Carlisle manager won't be afraid to make changes

Aug 23 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

SUCH has been the pace of change at Carlisle United over the summer months, manager John Ward has warned his squad there will be no “untouchables” this season – and they are playing for their first-team place every week.

Signing Republic of Ireland Under-21s defender Richard Keogh on a two-year deal from Bristol City has moved Ward closer to the managerial nirvana of having two capable performers in every position across the field, and added to the ferocious competition in the Cumbrians squad.

Keogh will compete with Peter Murphy and Danny Livesey for places in the centre of defence as Carlisle look to maintain their 100% start to the season at Leyton Orient this afternoon.

Throw Josh Gowling in when he recovers from his month-long lay-off with a broken nose and it is further evidence of the happy dilemma that Ward faces all over the pitch this season.

Despite Carlisle’s fine win against Crewe last week Ward has hinted there could be changes to the starting line-up, with several players impressing in the Cumbrians’ midweek reserve win against Rochdale.

Strikers Michael Bridges and Gary Madine scored and are exerting some pressure on the current first-choice pairing of Danny Carlton and Danny Graham.

After struggling to cope with injuries and suspensions during last season’s tortuous run-in, it is a situation Ward is enjoying. “The players have done very well so far – it is the perfect start. But we’ve got so much competition in the squad now no one can be sure they’re playing, and I’ve already told them I wouldn’t be averse to making changes, even to a team that is winning games,” he said.

“It’s up to the players to pick my team for me. I’ve told them they pick the team with their performances – I just put my name to it.”

Meanwhile, Danny Wilson is still hoping to add to his squad after Saturday’s visit of Stockport County but not by bringing former favourite Dimitrios Konstantopoulos back to Hartlepool United.

The Greek goalkeeper left for Coventry City 12 months ago but has failed to make an impact, and Kieren Westwood’s summer arrival from Carlisle has pushed him further down the pecking order. Wilson, though, says it is one of the few areas he is not looking at. “Arran Lee-Barrett has started the season really well and he’s being pushed by Jan Budtz so that’s one position we are well covered in,” he commented. “Dimi’s been a great servant to this football club but I’m not sure where that’s come from.

“We’re looking at all other positions, though. With Ben Clark injured we’ve only got two fit centre-backs and the only right-backs we’ve got are Tony Sweeney and Jamie McCunnie (both midfielders by preference). We’re short of wingers too.”

With his squad light it is little surprise Wilson does not want to sell Richie Barker to Rotherham United and the manager is optimistic he will not be forced to sell talented youngster James Brown, whose early-season form has been a mixed blessing. “Richie’s been very unlucky not to have started yet,” Wilson reflected. “Maybe the little injury he carried towards the end of the summer has caught up with him. But his chance will come and we can’t afford to lose anybody at the moment unless we can get a replacement in. I’d be very disappointed if we had to let anyone go.

“The strikers have started very brightly, as have all the players, but they’re the two boys who will get the headlines. But I haven’t had an offer for James Brown that would turn our heads.”

Wilson is expected to keep an unchanged line-up this afternoon, reflecting his satisfaction with the squad. “Performance-wise I’m more than pleased with the way we have started the season,” he said. That sounds worryingly reminiscent of last term, but he added: “I’m not concerned about last season, it’s been forgotten about.”