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Thread | From Boudica to Barnet: Barbarians at the gate
by wessex_exile at 17:12 20 Feb 2026
After the shambolic performance at Barrow in front of a credible 150+ of the long-suffering U’s faithful, who deserved so much more for their efforts getting to and from our longest away trip of the season, Cambridge on Tuesday night was a much needed shot in the arm. Leaving aside the Cambridge United ticketing fiasco, we were everything we weren’t at Barrow and then some, and roared on magnificently by our sell-out allocation of just over 1,000 from the pre-match warm-ups through to the post-match celebrations.
Okay, it was only a point, and we probably deserved more, but against a Cambridge side with the best home form in the league, it was a very good point…and from the most unlikeliest of sources too, Jack Payne’s head.
The added bonus is we seem, fingers crossed, to have got through a game without adding significantly to our sick parade, Edwards apart who is apparently having knocks to his shoulder and ankle assessed. As has been mentioned recently, and reported today in a Gazette Danny Cowley interview, Flanagan should be back available, Iandolo, Anderson and Mbick continue to improve and should be back soon, and Gape and Baldwin are both fit and available.
https://www.gazette-news.co.uk
Though they only returned to the football league this season, Barnet aren’t quite the surprise package some might have thought. Most pundits were saying back in summer that they’d probably do quite well under Dead Brennan, backed by chairman Anthony Kleanthous’s wealth, and they currently sit one place and one point higher than the U’s. Brennan is currently serving a recently imposed nine-match touchline suspension for verbally abusing a female match official during their defeat to Shrewsbury way back in September, but I doubt that’ll be a significant factor in their bid for the play-offs. Incidentally, whilst I have no problem with the FA’s punishment for Brennan, to take no action over Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s odious ‘colonised’ comments is shameful.
A few names spring to mind in the “played for both” group, the most notable of which has to be John Akinde – borderline legend status at both clubs I would suggest. There is of course Richard Brindley, who turned down a new contract at the U’s and went to Barnet instead, and the appropriately named Dave Barnett, who started his professional career at Colchester United. Barnett was red-carded on his debut for the U’s, sent off a second time in only his seventh game, and was eventually binned by Jock Wallace after he witnessed an off the ball incident during a reserve team game – can’t think why the U’s faithful called him “Psycho”. He eventually signed for Barry Fry’s Barnet in 1992, where he enjoyed the longest spell of his football career.
As to our line-up for Saturday, unless Edwards’ knock(s) keep him out, I can’t see any good reason to change the line-up. Flanagan to return to the bench, and probably get a run-out as well at some point. If Edwards isn’t fit, I would expect Akachukwu to start on the left, and perhaps Gape to return to the bench. I fear it’s still too soon for Anderson, Iandolo and Mbick.
MaceyVincent-YoungTuckerAraujoHuntReadBishopLisbiePayneEdwardsTovide Substitutes: Smith Flanagan Back Barbrook Goodwin Akachukwu Terry
Like the U’s, Barnet’s form of late has slipped a bit, including defeat at home to Swindon on Tuesday night. They’re a good side though, and I’d expect a similarly tough competitive game as we had at the Abbey. They are a reasonably well disciplined side too, so hopefully we won’t have to worry about being kicked around by some League 2 cloggers. I was at the Hive earlier this season to see Barnet snatch a 90th minute equaliser (undeserved equaliser wearing my U’s tinted glasses), so it would be nice to see some payback for that.
We still have 15 cup finals to play, and plenty of points for the taking, so let’s continue the great result on Tuesday with a resounding 3-1 win for the U’s. Samson to get us off the mark, with Read adding to the tally. Goodwin off the bench to wrap things up near the end. Including a few hundred from Barnet, after Tuesday's performance I expect we'll be above the 5,000 mark at the Jobserve.
It’ll be a breezy relatively mild day tomorrow, the temperature around 11-12 degrees, the wind coming from the south west, and perhaps some light rain showers about, but more likely not expected until the evening.
Up the U’s!
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Thread | A Clean Sweep
by TAFKAT at 12:34 17 Feb 2026
I see that its kicking off in the housework competition at the Winter Olympics (or curling as some people call it).
Accusations of double touching (oooh, arrh, titter thee not).
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/art
Yesterday I heard a commentator say “There's been a fair bit of chat about how warm it is down on the ice, especially for the sweepers given how hard they have to work.”
What a Tw@t, there are people who have to shovel shit for 8 hours a day, every day, run up and down ladders with roof tiles, spend all day making beds and wiping arses.
Poncing about on ice, with a broom, for a couple of minutes, is not hard work FFS.
GET A PROPER JOB!
