Jan 2nd (Sat)

EVERTON 3 CARLISLE UTD 1 – FA CUP 3rd ROUND
The class of 2009/10 fall short of repeating the heroics of 74/5 but only by the narrowest of margins in playing terms after matching Everton all over the pitch for 90 minutes in an enthralling cup tie. In the end, Carlisle were possibly no more than Howard’s fingertips away from the 4th round after getting enough on the ball to divert Livesey’s penalty-edge volley onto the bar. Although at fault for the first with a back pass straight out of a football bloopers DVD, Clayton’s all action show led the way while Taiwo tackled every blue shirt in sight.
* Player Ratings: Collin 7, Keogh 7.88, Livesey 8, Harte 8.25, Horwood 7.25, Hurst 7.88, Taiwo 8.5 (star man), Kavanagh 7.75, Clayton 8.13, Robson 8.13, Pericard 7.88 . Subs: Dobie, Anyinsah.

Barrow’s FA Cup run ends with a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland for whom Michael Liddle made his debut after coming on with 10 minutes to go. Left-back Liddle made 23 appearances for United last season.
Jan 4th (Mon)
It’s confirmed that Carlisle will face Leeds in the second leg of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern area final on Tuesday 9th February 2010 at Brunton Park. The tie, initially scheduled for the week beginning 15th February, has been brought forward following discussions with SKY TV, the Football League and with all of the clubs concerned. Sky will make a later decision on whether to broadcast the tie and the game will kick off at 7pm rather than 7-45pm if this is the case.


Negotiations with the clubs and representatives of Taiwo, Clayton and Pericard appear to be moving closer to a conclusion. In what could be excellent news, an agreement has been reached with Chelsea about Taiwo that may see the deal becoming a permanent one rather than just a further loan. In the mean time, he will continue to train with the squad with the hope that a deal will be finished very shortly.

With Mancini now in charge at Manchester City, fellow midfielder Adam Clayton has returned to his parent club at the request of the management team where they will keep hold of him for two weeks so that they can complete their assessment of him. United still have the option to extend Clayton’s loan deal for a further one-month period or to complete a half season loan deal that would keep him at the club until the end of the 2009/10 campaign.

Pericard remains in talks with the club and is expected to make a decision after the game against Millwall on Saturday. This however remains in major doubt due to the present weather and forecast and the club are seeking permission from the league to inspect on Thursday morning, the time when Millwall were planning to set off on their journey to Cumbria – what were they using, sledges and huskies??

Jan 5th (Tue)

It’s reported by Sky Sports that Pericard has turned down the offer to stay at Carlisle with a view to announcing his new club early next week.

Jan 6th (Weds)

In the transfer coup of the season, Tom Taiwo agrees a permanent move to Carlisle on a deal that secures his services until at least summer 2012. The terms with Chelsea are undisclosed at this time.
The postponed games against Colchester (A) and Huddersfield (H) are re-arranged for March 2nd and March 16th respectively. Gavin Rothery picked up a slight groin strain as part of his 20 minutes for Barrow in the Sunderland game and is back at Brunton Park for treatment.

Jan 8th (Fri)

Millwall is confirmed as off. Several transfer rumours do the rounds including Coleman wishing to make Madine’s move to Coventry a permanent one, Murphy going off to Shrewsbury or one of any number of interested parties and Scott Dobie being linked with a loan move to Aberdeen that turns about a case of mistaken identity by one of the local papers. Stephen Dobbie of Swansea City was supposedly the correct party involved in the rumour – you couldn’t make it up.

Jan 12th (Tue)

Ahead of the Southend Utd away game on March 20th, it’s announced that a live fans forum will take place on the Friday evening at the Park Inn Hotel from 1730. A number of club representatives will be present to field questions and shoe throwing will be strictly forbidden on the night.
Although nothing appears to have been announced at this time, it would be an idea to have it organised so that either the hosting hotel or one/two nearby were doing a special deal for fans travelling with the intention of attending both the forum and the match.


As anticipated a week earlier, Pericard confirms his decision to turn down the generous offer to stay as the alleged top earner at frozen, windswept, oft-flooded, Brunton Park to take up a footballer-for-hire position at a club likely to be somewhere near his friends and family in the south. Fool!


