Opposition View: Liam Cole on Carlisle United’s Rebuild Under Mike Williamson and Facing Notts County

Introduction:

Name: Liam Cole.

How long have you supported Carlisle United? My first proper memory with the Blues is probably the Leeds play-off game, since the 2007/08 season.

Are you a season ticket holder? Unfortunately not. My work commitments mean I don’t get to all home games any more, but I still manage to attend about 80% of them.

Age? 27.

Favourite Player? My favourite player would be either Peter Murphy or Danny Grainger, both legends of the club’s recent past.

What are the key strengths and weaknesses of Carlisle United, and how do they match up against Notts County’s style of play?

Up until the change in manager, there weren't really any strengths in the team with the tactics being played. This will be Mike Williamson's third game in charge, and there are certainly signs that, given a bit of time and backing in the transfer window (which he will get with our new owners), we will be a formidable team. Our game against Grimsby on Saturday was a Jekyll and Hyde performance. Our performance in the first half was the best half of football in the last three seasons without a doubt. In the second half, we were sloppy and switched off. No doubt this will improve when the players build their fitness and get used to our new tactics. Hopefully, we will be playing front-foot, possession-based football, which is obviously only fully possible for one team, so it will be less a case of tactics and more a case of the execution of them as to who comes out on top on the day.

How do Carlisle United fans feel about their team’s current position in the league, and what do they think needs to change to improve their standing?

Obviously, given the new ownership and the backing of the previous regime, and head of recruitment Abbott, who is still here, but I would argue should be shown the door when our new position of sporting director is finally filled, we were expecting to be a big player in the league this season. Credit to Tom Piatak, he jumped early and replaced him with a manager with a positive future (hopefully with us!) instead of another off the merry-go-round. The signs in the two games so far are enough to suggest that if we continue on the same progress trajectory, then we should be more than safe this year, potentially with an outside shot at a playoff push.

Who are the standout players for Carlisle United this season, and which Notts County players do they see as the biggest threats?

All the players have suffered with the tactics of Paul Simpson this season. The only player signed this year that looks to have improved under his leadership is our right-sided defender Archie Davies. Obviously, under the right leadership and tactics, we have some incredibly talented players. Everyone in the lower league knows exactly what players like Jordan Jones and Charlie Wyke are capable of.

Obviously, your injury to Jodi Jones is a big one and one that strengthens our chances. I'd expect Dan Crowley to play the biggest role in the game, being that our standout issue under Williamson is him wanting to play from the back and the question mark over defenders as to whether they fit into that style of play. His runs forward from midfield will cause us a lot of issues if our passing is not up to scratch.

What is the atmosphere like at Brunton Park on match days, and how do Carlisle United fans prepare for big games like this one?

The opposition fans' view on how we travel sums up the support the Blues have. Last season in League 1, most teams ranked us in the top 2 or 3 teams for away following to their grounds that season. The atmosphere at home games is not quite as renowned, and there are definitely more doom and gloomers, but the atmosphere is still there. The improvements to the ground have massively improved the match day experience and have, in turn, improved the atmosphere pre-match. I think one of the positives we have is that despite the improvements and changes to the ground with a brand-new fan zone, more hospitality boxes added, and the improved hospitality offerings, we have managed to keep the charm of the 'old school' stadium, which a lot of these new stadiums lack.

We have a march from the town centre with flags down to the ground, which is organised by a group of people who stand in 'The Warwick'. This is, however, going to be made up of fans from all areas of the ground.

How do Carlisle United supporters view their manager’s tactics and decisions, and what changes would they like to see in the upcoming match?

It's still far too early in Mike Williamson's reign to comment, but I think the vast majority would agree that the early signs have been positive. There were grumbles at his appointment from a minority because of where MK Dons are in the league and the fact we paid a rumoured £200,000 release clause for him and his coaching staff when he was potentially on the verge of the sack. The flip side of that is he took them from 16th/17th last season and got them in the playoffs, albeit putting in the performance they did in the semis. The changes I would personally like to see are the cohesion and being able to execute the tactics like we did in the first half of the last game, for the full 90 minutes.

What are the most memorable moments for Carlisle United fans from previous seasons, and how do they compare to past encounters with Notts County?

The big ones that stand out for me personally are two visits to Wembley. Beating Brentford 1-0 in the JPT final, with Peter Murphy netting the goal 24 hours after the birth of his baby. Then there's the two weeks beating Bradford in the play-off semis and seeing their fans' tears, and then beating Stockport on penalties in our 'weekend in paradise'. Another core memory as a fan is taking Liverpool to penalties and Derek Asamoah scoring in front of the KOP and his celebration to the Liverpool fans. I genuinely believe that was the defining nail in Brendan Rodgers' coffin in his time at the club. He was sacked less than two weeks later. Had they lost, I reckon he'd have been sacked that night.

Obviously, you're unbeaten in 5 against us if my memory is correct. However, the 5-0 at Meadow Lane is probably the defining memory against your team, with big Chaz scoring one and Jabo Ibehre netting a brace.

Which young players have shown the most improvement in their form this year? And how do you think their development will impact the team’s performance in the upcoming matches?

The obvious choices are the two Bournemouth boys, Dom Sadi and Dan Adu-Adjei. Dom Sadi, in particular, has shown massive potential in his first senior role. Most of our senior team aren't seen as 'young'. A couple of the YTS players put in some promising performances in preseason, and hopefully, they can snatch their chances if and when they come.

Final comments from Chris

I would like to express my gratitude to Liam for taking the time to answer my questions. I sent these quite late, and he has come through to give us a brilliant insight into his support of Carlisle United. As for the game, I would honestly take a point because it will allow us to remain undefeated. I can see Carlisle being more of a threat on goal, so defensive solitude will be of importance for Notts. The game should be fairly open, but I have concerns that Carlisle might lift themselves and pull off a good performance against us. I am passing on a prediction this time, it will be quite tight.

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Read our latest article on Pride of Nottingham covering Jodi Jones' injury and how the Notts County star remains determined to bounce back from this setback.