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Thread | CUFC vs CUFC Take 2
by ghughes11 at 02:35 17 Feb 2026
“Cambridge away in the very first round saw a last-minute winner from Whitton.”
Ah, the opening lines to the Special Duties song "Wembley Wembley! (Wembley here we come)" in 1997. Nearly 30 years later, I am certain that all Col U fans would bite their mother’s hand off for another 0-1 as The U’s travel about 375 miles less than they did on Saturday to lock horns with the other U’s from Cambridgeshire.
The less said about the Barrow match the better, so with that in mind let’s look forward to a match up against “local” rivals Cambridge.
Top of the ‘Last 10’ Form Table (Col U 11th) and 3rd in the ‘Last 6’ Form Table (Col U 12th), we head to the ‘Cledara (Sh)Abbey Stadium’ having just been ‘doubled’ by Barrow and so are looking to avoid a ‘double-double’ by avoiding defeat to Cambridge who beat us 1-2 back in August. Cambridge currently lie 2nd the League Two Table (Col U 12th). They are 4pts off top placed Bromley and 1pt clear of 3rd placed Swindon Town.
So, with all of that said we might as well throw in the towel now and hand over the 3 points to Cambridge and save ourselves for a mid-table battle with Barnet on the weekend! As the famous Kiwi saying goes “Yeah, nah!” Not if I know Col U! The Col U that I know goes away to “Man U beating” Grimsby and wins 1-2! Away to “High Flying” Swindon secure a valuable point in a hard-fought 0-0 draw! Deliver a phenomenal away performance at “Pre-Christmas” Walsall winning 0-2 and blow Notts County out of the water in a 1-3 demolition! Come at us Cambridge – what have you got?? 
As for the starting line-up for Col U for this match where we need to show that we have the kahunas for the fight, I would revert back to basics:
GK: Macey
RB: Vincent-Young
CB: Tucker
CB: Araujo
LB: Hunt
RW: Tovide
CM: Read
CM: Bishop
LW: Lisbie
AM: Payne
ST: Goodwin
Subs: Smith, Flanagan, Back, Barbrook, Edwards, Akachukwu, Williams
Weather: Sunny and a gently breeze during the day. High 7. Partly cloudy and light winds in the evening.
Score prediction…….
CUFC 1-1 CUFC (Payne)
Up The Real U's!
Ps.
FANS WALK TO CAMBRIDGE FOR CHARITY
Three U's fans will be taking on the task of walking from the Community Stadium to Abbey Field Stadium, the home of Cambridge United on 16th February, aiming to arrive on 17th February.
The walk is in aid of mental health charity, Mind.
Mind works across England & Wales, giving support & advice, and are there for you, whether you’re stressed, depressed or in crisis.
Good luck to Adam Law, Jack Armstrong and Johnny Purslow. If you would like to contribute to their cause, please use the below link:
https://www.justgiving.com/pag
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Thread | Happy Cup 2025/26 Semi-final replay - Deadline Saturday 21st February 15.00
by mfb_cufc at 14:14 16 Feb 2026
After a thrilling Semi-final where the lead changed twice, and finally ended requiring a replay. The tie-break rules will apply for this replay.
Blue4U2 v Sector4
Semi-final replay Fixtures 10 games from the Saturday 21st February League programme. If any of these fixtures are called off for any reason, it will be decided on the games left. No more than four predictions the same as your opponent please.
ASTON VILLA v LEEDS UNITED
CHELSEA v BURNLEY
MILLWALL v PORTSMOUTH
WATFORD v DERBY COUNTY
WREXHAM v IPSWICH TOWN
NORTHAMPTON TOWN v LEYTON ORIENT
PETERBOROUGH UNITED v EXETER CITY
ACCRINGTON STANLEY v SHREWSBURY TOWN
COLCHESTER UNITED v BARNET
GILLINGHAM v OLDHAM ATHLETIC
Good luck to both of you.
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Thread | Binnerettes game called off
by TAFKAT at 16:37 15 Feb 2026
One hour before KO today at the 'Not Our' Community Stadium.
Waterlogged pitch apparently. Has it rained crazy amounts? |
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Thread | Happy League 2025/26 Week 30 (of 38) - Deadline Saturday 21st February 15.00
by mfb_cufc at 21:02 14 Feb 2026
Week 29 results
DERBY COUNTY 2 SWANSEA CITY 0
Derby climbed into the Championship play-off places as second-half goals from Rhian Brewster and Patrick Agyemang secured this victory. A sublime 5 got this spot-on, and a further 15 had the outcome, with 13 going for a 2-1 in what was equally the weeks most predicted score.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS 3
Blackburn boss Michael O'Neill saw his new side haul themselves out of the bottom three with this victory. Nobody had this spot-on, and only NME_colu got the outcome. 22 predicted a win for QPR.
