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Barrow v Colchester United prediction logged |
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Thread | U's to prevail in the basement dwellers F A Cup 1st Round at the County Ground
at 22:46 1 Nov 2024
The magic of the F A Cup has come around for another season and DC takes his charges to the Nigel Eady County Ground to do battle with Swindon Town. The Robins now managed by Ian Holloway are hoping for the new manager bounce.
However, even Holloway will struggle to get much out of the Robins this weekend and I reckon we can secure that elusive first away win of the season with a 1-0 victory.
Now the incentive is boosted by prize money of £41,000 to the First-Round Proper winners.
Our loanees Donnelly, McDonnell and Scully can all play, but Oscar Thorn is cup tied but we have recalled young striker Hakeem Sandah from M&T.
DC can also name up to 9 substitutes for the Cup so Matt Jay, still only 28 (he of the Advertisement – Carlsberg Customer Complaints Department – wrong number - clearly he has been languishing in that office for years).
Sadly Tovide, Bishop, Oni and Edwards are all injured.
I would like to see the following line up:
Macey
Egbo Goodliffe Donnelly Iandolo
Woodyard McDonnell Payne Read
Sandah Taylor
Subs:
Smith Anderson Flanagan Kells Gordon Hunt Hopper Scully JAY
After all we do want to win the game, don’t we?
Weather will be 13 degrees Celsius, cloudy with a 27% chance of precipitation.
Safe journey to the travelling faithful.
Enjoy the game everyone and safe travels Wessex.
Goal scorer, who else but Lyle Taylor
Up the U’s
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Thread | F A Cup 1st Round
at 21:18 1 Nov 2024
Tamworth 1 Huddersfield 0
77 minutes played |
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Thread | Matt Jay
at 19:10 31 Oct 2024
Is in the squad for the Swindon FA Cup tie.
No really this is not a trick but let's hope he can treat us to a good performance.
Up the U's [Post edited 31 Oct 23:05]
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Thread | Dirty Old Town - Ammies to come unstuck at the JCS this lunchtime
at 10:41 26 Oct 2024
There’s two things that I enjoy when I think about Salford. The first is something that TOOT would enjoy! At their ground there are several bushes of Pampas Grass and someone from Colchester invariably gets thrown in or dives headlong into the grass much to the chagrin of the Stewards.
The second is their team walk on song. Dirty Old Town. Originally written when Salford was in Lancashire in 1949 by Ewan MacColl and today they play the Pogues version from 1985 with Shane MacGowan on vocals. It is one of the most evocative and atmospheric songs.
Still today we will enjoy the Post Horn Gallop at the JCS.
An element of pride was restored at Chesterfield on Tuesday night. Oscar Thorn was clearly POTM and Jack Payne’s goal gave us a deserved point.
None of this matters however if we cannot start to win our home games. Today Karl Robinson brings his Ammies to North Essex fresh from a victory over Swindon Town. Luke Garbutt will be in the starting line-up. When Garbutt was here at Colchester he looked to have a bright future in the premier league but injuries cost him the opportunity and today at 31 he is content to play in League Two.
Do not forget that today is a 12:30pm kick off and we are live on Sky Sports +
Now these TV games are making me lazy. I am missing Away games because of the ease of watching the Sky Sports televised games. Consequently, I have only been to two Away games so far this season. Although Barrow is lined up in a fortnight.
DC celebrated his 46th birthday with that point against Chesterfield and DC admitted that they were the best team that we have played this season. I wouldn’t disagree except that given their percentage of play and number of shots and corners the fact that that they can’t convert draws into wins at home might ultimately cost them promotion.
Today DC must prepare for life without Samson Tovide for several weeks. Owura Edwards is also injured as is Teddy Bishop. Milton Oni is also out for the season. They are all big losses. Oscar Thorn may be the answer to one of those positions but Lyle Taylor cannot be expected to lead the line all on his own.
DC must also decide on the future of Flanagan and Hunt. Neither of whom have set the league alight.
Also, what is he going to do with Kells who seems to be overlooked at present. And Manny Egbo must surely start ahead of Hunt. Arthur Read is also out of favour but why. The fans love the guy and he scooped all the honours last season.
I suppose that is DC and NC are Managers and I’m not!
Anyway, I think the following starting XI 4,4,2.
Macey
Egbo Goodliffe Donnelly Iandolo
Woodyard McDonnell Payne Read
Thorn Taylor
Subs:
Smith Anderson Flanagan Kells Gordon Hunt Hopper
Weather in Colchester will be 14 degrees Celsius, partly sunny dry and a gentle breeze. Perfect for football.
Scoreline 2-0 Colchester with Taylor and Thorn on the scoresheet.
Attendance just over 4,200 with 250 from Salford.
Enjoy the game.
Early start for the Ammies (5:15am), safe journey.