The N&S tips five players on our radar as possible replacements for Pericard. Although making a brief sub appearance in the Birmingham cup tie, the final name has been linked with a loan move to lowly Brighton having seemingly fallen out of favour at the City Ground
ENOCH SHOWUNMI, 27, Leeds United.
LEWIS GUY, 24, Doncaster Rovers
SCOTT VERNON, 26, Colchester United
TRESOR KANDOL, 28, Leeds United
JOE GARNER, 21, Nottingham Forest

Other names mentioned on the messageboard include Kevin Kyle (ex-Sunderland), presently at cash-strapped Kilmarnock, free agent Michael Misfud (ex-Coventry) and Richard Brodie, the prolific York City striker.

Jan 13th (Weds)

One man definitely on the move is part-keeper, part-blockade Matty Glennon with his release by Huddersfield allowing him to join Bradford City.
Peter Murphy reveals his frustration at being dropped after the Norwich victory and then not featuring in the Everton game in an interview with the News and Star.
It’s reported that GA is hoping to imminently arrange a friendly to give vital pitch time on grass to key players who are returning from injury or lacking match sharpness and in particular, Thirlwell, Offiong, Anyinsah and Bridge-Wilkinson.

Jan 16th (Sat)

BRENTFORD 3 CARLISLE UTD 1
Even with Lee Brennan in the party and being Soccer AM’s fans of the week can’t inspire the team to victory. The reverse fixtures from the opening weekend of the season results in business as usual for Carlisle with nemesis-in-waiting Myles Weston repeating his previous effort with a double salvo. The Blues run the show for half an hour and only a stunning save from Taiwo and some dubious refereeing to prevent an assault on Keogh’s run resulting in a penalty keeps the scores level. The tide turns with a soft opener from some casual defending down the left and despite a second-wind from Carlisle in the last 20, there always looked like only one winner once the opener went in. Having played for Carlisle in the first game, Cleveland Taylor misses out on renewing old acquaintances as a run of poor form sees him shipped out on loan to Burton Albion just before the game.
* Player Ratings: Collin 6.33 (=star man), Keogh 5.33, Livesey 4.33, Harte 4.00, Horwood 6.33 (=star man), Hurst 4.00, Taiwo 6.33 (=star man), Kavanagh 4.67, Robson 5.67, Dobie 5.00, Anyinsah 5.00.
Better times for another old boy with Kevin Gall scoring for York in their victory.

Jan 18th (Mon)

Man City’s highly rated England U20 Adam Clayton returns to Carlisle on loan for the rest of the season from with Mancini declaring that Adam needs to work further on looking stylish in a cashmere scarf with moleskin gloves and matching accessories in order to fit in with his first-team plans.

Jan 19th (Tues)

LEEDS UNITED 1 CARLISLE UNITED 2 - JPT NORTHERN FINAL FIRST LEG
Despite starting as 7/1 outsiders, just over 13,000 witness a clinical win at Elland Road to leave Carlisle in the driving seat but by no means home and hosed for a glamour final at Wembley. It’s wasn’t one way traffic by any means and Beckford was at his prolific best in missing three good chances. However, a great move and finish by Kavanagh gave the initial and after a wobble when Leeds equalised, Anyinsah came on to power in a header on 83 for the winner.
Sky TV will be showing the second leg live at 7pm on Tuesday, February 9th.
* Player Ratings: Pidgeley 6.50, Keogh 7.33 (star man), Livesey 6.17, Harte 6.67, Horwood 6.83 , Hurst 6.17, Taiwo 6.50, Kavanagh 7.17, Clayton 7.00, Robson 7.00, Dobie 5.50, Sub: Anyinsah 5.00.

Jan 20th (Weds)

ROCHDALE RES 1 CARLISLE UTD RESERVES 0
A strong looking Carlisle side surprisingly lose to Rochdale as a scuffed left-footed shot bobbles horribly over Gillespie on the half hour.
Team: Gillespie, Kane, Blake, Thirlwell (Lakeland 71), Aldred, Murphy, Bowman (McKenna 63), Burns, Offiong, Bridge-Wilkinson, Tinnion.

Jan 21st (Thu)

It’s confirmed that talks between Carlisle and Coventry over Gary Madine’s future are still ongoing with little progress being made in agreeing a valuation that meets the needs of both parties.