BARNSLEY 3 AFC WIMBLEDON 3
Barnsley squandered a two-goal lead before dramatically equalising late on in an end-to-end League One draw. Again nobody got this spot-on, but 4 did have the outcome. 18 predicted a win for Barnsley.
CARDIFF CITY 3 LUTON TOWN 1
Three first-half goals saw League One leaders Cardiff beat an in-form Luton to go four points clear at the top of the table. Everyone predicted a win for Cardiff, with 4 having it spot-on.
CAMBRIDGE UNITED 3 BRISTOL ROVERS 1
Ben Knight's brace helped Cambridge to a fifth successive home win. A super 6 got this spot-on, and another 14 had the outcome.
CHESTERFIELD 1 HARROGATE TOWN 1
10-man Chesterfield's hopes of earning a League Two play-off spot took a dip after they were held to a draw by lowly Harrogate. Another game with no 3 pointer, and only Blue4U2 got the outcome. 22 predicted a win for Chesterfield, with 13 going for a 2-0 in what was the weeks other most predicted score.
TRANMERE ROVERS 2 CRAWLEY TOWN 0
Tranmere ended a run of six straight defeats with this victory for only their fourth home league win of the season. 3 got this spot-on, and a further 10 had the outcome.
Home wins were the flavour of the week. with 139 (82.74%) of the weeks 168 predictions going for the hosts to win. Only four teams read the script, and they produced the weeks 18 spot-ons. There was not much in the way of reward for those who opposed the home teams in the other three games, as they only achieved six outcomes in total. There is no doubting about this weeks top performer, as Lewis_1 was the only one to get three 3 pointers, the wins for Derby, Cardiff and Cambridge, and two outcomes, to give him an absolutely brilliant 11 points. Three members did well to get two 3 pointers, with the best coming from wessex_exile, who had the 3-1 wins for Cardiff and Cambridge, and three outcomes, to give him an excellent 9 points. Also BFG who got a very decent 8 points by going 2-0 all games, and Tropical_Us, who got the wins for Derby and and Cambridge, and one outcome, to give him a decent 7 points. Best of those to have one 3 pointer were gerry_us, who got the Cambridge 3-1, and Madeira163, who had the Cardiff 3-1. They each also got four outcomes, to give them both a decent 7 points.
In the Premier Four outcomes for concordman keeps his run at the top going, and despite having the Cambridge 3-1 spot-on, Sector4 could only close the gap by a point. Getting the Tranmere 2-0 spot-on keeps Jorash63 very much in contention for the DEMS. The next five places also remain the same, with the only 3 pointer coming from thrillseeker, who had the Derby 2-0. The main activity in this division came from the fight to avoid relegation. Getting the Derby 2-0 spot-on enabled bwildered to move up a place, and out of the bottom three, after spending four weeks there. He is replaced by unitedwhites, who had those same four weeks in safety. The big news in this division is all about the the top scoring performance from Lewis_1. It was only 8 weeks ago when he was 24 points from safety, a deficit that nobody has recovered from before at that stage of the season. But after a good run of scores in low scoring weeks, and this weeks great effort, he has now reduced that figure to 6 points, and only failed to move up a place on the most 3 pointer rule.
In Division One By having the Cambridge 3-1 spot-on noah4x4 increased his lead to a new high of 33 points. The race for the title maybe sewn up, but the competition for the other automatic spot, and play-off places, could not be any closer. Four outcomes were enough for durham_exile to remain second, but it is now only 2 points back to Tropical_Us in third, after his decent week moved him up place. It is then just a point back to basher2010 in fourth, and BFG in fifth, after his decent week moved him up a place. The excellent week for wessex_exile moved him up three places, and into the final play-off spot, but only on the most 3 pointer rule from gerry_us. Despite having the Cardiff 3-1 spot-on, oxfcolu drops three places, but with things being so tight, is still only within 2 points of the play-offs.
THE TABLES (210 out of 280 played)
(Tie-breaker: Most 3 pointers, and then the first to post)
Week 30 Fixtures
BRENTFORD v BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
NORWICH CITY v BIRMINGHAM CITY
SOUTHAMPTON v CHARLTON ATHLETIC
BOLTON WANDERERS v BLACKPOOL
PORT VALE v READING
CHELTENHAM TOWN v SALFORD CITY
Good luck everybody. |
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Thread | Bluebirds to be overwhelmed by the Eagles
by mfb_cufc at 19:04 12 Feb 2026
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:
Macey
Vincent-Young, Araujo, Tucker, Hunt
Tovide, Read, Akachukwu, Payne, Lisbie
Goodwin
Subs: Smith, Back, Flanagan, Bishop, Barbrook, Edwards, Mbick
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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Thread | Terrible News!
by TAFKAT at 13:52 12 Feb 2026
I am told that Sir Jim R@dc#iffe had an arsehole transplant last week, but as expected, the arsehole has rejected him. Apparently, the English born and bred players in the ManUre squad (both of them) are mildly concerned for his welfare.
