Paul Simpson must prepare for Carlisle United’s last game of the league season – and probably two play-off semi-finals – without Jon Mellish.
So what can the Blues boss do? Here we take a look at his options.
STRAIGHT SWAP?
There isn’t one available – or, at least, not one you’d expect to fit like a glove.
Carlisle do not have another left-sided centre-back to call upon, and certainly not one with Mellish’s particular attack-minded attributes either.
So if Simpson is set on a back three – and he expressed regret over moving away from 3-5-2 last weekend – it will be a case of someone doing a job that’s been at least slightly off their menu all season.
One solution would be to move Jack Armer infield from left wing-back, and allow Jack Robinson a start in the latter position.
Armer certainly has experience in that area, and played there numerous times for the Blues before Simpson’s arrival.
Armer’s consistency this season, and his mounting experience whilst still 21, would make this option one surely worth considering.
What you’d lose, though, is the reliability Armer brings on the left as United’s only outfield ever-present this season.
Robinson showed up well as a substitute when Carlisle were chasing the game against Salford, and has been training very well ever since his January move, according to Simpson.
He is yet, though, to start a game for the Blues. Sutton might be a good testing ground ahead of the play-offs, but it would still be a case of a largely untried alternative at this business end of things.
Still – why sign someone if, when push comes to shove and the need is pressing, you don’t play him? (Taylor Charters, another possible option on the left, hasn’t played since December).
Simpson’s other most obvious central defensive call would be to field Ben Barclay, Paul Huntington and Corey Whelan – probably right to left, in that order.
From that group, whoever takes the left-sided role will not be in their comfort zone. Whelan, an ever-dependable figure, last played there in United’s 2-1 defeat to Northampton Town in December.
It was not the most natural fit, Whelan’s professionalism and commitment notwithstanding. Yet he will no doubt answer the call to be adaptable, as others would, if Simpson goes that way.
CHANGE OF SYSTEM
Or sticking with the most recent one. While it’s been 3-5-2 for the most part this season, Carlisle went with 4-3-3 from half-time against Stockport and from the off at Barrow and against Salford, only switching back at the interval last weekend.
A draw, a win and a defeat resulted. While it did not pay off for United in their most recent game, has there been enough over the piece – and, given their circumstances now – to make this the way to go?
If Simpson believes so, his decisions are more orthodox. It would surely be Armer at left-back and Huntington in the middle, with other decisions depending on where best he sees Whelan and Ben Barclay deployed, or if he feels a more enterprising right-back such as Joel Senior would be best called upon.
Barclay has played at right-back recently, while Whelan has filled in there too. If Simpson goes with the latest version, it’ll be Barclay on the right and Whelan in the centre.
Muddying the waters there, though, would be a play-off game against Stockport County, which would rule Barclay out against his parent club.
It would be very Carlisle United just to complicate things further by indeed ending up against the Hatters. So should Simpson prepare for that risk by leaving Barclay out against Sutton?
Seems unlikely – the Blues must still get the job done on Monday, of course. A game by game consideration is more probable.
Whatever occurs at the back, the midfield and attack must also be pinpointed by Simpson. Owen Moxon and Callum Guy are surely certs in the middle. If it’s a 4-3-3, will it be Alfie McCalmont (who gave a useful sub display last weekend) back in, or is it time for Jordan Gibson to bring his creativity to the number ten position.
In attack, did Joe Garner’s goalscoring cameo against Salford make the case for his recall – particularly in high-stakes games where his know-how might have real value?
What is, if so, the most effective arrangement of the others: Kristian Dennis, Omari Patrick, Ryan Edmondson and (come the play-off second leg) JK Gordon?
Over to Simmo. Who’d be a manager, eh?
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