Up the U’s
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Colchester United v Salford City prediction logged |
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Chesterfield v Colchester United prediction logged |
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Thread | Robins left red faced after defeat at the JCS
at 21:32 18 Oct 2024
It seems an absolute age since our last league games against Carlisle United which ended in a 0-0 draw.
Tomorrow sees 17th place Col U with 11 points from 10 games against 21st place Cheltenham Town with 10 points from 11 games. So, on paper another winnable game and indeed three points are required to start to move up the table.
Michael Flynn brings the Robins, with a possible appearance from Harry Pell. But our nemesis Ryan Bowman and Matty Taylor are amongst the Robins strikers. Bowman whether at Exeter, Shrewsbury or wherever always seems to score against the U’s.
Of course, whenever I think about Cheltenham I automatically think about Steven Gillespie. We signed him for £400,000 from the Robins and he scored 25 goals in 98 appearances despite a wretched injury record. He still watches the U’s when we play in the North West and he was always one of my favourites.
The week off for International break has certainly benefitted the U’s. The players had a couple of days rest and DC will have had several days to prepare for this vital game. I am however not sure whether Edwards and Bishop are fit enough to start at home to Cheltenham.
Taylor, McDonnell and Donnelly should all be back and raring to go after their respective International Matches.
I reckon a home victory and a six-goal thriller with a 4-2 scoreline.
Team:
Macey
Kells Flanagan Iandolo
Egbo Read Woodyard Payne
Gordon Taylor Tovide
Subs
Smith Hopper Scully Donnelly Goodliffe McDonnell Anderson
Weather will be 15 degrees Celsius, a slight breeze but showery.
Attendance just over 4,200 with perhaps 140 from Gloucestershire.
DC says that we should already have 18 points and I’m not going to argue but we have to earn those points and only a decent and positive performance is required tomorrow at fortress JCS.
Enjoy the game
Up the U’s
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Colchester United v Cheltenham Town prediction logged |
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Thread | Number 17 will play
at 14:27 12 Oct 2024
Monday evening at Bradford City.
FA Cup Round One draw |
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Thread | Will Grigg's on fire
at 14:05 12 Oct 2024
Chez Vegas 2 Magpies 1
Entertaining game.
12 mins to play |
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Thread | DC's Super U's to outfox the Cumbrians at the JCS
at 10:49 5 Oct 2024
Should that be the JobServe Cowley Stadium I wonder.
So, a week is indeed a long time in football. Owing to the wonders of a Sky membership I was able to watch both games against Walsall and Port Vale on the new 5-year deal Sky Sports+ have struck with the EFL. Of course, I felt guilty because I would normally have driven to both games but as it turned out the result at the Bescot was shocking and we set up Scotland style virtually 4,6,0 for the first half at Vale Park. Officially it was 5,4,1 of course.
At 2-0 down at the Bescot DC made some strange substitutions which led to a much heavier defeat than if we had tried to battle back with our strikers intact. Tuesday night was truly a game of two halves and after the dreadful tactics and performance in the first half the subtle changes made in the second could have won us the game.
Now Samson Tovide is fast getting a reputation as the Pantomime villain. Certainly, his play acting on Tuesday evening won him few admirers but of course he had the last laugh with a 90th minute equaliser which was thoroughly deserved. Tovide is getting to be well known by players and officials too. He often has two or three defenders around him and the referees often fail to give him the support which he needs to avoid the man handling and physical challenges that he receives.
But he is a real footballer and he has great strength and an ability to run at defenders. He will only get better and stronger. If he can control his temper then we have a top-drawer striker at Colchester.
Expect more changes this week for the visit of Mike Williamson’s Carlisle United. The Cumbrians are struggling after their relegation from league one. Williamson himself has brought the MK Dons to Colchester on two occasions this season and now returns with his new charges. He will get little change from DC’s boys however and I expect a 2-0 home victory with TnT on the scoresheet with this 15th verses 22nd encounter.
International call ups will be effecting the U’s with Lyle Taylor joining up with the Montserrat squad (he only misses the BSM game at Orient fortunately). Our Forest loanees Jamie McDonnell and Aaron Donnelly join up with the NI Under 21 squad too.
Now I really don’t like to criticise players unfairly but Hunt is simply poor and the jury is out on Scully. I don’t think he is a midfielder but I haven’t seen much sparkle in the box to suggest he is a striker either. After his shocking injuries he is probably getting back to match fitness but he seems not to be the answer if Tovide and Taylor are unavailable.
Sadly, it would seem that Bishop and Edwards, who were both injured at the Bescot, should not be risked today.
Therefore, I would opt for the following to start against the Cumbrians in a 3,4,3 formation.
