We talk to a Carlisle fan ahead of the new League One season that kicks off next week….
Name: David Jackson
How long have you supported your team?
I started going to watch Carlisle in 1988, but i do not remember alot about it as i was only about 8 but i have been to nearly every home match since that time. really started getting into football though by about 1993.
Five words to describe last season?
Excellent progress with play-off bonus.
Best point of last season?
Winning 3-0 at Leyton Orient. Such a superb game, we had been top 6 all season yet people always had doubts on whether we were actual automatic promotion quality due to the fact we sometimes had horrible performances. But this came along in March I think and we played like a top of table side, ripping them to bits and this at a time when Leyton Orient were not far off a play-off spot.
Strength of last season?
The togetherness of our side. We don’t have the quality or the money the Leeds, Swansea, Nottingham Forest, Southend or Doncaster had. Our wagebill will be very low compared to them other 5 sides who finished around us, but we have a real togetherness in our side which I don’t think any of the other top 6 had as well as us. They all worked and gelled together well and work exceptionally hard. When we played a leeds or a swansea our players would work harder, when we had to dig in we could dig in. We didn’t have the quality of the others we were at times shocking, but we got into that play-off through being a team – not just high quality individuals. Another bonus is the age, most of our players are around 24 years old so we have development time aswell. Last season us and the season before, Yeovil, showed any League One side this summer can actually think of a play-off place if they get the right balance.
Weakness of last season?
I praise the togetherness of the side, but they did sometimes have to me an attitude problem. Our downfall last season was playing a side out of form or a side in the relegation area when our players just didn’t turn up. Because of this togetherness when the team played well they all played well, when the team played bad they all were bad. Oldham had not won a home game for 4 months till they hammered us, Cheltenham were bottom 4 and we lost, Millwall were 5th bottom yet won 3-0, Bristol Rovers had not won in a long time yet then beat us 3-0. Also that attitude came in the cups being beaten by L2 sides we should have beat since we put out 1st team, Stockport and Grimsby games were not good enough.
Current terrace favourite in your side?
Joe Garner is the fans favorite and by a long way. He is going to be in he Premier League in a few years and think would have maybe been top scorer but for a 9 month injury he got in February.
One player you`d happily drive to his next club?
Danny Carlton. Nice lad and good attitude but isn’t L1 standard, be better for the guy himself to get a move.
One thing you would tell your team`s manager?
Be more confident on the side. Let us attack abit more, our side has a good back line, but because of that we should not need to worry at defending in massed numbers, but letting them get on with their job and having a go at attacking the other side knowing our back line is good enough to handle it themselves.
Young player to look out for this season?
Apart from Murphy and Bridge-Wilkinson our whole side is young so I have alot of choice, but I would say keep an eye on our left-back horwood, he won’t be Player Of The Season but since he joined last January from Sheff Utd he has done superb, just got a bit tired end of season being not used to L1 standard but think he’ll really push on this season and do well.
Hope for this season?
To get to Wembley. Promotion I am uninterested in because I feel financially it would be a disaster for Carlisle, but a JPT final would be fantastic.
Expectation for this season?
Expectation will be no doubt for a top 6 finish, but if we got that rumoured Takeover of Courtney it may chance to promotion wanted.
Who is going to win League One?
A very, very tough decision, Leeds have the capable squad for this, but I see maybe MK dons or Peterborough going up again having won promotion last season. Northampton I see as the Dark Horse, going to stick with leeds though – they have money to strengthen in January if needed.
Who is going down?
Sorry but at moment i do not see past 4 of these 5 clubs: Stockport, Hereford, Cheltenham, Crewe and Yeovil. There may be others added through financial troubles, but unlike the last couple of season we don’t seem to have any sides with alot of problems behind the scenes so to me it is going to be on who has the smallest squad and the least money to improve…..these are the 5 sides i can think of in that group.
Where will you finish?
I think last season was a bonus, I do not see top 6 next season. But we have an excellent back line and 2 strikers at the club capable of 20+ goals so being down the bottom should not happen. Say top half for us, about 10th, hopefully with a cup run. BUT Carlisle have only had one midtable season for the last 15 odd years and over the last 10 odd seasons we have had something to play for up until the last 2/3 games, we don’t do midtable so don’t write us off on a play-off push.
