It is fair to say it has been a tough season for Carlisle United.
After their promotion to League One in 2022-23, The Cumbrians have finished the campaign rock-bottom in the third tier; indeed, they are already relegated, seven adrift of 23rd and 13 adrift of getting themselves out of the bottom four.
Paul Simpson appears to be in The Cumbrians thoughts for next season with regards to staying at the club – and with reason to – but it is certainly going to be a tougher summer for United. The key is going to be recruiting better than they have done this term.
With that in mind, I cast an eye over their already contracted squad for next season and highlight areas they need to add, before producing a shortlist of realistic signings that I feel are capable of getting Carlisle United “back up and running” next year.
Retained Squad
The graphic above shows the retained list of players that Carlisle United will have going into next season. Note: I have not included Jayden Harris on this graphic, given the already strong contingent of midfield options and Harris’ most likely departure.
Jordan Gibson will no doubt one they want to keep going into next season, albeit their relegation from League One may have put pay to those desires.
Captain Paul Huntington is out of contract, albeit a decision has to be made – given the need for change and already contracted core – as to whether to give him a new deal, especially at his age.
At first glance, The Cumbrians do look short at right-back and are in need of additions, especially with Jack Ellis perhaps not ready to be a regular part of the first-team; one or maybe even two new options in this part of the pitch.
Georgie Kelly and Luke Armstrong are contracted for next season and should be a safe bet for goals in League Two, albeit outside of this they do look short. Dan Butterworth doesn’t excite me as a forward option in truth, and so adding a different profile of striker to partner or play alongside the pair who are under contract should be a priority.
They have a number of midfielders already contracted for next season, albeit I feel that The Cumbrians need to add some more energy and legs in the middle of the park.
Summer Additions
Fin Back (Nottingham Forest)
The first player on this list is a player who needs no introduction to Carlisle United fans; Nottingham Forest right-back Fin Back.
Back has now had two separate loan spells with the club, and I think there is a good chance that he might return on a permanent basis this summer with his routes in the Nottingham Forest first-team still unlikely at present. He has made North of 30 appearances for The Cumbrians, and I think now might be the time for him to settle down at Brunton Park permanently and properly get his “feet under the table”.
One thing that is vital in the summer is ensuring they go into next season with the right mix of characters and personalities after what has been a drab campaign. Back is one who Simpson himself has praised before in the past for his effort, work-rate and application, and so there are no issues on that front.
He has come through a good academy and has shown to be a capable wing-back option for United in this system that Paul Simpson plays. Of the loanees that they sifted through last year, Back is one that they will actually want to bring back.
Jack Baldwin (Ross County)
The first recommendation on this list is without a doubt the most ambitious, but one that I feel could be capable of transforming the dynamic at Brunton Park as they look to bounce back after relegation. Defender Jack Baldwin is the one player for whom I think Paul Simpson should push the boat out to try and bring South.
One thing that has been evident this term is that Carlisle United have lacked a natural leader in their side, ultimately going down with a whimper. If they are to turn around their fortunes and “get back on the horse” in League Two next season, adding a character of Jack Baldwin’s leadership and defensive vocality could well be the catalyst for that.
Baldwin is no stranger to the Football League, having spent time with Bristol Rovers and Sunderland prior to his move North of the border to Ross County in 2021. Since signing for County, Baldwin has taken over leadership of the side and so that instinct of being able to lead and motivate his team mates are the sort of characteristics that The Cumbrians are crying out for.
The Barking-born defender is praised for his composure without the ball and strong reading of the game, with an ability to organise and continually do the basics of defending to a high standard. He provides the adage to Paul Simpson being suitably proficient technically and with the ball at his feet, as well as through his positional stout – to be deployed centrally in the backline or in a full-back role; it is in the heart of that defence where I see him coming into his own.
Jai Rowe (Boston United)
The decision to let Joel Senior go last summer following their promotion from League Two was one that I was surprised by at the time, and it is one that – in truth – The Cumbrians have not really been able to amend as the season has gone on. Indeed, they are in need of strengthening in this area going into next season.
