Match Preview - Carlisle fan's perspective

jk_cufc

Afternoon all, Carlisle fan in peace!

I've written a preview ahead of Saturday's match which may be of interest to you (http://www.keithmincher.com/?p=503). It talks mainly about your season so far with input from one of your fans too, so plenty to have a read of.

Really looking forward to the game now - it has all the makings of one of the best of the season. I hope we put on a reasonable show this time; our two games against you this season didn't exactly cover us in glory!

If you have any questions about Carlisle itself or getting to the ground etc, please don't hesitate to ask. Hope you all have a safe trip up North and enjoy the game - I'm not too envious of your 10 hour round trip though! You can follow me on Twitter via @jk_cufc too - always happy to help.

AFKABartram

Welcome JK, and nice piece. Thought Nozza answered the questions really well.

SoundAsa£

Thanks for taking the time to post this JK....a nice read.
Tricky to say 'have a good day' on Saturday with a great deal of sincerity.......but you know what I mean.
All the Best.

jk_cufc

Thanks guys. It's one of those 'have a good day but I hope you lose and don't enjoy it' type things. We have to win and you have to win so something has to give. Hope you have an awful day! ;-)

fatrob

The main question is where's the best place to have a beer?

jk_cufc

The rugby club is the best and is only a five minute walk from the ground. If you're getting the train you'll need to walk through the city centre, so the Griffin is another option - it's a designated away fans only pub. Both are good so it just depends on where you want to stop.

Wheresmeticket

Enjoyed the piece jk - but wheres the preview? What do you think is going to happen, and why?

jk_cufc

See it more as an 'opposition profile' type article if you like. They're published on a Carlisle fan site, so the chances are most Carlisle fans already know about how we're getting on, hence why I focus on the opposition. The last couple of interview Qs more fall under the 'what'll happen' category. Just a different style I suppose!

Here's a map of how to get to the ground from the rugby club if you choose to go there - http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=carlisle+rugby+club&daddr=ca1+1ll&hl=en&ll=54.895136,-2.915953&spn=0.001675,0.005284&sll=54.89447,-2.915529&sspn=0.001675,0.005284&geocode=FXKhRQMdLXrT_yFw0dJ3qQx74Q;FcikRQMdVYfT_ykj3oCARxp9SDGeUosNPCZyhg&mra=ls&t=m&z=18

And also directions for getting from the station to the ground - http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=carlisle+train+station&daddr=ca1+1ll&hl=en&sll=54.895136,-2.915953&sspn=0.001675,0.005284&geocode=FeGSRQMd7z_T_yEPxNuaJ7MOeA;FcikRQMdVYfT_ykj3oCARxp9SDGeUosNPCZyhg&mra=ls&t=m&z=16

mparsons1

jk_cufc, how do you see your season going? Do you think you lot have got it in you to win the playoffs? Or even get in them?

jk_cufc

We've just lost our best player in Lee Miller for the rest of the season so obviously that has been a huge blow. He's scored 15 and assisted about 11 so whoever deputises in his absence has a big void to fill. Without him we look an ordinary team but you never know.

It's in our hands so a win on Saturday followed up by a win on Tuesday over Stevenage would put us in a great position. We've certainly got the capabity to compete with the best sides having beaten Sheff Wed/Utd, MK Dons and Huddersfield, but consistency has been a bit of a problem.

I personally don't think we'll finish in the top six as Notts County have a much easier run-in, but as I say, you never know. If we were to get into the play-offs I think we could surprise a fair few as we seem to thrive on being the underdog, but getting there in the first place is the hard bit!

ColinTat

Never seen Miller play, what's he like jk got any pace about him?

BlackForestReds

Good article - and I agree with David Norris's summary.

Kap10

jk it would b good if you could comeback with your post match tjhoughts ... post match

Kap10

jk it would b good if you could comeback with your post match thoughts ... post match

jk_cufc

Not really quick, no. He's a target man so holds the ball up fantastically well and brings others into play with his flick-ons etc. He's a very clever player and the type that defenders hate to play against. Our other strikers have thrived since he joined us from Middlesbrough in the summer as he really makes the side gel.

He'll probably leave at the end of the season as he's a cut above this level; by far our best striker in the last four or five years. A lot better than Danny Graham when he was with us, so to see him leave would be devestating. He's 28 now so really in his prime after having played in the SPL and the Championship, so for him to get injured now is rather annoying.

BlackForestReds

Jk...what were your memories of Joe Anyinsah? After leaving you guys he had an injury plagued season with us where he scored a few goals but sadly the physio saw more of him than we fans did.

jk_cufc

I really liked Joe - he was really coming into his own when he turned down our offer of a new contract. I'm not sure what position he played for you, but he was a winger by trade. He played a lot of games up front for us and finished as top scorer if I remember correctly. He got injured towards the end of his time with us too so never really got to completely develop into the player we'd hoped, but given the chance he could easily play at this level again. It's a bit disappointing that he only plays in League Two as his pace and power always caused problems.

