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After two undeserved defeats by Grimsby and Crewe, when despite having 46 shots over the games. we were unable to score that vital goal. At the time we had a whole team out injured, and suddenly making the play-offs looked difficult. Fast forward a week, with players returning from injury, and a workman like victory over Shrewsbury, everything was back on track. Now only 4 points from the play-offs, with a game in hand, and Walsall in seventh having another post Christmas wobble. Confidence is restored, as we embark on to the longest away journey of the season, the 326 mile trip to Barrow. A team currently bottom of the League Two form table.
Barrow had a reasonable start to the season, with wins over Notts County 2-1, Colchester 2-0, Crewe 1-0 and Crawley 2-1. At that point they had 12 points from 10 games. Then it all went wrong, with their only win in the next 10 games being a 2-1 at Walsall, and manager Andy Whing was sacked on 10th December, after less than a year in the job. Neil McDonald took over as interim manager, with Paul Gallagher his assistant. After a good 3-1 win at Tranmere, and an improved performance in the defeat against Salford, Paul Gallagher was given the job permantly. To become their tenth manager in the five and half years since they were promoted back to the League. Since he took over they have lost all five games, to make it six defeats in a row. Also that win against Crewe was their last one at home on the 20th September, eight games ago, losing the last five. Going by the past Gallagher wont get many more games to turn things around, as Barrow do like a sacking. In the 48 years they spent out of the League, they went through 41 managers.
Head-to-head Before looking up the head-to-head details, I had a feeling we didn't have a good record against Barrow, and this proved to be true.
Home: Colchester wins 2, Draws 5, Barrow wins 4
Away: Colchester wins 2, Draws 3, Barrow wins 5
Total: Colchester wins 4, Draws 8, Barrow wins 9
Two of the Colchester wins came when they did the double over Barrow in the 1970-71 season. The other Colchester home win came in the 1967-68 season, the only time they played each other in the third tier. It was also this season when Barrow had their highest ever League finish, when they were 8th in the old Division Three. Since Barrow won promotion back to the League, the only win Colchester has had is when they won 3-2, when down to 10 men, in the 2021-22 season. Of course these figures are for League games only, and they don't include one of the most memorial games in Colchesters history, when they beat Barrow 5-0 on the last day of the1991-92 season, to win the Conference title, and claim their League status once again.
Those figures show Barrow are a surprising bogey team, and even though they are going through an horrendous run at the moment, this could be a harder game than it seems.
They have played for both With the two clubs at different ends of the country, it is not surprising there aren't many who have played for both. The only ones I have found are Andy Bond, Rhys Healey (who we had on loan), Myles Kenlock and Bobby Noble.
Prediction With the secrecy around the injured players, it always difficult to predict what team will play. Also with a tough away game against Cambridge next Tuesday, will certain players be looked after to play in that. If possible Danny tends to stick by a winning team, if there are any changes from the Shrewsbury game, I think they will be in midfield, and the one change I am going to predict is Akachukwu replacing Bishop. On the subs bench I am hoping Mbick is fit enough to make that. Making the team:
In what I think will be an attritional game played on a heavy pitch, I am going to predict a 1-0 for us, with Jack Payne getting that winning goal.
The weather After all the rain we have had lately, it is forecast to be a rare dry day at Barrow, with sunny intervals and a gentle breeze, and a top tempreature of 6 degrees.
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Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 21:28 - Feb 12 with 1513 views
Spot on mfb - Gallagher didn't get any more chances, sacked after just five games. Okay, he lost those five games, but that is absolutely insane. Dino Maamria replaces him, with the board clearly hoping for a second chance at the new manager bounce. Honestly, for a club to treat committed professionals trying to do the best they can with the cards they've been dealt that shabbily, I hope they end up relegated.
The U's to set the wheels in motion with an emphatic 4-0 win as reward for the efforts of our travelling faithful.
Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 21:28 - Feb 12 by wessex_exile
Spot on mfb - Gallagher didn't get any more chances, sacked after just five games. Okay, he lost those five games, but that is absolutely insane. Dino Maamria replaces him, with the board clearly hoping for a second chance at the new manager bounce. Honestly, for a club to treat committed professionals trying to do the best they can with the cards they've been dealt that shabbily, I hope they end up relegated.
The U's to set the wheels in motion with an emphatic 4-0 win as reward for the efforts of our travelling faithful.
Thanks for that wessex. I never thought about looking at the Barrow site before posting, because I wouldn't have expected this to happen before Saturday.
This is what was said on the appointment of Paul Gallagher:
Barrow AFC are delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Gallagher as our new First Team Head Coach.
Gallagher puts pen to paper on an 18-month deal at The SO Legal Stadium with an option of a further year.
Also joining the new look coaching staff at Barrow AFC is John Welsh as Assistant Head Coach. Welsh leaves his role as Lead PDP Coach at Preston North End to take up the position with the Bluebirds.
CEO Iain Wood said, “Since Andy’s departure in mid-December we have undertaken an extensive process to identify the next permanent Head Coach and during this period we have spoken with multiple candidates.
“During this time, Paul Gallagher was appointed as a member of the Interim coaching team to assist Neil McDonald across the festive period and since coming into the building, we’ve been really impressed with Paul, his skillset and ideas.
“It became clear that Paul was a strong candidate for the permanent Head Coach position in his own right. The recent games against Tranmere and Salford have seen an upturn in performance levels and we believe that as Paul’s influence increases, performances will continue to improve.
“We’re aware that this appointment is significant for the club in the short and long-term, we believe Paul meets both those needs and we're really pleased to have him join us.
“With the decision to make Paul Head Coach we felt it best to allow him to bring his own person in to assist the club moving forward."
What a basket case club they are, and just like you I hope they get relegated. From what I remember about Dino Maamria he is a bit of a "character". He had a horrible style of playing in his last job at Burton. This has certainly given Danny something different to think about on Saturday now.
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Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 08:29 - Feb 13 with 1444 views
I’m on the 0600 bus tomorrow hoping this will be my last ever visit to this ghastly ground. That wish being due to their relegation and not my mortality. Only Bromley is worse, although Harrogate comes close. Crawley at least makes an effort to welcome travelling fans. Even Layer Road was paradise compared to these s***holes. The EFL should revive re-election so that only those with suitable stadiums reach it.
Barrow (away) have always been bogey opposition for the U’s. Frequent diabolical refereeing (and Lino) decisions have often undone us. However, I don’t think we prepared well when our players were expected to travel cheaply rather than settle in early and climatise/recuperate. With DC at the helm that won’t apply tomorrow. We also have the boost of many long absent players being fit again. I hear Anderson might surprise us given he was in a knee splint at Brizzle. Flanaghan was similarly an unexpected returnee last week, but unless we play three CH’s (or back five) he should start on the bench. Barrow tend to be tall brutes, so the former could be an option.
We ought to slaughter them, but I suspect it will be tight on a boggy pitch and potentially uncomfortable.
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Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 17:51 - Feb 13 with 1326 views
Talk on the Barrow MB of a possible frozen pitch, but I haven’t seen anything else to suggest there might need to be a pitch inspection. I certainly hope not for the sake of our traveling support, who must be halfway there by now.
Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 09:37 - Feb 14 by wessex_exile
Talk on the Barrow MB of a possible frozen pitch, but I haven’t seen anything else to suggest there might need to be a pitch inspection. I certainly hope not for the sake of our traveling support, who must be halfway there by now.
Someone at Barrow FC has apparently said no plans for a pitch inspection, and the game should be fine.
Disgraceful performance. Now seven hours home on a bus full of misery. Many fans firing verbal abuse at D Cowley. No urgency until we went behind.
Tovide simply awful, let him leave by mutual consent as he doesn’t look interested. U’s toothless in attack. This was THE worst performance I can recall since we were thumped 0-6 by Stevenage.
