Keith Millen’s key tactical changes behind Carlisle United’s resurgence

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Carlisle United looked dead and buried in November and a win seemed almost impossible, but Keith Millen was not panicking.

The Cumbrians manager is like everyone’s favourite uncle, easy-going, positive yet realistic, and when he talks, everyone listens.

Two weeks after his appointment, Millen bumped into a life-long Blues supporter wearing his Carlisle shirt and simply said “Don’t worry, it will take time, but we will be ok.”

It seemed incredibly hard to believe at the time, with the squad’s mental strength questioned every week.

If the opposition scored first, even the most optimistic of Carlisle fans knew that it was pretty much game over from then on.

Belief is a huge factor at League Two level. Not every team that has been successful at the level have been the most talented, yet confidence and comfort in a style of play make them effective.

Possession is the answer

Millen has made football simple for the Cumbrians squad setting up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Jon Mellish acting as a roaming forward behind the striker to great effect.

Under Chris Beech, Carlisle played a style that was direct with an emphasis on getting the ball into the box as quickly and as much as possible.

Millen requires his squad to retain possession through passing based play, which has allowed them more control during the game.

Carlisle have now won four out of their last five fixtures, recording 441 passes in their most recent win over Bradford City compared to only 247 against Bristol Rovers in the final game of Beech’s tenure.

It was evident the players the Cumbrians recruited in the summer were more suited to a possession-based style of play, and Millen has had the nous to recognise this.

Clean sheets specialists

In his time as a player, Millen was a tough-tackling central defender and this has translated into the improved performances of the backline.

The Cumbrians have recorded four clean sheets in their last five games and have only conceded once.

Rod McDonald has been heavily criticised in the past for mistakes that cost the Blues points, but a slight tactical alteration has seen the former Manchester City academy man become the most improved player this season.

It is always been evident that pace is an issue for McDonald, and he was often caught out by direct passing down the channels for quick opposition strikers, but Millen has asked his side to defend deeper.

No longer are the Cumbrians troubled behind the defence, so the majority of the opposition’s attack is in front of the backline meaning it is easier to defend in a compact formation.

The high-press used by Chris Beech often left spaces for the opposition to exploit, but now Carlisle are narrow, condensed and much harder to break down, which suits McDonald.

Morgan Feeney has emerged as an excellent prospect while partnering with McDonald, showing maturity and a level of defending above anything expected for a 22-year-old footballer whose league game time has been extremely limited due to injury.

The former England youth international captain not only displays some excellent defending but a comfortableness on the ball, which helps Carlisle’s progression through the lines.

Jack Armer and Kelvin Mellor also seem to have grown in confidence in a now-settled back four with the signing of Jack Senior from Altrincham adding cover for the full-backs.

The increased pace in the forward line

A recent feature Millen has added to the squad, in the signings of Omari Patrick and Tyrese Omotaye, clearly benefitted the team against Bradford.

Omataye’s signing was not the experienced striker Carlisle fans wanted, but he showed his worth in an outstanding debut against the Bantams.

The Norwich loanee’s pace, physicality and crisp first touch brought a new dynamism to a previously stale attack.

His athleticism troubled the Bradford defence, never giving them time to rest and showing maturity to stretch the play down the channels.

It may have seemed written in the stars that Patrick would return to the place he calls home and score against the club that did not rate him.

Carlisle had missed the 25-year-old’s pace and power after he had left for Burton Albion in the summer, but he made up for lost time with an 87th-minute goal to secure the victory.

Millen’s choice to bring in quick forwards looks like it will pay off with solid foundations at the back and a settled midfield as the Cumbrians look like a force to be reckoned with again.

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