Football Season Review

It was a decent season for Carlisle United, but also one that ended in disappointment, as the Cumbrians eventually failed to make the Play-Offs despite sniffing around the top six during the entire season. Greg Abbott's men needed just over a month to find their identity on the pitch, with their manager trying out several different formations during the early days. Eventually, he settled for an attacking minded approach with Francois Zoko, who became a regular starter after several games in a row where he was the superb sub, supporting star striker Lee Miller; and the Cumbrians became a formidable home side, going on an unbeaten run in front of their own fans that started in late September and ended in mid April. Unfortunately for Abbott and his players, their away form in the second half of the season wasn't as good as it was in the first half, with the Cumbrians becoming over-reliant on their home record, and the defeat that snapped their home unbeaten run, against leaders Charlton, came with four rounds of the season remaining, and the Cumbrians never managed to get back into the top six after that. Abbott rued his side's luck with injuries after the final game of the season ended - the fact is that Carlisle were without important players Matty Robson and Paul Thirlwell during long spells late in the season, while the injury that Miller suffered prior to the Charlton game eventually proved crucial, with the Cumbrians not looking like the same side without him. With things being the way they are, the fans will be left feeling content with the way the side played over the course of the season, but also wondering about what could've been. Lee Miller is our choice for Carlisle's Player of the Season, as he was the focal point of their attacks whenever available, and the Cumbrians' abysmal end of season run in showed just how crucial the former Middlesbrough man had been for them this term.

Player of the Season: Lee Miller