There has been some general discussions during January about the club and investment within it. Some fans complain that money should be pumped in to bring players to the club. I have never seen the full logic for this, but even so, we did break the club transfer record not too long ago! If we can continue to slowly move upwards with free and cheap transfers, and youth players we develop ourselves, then what is wrong with that? In Accountancy there is a term called a "sunk cost". This translates as what we've spent (done) in the past doesn't matter. All that matters is where we are now and how we move forward.
In other words, yes we were top flight over 30 years ago, and yes we were fifth tier a couple of years ago. Right now we are third tier, in a solid financial position, with a good squad and a youth team that just beat Manchester United! I know we're Cumbrians and bred to twine about everything, but for once we should be singing "Don't worry, be happy".
We're a small county by population (500,000), but we punch above our weight, I'd say. As for us thinking we're a big club, I don't think many of us would say that. We know that we're currently in the third tier, although still pushing for promotion. For me, a big club is one of the top ten in Tier 1 (the PremierShit) and we've got some way to go to being one of them again. We may get there, we may not. Whatever happens, we are Cumbrians and that is a damned good thing to be.
I am now beyond bored with "Leeds this, Leeds that". I do notice that their board is now very quiet, and that after being abused on there for pointing out their poor form since Poyet left, one of their own has now pointed it out. Also, some of them are wanting Wise to go. Yes, they have big crowds, and they were once in the top flight, Europe, etc, etc. However, now their twining about being top if they hadn't been deducted 15 points is beyond boring, and also becoming inconsequential as it doesn't look like it won't be long before that won't be the case. I just wish that they'd get over themselves and get on with supporting their team, as Carlisle fans should do as well.....
We continue to do well at home, but struggle to get the points away. Not sure why this should be the case, but it needs to be fixed if we are to get up to Tier 2, and particularly if we plan to stay there! We have shots on goal, with many on target, and they don't go in - is it all the manager's fault? The players are the ones on the pitch, remember. The manager can only do so much. I've not made away games this season, but from the home games and my normal Paddock location, Ward seems to do all the right things at the touchline. Sometimes it just doesn't work out for the manager, because the players don't do what is expected of them.
I know we've had this discussion before, but let us have it again. I am a Carlisle United Supporter. I support the team. I do not hurl abuse at the players I am there to support. There were too many fans at Oldham who were too quick to abuse our own players. If they are playing badly I keep quiet. They will know they are playing badly.
At half-time I turned around and gave some young fans behind me a taste of their own medicine and asked how they would like it if I turned up where they lived or worked and stood and shouted abuse at them for 90 minutes. They had spent nearly the whole game hurling abuse at the pitch, and at half-time were whittering on about getting the bus or taxi home early.
It is the last time I sit/stand in the middle at an away match. The negative attitude of some of our fans must make it harder for the players.
That said, the team were poor at Oldham. The play was too negative, and Oldham showed what a passing team could do. They were there for the taking. Their first goal was lucky, but both goals came from poor defending. Get to the ball and get it away is a simple mantra, but effective. Too many of our passes were telegraphed early enough for their players to either intercept on be there to put our man under pressure.
A very disappointing away performance, but it does not justify the abuse some of our fans were hurling at the players during the game. If you want to, boo them after the game.
And finally, are we going to be guilty of the same mistakes as the Barcodes? As poor as the football was at Oldham, I still say we have to give Ward a full year at least.
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