In the unlikely event that there are any Brexiteers that understand the implications of ripping up the Dublin III Regulation, or who now grasp why immigration from Asia and Africa would go through the roof if we left the EU (a.k.a. project fear), can they please explain this to Mr Brexit, so he can try to understand why there has been a recent massive influx of the type of immigrant that he doesn’t seem to like.
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Thread | Part Time Fans Record This Season
by RSCOSWORTH at 12:11 12 Feb 2026
I've been to six games this season, all at home, and seen:
Two wins
Two draws
Two losses
Four goals scored, four goals conceded.
Two Col U clean sheets, two games in which we failed to score.
How do the other part time fans match up this season? |
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Thread | Bromley tickets
by noah4x4 at 13:33 9 Feb 2026
Merely 594 Bromley tickets are available via Colchester Utd with priority for ST holders. Thankfully, CUSA has already been able to resolve this for its ST holders that have booked along with their coach seat. I suspect (like Cambridge) around 400 U’s fans will be disappointed.
The Bromley ground capacity is merely 5,900 with only 1600 seats, How on earth will they cope if they get promoted to League One (which seems likely). The EFL should impose tighter ground rules to prevent clubs that don’t meet reasonable standards being admitted (or promoted). Last season, away women fans had only a single toilet and catering was a disgrace.
Anecdotal feedback suggests that it seems likely that many U’s fans might now have purchased home tickets for Cambridge. Home tickets are freely available on the Bromley website. As most of the ground is standing terraces, no specific seat numbers apply. Given that only ST holders have priority, and it’s certain to sell out, I wonder how many U’s fans will get into the home stands?
Only on thing would delight me more than seeing these tin-pot grounds relegated to the National League along with Harrogate. That is a U’s promotion and we struggling to accommodate Sheffield Wednesday fans. |
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Thread | Happy League 2025/26 Week 29 (of 38) - Deadline Saturday 17th February 15.00
by mfb_cufc at 21:07 7 Feb 2026
Week 28 results
AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1 ASTON VILLA 1
Teenager Rayan scored his first goal in English football as Bournemouth drew with Villa, who missed the chance to go second in the Premier League. 4 got this spot-on, and nobody had the outcome. 13 predicted a win for Villa with 12 going for a 2-1 in what was the weeks most predicted score.
FULHAM 1 EVERTON 2
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall enhanced Everton's chances of qualifying for Europe as he inspired his side to a late, come-from-behind win. Well done to noah4x4 for being the only one to have this spot-on, and only Lewis_1 and oxfcolu got the outcome.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 1 CHELSEA 3
Cole Palmer scored a first-half hat-trick as Chelsea continued their good run of form under Liam Rosenior. 4 got this spot-on, and a further 17 had the outcome.
PRESTON NORTH END 1 PORTSMOUTH 0
Alfie Devine's goal ended Portsmouth's four-match unbeaten run and moved Preston back to the fringes of the play-off places. A sublime 5 had this spot-on, and another 16 got the outcome.
PORT VALE v BOLTON WANDERERS VOID Should be Port Vale v Burton Albion
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3 STEVENAGE 1
Northampton secured their first League One win of 2026. Nobody got this spot-on, but 8 did have the outcome.
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 1 LINCOLN CITY 4
Reeco Hackett scored twice and made another as second-placed Lincoln came from behind to thump Plymouth. Again nobody had this spot-on, though 14 did get the outcome.
SWINDON TOWN 3 OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0
James Scanlon's first League Two goal on his home debut helped high-flying Swindon to a comfortable win. Only Jorash63 and bwildered got this spot-on, and a further 20 had the outcome.
CHELTENHAM TOWN 2 MILTON KEYNES DONS 3
MK Dons made it five undefeated with this victory, as they inflicted a fifth successive loss on Cheltenham. Another game with no 3 pointer, but 20 did get the outcome.
WALSALL 1 BARNET 3
Barnet cruised to victory over sorry Walsall as the hosts' League Two promotion hopes suffered a blow. A final game this week with no 3 pointer, and only ghughes11 and mfb_cufc had the outcome.