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Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 17:39 - Feb 14 with 946 views
Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 17:14 - Feb 14 by noah4x4
Disgraceful performance. Now seven hours home on a bus full of misery. Many fans firing verbal abuse at D Cowley. No urgency until we went behind.
Tovide simply awful, let him leave by mutual consent as he doesn’t look interested. U’s toothless in attack. This was THE worst performance I can recall since we were thumped 0-6 by Stevenage.
Can't help think that Proscecco and cake was a definite better alternative to an afternoon at Barrow!
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Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 18:37 - Feb 14 with 868 views
Playing a side that has just changed its manager/head-coach always carries a little extra jeopardy but that is a very disappointing result; and it would seem a rather dreadful performance.
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Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 19:07 - Feb 14 with 846 views
Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 18:37 - Feb 14 by BLACKCAT
Playing a side that has just changed its manager/head-coach always carries a little extra jeopardy but that is a very disappointing result; and it would seem a rather dreadful performance.
Toothless, dreadful, disappointing, lacklustre - no one, not even the ever reliable Jack Tucker, had a good game. Not quite season over, but it probably is if we don't get a result at Cambridge on Tuesday.
I think it’s fair to say that, that one was down to DC.
With Mbick and Harry sidelined, Lisbie rooted to the wing and Jack having left his shooting boots at home, we were never going to be a threat. Yet we persisted with the same clueless tripe for 90 mins.
As for Romeo, it was more of a Juliette performance. I don’t think I have ever seen a more pointless free kick to give away and gift them two points. He’s only young and hopefully he can make amends at the Shabby.
The only outfit likely to be signing Samson’s services anytime soon is Deliveroo. I think we have failed him. There are no decent forwards that are built like a brick shithouse. Why have our backroom staff let him bulk up so much. If he lost 15kg of upper body beef, he might not spend half the game breathing through his arse.
Based on what I’ve seen today, I have more chance of a medal in the figure skating than the U’s have of getting into the play-offs.
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Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 21:00 - Feb 14 with 757 views
Just listened to DC on BBC website. He doesn't sound too happy!
If we had to lose, it’s a shame their chaps curled shot into the far corner didn’t go in, because it would have been a cracking goal.
The only brief highlight of the match was the Col U ‘lads’ singing “you’re just a fat Ed Sheeran” to the chunky copper-knobbed steward that bollocked them for leaning against the railings (just think, fat cousin of Beaker out of the Muppets).
It’s not Col U’s fault that your shit stand will fall to bits if someone leans against it!!!! “You’ll always be non-league”.
[Post edited 14 Feb 21:03]
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Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 21:20 - Feb 14 with 724 views
Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 21:20 - Feb 14 by mfb_cufc
Danny Cowley - Post Barrow
That bothers me. Listening to him you would think we just needed to try a bit harder and take our chances.
We barely laid a glove on them, they comfortably dealt with lame crosses that we persisted in aimlessly putting in all game and they could have had 3 at least. I'm sorry but that wasn't "a mid-table performance". I think he needs to take some responsibility there.
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Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 16:32 - Feb 15 with 466 views
Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 16:32 - Feb 15 by mfb_cufc
Lowlights
The skill of their 29 at about 50 seconds in, was quite something. We were stood/sat directly in line with his curling shot and it was a lot closer that it looks on TV.
As for the goal, their No.5 completely unmarked! It’s just school boy stuff really.
Any truth in the rumour that their manager will be a baddie in the next Bond film?
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Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 18:00 - Feb 15 with 439 views
Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles on 14:17 - Feb 14 by TAFKAT
Burton Albion denied a replay at the London Stadium, because the big clubs don’t care about the Cup.
I’ve got to feel sorry for the Brewers fans. 0-0 after 90 mins, in previous years they would have had an evening out in the arse end of London and the opportunity to laugh at just how bad the Shammers ‘football stadium’ is, but thanks to the greed of UEFA and the Premiershite, they go out in extra time.
I'd be miffed if that happen to us.
Their club must have lost what? £400,000-500,000 from the replay gate?
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