Friday 29th January to Tuesday 2nd February

[dedwardp]

The pitch is awful tonight, ball is bobbling all over the place. Our games are never classics but I think this is going to be a poor game.

Our last game against Cambridge has absolutely ruined the pitch. Great start, death slide continues.

 

[Bottega Don]

Alfie Beestin puts one top corner, lovely start

 

[Bottega Don]

Karacan who has transformed us lately has damaged his arm due to Harriot tripping his over off the ball, what a dick.

He better be okay he's key for us.

 

[Shrimper92]

Scunthorpe win and they're safe from relegation

 

[valefan16]

Three subs before 20 minutes. Crickey

 

[Bottega Don]

Colchester have controlled the ball since all the injuries, we're such a worse side without Karacan.

 

[dedwardp]

Three first half injuries and now the referee going off too.

 

[Bottega Don]

What on earth is going on?

This surely must have something to do with the awful pitch, it's never been explained why Colchesters players went off but I imagine it was something to do with this

 

[Bottega Don]

Gonna be a really difficult second half, Colchester have started to look threatening. Jehvani Brown looks dangerous, just needs to actually pull the trigger. We desperately need a second and hope it kills Colchesters confidence.

 

[dedwardp]

I wouldn't have thought we have any confidence to be honest. No goal scored by any of the players we have out there in the past 14 hours of football and dropping like a stone.

 

[Bottega Don]

Our players are really tiring, a heavy pitch is not what we needed after playing so much lately.

 

[Bottega Don]

Well we've started doing what we did for the second half against Vale, dropping back and not even trying to attack. It worked against Vale because their strikers are awful and we had a bit more leeway at 2-0. I don't think we'll be as lucky with Brown and Oteh

 

[dedwardp]

Thought we needed four points this week and we've got one. Woeful.

 

[valefan16]

Ugh we’ve got the absolute clown who refereed the 3-4 against Tranmere tomorrow.

Fantastic...

 

[Bottega Don]

What a week this has been, 9 points and 0 goals conceded in 6 days.

We defended brilliantly today, don't think Howard made a save really.

 

[CTFCfan99]

No, let me be clear - he's no doubt a decent player, but in a best 11 of the past 5 years (so since 2016) Carl Winchester would not get in any Cheltenham fan's team. I'm confident of that.

For me personally - 532:

GK - Dillon Phillips (though Scott Flinders runs him close)

WBR - Sean Long

CB - Charlie Raglan
CB - Ben Tozer
CB - Jacob Greaves

WBL - Chris Hussey

CM - Jake Doyle-Hayes
CM - Liam Sercombe
CAM - Ryan Broom

ST - Mo Eisa
ST - Alfie May (or Dan Holman on his 15/16 form)

So as I said - Winchester doesn't even get close to being one of our best players in the past 5 years. All 3 CM's in my team run rings round him. I'd also have Harry Pell, Asa Hall and Kyle Storer ahead of him personally.

Agree, Winchester was a good player for us but would not get in ahead of any of those you mention. Harry Pell another who'd be higher up for me.

As for tomorrow, hopefully the two new forwards will have an impact as Williams (despite scoring on Tuesday) hasn't quite looked right, and May can't be expected to do it all on his own. Expect Sam Smith to start with May in an otherwise unchanged side from Oldham. Looks a nailed on draw, as usual when we play at TNL.

 

[Kauto Star]

Well done Scunny this week. What a transformation from looking like serious relegation candidates a couple of weeks ago to be within 6 points off the play offs. That's you safe now surely?

 

[pontoonlew]

Colchester have controlled the ball since all the injuries, we're such a worse side without Karacan.

I was slated by some Grimsby fans elsewhere for suggesting Karacan was a great signing for you lot.

The same people are now hoping we pay a fee for Lenell John-Lewis.

Anyway, Stevenage today, new signings have me slightly more relaxed but lose today and we’re out of sight and hoping for a null & void in the NL

 

[chipmunx]

I was slated by some Grimsby fans elsewhere for suggesting Karacan was a great signing for you lot.

The same people are now hoping we pay a fee for Lenell John-Lewis.

Anyway, Stevenage today, new signings have me slightly more relaxed but lose today and we’re out of sight and hoping for a null & void in the NL

He (Karacan) was easily their best player against us earlier this month - he was the only one who could shoot for a start - they seam to have solved that problem since though.

