Eight league matches completed, two wins, four draws, league points ten, the U's position a healthy mid-table twelfth, despite being the pundit's relegation favourites. A year in office just completed by Joe Dunne with the relatively novice gaffer still enjoying the confidence of most fickle of fans. Results to date include a 1-1 home draw against Crawley, and an earlier 1-1 away draw against Sheffield United, the Blades today being just a point from the bottom of the table.

Contrast that to our woes on 22 September 2012. Similarly, we had played eight, but no wins, four draws, merely four points, relegation zone and John Ward sacked in the morning, coincidentally, also after a 1-1 home draw against Crawley and a 1-1 away draw against Sheffield United, the Blades then being in the top six. It's funny how some, but not all, history does repeat itself.

The difference in data is hence merely two hard fought wins against Gillingham and Port Vale, but these were not even in League One last year and both are finding the higher division fairly challenging, although it is surprising what difference one win makes (for Vale). The cynics might hence argue that the U's still can't beat 'regular' League One sides, and quite evidently, the margin between managerial success and failure is slim, whilst the gap between Martin Allen's lips remains a chasm, but I digress...

Now contrast the starting line-ups on these comparable Saturdays:

2012 - Cousins, Wilson, Okuonghae, Eastman, Rose, Izzet, Wordworth, Bean, Henderson, Morrison, Massey.

In my humble opinion, a tired uninspiring stodgy John Ward group designed to avoid defeat whilst playing an unattractive brand of football that attracted a gate of merely 2,484 versus Crawley, in a game where the U's had merely seven shots, five on target.

2013 - Walker, Wilson, Okuonghae, Taylor, Garbutt, Wright (David), Eastmond, Sears, Monakana, Gilbey, Ibrehe.

Nine changes from the previous year, and an exceptionally young team DESIGNED TO WIN.

The gate of 3,031 against Crawley is still not inspiring, but is an increase of 22%, with the entertainment being eleven shots, five on target, also somewhat better, but not ideal, but let's show some due respect to a higher quality Crawley side that have already put Peterborough and Coventry to the sword.

After the long trek to Bradford where we did put in an inspired performance, and after watching the more lack-lustre game on Saturday, I think the difference between our current mid-table status or instead having fourteen points and being sat on the edge of the play offs can be summed up in four action points, Massey hitting the post against Bradford, Ibrehe hitting the post against Crawley, then Gilbey missing a great opportunity against each. But by contrast, it has also taken five wonder saves during September by Sam Walker to avoid us having merely six points, and be close to a similar dismal fate as last season, struggling to play 'catch-up'.

But what is encouraging, indeed exciting me, is that this is at last Joe Dunne's OWN team, and apart from Gilbey's alleged antics, it's a team that has loyalty to Joe, a commitment to playing an attacking fluent passing game, with a winning attitude, discipline, confidence, EXTREME youth, stamina and footballing ability. On the bench we had even more youth, Spence, Sendles-White, Connor Hubble and Lapado, players that I am looking forward to seeing over ninety minutes against the Crystal Palace under 21s on Tuesday.

I may still have those tinted spectacles on, but we are possibly on the brink of great things, so let's be patient and not get frustrated by results like yesterday where the referee and linesmen's second half performance was sufficiently abysmal to make us more depressed. Can lino's never make their own decisions, and why do they always miss the most blatant of pushes, but spot every minor shoe-lace and handbag tangle?

I am still seething that we didn't get a deserved penalty against Orient, whilst yesterday we also didn't get the rub of the green. By contrast, I have seen Orient three times this season and I want to know what Russell Slade has stepped in? The O's were very ordinary against both the U's and Crewe, each time getting lucky as regards crucial penalty decisions. But too be fair, they were merciless against a shocking Notts County (as we should be). I think Brentford and Walsall in the next eight days will end the EastEnders particular glee. But again I digress...

Saturday, it's true that we were far from outstanding, particularly in the second half, but we did have THREE young home debutantes, each short of competitive match practice, who had only met each other and the rest of the squad this week. Two thirds of the match squad are probably required to carry photo-card proof of age to get served a shandy! We will be tested by Wolves and Walsall, but if we can hold our own until Christmas, once this youthful side matures, I believe we may see an awesome new era of success. In the meanwhile, let's enjoy watching some entertaining football, and not get too despondent if things don't always go our way.

Photo: Action Images

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