Mick Mitchell's Monthly Musings - March

As mentioned in the Evening News not so long ago it was hard to fathom exactly what happened at Macclesfield when United crashed to a 3-0 defeat on that Sunday in front of a large Blues travelling support. But remarking at the time to me were that some of the comments aimed at manager Paul Simpson and the players were well over the top. Simmo accepted he'd picked the wrong team, some fans implied that team selection was wrong on a regular basis. "The truth is out" declared one bloke in a number of letters written to the local paper.

Football fans probably have the shortest memories on the planet and I make no bones about repeating once again that Simmo hasn't been a football manager for that long a time - and as all club bosses would confirm - they learn, and pick up so much experience, through mistakes as well as by success when setting out to become what's involved in just about the toughest, if not THE toughest job in professional soccer.

And you know every top coach at every club, whether it's Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd, etc, will always be guaranteed an 'off day' at times. So lets just take a look how Paul Simpson has put that Sunday behind him and what the club have been doing/achieving on the pitch of late.

Bloody brilliantly and his critics, yeah there remain a few, can't argue with that! CUFC have enjoyed several big wins, home and away, but you look at some of the players in the United side and almost have to pinch yourself. Karl Hawley, recently named the best player in the division. And 'injury prone' Mr Bridges - seems to have repaid the faith shown in him already eh! That is one impressive atacking duo Carlisle United have up front.

I'm also convinced that keeper Keiren Westwood will play in the Premiership one day. For such a young player his reflexes and kicking ability are superb. And though picking out three individuals from the team, it's really the spirit of the side that is surely the most impressive factor of all. Anyone need reminding of the shape the United side was in when Mr Simpson first took over as manager???



The Cumbrians play with belief, confidence and it's reached the point when they just don't accept defeat anymore - never know when they are beaten. It's a good feeling once more to be a CUFC supporter and long may it continue. And again it has to be said just how the Blues fans have responded to what’s happening on the pitch.

Quite a few of us have been around for a fair while and have witnessed many things at Brunton over the years but I'm not going to deny being taken by surprise at our following of late, especially away from home. Sure some of the players must feel that way too and (while I can't speak for Simmo of course) even the boss seems to have been 'taken aback' once or twice!

Which brings me back to Macclesfield again. We were soon back there to face them in the recent Cup encounter just weeks after that Sunday. Wonder if anyone thought that day may have discouraged them from gan to such a quick return clash. Well it appeared not and what a superb turn out by the United faithful. Not just superb - special, very!

Simpson has this calm, determined, focussed approach to work and so far it seems to be paying off. Few would have imagined that after the state United were in when he took the job we'd now be among the favourites for promotion this season. I think most Blues fans would have settled for that don't you.

Early Saturday morning, March 10, 2006. Pissed it, totally pissed it. Well maybe a bit OTT, but that 3-0 win at Northampton - has left me buzzing! On paper it looked like one hell of a test and while the score does not really reflect the 90 minutes, it's there for all to see, a brilliant three points, a superb (yeah backs to the wall at times) performance from the Carlisle United team. And again, almost goes without saying, another well impressive turn out from the Blue Army. Come on you Blues!



Anyway let me end this article on a totally different subject. I like to give the great Border City a plug whenever possible. There's a place I have stumbled upon in Carlisle city centre, at first when needing to use a computer when mine was knackered. It's called the Cyber Cafe. And it really is a great place to go - have even ended going back playing computer games - and never in a million years will I be a hi-tech boffin. It's run by two Cumbrian lads Matt and Ian.

Here Matt explains how it all came about :

" It all started back in 2003 when we decided to open a gaming centre and internet cafe in Carlisle. We are both local lads who have been brought up in Carlisle and wanted to add to the all ready diverse range of facilties We saw that there was a need for another side to the business as we were always getting people in to the cafe who had never used a computer before. They wanted us to teach them how to use a computer but we did not have the time.