 

[Bottega Don]

Well done Scunny this week. What a transformation from looking like serious relegation candidates a couple of weeks ago to be within 6 points off the play offs. That's you safe now surely?

I would like to think so but it's still only January. We've shown that any team that is struggling can put a run together and push up the league.

 

[Bottega Don]

I was slated by some Grimsby fans elsewhere for suggesting Karacan was a great signing for you lot.

The same people are now hoping we pay a fee for Lenell John-Lewis.

Anyway, Stevenage today, new signings have me slightly more relaxed but lose today and we’re out of sight and hoping for a null & void in the NL

He has been excellent, he was on trial with Wycombe in summer and their fans wanted to sign him. No idea how no L1 club has picked him up.

 

[Conker]

Another game off for Mansfield. Frustrating

 

[Shrimper92]

Enjoy your three points Valiants

 

[chipmunx]

Another game off for Mansfield. Frustrating

can we start calling you lot Carlisle if that keeps up?

 

[northstandexile]

Bloody hell, Walsall must have had hoses on pitch, afraid to play us, I think.

 

[hellogregory]

Our home form has been excellent this season. Only Cheltenham and Bolton have come away with anything.

But Exeter couldn’t have picked a better time to come up to BP. We’ve had one half an hour training session since 1st January, our players will be so rusty and lacking any sort of match sharpness it could be a real shock to the players’ systems.

I know Shoddy takes the piss when he says the bookies are giving money away when they offer good odds on Carlisle’s opponents, but today I think they really are. 3/1 on the Exeter win really is excellent value given the above. Can only think the bookies have no clue as to just how little training we’ve done as well as the obvious lack of match practice. Even 7/4 on the draw no bet, just to cover you in the unlikely event that we’ll come out of it with a point, great odds.

I’d snap anyone’s hand off for a point right now. But realistically...

Carlisle United 0-2 Exeter City

It’ll do us good though, despite the defeat we’ll be better for it with a full League match under the players belts.

 

[chipmunx]

Our home form has been excellent this season. Only Cheltenham and Bolton have come away with anything.

But Exeter couldn’t have picked a better time to come up to BP. We’ve had one half an hour training session since 1st January, our players will be so rusty and lacking any sort of match sharpness it could be a real shock to the players’ systems.

I know Shoddy takes the piss when he says the bookies are giving money away when they offer good odds on Carlisle’s opponents, but today I think they really are. 3/1 on the Exeter win really is excellent value given the above. Can only think the bookies have no clue as to just how little training we’ve done as well as the obvious lack of match practice. Even 7/4 on the draw no bet, just to cover you in the unlikely event that we’ll come out of it with a point, great odds.

I’d snap anyone’s hand off for a point right now. But realistically...

Carlisle United 0-2 Exeter City

It’ll do us good though, despite the defeat we’ll be better for it with a full League match under the players belts.

HG's back on form

 

[valefan16]

Enjoy your three points Valiants

You playing a youth team or something? We never do anything easily

 

[shoddycollins]

Huzzah, we've actually got a starting line up to name for the first time in a month.

______________________Farman__________________________
Armer______Hayden_________Bennett_______Anderton
__________Riley_________Guy________Mellish____________
Zanzala____________Alessandra________________Patrick

Mostly no surprises, I think Mellish was out with a knock when we last played but he's back now. Tanner and Devine still both out injured. Only differences from the line-up we'd have expected is Armer at right back instead of Hayden being moved over and McDonald in centre back and of course Kayode on the bench and Zanzala starting. There was talk of Kayode carrying a slight knock so that could be the reason. McDonald must be injured too as he'd surely be on the bench at least if fit.

On the bench then we have Norman, Furman, Walker, Toure, Charters, Dickenson and Kayode. A lack of defensive options I guess, with no sign of Feeney as well as McDonald being out; and plenty of attacking options but no room for Scott. It could be that Scott is seen as someone who has to work his way up to this level and might not be a big player this season, or perhaps he'll be very short of match fitness as it'll have been a while since he played for Hebburn.

We could find ourselves in a spot of bother if one of our defenders does have to go off injured, but should have no reason to need to change the defence for any other reason so that's not too bad... if needs be we could end the match with seven strikers on the pitch.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

We’ve had one half an hour training session since 1st January

That's patently untrue.