There are two ways of describing what Carlisle United did last season.

One is to say they were unlucky, just came up short, fate was against them, etc etc. The other is to be a little more clinical about what happened in 2016/17.

It may explain why Keith Curle has twice signed Gary Liddle that the defender shares a similar attitude. There is no attempt to pretend that last term was a success, however high United rose at various stages of it.

It is not how you travel, but how you arrive. United ended as losing play-off semi-finalists and are gearing up for a fourth consecutive season in League Two.

"Ultimately, we failed last season," Liddle concedes. "We wanted to get promotion and we didn't do that. That's all that really counts when you look back at it."

Liddle, who joined in January, is one of the more recent additions Curle has made. Although also a midfielder, he has more often figured in defence. At this stage, the money is on the former Chesterfield and Bradford man starting either at centre-half or right-back when 2017/18 begins.

There is, it's fair to say, mixed opinion among United's fans about how Liddle acquitted himself in his first five months in a blue shirt.

There were good moments, like his goal and influential display against Leyton Orient, but also some lesser days. The second play-off leg at Exeter, notably, was some distance from Liddle's best.

He looks back on that period with similar perspective but also hints there may have been private reasons why he did not enjoy the run of form he and others around United may have expected.

"Personally, it was a bit mixed for me," he admits. "There was some good, but also some things I know I can improve on.

"I had some things off the field that happened last season that I don't really want to go into, but I'm passed all that now and completely focused on finishing a good pre-season, getting myself as fit as possible and ready.

"I'm naturally a fit lad. I kept myself in good condition all through the summer and pre-season has been valuable preparation so far. I'm just wanting to show what I can do for the Carlisle fans now. Hopefully, that will factor into having a good season and doing what we aim to do, and that's win promotion."

If Liddle makes the cut for Swindon on Saturday week it will be his 24th Carlisle appearance, while another number stands out where the Teessider is concerned. Having turned 31 in June, and with the veteran Jabo Ibehre having left, he finds himself the statesman of Curle's dressing room.

It means Liddle can speak about the standards United need to hit in 2017/18.

"As one of the senior players in the squad now - I'm actually the oldest, I don't like to say it! - but it's important we get into good habits at both ends of the field. Clean sheets, goals at the other end. It sounds simple but it's where our focus needs to be," he says.

"It's important, in these friendlies, for players to stamp their own authority on games and put themselves in the window of wanting to be on that team-sheet for Swindon Town. We knew the manager would want to strengthen his squad at both ends and in the middle of the field - he's done that and I'm guessing there will be more players to come in, too. The fight for places for that first game of the season is going to be intense."

United have one warm-up game left, at home to Blackburn this Friday night. It will be Brunton Park's first pre-season friendly for two years. It will be the best indication yet of Curle's thinking for the moment eight days later when it all begins for real against Dave Flitcroft's visitors from Wiltshire.

Time flies, both through a summer and a career. "It's the 15th pre-season of my career and they certainly don't get any easier," Liddle says. "I've experienced one of Keith's pre-seasons at Notts County and they don't change too much.

"You keep yourself ticking over all through the summer, as players do these days, but nothing can prepare you for coming back for that first day - the nerves and everything that comes with it.

"But the lads have come through that and now the games have come around quickly. It's important that we keep the momentum with the manager's style of play. He has put across his ideas and what he wants, and we're trying to do that in the games. It's all preparation for that first game."

Curle has tried a back three and a back four in friendlies so far. In the centre, Liddle's main rivals will be Tom Parkes and Mark Ellis, while Tom Miller is the obvious right-back option.

Other alternatives are scarce, so slim is the frontline squad, but Liddle nonetheless hopes he can pin down a place and establish a better future with the Blues.

"I joined mid-season last year, but it's good to be here from the start this time, knowing you've got a contract behind you. I'm not saying that makes you comfortable but you know where you are and you're settled," he adds.

"I'm all focused for having a good season now for Carlisle United, as are the rest of the players. Hopefully, we can go one step further than we did last season.

"Ultimately, the aim for the season has got to be promotion. I know a lot's been said about how the signings have improved over the last two seasons, and improvement on last season is to get promoted. So that's the target and we should make no secret of that."