First of all apologies for getting the Port Vale fixture wrong. No harm done, as Week 29 will now be a 7 game week. As for the other 9 games, they achieved a week that has happened a number of times this season. That is results hard to predict for a 3 pointer, but producing plenty of outcomes. Despite four games not having a 3 pointer, the other five had a respectable 16 in total. Three members did well to get two 3 pointers each, with the best coming from bwildered, who got the Bournemouth 1-1 and the Swindon 3-0, and basher2010, who had the wins for Chelsea and Preston. They each also got three outcomes, to give them both an excellent 9 points, and part of a four way share in being the weeks top scorer. Also NME_cufc, who had the Bournemouth 1-1 and the Preston 1-0, and two outcomes, to give him a superb 8 points. Best of those who had one 3 pointer was noah4x4, with the good Everton 2-1, and ghughes11, who got the Preston 1-0. They each also had six outcomes, to give them both an excellent 9 points, and a share of being the weeks top scorer. If proof was ever needed that predicting results of football matches is not easy, it was confirmed today, when Harrogate, without a win in 20 games, beat Cambridge, and brought an end to their 14 game undefeated record.
In the Premier By having the Preston 1-0 spot-on, concordman made sure of maintaining his healthy lead, but the decent week for Sector4, that included getting the Bournemouth 1-1 spot-on, did reduce the deficit by a point. After having the Swindon 3-0 spot-on in the early game, Jorash63 could only add outcomes to keep him in contention for the Durham Exile Memorial Shield (DEMS). The excellent week for ghughes11 kept him with every chance of making the DEMS. blueeagle was another to have the Bournemouth 1-1 spot-on, and he remains in sight of the top two. Although RSCOSWORTH remains in the top half after having the Chelsea 3-1 spot-on, he will be looking behind him, rather than in front, as the rest of the division fight to avoid relegation. Seven outcomes for mfb_cufc moved him up a place, and he now has more of them than anyone in both leagues, but by having less 3 pointers than anyone in the Premier, he is still in big trouble. The excellent week for bwildered moved him up a place, and greatly enhanced his chances of avoiding the drop. Another decent week for Lewis_1, that included getting the Chelsea 3-1 spot-on, still gives him hope, as he cuts the safety gap to 14 points.
In Division One The excellent week for noah4x4 extended his lead to 31 points, the biggest it has been all season. Three outcomes were enough for durham_exile to remain in the other automatic spot. The excellent week for basher2010 moved him up another place, to a season high third. Four outcomes for Tropical_Us, and he drops to fourth. A good six outcomes for oxfcolu moved him up a couple of places to a season high fifth. A great battle for the final play-off place was won by BFG on the most 3 pointer rule from gerry_us and Blue4U2. By having the Chelsea 3-1 spot-on, wessex_exile has put him right in contention, just 2 points further back. The decent week for NME_cufc will give him renewed hope of making the top six.
THE TABLES (203 out of 280 played)
(Tie-breaker: Most 3 pointers, and then the first to post)
Week 29 Fixtures This is now a 7 game week to make up for the void fixture in Week 28.
DERBY COUNTY v SWANSEA CITY
QUEENS PARK RANGERS v BLACKBURN ROVERS
BARNSLEY v AFC WIMBLEDON
CARDIFF CITY v LUTON TOWN
CAMBRIDGE UNITED v BRISTOL ROVERS
CHESTERFIELD v HARROGATE TOWN
TRANMERE ROVERS v CRAWLEY TOWN
Good luck everybody. |
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Thread | Cambridge FC Ticket Shambles.
by noah4x4 at 14:41 6 Feb 2026
1. Cambridge FC have moved us from behind the goal to the side.
2. Behind the goal is now the Family Enclosure (Home only).
3. They release merely 120 seated tickets, probably taken by those that want to stand.
4. They release more standing tickets, which sell out in a day.
5. Zero tickets were reserved for the official Col Utd supporters club (CUSA).
6. Col Utd and CUSA were given no warning of this.
The result is many amongst the two already fully booked coach loads of regular supporters now don't have tickets where reliant upon CUSA to obtain them.
This is not CUSA's fault as they timely entered the scramble for tickets when announced and were simply unlucky. Hopefully, the game will feature on Sky HD+.
A similar situation is occurring at Bromley away which will also sell out. Fortunately, there has been prior liaison with the official CUSA supporters club to secure a sufficient allocation. Hopefully the problems of last season at Bromley will be avoided (such as having only a single female toilet for away fans and appalling catering provision).
The fact that Cambridge feel it satisfactory to allocate only 120 seats to away fans is appalling. If being honest, most of those without seated tickets don't want to stand. What ever happened to the EFL aspiration for all seater stadiums? It is pretty shambolic to offer us so few seats given how Colchester United bends over backwards to accommodate away fans at the Jobserve Community Stadium.
