| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's 21:22 - Jan 27 with 1820 views | durham_exile |
The matches are coming thick and fast at present and tomorrow evening the Super U’s play the current league leaders Swindon Town. Forget all about our two victories over the Robins this season, they mean nothing. Tomorrow is all about transforming the series of draws into a victory.
Richie Wellens’ team saw off Port Vale at the weekend after they themselves suffered some indifferent results, but they must be respected because they are top of the league for now.
Swindon 29 17 5 7 21 56
Exeter 28 15 9 4 11 54
Plymouth 27 15 5 7 17 50
Crewe 28 14 7 7 16 49
COL U 29 11 13 5 13 46
Northampton 28 13 7 8 10 46
Bradford 29 12 10 7 8 46
Cheltenham 27 11 11 5 19 44
Port Vale 29 10 11 8 -1 41
What Swindon have done well this season apart from the results is the quality of loan signings. They signed, at the beginning of the season from Bradford City, striker Eoin Doyle who then scored 23 goals in 22 games for the Robins. Since returning to the Bantams he is yet to score.
Swindon have also just signed Hallam Hope from Carlisle on loan. A quality striker, I am surprised that the Cumbrians agreed to the loan. He scored on his debut on Saturday against the Valiants. They have also just signed Anthony Grant from Shrewsbury, at 32 an experienced midfielder. I expect both to play against Colchester tomorrow.
After playing Swindon at home we have 16 games remaining and a mixed bag they are, split into bite sized chunks:
Cambridge A
Plymouth H
Grimsby H
Port Vale A
Salford A
Cheltenham H
Carlisle A
Scunthorpe H
Crewe H
Newport A
Mansfield H
Bradford A
Northampton A
Oldham H
Walsall A
FGR H
We must still play 7 out of the top 9 teams, but it may well be the midtable teams that determine whether we can achieve one of the top three places. The last four seasons have seen the third placed team achieve 2019 — 79 points, 84, 85, and 2016 - 84 points respectively and so we are looking to gain up to 38 points from 17 matches. More reason to start turning drawn matches into victories.
After 15 games unbeaten we have a confident and impressive defence and midfield, but goal scoring (the perennial problem) is becoming more difficult to achieve and if we are not to sign another striker before the January deadline, then we must look seriously at Junior and give him opportunities as an out and out striker.
In 1996/97 we went 19 games unbeaten (11 victories and 8 draws), we can surpass that record if we remain unbeaten after the Port Vale fixture.
Injuries are always a problem and Paris Cowan-Hall is out long term along with Cohen Bramall and Big Frank’s recent back injury is difficult to quantify.
JM is therefore likely to go with the following team tomorrow:
Gerken
Jackson Eastman Prosser Clampin
Pell Stevenson
Senior Poku Harriott
Robinson
Subs:
Ross Lapslie Sowunmi Norris Moore Gambin Comley
For 9 minutes on Saturday the midfield dream team played together; Pell, Stevenson and Comley but JM will not play them for 90 minutes because he prefers two wingers if possible. It is also difficult to leave out young Poku who is a quality player at number 10 with ability beyond his tender years.
Our problem once again this season has been scoring goals and not one striker looks capable of delivering 20 goals. Now it may be that promotion can be achieved without that milestone but its always easier if you can rely on someone to score 20 goals in a season.
Clinical finishing is something lacking at present, the chances are being created but not converted and the worst offenders are Senior, Harriott, Gambin, Pell and Robinson. Anyway, enough of the moaning, this is something that must be sorted if we are to finish in the top three.
The weather tomorrow evening will be 3 degrees Celsius, clear and dry. The pitch will undoubtedly be better than Prenton Park (Clacton beach is better than Prenton Park).
Perhaps a 4,000 attendance and the faithful in good voice for the table toppers.
Prediction: Colchester 2 Swindon 0
Enjoy the game.
Up the U’s
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 22:56 - Jan 27 with 856 views | noah4x4 |
If we play Senior, Poku and Harriott we might as well not play a striker as they won't pass it to him. Indeed, why not 3 - 4 - 3 with the three of them leading the attack in front of a solid defence and packed midfield. |  | | |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 23:17 - Jan 27 with 852 views | durham_exile |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 22:56 - Jan 27 by noah4x4 |
If we play Senior, Poku and Harriott we might as well not play a striker as they won't pass it to him. Indeed, why not 3 - 4 - 3 with the three of them leading the attack in front of a solid defence and packed midfield. |
And that is exactly why I and others are crying out for a striker.
Swindon brought in Hope and he is a quality player.
We were told that some of the money earned from the Carabao cup would be spent on a striker.
If we are truly serious about promotion then we must look to bring someone in by Friday.
JM is clearly not a fan of Junior and he may not be fit after his recent illness but as things stand he is the only "new striker" that we have.
