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If a week is a long time in politics, then 24hours is a lifetime in football. Only 24 hrs after the U’s youngsters put on a spirited performance to run their premier league opponents mighty close at St James’s Park in a 5-goal thriller, the U’s first team surrendered a 2-1 half time lead to lose their fifth successive league game 3-2 to Sutton United. Thankfully we don’t have to play them any more this season.
But if we thought that the journey back for the faithful to Colchester was a sombre affair RC was determining the fate of Hayden Mullins and Alex Dyer, who were summarily sacked the next day.
Immediately Wayne Brown was offered the opportunity to return as interim Head Coach to be supported by Assistant Coach Joe Dunne and Assistant Coach Dave Huzzey. All three jumped at the chance and we go into Saturday’s game with a new manager bounce as opposed to the dead cat bounce that we have sadly witnessed for weeks now!
Whilst it is all about getting behind the triumvirate in the coming weeks, we must also think about the longer-term future of the club. We have 22 games to save the club simple as. Relegation is unthinkable. We must survive and then it is about next season.
Can Neil Harris be persuaded to join as Head Coach/Manager. Let us park that for the moment.
The arrival of yet another ex-Ipswich player in the form of Myles Kenlock almost went under the radar, as has the interest that we are apparently showing in Maxime Biamou French striker 31 years of age and 6ft 1ins tall who previously played for Coventry before going north to play for Dundee United but having found appearances to be slim is keen to return to the south of England. He has three suitors Cambridge, COL U and Wrexham. Regardless of league positions we have the best facilities, stadium and training facilities and should really try hard to bring him to the club.
After all the comings and goings, the player list (27) looks something like this now:
Shamal George Dean Gerken Ted Collins
MWH Luke Chambers Tommy Smith Tom Dallison Tom Eastman Junior Tchamadeu Cameron Coxe Frankie Terry Myles Kenlock Ryan Clampin
Brendan Wiredu Luke Hannant Cole Skuse Gene Kennedy Noah Chilvers Alan Judge Emyr Huws Chay Cooper
Owura Edwards Frank Nouble Freddie Sears Corie Andrews Armando Dobra Samson Tovide
WB, JD and DH have had three days to work with the team. WB knows the vast majority of the players well but even he might be unsighted as to the ability of Kenlock, Andrews and Huws.
A word about Charlie Daniels, he was overlooked again and let down by management. I liked him and it was a shame that we didn’t get the best out of him. Wish him well for the future.
In the expectation that all bar Clampin are fit, I would suggest the following XI to start at Moor Lane on Saturday in a 4,2,2,2 formation.
I have yet to see Dallison and Kenlock play, but the word is that both are worthy of a place.
I am sure that with 27 players to choose from the three amigos will have other options. Junior Tchamadeu has not let the team down, Cameron Coxe has not always been as bad as some have suggested but by contrast club captain Tommy Smith has been woeful of late and Luke Chambers has been outpaced.
In midfield, Kennedy and Cooper are very much for the future whilst up front we have been foolishly playing Sears as a lone striker. Andrews played well on debut and then was anonymous, can he be encouraged to form a strike partnership with Sears. Of course, if we can sign Biamou then he will score goals, but Cambridge must be in the box seat simply based on league position.
We have 22 games to play 12 home and 10 away to garner another 28 points (50 will see us safe).
9 wins and a couple of draws will do it. However, we only have 5 league wins to date.
Salford C Away* Swindon Home Rochdale H Orient A Mansfield A* Carlisle H Northampton A Hartlepool H Oldham H Orient H PV H Scunny A* Bristol Rovers A FGR H Tranmere H Harrogate A* Stevenage H Exeter A Bradford H Newport A Walsall H Hartlepool A*
*Denotes games that I am planning to attend plus at least three home games TBC.
Now of course what does interim mean, will a potential permanent manager be sounded out but will the transfer window closing (with just loans available) swing it for someone new. Will just 8 games be offered to the three or will they get all 22 games if results pick up. Frankly they can’t get any worse (can they).
One thing is certain this crazy ultra-defensive approach is no good. Taking the lead (a rarity in itself) and then sitting so deep and dropping deeper just encourages the opposition on and just as at Sutton, we threw away three points when we could have won the game and definitely should have picked up one point.
I am still of the opinion that we can survive this season, but this must be the last season where we struggle. Not only is it not good for my health but also, we seem to be a club in terminal decline and this has been happening for the last ten years. Sad but true.
Tomorrow then we travel to the Ammies of Salford City manged by Gary Bowyer and with Ian Henderson in their ranks. Brandon Thomas-Asante should still be suspended after his straight red card last weekend. But they have just picked up Matt Smith from Millwall on a free transfer. Smith (not Dr Who) has always scored goals and should be straight into their team tomorrow. They are also sitting just four points off the play offs after their victory against Port Vale mid-week. So not an easy game and they will be buzzing after their trip to Burslem.
But here’s the thing after five successive league defeats, we are due some good fortune and I reckon we can secure a 3-1 victory (Sears, Eastman and Edwards) at Moor Lane in the balmy 8 degrees Celsius and cloudy with occasional sunshine tomorrow. The weather will certainly be better than the last time I went, when, although we won 2-1, the cold and incessant rain made it a shocking game. Dirty old Town indeed.
The faithful will be there and hopefully in force. Let us get right behind the team and new management and cheer them to victory.
