The Carlisle United f**ked it up Official Promotion Thread

[Carver]

As I've been saying for a while we won't finish in the automatic places. We're simply not good enough. There are too many better teams with easier run ins. 4 hidings over January and February may have shown more of our fans this reality.

I think we can make top 7. I wouldn't put money on us making it but I believe we are good enough. It will be touch and go and a lot will depend on our points return between now and the end of the Mansfield match which is the last game in a very tough run of fixtures for us.

Well no if they were better than us then they'd of been above us for most of the season but no they haven't, the league table does not lie as it stands and as for easier run ins well come on this isn't exactly the Premier League where the big boys are practically guaranteed to beat the lower teams.

This is League Two where there are plenty of banana skins!

 

[cufc17]

It's not been brilliant recently, especially when you compare it to our early-season form, but it's ridiculous to say we definitely won't make the top three. We've recently beaten the league leaders and a play-off challenger, and put up a solid fight against Portsmouth for an hour.

Who are the better teams? Luton? From what I've read from their fans on here, they've been underwhelming all season and haven't been consistent enough. Exeter? They're on a bad run at the moment also. The two above us are on bad runs of form currently. I'll give you Portsmouth but they've slipped up a few times this season against lesser teams.

 

[Vanni]

HG is only being HG, no surprise there. There's only side that is looking likely to take Carlisle's place at this moment, and that's Pompey. The others are all too inconsistent, especially Luton as they draw too many games. They've also been hit hard by McGeehan's long term injury, IMO one of their top 3 players.

At one time, if you looked at the form table you would've seen us, Exeter, Wycombe and Colchester at the top of this table, and yet only the latter have been on a decent run lately, though they've still lost two of their last five. I know Mansfield and Stevenage have picked up a bit, esp.the latter, but I don't reckon they're going to trouble the top 3/4.

Far too many inconsistent sides in this league, though some might argue that this is only because it's a highly competitive league. Personally, I think it's a very poor league this year so they're wrong.

 

[Carver]

Far too many inconsistent sides in this league, though some might argue that this is only because it's a highly competitive league. Personally, I think it's a very poor league this year so they're wrong.

Exactly, I mean a season where the likes of Carlisle are high up in the division must make it a poor division and a season where Plymouth look like they may finally go up makes it even more so.

There does not seem to be as much as a buzz around the top like there was last season, the only buzz in the league has come from the Mansfield fans as they finally have a good manager at the helm.

 

[northstandexile]

The stags have only 5 home games left and 8 away games.

The home games are against 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th.

If, and I know it is a big if, we win them five games the promotion spots are up for grabs.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

HG is only being HG, no surprise there. There's only side that is looking likely to take Carlisle's place at this moment, and that's Pompey. The others are all too inconsistent, especially Luton as they draw too many games. They've also been hit hard by McGeehan's long term injury, IMO one of their top 3 players.

At one time, if you looked at the form table you would've seen us, Exeter, Wycombe and Colchester at the top of this table, and yet only the latter have been on a decent run lately, though they've still lost two of their last five. I know Mansfield and Stevenage have picked up a bit, esp.the latter, but I don't reckon they're going to trouble the top 3/4.

Far too many inconsistent sides in this league, though some might argue that this is only because it's a highly competitive league. Personally, I think it's a very poor league this year so they're wrong.

Not sure what other Luton fans think but I don't think we have been too badly impacted by losing McGeehan, well not yet in any case. Cant say I have sat their in any game so far and thought "if only Cam were out there". Sure he is a great player for this level but, and I know this is going to sound a bit silly as it is what its all about, goals are the main thing he brings to the table and we haven't missed them too much really. Hylton remains banging them in, Cook has begun to step up as he now playing in his preferred position, Vassell has emerged a little bit also.

Sure he might have nicked one for us yesterday for instance, but I don't think its a gaping obvious hole at the moment and we were arguably more inconsistent with him that without him thus far.

The bigger issue and in my opinion the route cause for our inconsistency Cam or no Cam is that we have never really come up with an answer of who to play the wider of the 2 central midfield roles in our diamond. There has been a revolving cast of characters their, many playing out of position, and its been the constant conundrum all year that has never been addressed.

 

[hellogregory]

HG is only being HG, no surprise there. There's only side that is looking likely to take Carlisle's place at this moment, and that's Pompey. The others are all too inconsistent

We've been dreadful for 2 months. Yeah we put in a decent performance against Doncaster but that's it.

Our record in 2017 is Played 10, Won 3, Drawn 3, Lost 4
Scoring 12, conceding 20 (TWENTY)

That is woeful form for a team looking to get in the playoffs never mind top 3. If this had been the first 2 months of the season we'd be looking at a relegation fight.

A lot of these games have been against teams down in the bottom half as well. Most of our fixtures over the next 3 to 4 weeks are teams up at this end of the table. We could be fucked this time next month if things carry on, especially the way we defend.

