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Post by tangerinedream on Feb 26, 2024 10:03:07 GMT
Given the manner and nature of our first defeat in nine games under Karl Robinson on Saturday I think it's pretty certain that he will have had a lot to say and will be looking for a huge reaction from everyone concerned. On paper at least the visit of Colchester United, presently sitting just five points off a relegation spot, shouldn't present too much of a problem but as we know from past experiences with our Essex based visitors that's never been the case in nine previous EFL2 meetings where we've managed just one win and two draws having lost the other six times. To compound the matter, as is the case this season, whenever we've met they've always either been hovering in or just above the drop zone. The U's have won just two of their last 17 games (including a customary win over us back on the 22nd December) but have only lost one in their previous seven having drawn five which has coincided with the appointment of the Cowley brothers management/coaching team. Clearly we'll have to afford them every respect as they arrive at Moor Lane with plenty at stake and plenty to play, however, it's most definitely about time that we start to redress the balance in our favour!
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Post by tangerinedream on Feb 27, 2024 9:29:17 GMT
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Post by chipbarm on Feb 27, 2024 10:49:35 GMT
We've laid a couple of hoodoos to rest this season by winning away at Crawley and Crewe which we had never done before. There's no reason whatsoever why we can't win tonight and we shouldn't be looking to do anything else. Saturday will be a tougher game I reckon so assuming we get on the front foot early and play positively I'm going for us to bounce back from Saturday with a 3-1 win
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Post by alanb on Feb 27, 2024 13:48:27 GMT
And it does help that for the first time in ages our team are actually looking comfortable playing in their own ground. 
PS: Does anyone know if Junior's OK after his knock last Saturday? He's becoming an indispensable member of our attacking force.
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Post by Chris P. Bacon on Feb 27, 2024 17:46:17 GMT
Every time I say I don’t believe in bogey teams, we go and lose. But if KR has got their confidence back up, I expect a win tonight.
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Post by jayb99 on Feb 27, 2024 21:56:40 GMT
Feels like a bit of a missed opportunity for 3 points that. Was hoping we'd kick on after opening the scoring. But a points a point and we're really not that far from a respectable mid table position.
Injuries feel like they're adding up, Hendrys reaction didn't look good - how serious was Luambas from Saturday? Also where's Ossama Ashley up to, is he out for season? I feel Hendry and Luamba are huge losses now.
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Post by chipbarm on Feb 27, 2024 22:16:10 GMT
Poor game between 2 poor teams. The constant wellying it to Smith or towards Morton on the wing drove me mad and our passing when we did bother was way off beam. Some poor finishing when we did create anything and our inability to keep a clean sheet against an extremely limited Colchester attack and there we go. We'll need to improve massively to get anything out of Gillingham on Saturday.
Jabee - Ashley is out for the season
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Post by tangerinedream on Feb 27, 2024 22:29:10 GMT
Dreadful first half that only awoke out of its slumber with Matt Smith's turned in goal from close range following an excellent run and cross cross from Callum Morton. Thought we started the second half brightly with Morton looking lively who was unlucky with a well crafted turn and shot that just whistled past the far post. Other than that it looked like we couldn't hit a barn door with Malcolm, McAleny and Lund all producing woeful finishes that would have earned two points on a Rugby League pitch. We had enough of the ball to have wrapped the game up and I'm far from certain that the off side decision given against Matt Smith when he turned in Elliott Watt's free kick in was the correct call. Thought we might hold out for the win but credit to Colchester who did look dangerous on the break which required two or three last ditch (rugby) tackles to prevent them from scampering up the field. I think the only consolation was that we finished the game unbeaten and yet again for the 9th time in 10 games we failed to beat them! Going to have to see an improvement against Gillingham although it looks odds on that Luamba and N'Mail will both be missing again.
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Post by tangerinedream on Feb 27, 2024 22:54:03 GMT
KR post match .......
