DAN MACLENNAN

@ bruntonbugle

Last season was appalling until Paul Simpson [ below] returned in February, donning his Superman outfit! The big talking point is who we’ll bring in to help strengthen the squad. Simpson knows ex- Leeds youngster Ryan Edmondson from his spell playing for England Under- 19s. This season will be different because we’ve got some belief back following Simpson’s rescue act in the spring. Our key player will be Omari Patrick [ above]. He came back from Burton in January and scored goals for fun. More of the same, please!

I won’t be happy unless the return of the esteemed Brunton Party is a roaring success! Our most underrated player is defender Morgan Feeney. Everyone will want to sign him come next summer.

The opposition player who grinds my

gears is Swindon’s Harry Mckirdy, an ex- Blue who loves to argue with fans online. Put your phone down, Harry.

Fans think our ground is antiquated. It’s falling apart, but it’s our home!

The active player I’d love to have

back is no one. Our fans can become obsessed with former Blues.

The thing my club really gets right is not that much, but that’s part of the charm of Carlisle United FC.

Fans think our owner is just rubbish. We’re approximately £ 2.5m in debt to a businessman who won’t talk to us. I’m least looking forward to playing

Barrow, if only to maintain Cumbrian ( and their LA postcode) supremacy!

Look out for Taylor Charters. It’s a big season for him after a solid six- month loan at Gateshead last term. The opposition player I’d love here is

Dom Telford for his goals.

The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that he’s God- like. He returned to save us from the drop and banish the previous months of dirge. If he left, he should be replaced by... he’s not allowed to leave. Ever.

The pantomime villain will be hard to say, after former ‘ director of football’ David Holdsworth departed. The one change I’d make would be to have new owners and be debtless.

We’ll finish in the top seven. Can we dream a bit this season?

FFT VERDICT

16TH

Simpson led Carlisle to successive promotions in his first managerial stint and comfortably saved their at- threat Football League status in his second, but the Cumbrian club legend cannot bring fundamental change to Brunton Park alone – he can only serve as the catalyst.