The Voice - Match preview Carlisle United vs Bradford City Saturday 26th January 2022 @ 3:00pm

In bed sick according to Hughes.

 

Harrogate have three wins on the bounce, we have three defeats. You know where this is going.

 

I think we are all sick tonight

 

Just got back. To say i'm pissed off is an understatement. Season is in danger of falling apart.

 

Talk about formations is irrelevant so long as we have that inadequate and ineffective midfield partnership. If you can't compete in a midfield, let alone dominate it, you've got no chance.

People will no doubt laugh, but we miss Watt, or at least a player of ilk. We don't have a midfielder who can dictate the tempo of a game and have two midfielders who are trying to do the same job of being a ball winner. That's why the ball can never progress from the defence to the attack without it being booted in the air.

It beggars belief that we didn't replace Watt because for the style Hughes wants, it's the most important part of the team. It's like Bowyer playing hoofball without a target man up front. Never going to work.

I actually think we would solve the majority of our problems with either a partner to Smallwood or a whole new partnership in there as a lot of our problems stem from having no authority in the centre of the park. Quite what we do for the next few games before we can rectify this problem in January I don't know.

 

We absolutely need a new central midfielder. Gillead was better than Smallwood today but that isn’t saying much. I can’t see getting Smallwood dropped to be honest. I’d imagine he’s probably one of the best paid players in the division. I can see why he dropped down the divisions though. He looks bang average to me.

 

I wasn't there today, instead I chose to watch on ifollow and what I witnessed was nothing short of shambolic and I fully understand your feelings at the durge served up Infront of you even our marquee signing did one down the tunnel at the final whistle.
They players should be ashamed the attitude of some leaves a lot to be desired especially our so called captain.

 

Smallwood is a tough one. I don't know if he's shit or he looks shit because he's playing next to shit. I have a tenancy to think its the latter but his set pieces are absolutely garbage that's for sure.

 

As you and Onside allude to that midfield pairing has been a problem for a couple of months. Doesn't protect the back four and creates very little if any quick ball to start our attack. At one point our number '10' Chapman was having to drop back in his own half just get some possession of the ball. If Cook isn't firing, like today, then where are the goals coming from? Every time we bring Oliver on we look worse than we did before, the poor lad doesn't seem to have any instruction as to what his role is. All in all the future for the season is worrying, you can excuse to an extent the losses to Orient and Northampton as they look decent sides, more so Orient. But Carlisle, with no disrespect, are bang average yet should have been out of sight by half time. I spent a fair chunk of money and my boxing day to watch that today. I feel cheated. Hughes had better turn this around because the results and the way we play and keep making the same mistakes is pissing me right off.

 

Ok thanks

 

He's the most disappointing aspect of our whole season thus far. The signing reminds me of when we signed Paul Mclaren years ago and thought he'd be way too good for this league based on previous stats and pedigree. We ended up with a 6/10 every week.

 

But Watt was never staying was he, as many predicted Vernam, Paudie and Watt wanted out and were always leaving, but would have been interesting to have Watt in midfield but I think Hughes made it clear he did all he could to keep him at Valley Parade.

 

Rogered Tart said
Hughes had better turn this around because the results and the way we play and keep making the same mistakes is pissing me right off.

How many supporters feel like that tonight.

Honestly Ryan you've got a problem on your hands again.

 

Interesting comments, we actually took Orient apart at Brunton Park, unfortunately they brought the Ref on the bus with them (and if you think its one of those 'hey lets blame the ref' then dont!!! because we actually had an official apology from the FA about the standard of refereeing for that game) The Northampton game was a simple mistake given by one of our most experienced players, (who actually scored today Ho Hum!!)
We're not 'great' admittedly, however to call us 'poor' is pretty much way off the mark! We more or less controlled the first half, City started to control the second half but as soon as the little fella went off (Smallwood???) and we pushed Mellish into midfield then normal service was resumed.
Cook missed a couple of decent chances (maybe that's why we rejected him), but to be fair they were probably more difficult than at first met the eye, Gibson's miss for us was terrible and credit to your keeper for pulling off that superb save from Guy, all in all just about the right result (although I'm sure some of you wont agree).
Proper Northerners 1 Midlanders 0
(37 years since you beat us at fortress Brunton)
Merry Xmas

 

You are the first person to hit the nail on the head. We didn't start at a decent tempo, Carlisle were all over us energy wise and physically stronger, every time they beat us to the ball (and that was frequently) they had options because they wanted it more.
I certainly didn't think we were beat by a poor side but ability wise I also don't think Carlisle are better than us man for man. It doesn't matter what system you play you have to impose yourself and earn the right to play. Carlisle may not be the most talented of sides but they work their butts off, which is way they can afford to give Jordon Gibson a free role.
It was his miss and Harry's saves that kept us in the game. If MH wants to continue with this style of play, which he will, we need to play at a much higher tempo and be physically stronger from the start and a fully fit Jamie Walker in the role that Harry Chapman has been playing in and move Chapman out wide with one of the loan players playing the other side of Walker. I think there may be a couple of ins and outs in January which could help. The club won't sack Hughes and it's too early to be having another change.

 

Is Ryan still here he is very quiet. ....... tumbelweeeedssss ..... do we have have a chairmen too?

 

I agree with only one of these statements - guess which

 

They thought everyone was periera in that second half. Every time we brought a sub on they corrected themselves. Was most enjoyable part of the afternoon

 

So was I. I've got Covid and I watched the game from my sick bed, so that's set me back a few days recovery wise. Can't even drown my sorrows in the Dolly (yet).

 

I don't want it to come across as sour grapes because you fully deserved the win but that game today was a disgrace to the game of professional football. The fact that both our sides are near the playoffs ( you actually being 4th) shows just how poor lower league football really is. It was like watching an amateur game at various times this afternoon.