The John Ward derby... Carlisle v Cheltenham

[shoddycollins]

so far so good. We drew the game we were certain to lose and won the game we hoped for a draw in, and so have three more points than I expected us to have after two games. I'm yet to see us in the league, but having seen us in the cup I've seen we can defend solidly and also play some fluid passing football. If we can put it all together in a single game then we should have the makings of a great team.

We're up against Cheltenham, title favourites and far and away the most exiting set of players ever put together in League two,

 

[hellogregory]

Got a point in our second toughest away game, can we get at least a point from our toughest home game?

Iceland's performance in Euro 2016 has gave me hope that with hard graft, team work and concentration, it's possible to stop teams like Cheltenham. Easier said than done, but possible.

I'm not making a prediction yet, but we'll have to keep the ball better than we did against Plymouth. Give the ball away to Cheltenham and their quality will punish us.

 

[daviejones]

This is the easiest match on paper so far this season, so it'd be just like us to screw up. Cheltenham have drawn twice and scored twice in their first two games albeit against play-off contenders both times. I'm confident we've got a better squad than them , Devitt should be back in and possibly Jabo, but I can't help but think we'll draw.

 

[Si Robin]

As with Mansfield, if you offered me a draw now, I'd be more than happy. Long trek on a Tuesday, and still without some important players. 3 points from the first 3 games is very much satisfactory.

 

[daviejones]

A draw would be disappointing on our part after we've just dispatched Port Vale and Plymouth with relative ease, but I get the feeling we'll go behind for the first time this season and probably have to settle for a point.

 

[cufc17]

I think we'll see a few goals in this one, and I hope we'll get another 3 points, particularly with two tough away games to follow.

I know very little about Cheltenham's current squad, other than they stormed the Conference, but I think I read they've got a few injuries already.

We've had a really positive start, and we've got good options across the pitch. I think Kennedy may come in for Joyce (though he's looked good so far), and maybe Devitt for Wyke/Miller. Having said that, I would be far from disappointed if we named an unchanged side again.

3-1

 

[CTFCfan99]

Five first teamers out and it looks likely that Dan Holman will miss this one as well. Not particularly confident for this, as Si said I think most of us would take a draw if offered it now.

 

[daviejones]

What are your full backs like? I'm waiting for Adams, Devitt and Lambe to play together and come up against a nice weak pair of full backs so they can properly run riot.

I think I'd have those three behind Jabo, try and get him up and running on the goal front. Then Jones and Joyce in midfield again and same back four as the Plymouth match as well (assuming Brisley isn't fit still).

 

[Si Robin]

It depends on which ones we play. In the league we've been starting Easah Suliman and James Jennings on the right and left respectively. Suliman is young and naive, but he's not too bad. Jennings has been seen by some as our weak link so far this season, although every team needs a scapegoat and playing for FGR last season seems to be as good enough a reason to have a go at him as any.

I'd prefer to see Jack Barthram and Jordan Cranston start. Jack was our main right-back last season and was brilliant, he's come on as a sub in all three games so far this season and looked great every time. Jordan signed in January and looked poor, but he's been brilliant as a sub in the two league games and starting the cup game against Charlton.

 

[shoddycollins]

Cheltenham fans arguing about climate change in the Beehive.

 

[Superobin]

How this game is 0-0 at half time I'll never.... Carlisle should easily be 4-0 up. Playing 4-5-1 under Johnson for the 1st time and it really shows!

 

[shoddycollins]

Fluid build up play, just lacking the killer instinct. Wyke forced off a fantastic save but could maybe have done better with his other chances. Jabo must be itching to come on

Why on earth did Oldham let Jones go, he's been immense. He's like an experienced version of Brendan Comley.

 

[hellogregory]

Due to the cross bar (twice) and some really bad misses we would comfortably have 3 points in the bag here, Wyke the culprit, his first free header 4 yards out straight at the keeper, that one warrants being dropped for the next game.

As above, we should be 3 or 4 up.

That said, this has got a narrow smash and grab Cheltenham win written all over it. Yeah it's one of those nights.

 

[Si Robin]

Sounds like that's exactly what we're doing.

