Carlisle United have announced the signing of Bradford City goalkeeper Harry Lewis for an undisclosed fee, and it’s a signing that makes a lot of sense.
The Blues have struggled to nail down a starting goalkeeper this season for an extended period. They will be hoping Lewis can come in and be that man they can rely on between the sticks.
The League One side has struggled so far this season defensively and offensively, and are looking to try and address those problems in the time they have left in the January window.
Carlisle’s Ever-Changing Goalkeeping Situation
Jokull Andresson looked like he was going to be the starting keeper for Carlisle this season, but after a mistake and sending off against Wycombe Wanderers in September, the on-loan Reading goalkeeper hasn’t featured for the club since.
Czech shot-stopper Tomas Holy took over in the net from there but was recently demoted to the bench for 20-year-old goalkeeper Gabriel Breeze. Breeze has started the last five games for Carlisle, but at such a young age lacks the experience that someone like 26-year-old Lewis can bring to the side.
The Cumbrians are currently conceding 1.5 goals per game according to FotMob, which is the third worst in the entire division. Failure to address that problem would almost guarantee relegation to League Two, with six points currently sitting between them and safety. Exeter City in 20th also have a game in hand, which means that gap could soon be nine points.
Lewis To The Rescue
Lewis has kept eight clean sheets in 26 games so far in League Two this season and is thought of as one of the best goalkeepers in the entire league. He has not been at his best for Bradford at times this season but has shown much higher levels in the past as he’s showcasing right now.
At his best last season, with stats provided by FotMob, Lewis prevented 1.40 goals for City. He also boasted a save percentage of 73.1% and kept 18 clean sheets in 46 matches. These impressive statistics are what Carlisle fans can expect from Lewis if he can find that form again this season. It could be the type of form that the Blues need to launch a late survival bid in the second half of the season.
Carlisle always had plans to sign a goalkeeper in this window, with MK Dons keeper Craig MacGillivray a target they initially went for according to Alan Nixon, before pivoting to the signing of Lewis. It’s an area manager Paul Simpson is aware needs to be strengthened, and he will be confident they have done that with the former Southampton keeper.
Is It Enough To Stay Up?
Carlisle fans will be wondering whether the signing of Lewis is enough to keep them up, but they’re also struggling at the top end of the pitch. The goalkeeper will help them keep the ball out of the net, but they also need to find a way to consistently put the ball in the net at the other end. The Cumbrians have scored just 21 goals this season, and that will have to improve if they are to have any chance of cutting the gap to the teams above them.
If the Blues are serious about staying up, they may have to make another signing in the forward areas before the window closes. A player like Will Evans at Newport County could be an intelligent signing, with 15 goals in 26 games so far in League Two. That type of firepower along with the signing of Lewis in goal could transform their fortunes in the second half of the season, but a goalkeeper alone is unlikely to be enough to see them beat the drop.
