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Reply | South Scottish Muppets!
at 13:45 1 Sep 2024
Simpson managed 126 matches in his second spell as Carlisle United Manager. If Danny Cowley has a win rate of 20% at Colchester United after half as many I'll find it impossible to defend him.
I was surprised Simpson led Carlisle to promotion in 2023 but last season was abysmal. He did a superb job with his home town club when he first managed them but that's nearly twenty years ago. Every job since until his first eighteen months back at Carlisle has ended in failure.
I cannot deny that I have managers/coaches that I favour and those I don't rate highly. I would give the Cowley brothers a much longer time than a Paul Simpson. But all managers, excepting Sir Alex Ferguson, have a shelf life. I hope Danny and Nicky are nowhere near the end of theirs. They must deliver this season though; a top-half finish is the minimum and I expected a play-off place. They failed to achieve their remit at Pompey and if the same happens in Essex I might have to accept that certain something has left them.
I don't think so though and I'll be disappointed if they aren't able to have a Colchester United team winning more than they lose very soon. |
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Reply | South Scottish Muppets!
at 13:06 1 Sep 2024
It is only the timing that deserves criticism. As you write the day after the window closes is very poor. In truth Simpson should have gone at the end of last season.
Reading their message-board the supporters are saddened that it's ended like this for a man they have affection and respect for; but also all seem agreed he had to go.
There are some interesting suggestions and some highly improbable names are being mentioned. I'd have thought Pete Wild would be a good appointment but he doesn't seem popular, possibly because of his Barrow connection. Rob Elliot, who is doing a fine job with The 'Heed, has been mooted.
I can remember their season in the top-flight and with the recent investment they're aiming for The Championship within five years. Carlisle has a large catchment area but not a lot of people living there. |
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Reply | Super U's to get their league season up and running at the JCS
at 17:48 17 Aug 2024
I wonder how many matches Mike Williamson has left. The debacle in last season's play-off semi-final has been followed by a shocking start to this season. Add to that new Kuwaiti owners and I fear his time will run out unless he can turn things around in the next couple of matches.
Excellent result for The U's today; well done! |
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Reply | Super new U's to start with impressive win at Plough Lane
at 14:52 11 Aug 2024
It's one match! If the brothers lead the team to four wins in the first twenty matches this season as they did in the twenty matches at the end of last season questions will quite rightly be asked; and your bet might well come up if you're able to get it placed.
But I'm expecting a much brighter next few months. Maybe I'm wrong. All managers lose their sparkle sooner or later and perhaps that special something the Cowleys had that made them successful everywhere until Pompey has disappeared. But I don't think so. |
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Reply | Super new U's to start with impressive win at Plough Lane
at 08:13 11 Aug 2024
A very disappointing result, especially after such a good start. But it seems Colchester received neither the rub of the green nor the blow of the ref's whistle. I trust Goodliffe won't be out for long as dentistry in 2024 is a world away from the days of Joe Jordan.
If you get your bet on and win spare a thought for me as I'll be in the poor house. I retain my faith in the brothers. |
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Reply | The Summer of ‘24 - ins, outs and maybes
at 07:44 1 Aug 2024
Colchester United's average home attendance was very slightly higher at 4,177 last season than Ross County's of 4,115.. But the Dingwall side's were boosted by over 6,500 for each home game against The Old Firm. With a much better 24-25 for The U's I'd expect the gap to be considerably bigger.
It's a strange and surprising transfer but credit to the young man for making such a bold move. He'll be living in a beautiful part of Britain.
I've just realised he's gone from playing under a management team of Cowley brothers to a management team of Cowie brothers. [Post edited 1 Aug 7:49]
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Reply | Club Statement
at 16:58 23 Jul 2024
Thank you for the reply. It will be disappointing if there isn't a great improvement after the effort and expense the club have gone to this close-season. Let's hope appearances have been deceptive. |
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Reply | Club Statement
at 15:42 23 Jul 2024
I've just read the article in your local paper regarding the pitch for the coming season. One of the comments attached reads "Unique being the rippled effect caused by the newly installed French drains being put in on the cheap and not properly levelled after meaning they have all now sunk as they settled". Does anyone on here know if this is true or whether it's just someone having a sarcastic dig (no pun intended) at the club? |
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Reply | Willock
at 16:37 10 Jul 2024
Thank you for the reply. It sounds like he won't be missed. Fortunately he's gone to The Taff and not The Wear. |
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Reply | Willock
at 16:25 10 Jul 2024
I think you might be dark horses this season. How big a part did Willock play in your dramatically improved form once Cifuentes arrived? He was one of your best known players but I'm reading into this thread that he won't be that much of a miss. Am I right to do so? |
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Reply | The Summer of ‘24 - ins, outs and maybes
at 16:44 6 Jul 2024
Yes, I'm sure I read the other day that Brady the Cobblers manager had said he had a very competitive budget this season. So he was probably able to make McGeehan an attractive offer. |
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Reply | The Summer of ‘24 - ins, outs and maybes
at 14:07 4 Jul 2024
How others view you.
Interesting comment on Gillingham's Blues Rock Cafe message-board.
" Ex-Charlton Jack Payne has joined Col. U.. They are making some serious signings".
Well things are looking a little brighter surely. |
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Reply | The Summer of ‘24 - ins, outs and maybes
at 11:34 2 Jul 2024
It's disappointing about Smith particularly if he was near the top of the list of the Cowleys' targets. From the Lincoln end Smith did not fail a medical. |
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Reply | The Summer of ‘24 - ins, outs and maybes
at 09:52 30 Jun 2024
There's clearly a massive cloud of depression over Essex right now. Obviously It is concerning losing your few good players so soon and there must be doubts over Goodliffe's injury record. But I expect a raft of new signings in the next five or six weeks and then we'll have a better idea of how high or low expectations realistically can be.
Despite the second half of last season I still believe Colchester United have one of, if not, the best management teams in League Two. I have to disagree with some of the views in preceding posts.
Lincoln City was not Moneybags Lincoln City when the Cowleys arrived. It was the club's sixth season in The National League and they'd finished in the bottom half in every one of the previous five. To lead The Imps to the title was a fine achievement and because of the superb FA Cup run the brothers oversaw substantial funds were earned for future spending. They took Lincoln into the play-offs in their first season back in the league and to League Two Champions in the second. These successes should not be belittled.
Colchester United are extremely fortunate that the Cowleys agreed to become their management team. They had much more attractive offers out there. They turned down what is easily the biggest team in your division only weeks before joining The U's. But you had an ace in the hole; they are Essex men. They have only one perceived failure in their past and even then it was leaving Pompey tenth in League One.
I can understand where much of the pessimism is coming from. It's a decade and a half since Colchester supporters had much to cheer and you escaped by the skin of your teeth in April. But I will be astonished if 2024-25 isn't a dramatic improvement on recent years with Danny and Nicky at the helm.
Up The U's! |
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