Let's also not forget the incident last season where Harrogate refused to let us drop off our elderly and disabled fans outside the ground. My guess is that Cambridge will do something similar insisting that the coaches drop off and park in the industrial estate about half a mile away. Whatever happened to disability discrimination!
Time to bring back re-election into the EFL, then tin-pot clubs like Bromley, Harrogate and Barrow with inadequate facilities might not be admitted. Cambridge should be denied promotion if they cannot better accommodate away fans with more seating.
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Thread | Taming of the Shrews, or much ado about nothing?
by wessex_exile at 18:29 5 Feb 2026
Nice and prompt this week, now we have emerged from a somewhat stressful January transfer window relatively unscathed, with Lisbie, Tovide and Mbick (amongst others) all staying. We also had the unexpected addition of three loans as well: midfielder Fin Barbrook from Ipsh’t, defender Fin Back from Wycscum, and midfielder Romeo Akachukwu from Southampton. The Fins already have an appearance under their belt, at Crewe last Saturday, and I thought they both looked very good additions. Credit to Fin Back too, he met his new team mates for the first time on the coach up to Crewe.
Before we consider the visit of Gavin Cowan’s Shrewsbury Town on Saturday, a reflection on my trip to Crewe first. Incredibly frustrating is the sentiment that immediately springs to mind. Against Grimsby we were second best for the majority of the first half, dominated the second half only because of the red card, but just didn’t have enough invention to unlock a dogged and determined defence. It was largely more of the same against Crewe, only this time we were in control pretty much the entire game (62% possession, 20 attempts to their three etc.), just again couldn’t find the goal(s) we deserved. Crewe, on the other hand, scored with their only bit of quality all match.
What both games have demonstrated is just how much we are missing Mbick. I don’t want to be too hard on Goodwin, it’s kind of not fair to try and compare him with an estimated £5m worth of unbridled pure talent, but he isn’t our goal-scoring solution at present. To be honest, despite the dominance, not many at Crewe had what I’d say were truly excellent games. The loanees did very well, Gape was okay (and maybe getting better), Tucker and Araujo were solid (apart from the goal, but I’m not certain that was really down to them), Lisbie and Edwards were running around a lot, but lacking final balls too often, Payne seemed to be playing the entire midfield trying to make something happen, and the aforementioned Goodwin worked hard but without really having any influence on the game (and not much more with Tovide when he replaced him). As I said, frustrating, but it was good to meet up with Martin of the Swedish Branch.
And so on to Saturday, where we need to get back to winning ways after two defeats on the bounce, and now seven points outside the play-offs (albeit with at least one game in hand on most of those above us). Although one of the sides relegated from League 1, Shrewsbury have found life this season very difficult indeed, with only five wins so far all season, and not surprisingly manager Michael Appleton has been let go, though the timing just as the transfer window was closing was odd. If they want to avoid a second successive relegation, they might just have to rely on there being two teams worse than them, but Cowan did earn a commendable home draw against promotion-chasing Barnet in his first game in charge, so maybe there’s still hope in Salop.
Assuming he’s come through Tuesday night’s draw against Barnet unscathed, we should see the return of Anthony Scully on Saturday. Others in the ‘they played for both’ category include Abo Eisa, who I saw score on his U’s debut score at Northampton, and of course our currently crocked and former U’sual shirt sponsor recipient, Tom Flanagan. Bradley Ihionvien was on loan at Shrewsbury as well, but suffered a knee injury in training in October, and is probably out for the rest of the season (and presumably as a result back at Posh?). I’m sure there must be plenty more as well, anyone for others?
As for Saturday’s line-up, your guess is as good as mine. We’re currently waiting to hear whether Read and KVY have recovered from the knocks that kept them out of the game at Crewe, Bishop has been reported as nearly there for a while now, and no news so far yet on Mbick. I’m banking on Read and Mbick returning, Samson to go out to the right again and Lisbie on the left, and Fin and Fin to keep their places. Romeo Akachukwu to be on the bench as well. If Mbick doesn’t make it, time to give Williams a go I reckon. Thanks also to Daniel for showing me where the Team Selector option is on the U'sual.
MaceyVincent-YoungTuckerAraujoHuntReadBishopLisbiePayneEdwardsTovide Substitutes: Smith Flanagan Back Barbrook Goodwin Akachukwu Terry
The weather looks to remain wet all the way from now through to the weekend, so no danger of frozen pipes, just a question as to whether our improved drainage will cope – I’m sure it will. In a moderate breeze from the south-east, the relatively mild 10 degrees will feel a few degrees cooler.