Meanwhile, another player with an uncertain future and at least seven midfielders ahead of him seems to be Michael Burns as he moves on a one-month loan to Stafford Rangers. Stafford competes in the Blue Square North with Workington and he joins another former old boy in the shape of centre-half Craig McAughtrie. The 28-year-old has re-joined Stafford Rangers on loan until the end of the season from Eastwood Town. McAughtrie, who made 214 appearances for Rangers and scored 21 goals in a five-year spell, left Rangers in 2007 for Staffordshire rivals Tamworth and he has since played for King’s Lynn, who have now folded.
Millwall join 23 other league clubs in being linked with a move for Joe Garner.

Jan 23rd (Sat)

OLDHAM YOUTH 4 CARLISLE UTD YOUTH 3
Ryan Bowman scored twice to keep the score level at 2-2 at half time but a second half strike from Steven Swinglehurst wasn’t enough to prevent the home side from taking an exciting 4-3 win.


CARLISLE UTD 0 STOCKPORT COUNTY 0
More frustration in the post-Pericard era as a succession of strikers are rolled onto the pitch to try their luck at the Fon Williams goal. After a poor first half, Hurst hits the base of the post with a lob and the ball rolls across the face of the goal. Two strong penalty shouts are turned down and the referee etches his performance in the memories of the Brunton Park faithful even further as he sends Dobie off on 72 after the forward is wrestled down once more. Offiong’s misery continues with a poor effort when he should have opened his account and in the dying seconds, Clayton’s drive is denied by Fon Williams again.

* Player Ratings: Collin 7 (=star man), Keogh 6, Livesey 5.5, Harte 5.75, Horwood 5, Hurst 5, Taiwo 5, Kavanagh 5, Clayton 7 (=star man), Robson 5, Anyinsah 7 (=star man).

United’s Head of Youth Development Eric Kinder secures the signatures of four of David Wilkes’ Centre of Excellence U16 players for next season’s Youth squad as they join already-signed Mark Beck (centre forward) and Lance McGlen (centre half). Josh Todd (central midfielder), Dan Jones (centre forward), David Symington (central midfielder or right back) and Adam Gill (wide right or wide left) are all Cumbrians and will team up with the squad in July. Todd and Jones have already been involved with the U18s and Gill and Symington have played in trial games.

Jan 26th (Tue)

Gateshead manager Ian Bogie will have another forward option to choose from when he picks his next side (sorry) as the legend that is Brian Wake joins the Conference team on a free from Greenock Morton. With 50 goals from 188 games, his record is nothing to be sniffed at.

EXETER CITY 2 CARLISLE UTD 3
OFFSIDEAGAIN, OFFTARGETAGAIN, OFFTODARLOAGAIN or whatever you want to call him finally scores!!!!!!
Enough said.

* Player Ratings: Collin 6.67, Keogh 6.33, Livesey 8.00 (star man), Harte 6.33, Horwood 7.00, Hurst 6.67, Thirlwell 5.67, Clayton 7.33, Robson 6.67, Kavanagh 5.67, Anyinsah 7.67. Subs: Madine and Offiong.

Jan 29th (Fri)

After some inevitable rumours linking him with a return to Carlisle, Lee Peacock joins Grimsby Town on an 18-month deal. The football’s going to be rubbish but the fish and chips will be terrific. Swindon’s decision to give him a free was ironically precipitated by Pericard’s arrival.

Jan 30th (Sat)

The Youth Team’s home match against Preston is called off due to a frozen pitch.

It’s confirmed that Carlisle took 20 year-old striker Jordan Connerton on a short trial during the week from Lancaster City. Several clubs have already been linked with the player including most recently Preston as well as Crewe, Swindon, Motherwell, Leeds and Derby. Described as strong with a good touch, great awareness and a quality finisher, Jordan already as 30 goals to his credit this season.

CARLISLE UTD 2 LEYTON ORIENT 2
The lessons from Tuesday aren’t learnt as two points are thrown away against the O’s. It had all started so well under a newly employed 4-4-2 system with a great move for Anyinsah’s opener on 14 and then Harte powered in a header from Robson’s corner just before half-time. Sloppy goals on 60 and 77 bring parity. Smokin’ Joe goes off early with an injury and is therefore a major doubt for the Tuesday game at Colchester.

* Player Ratings: Collin 7.00, Keogh 7.67 (star man), Livesey 6.00, Harte 6.67, Horwood 6.50, Hurst 5.67, Thirlwell 4.67, Clayton 7.17, Robson 6.00, Madine 4.33, Anyinsah 7.17. Sub: Offiong 3.50

Elsewhere it finishes AFC Wimbledon 2 Workington 3 to send the Reds into the quarter finals of the FA Trophy.