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Inadequate summer recruitment, a mentally fragile squad and yet another early managerial change mixed in with a failed takeover pretty much sums up Carlisle United’s first half of the season.
It is a story seen far too often for the Cumbrians’ support, who have been restless for some time with the team stuck in a tight relegation battle.
Not many would have predicted the alarming drop-off from the heights of last season, despite the collapse at the end of the 2020/21 season, but losing seven key players in the summer has proved damaging.
Chris Beech didn’t survive past October, only picking up 10 points from the first 11 league fixtures.
The players signed in the summer didn’t suit the way Beech wanted to play and he ultimately suffered the consequences.
Keith Millen, the former centre-back partner of Director of Football David Holdsworth, was appointed on October 26th and has overseen a slight performance improvement, edging the club out of the relegation places.
Three Key Games
Bristol Rovers 3-0 Carlisle United – October 9th 2021
The game saw the Cumbrians’ board decide to call time on Chris Beech’s time of mixed fortunes at the club.
Carlisle came into the game without a win in the last four league fixtures while Joey Barton’s Pirates had an inconsistent start to the season.
Blues fans had already grown tired of their manager and matters were made worse when Antony Evans danced around Danny Devine to fire the Gas into a 35th-minute lead.
The Cumbrians had chances through Zach Clough and Morgan Feeney but neither could convert, a pattern that had already haunted Carlisle many times in previous games.
Sam Nicholson doubled Rovers’ lead in the 86th minute after good work from Luke Thomas down the left flank.
Harvey Saunders, a player who had previously tormented the Cumbrians for Fleetwood Town, put the final nail in Beech’s coffin in the 94th minute after a clever through ball from Thomas.
As a result of the 3-0 defeat to the Gas, Beech was sacked the following day which saw Carlisle hunt for a new manager.
Carlisle United 1-0 Walsall – November 27th 2021
Despite a managerial change, the Cumbrians had still failed to win in the league since beating Salford City in September.
They sat level on points with bottom of the table Scunthorpe United and were only above the Iron on goal difference.
The squad was low on confidence and that was evident when Otis Khan was allowed yards of space to flash a shot narrowly wide early on.
One man who has shone in a dark period for Carlisle is winger Jordan Gibson and he almost gave the Blues a first-half lead but was denied by the woodwork.
Walsall were the more dominant side and Jos Labadie tested Mark Howard with a low drive from distance which the veteran stopper failed to hold onto but the visitors could not capitalise.
The hosts’ moment came in the 88th minute when Rod McDonald perfectly cushioned Callum Guy’s free-kick into the path of the onrushing Tristan Abrahams who side-footed the ball home.
Finally, a positive result and a sign of slight progression under new manager Millen.
Stevenage 0-2 Carlisle United – December 11th 2021
It’s become evident that Millen may be starting to build the Cumbrians into more of a force to be reckoned with. The Blues travelled to Stevenage feeling unfortunate not to have taken anything from their midweek trip to Mansfield Town.
Millen selected defender turned midfielder Jon Mellish and a raw but talented 18-year-old Sam Fishburn upfront in an attempt to solve Carlisle’s goalscoring woes.
The Cumbrians weathered an early storm with Howard called into action twice early on.
The makeshift forward partnership proved fruitful when Mellish opened the scoring in the 44th minute following up on Kelvin Mellor’s powerful header from a Guy free-kick.
Gibson showed a real piece of quality in the second half to dance through a couple of Stevenage challenges only to be brought down in the penalty area.
He subsequently took the penalty and converted from 12 yards to send the away end behind the goal into delirium.
The 2-0 victory at the Lamex Stadium provides a great platform to build on and escape the dread drop to the National League.
Star Player
Jordan Gibson
A summer signing from Sligo Rovers, Gibson has provided an attacking menace that few other Carlisle players have managed this season.
He sparkled in a cameo on his away debut against Crawley Town when he provided the pass for Mellish to equalise, but unfortunately, a late goal from the Red Devils saw the Cumbrians fall to a 2-1 defeat.
Gibson was the inspiration for the Blues’ comeback against Scunthorpe United in September, providing a goal and an assist in a 2-2 draw.
A classic winger who is not afraid to take on his marker, the former Bradford City man scored a fantastic free-kick away to Morecambe in the Papa John’s Trophy to seal Carlisle’s progression in the competition.
With five goals and two assists, Gibson has shown ability which will be crucial if the Cumbrians are to stay up in League Two.
Underperforming Player
Zach Clough
The acquisition of Clough in the summer brought excitement to the Cumbrian’s fan base but the former Bolton Wanderers starlet has failed to deliver.
Since his multi-million pound move from the Trotters to Nottingham Forest in 2017, there is no doubt Clough has been plagued by injury, and sadly, it seems he has lost his youthful spark.
There have been flashes of brilliance with a classy finish away to Hartlepool United and an excellent performance away to Newport County but that is as good as it has got for Clough.
If Millen gives Clough time to get fully fit and plays a system that suits the Denton-born forward, then the Cumbrians could unlock the real potential of the 26-year-old.
What’s Next?
January is crucial for the Cumbrians. Millen and Holdsworth need to find reinforcements, especially in the forward areas.
Millen should aim to build a team around key players such as Gibson, Guy and Feeney with the returning Joe Riley another figure who has proved reliable in the past.
Carlisle simply cannot afford to go down. Financially, the club isn’t wealthy enough to compete with many of the sides in the National League.
Tactically, Millen has proved he has enough nous to keep the Blues away from the relegation, but to do so, he needs to solve the goalscoring issues that have haunted the team.
The dawn of 2022 provides an opportunity for the Cumbrians to sort matters on and off the field because when the team performs well, the whole city shines a little bit brighter.
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