After witnessing our 2-0 win on my first visit to the New Meadow back in August, this will be an excellent chance for the U’s to register our first double of the season. The U’s to tame the Shrews 4-1 with Lisbie opening the scoring and Samson finally amongst the goals as well.
Up the U’s |
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Thread | Problems accessing the U'sual
by wessex_exile at 18:27 2 Feb 2026
Anyone else finding it incredibly slow to access the website right now? It's taking an age to get on or do anything, and sometimes it fails completely and I get the message:
Service Unavailable
The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to maintenance downtime or capacity problems. Please try again later.
Am I the only one? |
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Thread | Happy Cup 2025/26 Semi-finals - Deadline Saturday 14th February 15.00
by mfb_cufc at 16:33 1 Feb 2026
A recap on how the Quarter-finals finished.
Quarter-final results
DONCASTER ROVERS 2 SOUTHAMPTON 3
FULHAM 3 MIDDLESBROUGH 1
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 0 BRENTFORD 2
CAMBRIDGE UNITED 2 BIRMINGHAM CITY 3
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 ASTON VILLA 2
DERBY COUNTY 1 LEEDS UNITED 3
PORTSMOUTH 1 ARSENAL 4
NORWICH CITY 5 WALSALL 1
WEST HAM UNITED 1 QUEENS PARK RANGERS 1
West Ham won 2-1 AET
MANCHESTER UNITED 1 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2
Final scores
concordman 15 Daniel 10
Sector4 7 BFG 6
Jorash63 11 Blue4U2 13
noah4x4 10 gerry_us 7
As in previous rounds there will be a replay for any drawn games. The tie-breaker rule will only apply for any replays. Any replays will be 10 matches from the following Saturday's League games. The draw for the Semi-finals has been made by mrs mfb, and is as follows:-
Blue4U2 v Sector4
concordman v noah4x4
Semi-final Fixtures There will be 5 games on the Saturday, and 5 on Sunday from the FA Cup 4th Round, to keep the suspense going. There are no replays in the FA Cup, so all games will be settled on the 90 minute result. If any matches are postponed the Semi-finals will be decided on the games left. No more than four scores the same as your opponent please.
BURNLEY v MANSFIELD TOWN
MANCHESTER CITY v SALFORD CITY
PORT VALE v BRISTOL CITY
ASTON VILLA v NEWCASTLE UNITED (17.45)
LIVERPOOL v BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (20.00)
BIRMINGHAM CITY v LEEDS UNITED (Sun 12.00)
GRIMSBY TOWN v WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (Sun 13.30)
OXFORD UNITED v SUNDERLAND (Sun 14.00)
STOKE CITY v FULHAM (Sun 14.00)
ARSENAL v WIGAN ATHLETIC (Sun 16.30)
Good luck everybody.
There will be updates throughout the weekend. |
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Thread | Happy League 2025/26 Week 28 (of 38) - Deadline Saturday 7th February 12.31
by mfb_cufc at 20:45 31 Jan 2026
Week 27 results
MILLWALL 1 SHEFFIELD UNITED 1
Sheffield United recorded just their third Championship draw of the season as they shared the spoils with high-flying Millwall in an entertaining end-to-end encounter. Well done to RSCOSWORTH for being the only to get this spot-on, and nobody had the outcome. 20 predicted a win for Millwall.
PORTSMOUTH 3 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0
Improving Portsmouth stretched their unbeaten run to four games in an emphatic victory over woeful fellow Championship strugglers West Brom, who only had the one shot on target. Nobody had this spot-on, but 13 did get the outcome.
PETERBOROUGH UNITED 2 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 3
Huddersfield blew a two-goal advantage late on only for Cameron Humphreys to restore their lead with what proved to be an 89th-minute winner. Nobody got this spot-on, though 4 did have the outcome (all going 1-2). 16 predicted a win for Peterborough with 11 going for a 2-1 in what was the weeks most predicted score.
STOCKPORT COUNTY 2 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 1
Kyle Wootton scored a brace as high-flying Stockport came from behind to beat Plymouth. A super 6 had this spot-on, and a further 14 got the outcome.
GILLINGHAM 1 BROMLEY 4
A Ben Thompson hat-trick ensured Bromley extended their lead at the top of League Two to six points following this dominant victory. Another game with no 3 pointer, but 10 did have the outcome.
OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0 CAMBRIDGE UNITED 3
Cambridge extended their unbeaten run to 14 games with a comfortable win, after scoring three goals in a stunning second-half performance. A final game this week with no 3 pointer, though 13 did get the outcome.
Another week to be filed under disappointing. In fact I have never known a season where there has been so many results impossible to predict for a 3 pointer. We had four more of them this week, and it was only Stockport getting a 85th minute winner that at least gave half a dozen members a spot-on. It was two of those who are this weeks top scorers. They are concordman and ghughes11, who each also had four outcomes, to give them both a decent 7 points. With them only missing out on a full house by failing to get the Millwall 1-1.