Our next 5 fixtures are:
Cheltenham (A)
Plymouth (A)
Cambridge (H)
Luton (H)
Mansfield (A)

Now i'm expecting 1 point from those 5 games, 2 or 3 at a push but no more.

After that the fixtures are less tough on paper, so if by some miracle we can get an extra 5 or 6 points from those 5 games then maybe we'll stand a chance going into the business end with of the season. But realistically after the last 2 months I can't see us turning into a good team over night.

 

[dedwardp]

At one time, if you looked at the form table you would've seen us, Exeter, Wycombe and Colchester at the top of this table, and yet only the latter have been on a decent run lately, though they've still lost two of their last five.

We won't even make the top seven I wouldn't think, we simply have far too many injuries and the team has been looking extremely disjointed for a while now as a result. We're patched up and have managed to grind out a few results to cling on in there but it won't last and we are far from convincing. Our home form has been excellent but we're really poor away from home, and our remaining home games are now Portsmouth, Mansfield, Luton, Doncaster, Plymouth and then Yeovil on the final day.

Our injury absentees currently are Luke Prosser (centre half), Frankie Kent (centre half), Doug Loft (centre midfield), Sammie Szmodics (centre midfield), Denny Johnstone (forward), Tom Eastman (centre half), Craig Slater (centre midfield), Kurtis Guthrie (forward), Dean Brill (goalkeeper), Lloyd Doyley (centre half), Tommy O'Sullivan (centre midfield), Jermaine Grandison (centre half), whilst Chris Porter (forward) and Owen Garvan (centre midfield) have both been playing with knocks just to cover some of the gaps... but it shows, as they looked knackered before half time.

We looked light up top when Johnstone was stretchered off at Accrington last week, leaving Porter to play 90 minutes when he probably shouldn't have. Now Guthrie has been stretchered off this weekend too and it's difficult to see where the goals will come from. At the other end, we've looked very dodgy trying to play with three at the back when there's five centre halves out, meaning we've had Matt Briggs playing centre back when he's not even assured in his natural left position.

I think we're running on empty and can't see us lasting the pace. Hope I'm wrong though and some of those absentees can return quickly, although Prosser, Kent, Johnstone and Eastman are all supposed to be out for the season, and the way Guthrie went down yesterday I'll be surprised if he's back before August as well. I'd doubt that Loft will appear this season too.

 

[Carver]

We've been dreadful for 2 months. Yeah we put in a decent performance against Doncaster but that's it.

Our record in 2017 is Played 10, Won 3, Drawn 3, Lost 4
Scoring 12, conceding 20 (TWENTY)

That is woeful form for a team looking to get in the playoffs never mind top 3. If this had been the first 2 months of the season we'd be looking at a relegation fight.

A lot of these games have been against teams down in the bottom half as well. Most of our fixtures over the next 3 to 4 weeks are teams up at this end of the table. We could be fucked this time next month if things carry on, especially the way we defend.

Our next 5 fixtures are:
Cheltenham (A)
Plymouth (A)
Cambridge (H)
Luton (H)
Mansfield (A)

Now i'm expecting 1 point from those 5 games, 2 or 3 at a push but no more.

After that the fixtures are less tough on paper, so if by some miracle we can get an extra 5 or 6 points from those 5 games then maybe we'll stand a chance going into the business end with of the season. But realistically after the last 2 months I can't see us turning into a good team over night.

You're forgetting (No suprise) that we're a dogged team who can grind out results at the right times to keep us where we are, we might not be as polished and ruthless as the teams around us but it's our teams spirit that has been our key this season and it is still there, so please for the last time stop being so negative as it's still on!

 

[hellogregory]

You're forgetting (No suprise) that we're a dogged team who can grind out results at the right times to keep us where we are, we might not be as polished and ruthless as the teams around us but it's our teams spirit that has been our key this season and it is still there, so please for the last time stop being so negative as it's still on!

We were, but not anymore. Since the turn of the year we haven't been grinding out results and being dogged. Hence the 3-1, 4-1, 4-1 and 3-0 defeats.

We've took 12 points in the last 2 months shipping 20 goals in the process. That is shit, there's been no grinding out results there. That's bottom 6 form.

 

[Carver]

We were, but not anymore. Since the turn of the year we haven't been grinding out results and being dogged. Hence the 3-1, 4-1, 4-1 and 3-0 defeats.

We've took 12 points in the last 2 months shipping 20 goals in the process. That is shit, there's been no grinding out results there. That's bottom 6 form.

What's this link below here?
http://www.twtd.co.uk/league-tables/competition:league-two/form/matches:6/type:home-and-away

Oh why look it's the League Two form table and we're in 8th place above fellow promotion hopefuls Doncaster, Plymouth and Luton and we're only two places below Portsmouth, so not exactly bottom 6 form is it especially after winning 3 out of our last 5.

Come on greg, keep em coming.

 

[hellogregory]

We'll see how your shitty little 6 game table looks after the Mansfield match right? Then maybe you'll get the wake up call you need.

