FourFourTwo makes Carlisle United League One prediction

For the Blues have been tipped to finish BOTTOM of League One this season by a leading football magazine.

FourFourTwo have released their predictions for the 2023/24 campaign.

It does not make optimistic reading where United are concerned, with the magazine forecasting a 24th-placed finish for Paul Simpson’s play-off winners.

Carlisle, though, can be encouraged by the way they totally defied FourFourTwo’s verdict last season.

In 2022/23 the magazine reckoned they’d finish as low as 16th.

The Cumbrians instead stormed into the promotion race and, after finishing fifth, saw off Bradford City and Stockport County (predicted to finish fourth and second respectively) to earn promotion at Wembley.

While United’s 2023/24 position is lowly according to FourFourTwo, the Blues fan providing preview details for the magazine’s pre-season edition is markedly more optimistic.

Lee Rooney from the Brunton Bugle podcast predicts a “solid” 12th-placed finish for the Cumbrians as they step back into the third tier for the first time since 2014.

Jon Mellish, right, is described by Blues fan Lee Rooney in FourFourTwo magazine as their key player going into the new season (Image: Barbara Abbott)

He named Jon Mellish as Carlisle’s key player going into the new season, writing: “Big Jon was essential to how we play, as a box-to-box defender in a back three, causing chaos all over the pitch. He’s now our longest-serving player and a huge fans’ favourite.”

Rooney named Jack Armer as the Blues’ most under-rated player and said Wembley penalty hero Taylor Charters is their one to watch.

On Paul Simpson, Rooney said most fans’ opinion is that the manager “can walk on water” thanks to the job he has done.

He also described Annan Athletic’s Peter Murphy and Workington Reds’ Danny Grainger as potential future Blues managers.

FourFourTwo predict Bolton Wanderers to win League One with Derby County going up in second place and Barnsley, Portsmouth, Blackpool and Peterborough United contesting the play-offs.

In the relegation places along with Carlisle, the magazine has Cambridge United, Cheltenham Town and Port Vale.

On United, FourFourTwo says: "Simpson worked miracles to inspire Carlisle to promotion: he's ready for League One, but it's less clear the club is, structurally.

"If [Owen] Moxon stays, United need their star midfielder at his best every week to stand a chance. Losing top scorer Kristian Dennis didn't help."

The new season preview edition of FourFourTwo is out now.

The League Paper, meanwhile, also tips United to struggle, predicting a 22nd-placed finish and writing: "Paul Simpson is staying for his second term at his childhood club that he led to Wembley glory against Stockport at their ninth roll of the dice to be promoted to League One.

"The newcomers have lost talisman [Kristian] Dennis to Tranmere whilst the reinforcements of Ben Barclay and Sam Lavelle may not be sufficient to avoid another drop."