The option that I would go for – whilst a risk, I admit – is Boston United right-back Jai Rowe. The defender has had a stellar campaign for The Pilgrims in the National League North, leaving many Boston United fans to resigning to the fate of potentially losing the former Scunthorpe United man during the summer. If that is the case – as I expect it will – I think he can handle the step up into League Two.
One thing that has in particular impressed me with Jai Rowe this year is the maturity and development that has taken place in his game on the defensive side of things. Rowe has always been a player suitably proficient with the ball at his feet, capable of picking a pass, providing an outlet down the right-hand side with his athleticism and running ability; however, it is his quality without the football that has impressed me most.
It is perhaps unsurprising that Rowe’s game has come on leaps and bounds in the way it has, learning alongside a top right-back in his own right in Zak Mills. So much so, Rowe has shown himself to be in many ways the complete player at full-back, and from a hugely talented Pilgrims side that contains many top, young players, Rowe is the one tipped by many of the fans as having the highest ceiling and more pertinently the one who will indeed be plucked by a higher side in the close season.
Rowe has played in League Two before – albeit sparingly – with Scunthorpe United, and so the step-up is not one completely alien to him. He is still at an incredibly early stage in his career and yet has shown development and a consistency this term that underlines his accelerated growth that has come as a result of consistent games. The modern-day full-back, and one who I feel could excel in a wing-back role as necessitated by this United side; he is worth a look.
Christian Montano (Livingston)
While Paul Simpson has primarily made use of a 5-3-2 formation this season, they have tried to change it up at times; they’ve flirted with the use of a 4-3-3 and indeed a 4-2-3-1. As such, The Cumbrians ideally need to add someone who has the versatility to play various roles within those systems and thus I’d be looking at Livingston man Christian Montano.
Montano is on the books of the Scottish side, and they are rock bottom of the Scottish Premiership at the time of writing. As a result, I expect that Montano may be one of a handful of players who look elsewhere during the summer and if that is the case then a return back South – where the bulk of his footballing career has been to date – could well make for a wise move.
The former Port Vale man is one that I have always been a big fan of, with his versatility and technical quality creating a lovely balanced player who is durable enough to use in multiple different ways.
Carlisle United already have a fair few players contracted for next season, and so they may have to be a bit more selective in the players that they add to ensure that they do smartly. Montano fills that criteria given his ability to play centrally in a midfield three, out wide in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, fill in as a left-back, or even be used as a forward. He has promotion experience from League Two, and so in terms of what they need to add, he ticks a lot of boxes for me.
Joe White (Newcastle United)
When I discussed business that Carlisle United should do last summer, one player who featured was midfielder Joe White. And, after spending this year on loan in League Two, I am once again going to recommend that The Cumbrians go in for the Newcastle United youngster.
Carlisle United have seen first-hand the benefits of adding local lads – with the capture of Owen Moxon (a Carlisle boy) working wonders in their promotion campaign – and White is another that counts Carlisle roots as part of his upbringing. Thus, in terms of rebuilding the DNA that served Simpson so well in 2022-23, adding a player like Joe White would be a bonus.
White has done well for Crewe Alexandra this term, making North of 20 appearances for The Railwaymen and getting the odd goal to his name. Granted, that is not the best of returns, but with more regular minutes at Carlisle United and given greater license to get forward, he may well be able to show why he is tipped in Magpies circles as being a hugely talented attacking midfielder.
He has now had three loans in the EFL, and so despite the limited options of his parent club and their willingness to give youngsters a chance, I think White will once again go out on loan. In terms of going out to Carlisle United, the chance to help his hometown club try to regain their League One status and be part of a promotion on his doorstep may be too good an opportunity to turn down.
Max Wright (FC Halifax Town)
Paul Simpson has not tended to use natural width in his side this term, opting for the use of most commonly a 5-3-2 (or variation thereof) and that is one thing they need to correct in the summer. As such, a winger that I feel should be on their radar after an impressive campaign in the National League is FC Halifax Town’s Max Wright.