Are you telling me you're not alarmed by how comfortably teams are beating us? Yeah we've had a few narrow victories, but we've had more hidings and I'd expect more hidings to come over the next few weeks. Honestly, wake up.

 

[Carver]

We'll see how your shitty little 6 game table looks after the Mansfield match right? Then maybe you'll get the wake up call you need.

Are you telling me you're not alarmed by how comfortably teams are beating us? Yeah we've had a few narrow victories, but we've had more hidings and I'd expect more hidings to come over the next few weeks. Honestly, wake up.

Fine be a pessimist, the next time we're doing this well in a league could be another 10 years so I think I'll enjoy it before it ends thank you.

 

[hellogregory]

Fine be a pessimist, the next time we're doing this well in a league could be another 10 years so I think I'll enjoy it before it ends thank you.

Top 7 would still be a good achievement considering where we were 2 seasons ago. Steady progress and all that and it would still give us a slim chance of going up.

 

[Bucket_]

Well from the Pompey point of view I'm suddenly feeling a whole lot better about things after yesterday, unsurprisingly I suppose. Though with Morecambe coming to us on Tuesday with good form, I can't help but think back to our 3-1 win at Accrington last season - the immediate feeling after was that we'd hit a turning point and automatic promotion was well within our sights again. The next game? A 3-0 loss to Newport at home, classic Pompey. So if we manage to get wins from these next two home games then I'll really start believing. Certainly feels a bit different from last year though, at this point.

 

[Moomin]

Thing is, there's going to be numerous twists and turns before the season is finished with so Carlisle could just as easily win their next 5 and cement an auto spot, or they could completely implode and drop out of the top 7 altogether. Who knows with this league.

We have hit a 'bad patch' but we've still only lost once in 16 games and we certainly made of stern stuff as demonstrated by coming back from 2-0 down at the weekend.

The one thing we have that makes me think we will secure a play off spot is that we score plenty of goals. Wheeler has 15, Watkins has 13 and Reid has 8 so I'd expect us to be a serious threat going forward but we must get back on track defensively. I'd be surprised if we get autos but I'd be disappointed if we finsish outside the top 7.

 

[hellogregory]

I wouldn't be surprised if Exeter v Carlisle on the final day is the decider for that final playoff spot.

 

[hellogregory]

Fuck me, where have Stevenage popped up from all of a sudden?

 

[Super_horns]

Exeter and Stevenage will be in the race now?

 

[Conker]

Tonight's game explains why it's going to be difficult to find the consistency to finish in the play-offs for Mansfield, our only decent goalkeeper is the coach so he's not going to play and we have not been clinical enough.

Came across like we battered Yeovil in the second half with plenty of great chances, but failed to score.

Very tough run in for the rest of the season for Mansfield now.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

We made bloody hard work of it at the end but that's 3 closer, 4 more wins should be enough

 

[hellogregory]

Back to back defeats, back to back games without scoring a goal. 5 wins in 15 games (a third of a season). That's utterly atrocious, not a blip, just the sign of a really shite team.

Outplayed and outfought by a team near the bottom. Slaughtered by half decent teams in or near the top half. Conceding loads of goals, not scoring anywhere near as many as we were.

We'll lose at Plymouth on Saturday, I'll be putting £50 on it (might as well profit from my teams woes)... Then the games after that don't get much easier so really can't see us getting a point until the end of next month.

Grim grim times at Carlisle United.

 

[jacobncfc]

Curle doing a Curle.

 

[Bosox]

Excellent set of results for Luton tonight. If we can just avoid playing any more games this season we might win automatic promotion.

 

[Carver]

Haa cheers Pompey for screwing up your best chance of taking 3rd place off us.

We will be the worst ever team to get promoted from this league.

 

[Moomin]

Excellent set of results for Luton tonight. If we can just avoid playing any more games this season we might just win automatic promotion.

Yep good night for both of our teams.

Starting to think we may stay up now.

 

[hellogregory]

Curle doing a Curle.

He's a victim of his own success. I thought this team was pretty average before the season started and I was predicting a mid table finish, but somehow he got them playing way above themselves in the first half of the season and it's set us up for a big big fall.

Really the current shite form equates to the natural level of this squad.

 

[Carver]

We're a joke off the pitch and that is now spreading to how we are on the pitch.

 

[hellogregory]

Haa cheers Pompey for screwing up your best chance of taking 3rd place off us.

We will be the worst ever team to get promoted from this league.

If by some miracle we went up, I'd agree we'd be the worst team to ever get promoted from this league. But I cannot for the life of me see it happening. if we do scrape into the top 7, teams will wipe the floor with us over 2 legs in the playoffs.

 

[Carver]

If by some miracle we went up, I'd agree we'd be the worst team to ever get promoted from this league. But I cannot for the life of me see it happening. if we do scrape into the top 7, teams will wipe the floor with us over 2 legs in the playoffs.

Until I see us actually drop out of the top 3 then I might finally agree with you.