2012 Prediction League - Just for Fun - Game 1; Carlisle (away)

[Div3North]

Carlisle Utd

V

Accrington Stanley

2012 Prediction League – Just for Fun; v Carlisle Utd (away) –COCup 1st Round


You pronounce it how you like – to me it’s always going to be “The Cock-Up” ; new 4 – year sponsorship by Capital One. On balance, I think I preferred the Milk Cup; or the Carling Cup; or the League Cup. Maybe it’ll grow on me ……….

We beat Carlisle at our place at the same stage last season, of course, in the Carling Cup First Round – 3-2 , with goals from Craig Lindfield (in the days when he was a forward ), Padraig Amond, and one Andrew Procter – ex Stanley skipper , currently beloved of PNE fans , and suggested target for Rochdale (but which of our ex-players isn’t?). We were helped, ‘appen, by the fact that Carlisle finished up with 9 men (Murphy and Berrett being sent off), and our 2nd and 3rd goals came in the last 5, but who’s counting? In the previous two seasons they’d made the final both times (two of their six appearances), losing 4-1 to Southampton in 2010, but beating Brentford 1-0 in 2011 for the second of their two victories overall (the first being in 1997, when they beat my home town team (Colchester) 4-3 on penalties after a goalless game)

They finished last season 8th in League One; P46 W18 D15 L13 F65 A66 for 69 points. Over the preseason they haven’t done a lot in the transfer market – signing Mike Edwards (32), a defender from Hull, Grimsby and – most recently - Notts Co (where he played 300+ games); Danny Cadermartri (also 32 – is there a pattern developing here?), who strikered (listen – if “medal” and “podium” are now verbs as well as nouns, so is “striker” ) for Everton and Huddersfield, averaging 1 goal every 9.37 games (35 in 328); and ex Monza defender Alessio Bugno (22), whose career started with three Italian minor-league sides whose names I can’t pronounce, before he left Monza in the summer in hope of winning a contract at Brunton Park. That’s it, my son, aim high …. His greatest claim to fame that I can find is that his Dad Gianni was the cycling World Champion in the 1990s ; Alessio himself apparently got a standing ovation in the 1-0 win over St Mirren; don’t ask, I’ve no idea ………… Anyone know the Italian for “Over ‘ere, son, on me ‘ead” ?

Out went Ivory Coast striker Francois Zoko (29), who scored at our place last season (but that’s not why he left …….), who turned down a new contract and has now joined Notts County. He was their second highest scorer last year with 14, behind scot Lee Miller (with 15) and aforementioned midfielder James Berrett(23) with 10; Berrett also got 13 yellows and a red (see above!) They also seem to have high hopes of 18 year-old striker Mark Beck, mostly because he’s got 7 goals in 4 pre-season games, including a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Durham City; they also beat Kendal Town (where the keeper is Craig Dootson – a name some might know) 3-0, Workington 5-0, Barrow 4-0 and St Mirren 1-0 before Middlesbrough ended their run with a 2-1 victory

They weren’t always Carlisle Utd; once upon a time (well, until 1904, actually), they were Shaddongate FC (“Give us an S ……..” ). They haven’t always been in League One, either; those of my generation will remember when they got themselves promoted to the old First Division in 1973/4, having finished 3rd; you may even remember that after 3 games of season 74 – 75 they were top of the old First Division (best known player to the non-committed – probably Chris Balderstone, who put the penalty past Pat Jennings that put Carlisle on top of the table, and who was a midfielder, plus also being a slow left-arm spinner for Yorkshire and Leicestershire (he actually played cricket for Leicester and football for Doncaster Rovers during the same day!). Sadly for the Blue Army the dream died at the end of the first (and only) season ……….

In 2004 they went out of the League, coming back at the first attempt; you may also recall that they nearly went out in 1998/9, famously staying up on the last Saturday courtesy of an extra-time goal from emergency loanee goalkeeper Jimmy Glass which gave Carlisle a win over Plymouth, relegating Scarborough instead. They may not be the biggest club, but they do see life …………

First competitive game of the season (apart from the little matter of the Man U game on Wednesday – Carlisle play Morecambe the night before, so we get the bragging rights on that one! ); hard to call; but have a go anyway ………..

Just for fun, as you know; no prizes; entries by kick off time, please, that being 3.00 pm (or 15.00 hours) this Saturday, 11th August. Go for it!

Stanley for the Cup!!!!!!

[Redash]

2-1 to The Stanley, please.

[Div3North]

Originally Posted by Redash

2-1 to The Stanley, please.

Hell's teeth, that was quick!

[mab]

Carlisle United 1-2 Accrington Stanley Please for me

[Div3North]

Originally Posted by redash

2-1 to the stanley, please.

Originally Posted by mab

carlisle united 1-2 accrington stanley please for me

CHIMER! Suspicious betting pattern already ...........

[david1]

1-1 draw please

[Div3North]

Originally Posted by david1

1-1 draw please

Has to finish on the night, David ...........

"The ties are single matches, with extra time and a penalty shootout if necessary, with the winners progressing to the next round."

Do you want to amend your guess?

[cashman]

1-0 to Stanley. God knows who will survive, The St Mirren fans said they were real dirty pigs.

[Wynonie Harris]

2-0 to the Stanley please.

[Stevie R]

3-0 to Carlisle please

[Redash]

Originally Posted by Div3North

Hell's teeth, that was quick!

Excited

[jaysay]

1-1 for me please

[Tommy McQueen]

Carlisle 1 Stanley 2 please

[DaveinGermany]

Stanley 3 - 1 The almost Jockeens, please.

[Outback Ozzy]

Carlisle to win 2-1 please (hopefully would prefer it to be the other way round but who wants to win the Cock-up)