Forum | Three valuable points for the Super U's against Adkin's Rovers by durham

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Three valuable points for the Super U's against Adkin's Rovers 22:27 - Sep 20 with 3655 views

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

Durham_exile

Three valuable points for the Super U's against Adkin's Rovers on 12:14 - Sep 22 with 595 views

burnsieespana

If Tovide keeps playing like yesterday he will be sold in January unfortunately.

Three valuable points for the Super U's against Adkin's Rovers on 16:30 - Sep 22 with 520 views

BLACKCAT

Three valuable points for the Super U's against Adkin's Rovers on 12:14 - Sep 22 by burnsieespana
If Tovide keeps playing like yesterday he will be sold in January unfortunately.

It is vital that the two T's stay fit. If they do, and Tovide remains till June this could be a very enjoyable season.

Three valuable points for the Super U's against Adkin's Rovers on 08:11 - Sep 23 with 402 views

durham_exile

Three valuable points for the Super U's against Adkin's Rovers on 12:14 - Sep 22 by burnsieespana
If Tovide keeps playing like yesterday he will be sold in January unfortunately.

Burnsie
Clearly if both Taylor and Tovide prove themselves to be the new Bannister and Warboys then the pressure will be on but we have sold a number of our better players and the monies received should enable us to reject possible suitors especially if we are in the top four at Christmas (which I believe we will be).

Taylor is the new Jamie Cureton (the last Colchester player to score more than 20 goals in one season) and providing he is able to maintain his exceptional fitness then he can certainly score 20+ goals as can Tovide.

Whilst we remain a selling club, we can certainly keep the sharks at bay with our performances and if we are promoted in May then there is a greater opportunity to retain our best assets in League One next season.

Up the U's

Durham_exile

Three valuable points for the Super U's against Adkin's Rovers on 08:23 - Sep 23 with 398 views

TheOldOakTree

Three valuable points for the Super U's against Adkin's Rovers on 08:11 - Sep 23 by durham_exile

Joe Taylor scored 22 last season, sadly half of them were for the Imps! If he'd played in the team that Cureton played in, how many would he have scored ? 30+?

Any respite from the worries of relegation will only ever be temporary, while we persist with selling anyone we can, just to prop up a failed philosophy.

If we cannot enjoy the fruits of the academy for more than a season, what's the point of it?

Three valuable points for the Super U's against Adkin's Rovers on 09:02 - Sep 23 with 390 views

burnsieespana

Three valuable points for the Super U's against Adkin's Rovers on 08:23 - Sep 23 by TheOldOakTree

Whilst I understand what uou are saying think the point is, it is useless to try and hang onto a player who wants to go once an offer has been made as they then effectively 'down tools'.
I suspect under DC the philosophy has changed from wanting 5 or 6 acadamy players in the side to one or two who he knows he can develop with the view to sell but importantly the side is built around players who have come in.

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