2017/18 Prediction League; Game 24 v Carlisle United (away)

Div3North · 25-12-2017, 01:24

Carlisle United

V

Accrington Stanley

2017/18 Prediction League; Game 24 v Carlisle Utd (away)

May I be the first to wish a very Happy Christmas, an extension on his contract at twice the salary, and second helpings of turkey and plum pudding to Portly Vale striker Marcus Harness (correctly, Marcus Myers-Harness – I love it when the nobility turn out for their local team, don’t you?) – who scored PV’s equaliser at Colchester after 75 minutes on Saturday, earning them a valuable away point; apparently he “nodded it in from close range”, but personally I don’t care whether he f*rted it in, because that goal restored us to the play-off places (from which we had shortly before exited, mainly due to letting Crawley score three in the first half) ...............

The trouble with a slump, of course, is never knowing when it’ll end; we’ve lost our last three in the League, and before that we drew with Newport isn’t it look you Eisteddfod Town and beat Wycombe Worriers; the only other team to have lost their last three is Vegan Greenpeace United (and they’re bottom of the League), and while we’ve mustered (no, mustered ....... not mustard!) a measly four points in five games (VGU have managed one!), the only other team with such a low return on its investment is Morecambe (also with 4 in five) ............ there’s a sort of poetic sequence – well, tragic rather than poetic ............ that goes, “We may have lost again, but at least we’re ...........(1) still in the automatic spots (2) still in the playoff places (3) in the top half of the table (4) not in the relegation spots (5) still not in the relegation spots (6) in the drop zone, but our fate’s in our own hands (7) still holding on to our League status (8) in the Bananarama Conference, but confident we’ll get back next season ........... so you see why a move from Option 3 to Option 2 is so much better than the Greasy Pole of Oblivion .................. not very long ago we were looking at the prospect of going seven points clear of the team in third place; since then it’s all been downhill. We haven’t become a bad side overnight, but sticking the ball in the net once more than the opposition do is a good habit to retain. Thank you. Starting on Boxing Day.

We did them 3-0 in September, with one from Billy Whizz and a pair of braces from SeanMcPlayerOfThe Season; at that point we were 2nd, behind Exeter, with 13 from 6, and they were 16th with 7 from 6; currently we’re seventh (see “slump” above) with 37 points from 22 and they’re 13th with 31 from 23; that said, 7 points covers from Exeter (3rd on 39) down to 12th (Grimsby on 33 from 23) .................. Lots to play for, though

Saying that we’re in a slump – bit like Santa in January, really – Carlisle have only won once in their last five, and that was on Saturday and involved beating Vegan GP away by the odd goal in one – that being VGU’s 13th defeat in 23, with a GD of -20 ............. overall at home, they’ve won just two of eleven (W2 D5 L4) with 16 scored and 14 conceded; away, they’ve won 6, drawn 2 and lost 4, GF17 GA18 ................. they’d already departed the EFL Cup before our last meeting, but they are still in the FA Cup, having done Oldham 3-2 at home, and Gillingham 3-1 at home after a half-Desmond away ............ that gives them Sheff Wed at home in Round 3, and since the Owls’ Christmas Box to their Portuguese Manager Carlos Carvalhal contained his P45 (odd that, because Middlesbrough sacked Gary Monk on Saturday and the Owls and CC parted company by MutualConsent on Sunday – what are the chances of that, when the two sides played each other on Saturday? ............. actually, with the rate of departure of Footie Managers, about 4-6) ...................... it may be that might give them a head start!

They haven’t done stacks of business since we met last time; two ProperSigned – Clint Hill from Rangers, who played under Keith Curle at Crystal Palace and QPR (well, not under him ............) and who – at “pushing 40 next year” – fancies he might play on into after this season (if given a contract, of course); the other signing was forward Steven Rigg from Queen of the South (which is a Scottish Club, therefore in the North of these Isles, and therefore misleadingly named; they’ve loaned some players out to non-League, but nothing that you’d worry about

Deadline for entries is, as always, scheduled kick-off time, which is 3.00pm on Boxing Day .................. So; first game of the second half of the season ........... we’ve done them once already, quite comprehensively, BTS (Before The Slump); anybody mind of we go back to winning again?

And a Fantastic Christmas to you all, and to our club, owner, manager, players and staff, and a Promotional New Year into the bargain!

Good luck to everyone! ........ Keep the Faith! ............ Thanks for playing! .............. And Merry Christmas!