Big squad turnover, five on the transfer list, goals flying in at both ends… we ask Carlisle United fan Ste Alderson exactly what our former coach Keith Curle is playing at up at Brunton Park.
Assess your start to the season, draw specialists so far it seems…
SA: Very much a rollercoaster start. The home performances against Cambridge and specifically Chesterfield in the cup were really enjoyable, but our horrifyingly bad defence is no laughing matter anymore and could see us in serious trouble if we do not rectify it. Overall I'm actually relatively happy with our start, not results wise but given yet another summer overhaul of players it could have been looking worse for us then this - in all three of our league draws we had big, big chances to win the games in the second half and have been slightly unfortunate in that respect. Draw specialists thus far frustratingly, but that's not down to pragmatic management.
What's changed from last season? Any signings you're particularly excited about? Any cause for great optimism?
SA: Yet another summer overhaul of the playing staff (we still have five transfer listed players in our squad, some of them should be starting every week), meant we were always going to be hard to predict this year. We have changed our style, certainly, with Keith Curle setting us up in a very attacked 3-5-2 formation which tries to play a possession based game. It's lead to us playing some nice football but we do look very vulnerable at the back, something which was apparent all of last season too.
The majority of the signings have impressed thus far. Lower league journeyman Jabo Ibehere has to be mentioned after his flying start to the season, but I’m most excited about Bastien Hery (pictured), a classy midfielder we signed after Rochdale let him go. Nobody coming in can compare to local lad Kyle Dempsey, who was sold to Huddersfield. This kid is a gem and could go very far in my opinion.
No real optimism on the pitch then, but off the pitch it has been interesting, as our board of directors have claimed they are in talks with a Billionaire investor. It's all gone quiet though...
What's the general opinion of Keith Curle and how he's doing?
SA: I'd say there is a pretty mixed opinion of Keith, and that may be generous to him - some fans like how he has come in, made big changes and stuck to his guns whenever possible. Other fans, including myself think he's a god awful football manager who isn't going to improve us at all. We scraped survival last season in a weak league and should be pushing on now, but again it looks unlikely we will do so. His failure to shore up the defence and his numerous run in's with players is a cause for concern. He's a bit of a clown, in truth, but he is pretty entertaining if nothing else.
What’s the story with the five on the transfer list?
SA: The five on the list are Anthony Sweeney, Courtney-Meppen Walter, Gary Dicker, Danny Kearns and Troy Archibald-Henville - Henville being the one who finally started on Saturday.
Barring Sweeney all four have easily enough ability for League Two. Meppen Walter came from Man City after a jail spell and has huge talent - he is in talks with Bolton for a loan move, but can't get a game for us under Keith. That’s definitely personal, as it is with Dicker (although Dicker has been playing?!). Kearns has never got going since signing and Troy is on the transfer list because of his injury problems, which is maybe fair enough but he should be playing whenever possible because he's a good League One defender in my book.
Curle also fell out with Billy Paynter, who couldn't get a game for us last season but has started on fire for Hartlepool this campaign - his choice words summed up Curle for many.
Star men and weak links in the team?
SA: As mentioned, Ibehere and Hery are key for us, as all of our attacking play goes through them two. Aside from that our star man is somebody who is transfer listed and only made his first start this season on Saturday. It's a shame Troy Archibald-Henville's knees are so flimsy because he's a bloody brilliant defender. He should be starting wherever possible for us, but cannot manage two games in a week. Almost certainly won't be playing against you on Tuesday for that reason, hopefully will be fit for Saturday.
One guess for our weak link - that's the defence. New signing Michael Raynes at centre back is a real carthorse, no-nonsense, but students get out of bed quicker than he gets round the pitch. Danny Grainger is another defender who can't defend, although he does have a very good left foot which has contributed three assists already.
Short, medium and long term aims for the club?
SA: The short term aim is personally all about securing survival once more this season, but off the pitch we need this takeover to happen and fast. The current custodians, local businessmen without a pot to piss in need to clear off and somebody who is in touch with the modern game and has a few pennies behind him to replace them would be nice. The medium and long term aims depend on the takeover obviously, but we are club with a decent fan base and big potential - we should be aiming to make Brunton Park a fortress again and aim to be competitive in the third tier once again in the not so distant future.
The Twitter @loftforwords, @salderson91
Pictures — Action Images