Welcome back Shamal we’ve missed you.
Safe journey
Enjoy the game
Up the U’s
Durham_exile
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Super U's to get New Manager bounce at Moor Lane tomorrow on 20:30 - Jan 21 with 1278 views
Super U's to get New Manager bounce at Moor Lane tomorrow on 20:30 - Jan 21 by Witham
Mr and Mrs Witham are up in Manchester already. Just bought a car and had a meal in the Trafford Centre . Weather is good with no rain!
Excellent news.
Really looking forward to the game. A word of caution. The park and ride is no longer in use and parking near the stadium is difficult with residents only permits.
Anyway enjoy the game both of you. Up the U's
Durham_exile
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Super U's to get New Manager bounce at Moor Lane tomorrow on 21:09 - Jan 21 with 1267 views
Splendid resumée Durham. I prefer the team with Tchamadeau and Chilvers really but we shall see. There being no room for Frank who has been poor since his return I wonder if he will be moved on?
Appreciate your optimism, it all helps even if I cannot see us winning for a week or two yet whilst the new management work things out. Like the sound of the Dundee striker, Colchester is nearer France praps that'll be enough to tempt him. I could try and have a word!!!
Moor Pinot
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Super U's to get New Manager bounce at Moor Lane tomorrow on 08:11 - Jan 22 with 1209 views
Tovide played last night and limped off as the U23s lost 2-3 to Stoke City. The visitors were much the better side(, but it was a spirited performance by our kids. Hence that’s U18, U23 and Seniors each losing 3-2 in the same week.
Uplifted spirits in the CUSA bus, but whether that remains for the return journey is anybody's guess. Let’s hope a team of Joey Dunnes turn up.
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Super U's to get New Manager bounce at Moor Lane tomorrow on 09:43 - Jan 22 with 1189 views
Super U's to get New Manager bounce at Moor Lane tomorrow on 08:11 - Jan 22 by noah4x4
Tovide played last night and limped off as the U23s lost 2-3 to Stoke City. The visitors were much the better side(, but it was a spirited performance by our kids. Hence that’s U18, U23 and Seniors each losing 3-2 in the same week.
Uplifted spirits in the CUSA bus, but whether that remains for the return journey is anybody's guess. Let’s hope a team of Joey Dunnes turn up.
Safe journey to the CUSA faithful.
Clearly if Samson played last night WB will have Big Frank in his matchday 18 albeit on the bench.
I reckon we will win today. Enjoy the game.
Up the U's
Durham_exile
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Super U's to get New Manager bounce at Moor Lane tomorrow on 15:37 - Jan 22 with 1128 views
This is better, this is different. As leadbelly says there's some unity and team awareness. Harness that and you make chances. We've been in this position for several seasons and rarely done it. If we can get something today and bottle the medicine for each of the other twenty games we have a chance of survival.
Moor Pinot
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Super U's to get New Manager bounce at Moor Lane tomorrow on 16:44 - Jan 22 with 1087 views
...and that's that - fantastic performance, three goals, three points and a clean sheet at one of the toughest home records in our league! Well done, Wayne, Joe, Dave and the lads, and well done the 197 who were there in support!
Added bonus, Scunthorpe and Oldham both lose. The reality is we're still 22nd, but a much healthier 22nd place this evening, six points clear, a game in hand and a significantly improved goal difference.
Super U's to get New Manager bounce at Moor Lane tomorrow on 17:02 - Jan 22 by wessex_exile
...and that's that - fantastic performance, three goals, three points and a clean sheet at one of the toughest home records in our league! Well done, Wayne, Joe, Dave and the lads, and well done the 197 who were there in support!
Added bonus, Scunthorpe and Oldham both lose. The reality is we're still 22nd, but a much healthier 22nd place this evening, six points clear, a game in hand and a significantly improved goal difference.
Right, this deserves an excellent 2015 Santanay. I shall remove the cork. Evenings like this have been somewhat scarce for four or five years. Well done the new three for incorporating newly arrived players with what he had and still beating a good opposition. Terrific!
Moor Pinot
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Super U's to get New Manager bounce at Moor Lane tomorrow on 17:18 - Jan 22 with 1044 views
No tippy tappy pi55 about at the back football, get ball into Salford half in two passes seemed to be the tactic and it was inspired. Great performances by Huws and Kemlock and Sears that demonstrated they have played together, rather than previous disjointed isolated lone Sears. Freddy thrived on quicker service.
Hopefully this signals the end of Humes tactics?
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Super U's to get New Manager bounce at Moor Lane tomorrow on 18:31 - Jan 22 with 1007 views
Super U's to get New Manager bounce at Moor Lane tomorrow on 17:21 - Jan 22 by noah4x4
No tippy tappy pi55 about at the back football, get ball into Salford half in two passes seemed to be the tactic and it was inspired. Great performances by Huws and Kemlock and Sears that demonstrated they have played together, rather than previous disjointed isolated lone Sears. Freddy thrived on quicker service.
Hopefully this signals the end of Humes tactics?
Absolutely buzzing.
Have stopped off at Preston for some food.
Great performance.
The support was immense.
Still smiling.
The U's are staying up but 21 more like that and we're going up.
Up the U's
Durham_exile
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Super U's to get New Manager bounce at Moor Lane tomorrow on 18:59 - Jan 22 with 976 views
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