By Ross Parkinson - Carlisle United Supporters' Trust
I am writing this on Tuesday night following the Chesterfield defeat. This means this will be a far more emotive column than usual. That said, where do I begin, a gutless performance at Doncaster where we succumbed to a 3-0 loss or Elliot Embleton’s reckless stamp minutes after coming on making a difficult task that much harder?
As I said in this column a few weeks ago, there’s plenty of talent in that dressing room. Their previous records show this. However these talented players have rarely shown it over the 40 games this season.
They will have to look themselves in the mirror and ask did they really give it their all? Sadly far too few of them will be able to say they did.
For some this season will be their last at the club. For others, and the still incredible fans they will very likely drop into non-league. The owners have given the football department incredible backing over the last three windows yet we have failed to deliver results on the pitch. The losing mentality and apparent lack of desire needs to be cleared quickly.
It is extremely difficult to become a professional footballer, a recent study found that only 0.012 per cent of academy players ever make it through to the first team.
To get where they are now these players must have ability and have fought to beat those odds. Yet here we are, likely going down with a whimper.
In general Carlisle fans will forgive mistakes, they will forgive bad form, what they won’t forgive is a lack of effort and desire. Far too many have been found wanting this season.
I do not say this lightly. It is an accusation that should not be made flippantly but this is where we are.
Up to the players to prove me wrong in what remains of the season. I really hope they do. I’d love them to be able to come back at me, having secured our league status, and tell me I was wrong.
It must also be noted that everyone at the club, from the owners, the board, including us as a Trust, the management teams old and current as well as those players mentioned above, share a collective responsibility for where we find ourselves.
As the club have already stated there will be a full review of the mistakes made and I have no doubt that that will lead to many changes. It has to halt this slide. This club cannot be allowed to fail any longer.
Rather than the usual sign off I just want to say this.
For many, football is a release from the grind and stress of life. This club, at the minute, certainly for me, isn’t providing that release.
Yet, as always, the fans have been incredible. We will see good times again. We deserve them.