4,4,2 might be better with two strikers but my point about JM and wingers is correct. He has played three or even four on occasions a ridiculous nonsense but that is what he favours.
Tomorrow is s huge game let us support the U's as they try to defeat the league leaders.
UTU's | |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 11:04 - Jan 28 with 808 views | durham_exile |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 23:17 - Jan 27 by durham_exile |
And that is exactly why I and others are crying out for a striker.
Swindon brought in Hope and he is a quality player.
We were told that some of the money earned from the Carabao cup would be spent on a striker.
If we are truly serious about promotion then we must look to bring someone in by Friday.
JM is clearly not a fan of Junior and he may not be fit after his recent illness but as things stand he is the only "new striker" that we have.
4,4,2 might be better with two strikers but my point about JM and wingers is correct. He has played three or even four on occasions a ridiculous nonsense but that is what he favours.
Tomorrow is s huge game let us support the U's as they try to defeat the league leaders.
UTU's |
Callum Harriott is a doubt for tonight which allows JM to either play the dream midfield or play Gambin in place of him.
UTU's
I favour the dream midfield but that counts for nothing | |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 12:23 - Jan 28 with 801 views | wessex_exile |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 11:04 - Jan 28 by durham_exile |
Callum Harriott is a doubt for tonight which allows JM to either play the dream midfield or play Gambin in place of him.
UTU's
I favour the dream midfield but that counts for nothing |
With Junior not even making the bench on Saturday, I'll be pleasantly surprised if he can play today, but fingers-crossed we at least have him available as an option. |  |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 13:00 - Jan 28 with 796 views | Moor_Pinot |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 12:23 - Jan 28 by wessex_exile |
With Junior not even making the bench on Saturday, I'll be pleasantly surprised if he can play today, but fingers-crossed we at least have him available as an option. |
Be blowed to the unbeaten run, I'd have taken ten wins and the 30 points every time.
Harriott, Senior and to a slightly lesser extent Poku are show boaters, they waste opportunities and take our own players out of the game, as Noah states they don't pass so thus they don't create, yet still this management persists.
If we've got to have the underwhelming Robinson he is at least a striker so give the lad the chance, he proved at Orient that he is one. I agree totally with the option of 4-4-2 using Robinson and Junior if fit up front. Those midfielders cited by Noah are a potentially effect supply, at his best Gambin is more than that. Poku is the difficulty, only 18 he has done very very well and deserves to play, could he partner Robinson if Junior is really Bonne in disguise? We must win games, so we have to score. We have tried too few options during this run.
Change nothing and our form has 8th written all over it yet again.
We may not be quite as good as last year but there's only a fag paper in it and we should be playing much more positively with midfield drive to compensate for our ineffective goalscoring force.
I wonder if there's any team anywhere in the step pyramid who are fifth in their own league with a top goalscorer with just six goals!?
We're in a good position but it has to be capitalised upon. |  |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 18:07 - Jan 28 with 756 views | wessex_exile |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 13:00 - Jan 28 by Moor_Pinot |
Be blowed to the unbeaten run, I'd have taken ten wins and the 30 points every time.
Harriott, Senior and to a slightly lesser extent Poku are show boaters, they waste opportunities and take our own players out of the game, as Noah states they don't pass so thus they don't create, yet still this management persists.
If we've got to have the underwhelming Robinson he is at least a striker so give the lad the chance, he proved at Orient that he is one. I agree totally with the option of 4-4-2 using Robinson and Junior if fit up front. Those midfielders cited by Noah are a potentially effect supply, at his best Gambin is more than that. Poku is the difficulty, only 18 he has done very very well and deserves to play, could he partner Robinson if Junior is really Bonne in disguise? We must win games, so we have to score. We have tried too few options during this run.
Change nothing and our form has 8th written all over it yet again.
We may not be quite as good as last year but there's only a fag paper in it and we should be playing much more positively with midfield drive to compensate for our ineffective goalscoring force.
I wonder if there's any team anywhere in the step pyramid who are fifth in their own league with a top goalscorer with just six goals!?
We're in a good position but it has to be capitalised upon. |
It does have to be capitalised on, you're absolutely right - let's hope it starts with tonight.
Just as a thought, but the last time we were promoted from this division, our four joint leading goalscorers in the league were Mark Sale, Paul Abrahams, Neil Gregory and Aaron Skelton, each with just seven goals each. What made the difference that season was there were another six players who all scored five or more in the league - it was the proverbial goals from all over the park, and we only missed out on automatic promotion by one point. | |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 19:07 - Jan 28 with 740 views | wessex_exile |
From the OMB:
Starting:
Gerken, Jackson, Eastman, Prosser, Bramall, Pell, Comley, Harriott, Gambin, Poku, Robinson.
