I signed off last time saying I'd see you in a month or so and we'd still be in a play-off place. I'm not claiming psychic powers, I'm just mindful of the fact that League One appears to hold no hugely strong teams this year, apart from Leeds United. On present form they look like automatic promotion candidates. Everyone else around the top end looks like a well organised club with players who can turn it on on the day, and be found susceptible if their weaknesses are exploited. So, it's going to be a great season for neutrals and pundits, a tense one for the Blue Army.
I don't know if you're familiar with Mark Thomas, comedian. Years ago he used a routine about 'the C word,' discussing words that are taboo. There's the obvious one that remains - probably the worst swear word in the English language. But the word Thomas was on about is the one that men find hardest to say. 'Commitment.' Or - as he put it - 'C-c-c-commitment.'
It's a word football clubs and boards of directors use, and abuse, on a regular basis. And it's one that matters to Carlisle fans at the moment. Whatever the boardroom machinations that have given us our third manager in a season not ten league games old as I write these words, we've now made a bold move for a new manager. This is without doubt a 'commitment' issue. A buy out fee that means we've now spent more on a new manager than we ever did buying a player, if you want to get anal about it Ward cost us 166.6% as much as Garner. And that's assuming we have to stump up the top up fee for Garner when we're promoted. And we've signed Ward for four years.
I'm torn on this. Neil McDonald - so far as I could see - did a good job and showed a growing ability with tactical master plans. Greg Abbott didn't get very long, but his final two games showed the influence of McDonald, particularly in approaching a game with a strategy and using substations to control the play. Abbott's strategy of keeping it solid at the back and swapping forwards in the game to ensure the pace and movement up front always threatened was entertaining. Bournemouth was certainly a good day out. When you see an opposing defender fighting cramp after 80 minutes, you know your front line have run a few miles between them.
On the other hand, I'm impressed with a board that don't leak stories, don't appear to want to blab to the press and blame everyone else when things go wrong, and go on ignoring complaints and responding with more money and more ambition that the worst detractors think possible. It's not that long ago that we rewarded managers skilled in the art of escape from relegation with the sack at the end of the season. Considering the way we 'looked after' Ian Atkins, the present commitment to John Ward says a lot about how far Carlisle United have come in a few years.
John Ward's reputation is solid. He's not press friendly, but he works away and seems able to pick talent and sign it where others miss the potential. He's also helped a small club punch well above its weight over a few seasons. Oh yeah, and he motivated the same outfit to score the goal that condemned us to Conference football so we've felt the tough end of his managerial skill . Leathered old git that I am, I'm expecting something of a return to Bob Stokoe style leadership. The interviews on my United World subscription probably won't sparkle, but we could win a lot of games.
So, welcome John Ward. I've got faith in your record, and I hope you don't make me look an idiot by the end of the season. But, whatever happens from now on, thanks Greg Abbott, you took on a hard job and shut up the generally noisy home fans at Hartlepool. For that alone, respect! We owe you for everything you did as assistant and caretaker manager.
Be seeing you in a month or so, we'll still be in a play-off place, obviously.
Don't forget that Neil's latest Carlisle United book, Blueseason 2006/07, is still available to buy through the internet, just follow the link to purchase :
http://www.bookscumbria.com/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_2835
Carlisle United London Branch : http://www.carlislelondonbranch.org/
Neil's site :
www.neilnixon.com