Happy Cup The details for the Semi-finals of this competition will be on a separate thread sometime tomorrow (Sunday).
In the Premier This could be the defining week of the season for this division, as concordman took advantage of a low scoring week, by posting a top score, and extending his lead to a very healthy 14 points. Just outcomes for Sector4 and Jorash63, and they remain second and third. The top scoring performance from ghughes11 moved him up a couple of places to fourth, and a season high position. Four outcomes could not stop blueeagle dropping a place to fifth. Going 1-1 all games proved to be justified for RSCOSWORTH as a 3 pointer moved him up a couple of places to sixth, and into the top half for the first time this season. A very rare missed week for thrillseeker drops him into the bottom half for the first time this season. The only change in the rest of the division has Daniel moving up a place after having the Stockport 2-1 spot-on.
In Division One After Week 17 noah4x4 had 20 spot-ons, and was well on course to break the record for 3 pointers in a season. But due to all these weeks of hard to predict results, he has only managed 4 more in the last 10 weeks. This leaves him needing 16 in 96 games. A tall order, but not impossible. Records are always nice, though I am sure just getting promoted is his main aim, and that is looking more like a formality by each passing week. Another four outcomes this week maintained his 25 point lead, as durham_exile replied with 4 points, after getting the Stockport 2-1 spot-on. Just one outcome was enough for Tropical_Us to remain third. A solid week for basher2010, that included having the Stockport 2-1 spot-on, moved him up three places to fourth, to equal his highest position this season, last achieved in Week 15. Outcomes for BFG, Blue4U2, and oxfcolu means they all drop a place to fifth, sixth and seventh. Three outcomes for gerry_us, as he remains eighth, though only 3 points from third, as there is all to play for in the play-offs.
THE TABLES (194 out of 280 played)
(Tie-breaker: Most 3 pointers, and then the first to post)
Week 28 Fixtures 10 games picked by this weeks guest NME_cufc. The theme he has chosen is teams whose grounds he has been to as a U's supporter.....defeats generally!! Don't forget it is an early start with the deadline 12.31
AFC BOURNEMOUTH v ASTON VILLA
FULHAM v EVERTON
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS v CHELSEA
PRESTON NORTH END v PORTSMOUTH
PORT VALE v BOLTON WANDERERS (12.31)
NORTHAMPTON TOWN v STEVENAGE
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE v LINCOLN CITY
SWINDON TOWN v OLDHAM ATHLETIC (12.31)
CHELTENHAM TOWN v MILTON KEYNES DONS
WALSALL v BARNET
Good luck everybody. |
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Thread | U's Steam Into Railwaymen Territory
by Daniel at 11:58 30 Jan 2026
After the disappointing end to the U's unbeaten run on Tuesday, Danny Cowley takes his charges to Gresty Road for what already feels like another six-pointer.
Crewe sit 12th in the table - two points and two places below the U's - and come into the game with a mixed bag of recent results: two wins, two defeats and two draws from their last six. Their most recent outing was a 2–2 draw away at league-leaders Bromley on Tuesday night, sealing a point with an injury time equaliser.
At home, Crewe have quietly put together a strong run. They haven't lost at Gresty Road since their FA Cup first round defeat to Doncaster Rovers, and their last league loss there was against Bromley back in October. It's becoming a bit of a fortress for them, and I don't anticipate this being an easy game for us.
There's been limited team news for the U's, other than a new signing; midfielder Finley Barbrook joining on loan from Ips**** Town until the end of the season. DC recently said in an interview that Ellis Iandolo could be back playing by the end of February and at the same time quoted Micah Mbick on the injury list, so it looks like we're going to be without the Charlton loanee again this weekend.
Will Goodwin didn't deliver as the lone striker against Grimsby on Tuesday night and I even heard some people comparing him (unfavourably!) to Tom Hopper. I wouldn't start him again Crewe and would change the attack to Samson Tovide up top, with Kyreece Lisbie and Owura Edwards on the flanks. I'm not much of a fan of a lone Tovide, but if I recall correctly, he does have good form against Crewe, with two goals and an assist in six games.
My starting XI would be:
MaceyVincent-YoungTuckerAraujoTerryBarbrookReadLisbiePayneEdwardsTovide
I'm going to predict a 1-1 draw, with Tovide scoring us - with four goals in 30 appearances this season, statistically he's due one!
The weather is light rain and a gentle breeze, with a chance of some sunshine breaking through the clouds during the game.
Safe travels to those going to the game, and Up the U's! |
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