 

[shoddycollins]

We just need to show for it more at the end of all the great build up play. Unfortunately outside the strikers, Lambe and Grainger have been the only ones willing to have shots.

 

[CTFCfan99]

Shame we couldn't hold on but would have been daylight robbery by the sound of it. A good point given our current injury situation.

 

[Si Robin]

I said I'd take a draw, after what seems like a re-enactment of the Alamo I'd definitely take that point tonight.

 

[daviejones]

Disappointing result all things considered although we remain unbeaten. Most of the other promotion contenders have done well tonight, only really Portsmouth who've slipped up (again). Need a result on Saturday now to keep the momentum going.

 

[shoddycollins]

Not too disappointed, it's too early in the season to really feel the loss of the two points our performance may have deserved and I can't really criticise how we played. We just need more of an end product. Too often we'd get the ball into great places only to find not enough people calling for it. I don't know whether Adams and Jones are poor shots or if they just see their job as being to set a chance up for someone else. Kennedy improved our chances by coming on simply because he's another player who likes to shoot.

 

[Superobin]

Funny game football.... Would've been more than happy to get a point at half time but come away disappointed to not hold out for the smash and grab.

Carlisle look a decent team but really need someone to put the ball in the net. We were better in the second half (couldn't have got much worse) but we were always under pressure. Thought we were getting a penalty but for waters to be booked for diving... Need to see it again to decide if it was or not!

Considering how much pressure Carlisle put us under I can't beleive how quiet the ground was.... Of course it woke up after the 89th minute but it was poor.

 

[cufc17]

Gutted we've not won that, but a point is better than nothing. Our forwards are definitely good enough, it just didn't fall for us tonight. Some of our football was very good tonight and we created a mass of chances. Cheltenham came here to hit us on the break and got their goal from a poor corner from us, and they wasted time from that point onwards.

We've now got 2 tough away games, I'd take 3 points.

 

[hellogregory]

Funny game football.... Would've been more than happy to get a point at half time but come away disappointed to not hold out for the smash and grab.

Carlisle look a decent team but really need someone to put the ball in the net. We were better in the second half (couldn't have got much worse) but we were always under pressure. Thought we were getting a penalty but for waters to be booked for diving... Need to see it again to decide if it was or not!

Considering how much pressure Carlisle put us under I can't beleive how quiet the ground was.... Of course it woke up after the 89th minute but it was poor.

We only sing when we're winning, (or equalising)

 

[hellogregory]

My concerns in pre season was us running out of ideas to break teams down. These 2 home games should have been won by 3 or 4 goals each.

We look OK in defence, we're very good in midfield, but really poor in the final third. I'd go as far as saying toothless. Until that changes we've no chance of mounting a promotion push. Some of our finishing is absolutely embarrassing.

 

[hellogregory]

Look at this little gem from the Cheltenham match report

Although The Cumbrians arguably had the better of the first half the sides went in level at the break.

 

[Si Robin]

I didn't even realise we were playing in the 1st half, according to the radio it was all Carlisle.

Considering how much pressure Carlisle put us under I can't believe how quiet the ground was.... Of course it woke up after the 89th minute but it was poor.

I don't think we can ever call a team out for having a poor atmosphere. Whaddon Road has arguably the worst in the Football League.

 

[shoddycollins]

I didn't even realise we were playing in the 1st half, according to the radio it was all Carlisle.



I don't think we can ever call a team out for having a poor atmosphere. Whaddon Road has arguably the worst in the Football League.

It is normally fairly quiet, though I don't have any experience of any other home ends in the division. It might just be a big ground to fill with noise, officially we have the emptiest stadium in the football league; but also I'm sure I remember days when there was singing all game long and that hasn't happened really since we went through a spell of really turgid football in League One. The belief may be starting to return but I think the excitement people used to have for following Carlisle hasn't returned, yet.

 

[Superobin]

I didn't even realise we were playing in the 1st half, according to the radio it was all Carlisle.



I don't think we can ever call a team out for having a poor atmosphere. Whaddon Road has arguably the worst in the Football League.

Only going based on last night. The last year at whaddon road has probably been its most atmospheric for a long time, it basically comes with success on the pitch.