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Post by Chris P. Bacon on Feb 28, 2024 6:01:34 GMT
Poor game between 2 poor teams. The constant wellying it to Smith or towards Morton on the wing drove me mad and our passing when we did bother was way off beam. Some poor finishing when we did create anything and our inability to keep a clean sheet against an extremely limited Colchester attack and there we go. We'll need to improve massively to get anything out of Gillingham on Saturday. Jabee - Ashley is out for the season I think we wellied it BECAUSE our passing was shite. |
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Post by Chris P. Bacon on Feb 28, 2024 6:03:07 GMT
Dreadful first half that only that awoke out of its slumber with Matt Smith's turned in goal from an excellent cross from Callum Morton. Thought we started the second half brightly with Morton looking lively and unlucky with a well crafted turn and shot that just whistled past the far post. Other than that it looked like we couldn't hit a barn door with Malcolm, McAleny and Lund all producing woeful finishes that would have earned two points on a Rugby League pitch. We had enough of the ball to have wrapped the game up and I'm far from certain that the off side decision given against Matt Smith when he turned in Elliott Watt's free kick in was the correct call. Thought we might hold out for the win but credit to Colchester who did look dangerous on the break which required two or three last ditch (rugby) tackles to prevent them from scampering up the field. I think the only consolation was that we finished the game unbeaten and yet again for the 9th time in 10 games we failed to beat them! Going to have to see an improvement against Gillingham although it looks odds on that Luamba and N'Mail will both be missing again. Poor shots from McAleny and Lund, with Lund shooting from the left and it going out for an opposition thrown on the right! |
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Post by je85 on Feb 28, 2024 10:47:01 GMT
Are we just a bit s**t against teams in yellow and blue?
Looking at the game last night we looked truly leggy in body and mind. Bit concerned about Saturday with the ever growing injury list and the over reliance on the same 8-10 players to get us beyond 50 points which should be enough to keep us up based on the last few years. Bit surprised we have yet to see Jez Davies even in the match day squad, when we are promoting Kyrell Malcolm at 16 to the starting eleven.
I am confident we will score goals in this survivalist style lumping the ball forward. Where I worry is getting a second or third if needed to take the pressure off. The lads look too tired to find that second kick of energy to go get another goal. Saturday will be tough, but I remain hopeful.
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Post by chipbarm on Feb 28, 2024 12:34:03 GMT
Are we just a bit against teams in yellow and blue? Looking at the game last night we looked truly leggy in body and mind. Bit concerned about Saturday with the ever growing injury list and the over reliance on the same 8-10 players to get us beyond 50 points which should be enough to keep us up based on the last few years. Bit surprised we have yet to see Jez Davies even in the match day squad, when we are promoting Kyrell Malcolm at 16 to the starting eleven. I am confident we will score goals in this survivalist style lumping the ball forward. Where I worry is getting a second or third if needed to take the pressure off. The lads look too tired to find that second kick of energy to go get another goal. Saturday will be tough, but I remain hopeful. Yes the Davies one is weird. I assumed he was brought in as a first team player but he's not been in any match squad with Humbles ahead of him last night. Either KR doesn't rate him one bit or he's injured in which case he'll fit right in. I'm inclined to the latter as we had a B team match last week with a few fringe 1st teamers playing and he didn't even make the bench for that either. Surely he can't be that much of a dud he can't get in the B team? |
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Post by je85 on Feb 28, 2024 23:30:17 GMT
Are we just a bit against teams in yellow and blue? Looking at the game last night we looked truly leggy in body and mind. Bit concerned about Saturday with the ever growing injury list and the over reliance on the same 8-10 players to get us beyond 50 points which should be enough to keep us up based on the last few years. Bit surprised we have yet to see Jez Davies even in the match day squad, when we are promoting Kyrell Malcolm at 16 to the starting eleven. I am confident we will score goals in this survivalist style lumping the ball forward. Where I worry is getting a second or third if needed to take the pressure off. The lads look too tired to find that second kick of energy to go get another goal. Saturday will be tough, but I remain hopeful. Yes the Davies one is weird. I assumed he was brought in as a first team player but he's not been in any match squad with Humbles ahead of him last night. Either KR doesn't rate him one bit or he's injured in which case he'll fit right in. I'm inclined to the latter as we had a B team match last week with a few fringe 1st teamers playing and he didn't even make the bench for that either. Surely he can't be that much of a dud he can't get in the B team? I know he has only been here since the end of Jan but feels a bit Odin Bailey- ish. |
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