BlackForestReds

Thanks I quite liked what I saw of him, but he didn't play enough and when CP was appointed manager he decided that he wasn't worth risking with another contract - I've a feeling he was on a one year deal, and I definitely agree that he could easily make the grade at L1 level.

jk_cufc

Just had a look at the stats and he scored 11 that season, which was second behind Ian Harte's 18 goals (EIGHTEEN FROM CENTRE-BACK!). I'd definitely have him back again, although I think you should have signed Harte and stuck him up front! I remember coming down to the Valley for a Carling Cup game when you were still in the PL - doesn't seem long ago at all. Darren Bent scored I seem to remember. Hopefully you'll get back there soon.

ColinTat

Harte's a full back no? I'm impressed if he did a shift at cb. Carlisle seem to be a very good club to get your career going again, going back to Michael Bridges. Good to see that Harte's gone backup and kept his form going.

We almost did sign Harte, he played a few trial games with a worst ever squad in my life, and was intelligent enough to steer clear and sign for you guys. Could have easily sunk with us, but had a few excellent years with you and is having a great time at Reading. Strange to think the papers banged on about him signing for big money with the best in Europe, earlier in his career as one of O'leary's boys.

Redrobo

Thank you JK, I love to hear from other supporters and their perspective of games is always interesting. I have passed through Carlisle several times; I think I will stop over next time and try and take in a game. I hope you win all your games after Saturday!

jk_cufc

Being a club the size that we are and with the resources we have, we always have to take gambles on players as we simply can't afford to compete with the likes of yourselves. Bridges and Harte are good examples of that. None of our current starting eleven cost us a penny, so to be 7th is excellent. Danny Graham and Keiren Westwood are both in the PL now after we took a chance on them, which is nice to see.

Harte is a full back but played at CB for us due to his lack of pace. His reading of the game and his set-piece delivery was world class. If he had pace I'm sure he'd still be in the PL with someone. We sold him on for £100,000 as he wanted to try himself at a higher level again; his 18 goals showed that he was far too good.

We've got a good reputation for developing young players that come in on loan as well. Ben Marshall, Adam Clayton and James Chester just a few examples of those that have gone on to better things. It's quite rewarding in its own way.

Deadred

jk, The Football League Ground Fans Guide says there is plenty of off street parking but It looks from the Google maps street view that there is a Controlled Parking Zone on the opposite side of the road to the ground 2 hours max no return within 1 hour! Can you confirm please and advise best part of town to park apart from the usual matchday car parks as I would hate to hear of our fans getting heavy fines making their trip even more expensive. Many thanks.

Granpa

Really good article JK, and the flavour of this posting describes what I would call proper supporters who follow their team with passion and intelligence, rather than blind ignorance. Well done, and all the best if you make the playoffs.

jk_cufc

With the area around the ground being residential you have to be very careful where you go, so I'd suggest paying a couple of quid and parking in a proper car park. The car park at the ground is £2 or £3 but you can often queue quite a while to get out onto the motorway.

I normally park on St Aidans Road which is actually on the way into the car park and doesn't cost anything, but often fills up quickly. It's about a 3 minute walk from the ground and is easy enough to find.

If you can't get in there there's other car parks in the city centre - http://www.parkopedia.mobi/parking/carpark/cecil_street/ca1/carlisle/. I'd recommend the one I've linked to, but the other ones listed below it would be fine too. The city centre is only 15 mins from the ground so you'd have no trouble finding your way.

Common sense applies so if you want to park on the road, just be really careful and check where you are isn't going to result in you finding a clamp on your tyre when you got back. Pay a couple of pounds just to make sure.

Deadred

Cheers jk most helpful. Enjoy the game may the best team win and good luck in the play offs.

Huskaris

My girlfriend's dad is from Carlisle so if they win I will never hear the end of it. Really hope they make the playoffs though as I always go with him to Wembley when Carlisle make it... (2 JPT trips in 2 years with 1 of those being a win) and it's really fun.

jk_cufc

This is the JPT's most successful team you're talking about, haha! Six finals and two victories, so three in seven after this year would be nice. We would've got there again a few years ago had it not been for this man - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD25ekEyw5M. I think I've only just got over that goal going in! We were in 2nd, nine points ahead with five games left, and somehow, in true Carlisle fashion, messed up.

Ketman

What happened to that young Forward of yours Rory Loy? He looks a prospect and I know he impressed a few on here with his display at the Valley earlier this season.

Plaaayer

Broke his leg didn't he?

Ketman

Broke his leg didn't he?

You annoy me on the train tomorrow & you will get the same :-)