Macey
Flanagan Kells Iandolo
Egbo Read Payne Woodyard
Tovide Taylor Gordon
Subs:
Smith Goodliffe Donnelly Hopper Scully Hunt Anderson
(Injured Edwards and Bishop)
Weather today at the JCS. 16 degrees Celsius dry, sunny intervals with a gentle breeze. Ideal for football in early October.
Reasonable crowd expected 4,500 with about 200 travelling from Brunton Park.
Enjoy the game.
Up the U’s
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Colchester United v Carlisle United prediction logged |
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Thread | Marching on together
at 22:03 4 Oct 2024
Picture the scene Leeds 2-1 to the good an innocuous free kick and a hopeful pump into the box on 97 minutes by Alan Brown.
Meslier takes his eye off the ball and it rolls past him into the unguarded net.
One of the biggest goalkeeper howlers you will ever see.
Result a Desmond in a game that Leeds were comfortable in.
Matt Macey check out the video footage and make sure you don't repeat this elementary mistake. |
| Prediction | Prediction Logged by at 18:47:26
Port Vale v Colchester United prediction logged |
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Thread | Port Vale tonight
at 18:46 1 Oct 2024
A thousand apologies I have had a busy day and so no preview.
Providing Edwards is fit I wouldn't change the team.
Its up to them to get us out of the hole dug at the Bescot.
Prediction 2-1 to the Super U's |
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Thread | Saddle up for three points at the Bescot with DC and his Super U's
at 23:24 27 Sep 2024
It’s 3rd versus 11th at the Poundland Bescot tomorrow with arguable our most challenging game of the season so far. Mat Sadler lines his Saddlers up against DC and his Super U’s in a televised game on Sky Sports+ with an early 1230pm kick off.
Last season I went to the Bescot and it was a piece of individual brilliance that won the game for Walsall. Isaac Hutchinson has since moved on to Bristol Rovers where he signed a three-year deal. The Gas have a very fine player.
However, so do we with a more settled team now playing with a degree of verve and considerable skill.
The Bristol Rovers connection is deeper than this however with Samson Tovide and Lyle Taylor starting to remind those of us with older footballing memories of that Bristol Rovers pairing Bruce Bannister and Alan Warboys.
Between 1971 and 1976 Bannister scored 80 goals in 206 appearances and Warboys scored 53 goals in 144 appearances for the Gas.
OK I hear you say but Tovide with 2 goals and Taylor with 3 goals have not even scored five goals each this season (but I believe they are capable of 20 goals each) and would be the first Colchester players since Jamie Cureton to score more than 20 goals in a single season.
I suggested as much last season with another Taylor and our own Tovide but injury and a recall to Luton Town and onward loan to Lincoln put paid to that dream.
There is a real partnership and camaraderie between T and T (TNT perhaps) which is reinforced by the pacy Owura Edwards as a fearsome front three.
The games against Accrington, Morecambe and Tranmere have all evoked memories of a potentially explosive pairing and I am firmly of the belief that if they remain fit (Taylor) and red card free (Tovide) then why can’t they produce a superb attacking partnership which nets goals.
Tovide works so very hard and his runs down the left side and the ability to find Taylor, the archetypal goal poacher who is lethal in and around the six-yard box, have the makings of a great pairing in front of goal.
The perfect accompaniment of course is a now fully fit Owura Edwards with 2 goals so far. His pace at Accrington was frightening for their right back and this was adequately reinforced in the other two games.
Anyway, enough of our forwards. The big question remains DC and his inability to play Read, Payne, Bishop and Woodyard together in midfield. It is a difficult dilemma because Egbo is having a great run in the team and that might be the clue to the reason that Arthur Read doesn’t start in games.
Similarly at the back Goodliffe, Flanagan and Iandolo have the back three nailed down but then we have Kells and young Donnelly banging on the door for starts.
All of this suggest to me that DC is unlikely to make many if any changes to a winning side. Walsall as I mentioned offer a challenge but in fairness they played midweek and narrowly lost to Leicester City on penalties after perhaps shading the 90 minutes.
So, I reckon DC will play:
Macey
Goodliffe Flanagan Iandolo
Egbo Payne Bishop Woodyard
Tovide Taylor Edwards
Subs:
Smith Kells Donnelly Hunt Gordon Read Scully
Weather in Walsall tomorrow will be 11 degrees Celsius with sunny intervals and a gentle breeze.
I reckon the game will be a classic with a Colchester victory by 3-2. Tovide, Taylor and Edwards all on the score sheet.
I will not be travelling tomorrow, instead I will watch via Sky Sports+. I am due to go to Fleetwood but that is likely to be a rearranged Tuesday night game.
Safe journey to the travelling faithful and enjoy the game.
Three points will move us closer to the top seven which has to be the first objective this season.
Up the U’s
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Walsall v Colchester United prediction logged |
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Thread | Fleetwood game in doubt
at 17:21 24 Sep 2024
International break.
Fleetwood may have multiple players called up and therefore game could be postponed.
