May 1998

Well, we're back down to Division 3. Shhh.......ame. The final relegation area was :

The tail end of the season saw an extraordinary exchange between the club (i.e. Michael Knighton) and Cumbrian Newspapers

The whole exchange reminded me of two kids fighting over the last sweet which has fallen on the carpet and is covered with fluff. "it's your fault, so I'm eating it" etc. Knighton certainly came over as a ranting child and if that is how he is writing his book, then I for one won't bother reading it. Give me a good Isaac Asimov novel any day. Also, Knighton seemed to have no idea what the real point is - that we were relegated at the end of a season which should have seen us safe in mid-table. Two seasons in Division 2 have, in my opinion, both been wasted because of simple mistakes.

1. Our first campaign in Division 2 was ruined through not keeping Derek Mountfield, a man who commanded the Carlisle defence in our Championship season. I firmly believe that if he had still been with us during that season, then we would have rescued enough points to have stayed up.

2. Our second Division 2 campaign was lost through the departure of Mervyn Day. He left because we weren't winning enough games, and yet this was based on the tail end of our Division 3 promotion campaign and the start of the Division 2 campaign. The promotion season was marked by good cup runs and a Wembley final - in those circumstances, with our small squad, fatigue and suspensions were bound to take their toll. Similarly the start of this season was marred by some minor injuries and suspensions picked up in pre-season friendlies.

On top of all this comes the press speculation that several members of the current squad may leave during the summer. Hmm, are the press reports cause or effect? Who knows. Either way, if the players are unhappy at the club, then they are less likely to play well and more likely to leave. I certainly don't blame Wilkes and Halpin for this - they are obviously good coaches, judging by the young talent they have produced, but are they capable of managing team affairs? Not looking at this season's results. My other worry is that the next wave of Carlisle Youth players are suffering by being brought into the team to early. My hope would be for two new coaches to come in at the top and for Wilkes and Halpin to return to coaching the younger players. They are our only hope for survival. So my shopping list for the summer?

1. A manager and assistant to take over from Wilkes and Halpin.
2. Wilkes and Halpin to return to youth team coaching.
3. All the current squad to be kept, perhaps with the exception of Andy Couzens.
4. Knighton to leave team selection and tactics well alone - I think he has proven that he isn't up to the job.
5. The Carlisle fans to get (vocally) behind their team all the way through a match for a change.

The last one is a particular annoyance to me. When there are crowds of over 10,000 there are spells in the game when it seems like there are only 10. Remember the Sheffield Wednesday match?

Another thing that got to me this season which stands out for me was the cynical professional foul by Solskjaer on Barton in the dying minutes of the Manchester United V Newcastle United game. Barton was clear through on goal with only the 'keeper to beat when he was brought down from behind. Now, a red card was given, as the rules require for such an offence, but the resulting free-kick was not sufficient compensation for the lost chance. My suggestion would be that the resulting free kick gives a player a clear run at goal with the ball without the need to pass it, all other players except the opposition 'keeper have to be 10 yards back up the field and the 'keeper has to start from within his 6 yard box. This way cynical fouls are heavily punished and in real terms the defending team has gained nothing. As a result of the foul on Barton, Manchester United earned a draw and thus a valuable league point.

And finally, there was another interview with Matt Jansen in the Cumberland news in May and our new away strip for the 1998/99 season is the best we've had for a while - I am almost tempted to buy one this time !-)

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