Subs:
Ross, Sowunmi, Senior, Norris, Clampin, Stevenson, Nouble.
Cohen Bramall is back, Frank fit enough for the bench, but still no sign of Junior. | |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 19:23 - Jan 28 with 731 views | ghughes11 |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 19:07 - Jan 28 by wessex_exile |
From the OMB:
Starting:
Gerken, Jackson, Eastman, Prosser, Bramall, Pell, Comley, Harriott, Gambin, Poku, Robinson.
Subs:
Ross, Sowunmi, Senior, Norris, Clampin, Stevenson, Nouble.
Cohen Bramall is back, Frank fit enough for the bench, but still no sign of Junior. |
Strong bench!
Will/can McGreal use it to his and our advantage though???
Up the U's  |  |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 20:35 - Jan 28 with 719 views | wessex_exile |
0-0 at half-time, and not a bad game at the moment. Swindon clearly a good side, and definitely on top for the first 10 minutes, but the U's came back strongly for the next 15-20 minutes, then it swings back to Swindon for 5-10 minutes, and the U's finish stronger to half-time. Excellent skill for Gambin - but for the block that would have been 1-0, but bizarrely the BBC stats don't even list is as a shot on target? | |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 20:41 - Jan 28 with 709 views | gerry_us |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 20:35 - Jan 28 by wessex_exile |
0-0 at half-time, and not a bad game at the moment. Swindon clearly a good side, and definitely on top for the first 10 minutes, but the U's came back strongly for the next 15-20 minutes, then it swings back to Swindon for 5-10 minutes, and the U's finish stronger to half-time. Excellent skill for Gambin - but for the block that would have been 1-0, but bizarrely the BBC stats don't even list is as a shot on target? |
So that would have made it one shot on target in45 minutes then....not anywhere near good enough! |  | | |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 20:58 - Jan 28 with 694 views | gerry_us |
..and now we need two! | | | |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:05 - Jan 28 with 686 views | Leadbelly |
Sounds like Gerken is our MOTM so far. Worrying. | |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:16 - Jan 28 with 679 views | gerry_us |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:05 - Jan 28 by Leadbelly |
Sounds like Gerken is our MOTM so far. Worrying. |
A goal....WOW | | | |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:23 - Jan 28 with 673 views | Leadbelly |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:16 - Jan 28 by gerry_us |
A goal....WOW |
Perhaps having more than centre forward on the pitch makes us less toothless | |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:24 - Jan 28 with 673 views | durham_exile |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:16 - Jan 28 by gerry_us |
A goal....WOW |
Just back from a meeting walked in and Chuck equalised.
Come on the U's
Exeter losing as well | |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:29 - Jan 28 with 671 views | durham_exile |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:24 - Jan 28 by durham_exile |
Just back from a meeting walked in and Chuck equalised.
Come on the U's
Exeter losing as well |
THEO | |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:29 - Jan 28 with 671 views | gerry_us |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:24 - Jan 28 by durham_exile |
Just back from a meeting walked in and Chuck equalised.
Come on the U's
Exeter losing as well |
and another. 2-1 up.
As Durham would say...squeaky bum time now  | | | |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:31 - Jan 28 with 667 views | durham_exile |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:29 - Jan 28 by gerry_us |
and another. 2-1 up.
As Durham would say...squeaky bum time now |
Gerry now 3-1
UTUs
Significant that Cohen Bramall's return has turned things around | |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:33 - Jan 28 with 665 views | gerry_us |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:31 - Jan 28 by durham_exile |
Gerry now 3-1
UTUs
Significant that Cohen Bramall's return has turned things around |
..not so SBT then.
Three goals in one game. Is this the resurrection? | | | |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:33 - Jan 28 with 665 views | durham_exile |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:31 - Jan 28 by durham_exile |
Gerry now 3-1
UTUs
Significant that Cohen Bramall's return has turned things around |
My Cambridge ticket should be arriving tomorrow.
Great stuff
Brilliant win
UTU's | |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:39 - Jan 28 with 658 views | wessex_exile |
MAGNIFICENT! | |
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:39 - Jan 28 with 658 views | gerry_us |
BBC says we had three shots on target.
That's not a bad return... | | | |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:44 - Jan 28 with 649 views | burnsieespana |
Well done U's.
Not often you win 3-1 and your keeper is M o M! |  | | |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:46 - Jan 28 with 649 views | durham_exile |
| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:33 - Jan 28 by gerry_us |
..not so SBT then.
Three goals in one game. Is this the resurrection? |
Gerry just imagine if we actually had a striker.
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| Robins to be left red faced after defeat at JSCS against the Super U's on 21:51 - Jan 28 with 644 views | noah4x4 |
McGreal genius!
Three subs, three goals, from playing two up front....
That’s the way to do it! | | | |
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