 

[Tallow]

I don't know how the hell Abbott is still at the club especially as we have a sporting director now. Three terrible transfer windows is more than enough to warrant our head of recruitment to be sacked and kept well clear of our club.

When Tom Piatak was asked why Abbott hadn't left with Simpson etc Tom said he thought our recruitment had been good which was an absolutely ridiculous thing to say after finishing bottom of L1 and then struggling at the bottom of L2.

I'm only guessing, but maybe Greg Abbott isn't as influential as we think when it comes to signings.
I get what his position is, but Simmo (and his son) definitely had the final word on recruitment. Was/is Abbott just advisory role?
New Sporting Director, new manager, new backroom staff, clean slate as far as I'm concerned.
Wyke injured so we definitely need a new striker, but to be honest I'm more concerned about who stays rather than who comes in. Would hate to lose any of our experienced players ie Guy, Lavelle, Mellish.

 

[Carver]

I'm only guessing, but maybe Greg Abbott isn't as influential as we think when it comes to signings.
I get what his position is, but Simmo (and his son) definitely had the final word on recruitment. Was/is Abbott just advisory role?
New Sporting Director, new manager, new backroom staff, clean slate as far as I'm concerned.
Wyke injured so we definitely need a new striker, but to be honest I'm more concerned about who stays rather than who comes in. Would hate to lose any of our experienced players ie Guy, Lavelle, Mellish.

I can’t see Guy going no chance, Lavelle has redeemed himself lately but as for Mellish I wouldn’t hate to see him go as he’s just out of his depth in the football league and is no way the kind of player we want moving forward.

 

[hellogregory]

I don’t think they’d dare sell Callum Guy when our football league status is at risk. He’s far too important to even consider an offer.

Lavelle has been playing well but I wouldn’t lose any sleep if he left. He’s replaceable.

As for Jon Mellish. Not a fan, and if he departed I think we could find a better replacement quite easily. To be fair to him he’s always available which is a plus, so I’m ok with keeping him as a squad player, but Terrell Thomas is a much better left centre back.



Its important to remember that we are the worst team in the football league. Apart from a select few we shouldn’t be concerned about losing any of our players.

 

[Tallow]

Out of the FA Youth Cup after a 2-4 loss to Plymouth.
Our future not looking good either.
Think I'll start supporting top of the league and unbeleagured Wallsall.