Up the U's |
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Thread | Three valuable points for the Super U's against Adkin's Rovers
at 22:27 20 Sep 2024
DC took his charges to Morecambe last Saturday in what turned into a most eventful game. I made the short journey to the Mazuma Stadium and was joined by another 199 of the faithful in a crowd of 2754. Another great day weather wise in Lancashire and the well-watered pitch was looking in good order.
I enjoyed a portion of Atkinson’s fish n chips on the sea front before the game.
DC had lined up his team as follows:
Macey
Goodliffe Flanagan Iandolo
Egbo
Payne Woodyard Bishop Edwards
Tovide Taylor
Subs
Anderson Gordon Read Scully Hopper Hunt Smith
My predicted line-up was almost spot on. DC played Bishop instead of Read otherwise it was in my view the best starting XI. Alarmingly Colchester made another sluggish start to the game and we fell behind to Morecambe’s first goal of the season in the 17th minute when an offside decision was missed by the assistant referee and it proved costly. So, 1-0 down and frankly we were lacklustre.
Derek Adams team were over physical however and the referee booked two of the home team in the first half. Then just before half time the lively Edwards was unceremoniously hacked down and a second booking for Luke Hendrie saw the home side reduced to ten men.
Now Colchester never play well against ten men and so we all feared the worst. But for once we made the Shrimps pay for their error and Edwards recovered to head the resultant free kick firmly past the home keeper on 43 minutes.
So, at half time the teams were level at 1-1.
Incredibly and soon after HT we took the lead after good work down the left-hand side. Samson Tovide turned smartly to convert the chance on 49 minutes.
Morecambe in truth had little answer to the U’s forward forays. It was no surprise when the hardworking Tovide made great strides down the left wing and sent a sumptuous cross for Lyle Taylor to score at the far post on 64 minutes.
The U’s were well on top and were coasting at this stage. Surely a fourth goal was only a matter of minutes away.
Now DC is never afraid to make substitutions but this was not the day to make wholesale changes. Taylor and Tovide were overpowering the Morecambe defence and we were in total control. DC however decided to start to make changes.
The lively Taylor was replaced on 69 minutes by Scully for his debut.
Arthur Read then replaced Bishop on 70 minutes. Anderson then arrived in place of Ben Goodliffe. The result was to affect the balance of the team. Worse still Edwards was taken off and replaced by Gordon on 78 minutes.
The ten men seemed to take heart from the changes and pushed up the pitch.
Woodyard had a rush of blood and fouled his man on the edge of the penalty area and Jones scored the resultant spot kick on 83 minutes.
So, 3-2 and those of us that have encountered many of these 11 v 10 match ups in the past feared the worst.
Amazingly Scully was unlucky to strike the underside of the bar but the rebound bounced out to Anderson who had the easiest chance to make it 4-2 but his effort was high wide and not very handsome.
This was not the time to take Tovide off but that is what DC did on 86 minutes. Hopper arrived at a time when we needed continuity not changes. The result was that a speculative shot which was going well wide was unluckily deflected off Flanagan (resplendent in his Kit sponsored by some of the boarders) and looped agonisingly into the net for 3-3.
Momentum was suddenly with the Shrimps and an embarrassing draw could have become a disastrous defeat. The final whistle was met with some boos from the faithful and the annoyance on DC’s face could not be hidden.
Frankly this was more like a defeat than a drawn game.
Well, I suppose the EFL Trophy game against the MK Dons came at an opportune time on Tuesday evening. We could say to them can we play you every week. Our reserves won 2-1 (Scully pen and Kells) and boosted confidence ahead of the Tranmere game.
DC lined up
Smith
Hunt Donnelly Kells
McDonnell Read Anderson Jay
Gordon Scully Hopper
Subs
Bendle Chamberlain Edwards Egbo Emery Payne Tovide
DC made the following subs 11 mins Egbo for Anderson, 62 mins Tovide for Hopper and Payne for Jay and on 73 mins Edwards fro McDonnell and Bendle for Scully.
So, Tranmere are in town on Saturday with Nigel Adkins bringing Chuck Norris and the dangerous Omari Patrick to the JCS.
Now home advantage should be made to count and I am going for an impressive home victory by 3-0.
But does DC make any changes:
I would go for the starting XI from last Saturday but with Read starting instead of Bishop.
Macey
Goodliffe Flanagan Iandolo
Egbo Payne Read Woodyard
Edwards Taylor Tovide
Subs:
Smith Donnelly Kells McDonnell Bishop Scully Gordon
If Goodliffe is injured then Kells would start instead.
I have no problem in dropping Anderson and Hunt.
Weather in Colchester will be a warm 21 degrees Celsius and sunny.
Enjoy the game, get behind the team. Attendance could tip 5,000 with a healthy number from the Wirral.
Up the U’s
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