The 26-year-old is no stranger to the EFL, having played for Grimsby Town and Harrogate Town in League Two prior to his move to The Shay. In terms of the profile of players that I thin Carlisle United should be looking to add to their side during the summer – hungry, energetic, good with the ball and capable of playing in a press – I think Wright fits that role perfectly.
Wright has had a strong campaign with The Shaymen, his best personal season in Town colours with six goals and featuring 38 times for Chris Millington’s side. Playing predominantly as a wide forward, Wright has an appreciation for the use of a 3-back system that he would likely be asked to play at Carlisle United given that The Shaymen themselves have tended use a 5-man defence. Thus, he understands that system to a tee and as such less “bedding in” is required.
His energy and technical ability with the ball at his feet would – I feel – make him suitable to play as one of the midfield three in a 5-3-2 (rather than a wide player in a 3-4-3) and also gives Paul Simpson the versatility to adapt to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 with more natural width if he wants. He has been impeccably coached under a top coach in Chris Millington, and with The Shaymen’s chances of promotion unclear and rather slim, I think he’d be a great pickup.
JJ McKiernan (Morecambe)
Carlisle United – I feel – need to add some energy and legs to their midfield during the summer, in-keeping with the Paul Simpson style of old that served them so well in being promoted in 2022-23. Someone who I think they should be in for is Morecambe youngster JJ McKiernan.
McKiernan is a player who I have been a fan of from his time at Eastleigh, with really productive loan spells with The Spitfires raising his stock sufficiently that he was snapped up by League Two Morecambe on a 1-year-deal in the summer following his release by Watford.
The former Hornet has proceeded to have a productive first campaign with Morecambe in League Two this year, too. Still only 22 years of age, there has been a maturity and progression to his game that strikes the nice balance with his still very youthful, all-action style. He is an attacking midfielder by trade, albeit he gets around the pitch well, not afraid to tackle, and sets the temp for the press; as a result, he offers a “little bit of everything”.
If Carlisle United are to make an immediate return to League One, I am expecting their owners to come out and be bold in their approach to summer business and so taking a player from a league rival in Morecambe could well be perceived as a flex of their intent.
Saikou Janneh (Cambridge United)
Carlisle United already have Georgie Kelly and Luke Armstrong on their books for next season, and so I feel The Cumbrians need to add a “different type” of forward to their ranks; that in spite of playing both strikers together at times this term. The player I think that they should look at is Cambridge United front man Saikou Janneh.
Janneh has found minutes with his parent club limited this term, and has been out on loan at League Two side AFC Wimbledon. I feel that League Two is – for now – where his level is at, but I do think that there is a capable player in there and alongside the foil of a Kelly or an Armstrong, Saikou Janneh can certainly be a threat in the fourth tier. Certainly, he gives The Cumbrians what they have been missing.
The former Bristol City man is someone that works hard, is honest, never stops running, is capable of pressing defenders, forcing them into mistakes and has the infectious personality and energy that they need to add to their ranks. Their approach play this term has been too direct and too predictable, making it easy for sides to defend against them and indeed playing against Carlisle United has proven to be an easy task.
Signing a player of Saikou Janneh’s profile will certainly make them diverse in the way they look to approach the final third. He is capable of stretching teams in behind with his pace, is selfless enough to run the channels, and is more than capable of playing in the wide areas too given his time being deployed as a winger earlier in his youth career. At his best, Janneh is a hungry, pressing striker who will always look to pressure the opposition and force mistakes, and that sort of profile would be a god-send.
There may be a somewhat fair criticism of Janneh in terms of the output – as he is by no means a prolific forward – but it takes all types to make a team tick and if Paul Simpson is able to get him playing to his maximum (as I have seen before in his time at Torquay United) then he is a capable player. Simpson will – or at least should – know about Janneh given that Simpson spent time at Bristol City and of course that is where Janneh started out, and so I think this makes a lot of sense. He is still young, but give his time, and I feel he will thrive.
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