The Imps have met today’s opponents Carlisle United on two occasions this season, both at Sincil Bank. The first meeting was played on Saturday 23rd October in front of a crowd of 9,119. This match finished 2-2, with The Imps coming from behind twice to pick up a point. Ashley Nadesan gave the visitors the lead in the 6th minute, but 7 minutes later Michael O’Connor scored a wonder goal to make it 1-1. Ashley Nadesan put Carlisle back ahead in the 27th minute, but Bruno Andrade’s free-kick, just before half-time (44′), gave Lincoln the share of the points.
The second meeting of the season between the two sides was played on Saturday 1st December in The Emirates FA Cup, in front of a crowd of 6,438. Matt Rhead put The Imps ahead in the 1st minute and substitute John Akinde slid home the second from close range in the 86th minute to secure a place in the Third Round.
Anyway, time for the Q&As! Thank you to the admins on thecumbrians.net and Peter for answering our questions! The answers have been published on two pages. To get to the second set of answers, click “click here for the second set of answers!” at the bottom right of the page or click HERE.
First up, the answers provided by the admins on thecumbrians.net:
How long have you supported Carlisle United?
Between us (There’s 5 of us run the site) roughly 20 to 35 years apiece.
Where did you finish last season?
10th in League Two.
What do you think of your Manager?
Mixed feelings throughout the fan base on Pressley at present. Some think he’s chucked a genuine promotion chance, others think he was on a hiding to nothing when our 3 best players (Sowerby, Nadesan and Yates) returned to their parent clubs during January. He deserves a chance to craft his own squad, as he’s clearly not happy with some aspects (Fitness has been mentioned), but others want a clean slate.
What were your hopes and expectations at the start of the season?
After not so secret budget cuts, and the relatively late appointment of Sheridan, most would’ve been happy to be mid-table and away from the relegation battle.
One(s) to watch?
If he’s back from a short injury, Jamie Devitt is the class act. He may be missing though, so we’ll say Aston Villa Loanee Callum O’Hare.
At the start of the season, who did you think would finish in the top 7? And how do you think it’ll finish from 1st to 7th?
No. Even the most optimistic blue didn’t think we would. Teams such as yourselves and MK were expected to be up there, maybe Exeter and Mansfield too, but it’s a poor Division and most can beat each other.
Who do you think will finish in the bottom 2?
Yeovil and Notts County it’s looking like.
What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?
Riding the crest at present. The combination of the FA Cup run and Promotion from the National League have been built upon, and funds earned seem to have been used wisely. Disappointed you all took the EFL Trophy so seriously last season mind, that tournament has been bastardised by Harvey and the EFL.
What do you think the score will be?
Ever the optimist, 1-0 us, own goal off a defenders backside. You’ll probably win!
Random fact about your Club?
The very first English team to beat AS Roma in the Olympic Stadium in Rome – Anglo-Italian Cup in June 1972!
If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?
John Akinde. Everything we haven’t got up front at present!
What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Carlisle United Supporter?
Proudest – Seeing the team walk out at Wembley in the Trophy Final in 1995. Getting beat didn’t matter, we never ever thought we’d see Carlisle at Wembley, especially after the dark years of the late ’80s and early ’90s.
Who would you say is your most underrated player?
Possibly Adam Collin in goal, returned this Season and been excellent. If only his distribution was better.
Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?
Yes. CUOSC (Carlisle United Official Supporters Club). They own a 25.4% share in CUFC Holdings, who own roughly 93% of the Club (The other 7% being historical small shareholders with no real say). Involved at Board Level with Reps etc.
Which was your favourite match involving Carlisle United?
Possibly Fulham 1 Carlisle 3 in Oct 1994. A display of total football from a team which went on to walk the League. Sheer poetry that day, in front of about 1500 travelling fans!
Which was your least favourite match involving Carlisle United?
Far too many to pick from, we’ve been humped at many places over the years!
Do you have a Former Players Association at Carlisle United?
There is a ‘former Players’ team, but it’s nothing overly formal.
What’s the best thing about Carlisle?
The history. The Castle and Cathedral are steeped in it, well worth checking out if you have time.
What effect did the poster campaign have in drumming up additional Cumbrian support for the match?
Well, an extra 6000 turned up! Showed just what it is possible, albeit with reduced prices. Some fun social media posts added to the buzz. Typically we got beat that day!
With Carlisle being a football outpost there are obvious disadvantages to attracting some players, something that has been said about Lincoln to a lesser extent. Are there any natural advantages to being isolated and has your club actively employed any successful strategies over the years to counter that, or does it simply come down to cash and success to level the playing field?
For years many fans have wanted us to raid the Scottish market. The central belt of Glasgow to Edinburgh is only over an hour on the train or 90mins in the car. We can offer wages higher than most Clubs in Scotland, so sign 3/4 and you have a car share instantly. If Pressley does stay over the Summer, he has excellent contacts up the road, and we’d expect to utilise them. Otherwise, the tried and tested method has been to offer a few more quid than other teams when chasing a target!
What’re your thoughts on your run in, do you think you’ll make the playoffs and who would you like to face?
We have to win at least 3 of 4 games, and hope results go our way, our Goal Difference is also poor compared to the others in the mix. We likely won’t, but this Club doesn’t do things easily! We’d take anyone if we did make it, as we’d likely be on the crest of a miracle!
Things must be really bad if John Sheridan opted to leave, at the time, a well placed L2 side for a struggling NL one, albeit a biggish club at that level in Chesterfield where he’s been before. Were there any issues behind the scenes that will have contributed to him making that decision?
Chesterfield offered Sheridan a lengthy contract on much bigger wages. End of story. We were seemingly sorted with compensation, and off he went. Disappointing given the form we’d hit in December, but that’s football.
"He deserves a chance to craft his own squad, as he's clearly not happy with some aspects."https://t.co/Q7EvRgrwzv#CUFC #ImpsAsOne #CUFCImps
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) April 19, 2019
https://www.facebook.com/VitalLincolnCity/posts/2151343261568574
