Colchester Post Match

[MC Prussian]

4-5-1? Who was playing 4-5-1?

*GENERAL STATEMENT ALARM*

I was merely making a general statement about football formations

(given the possibility that we might have to play without Howard once more against the Posh).

*GENERAL STATEMENT ALARM OVER*

[dimmerchant]

We were crap today, worst performance of the season.

I don't think it's because we didn't have Howard, it was because of his replacement. Barry Hayles. He is terrible. Just because he is immobile like Howard, doesn't mean that he is the perfect replacement. He was shit today, work rate was poor, he didn't seem to want the ball at all, never got into a good position and was easily the worst player i've seen wear the mighty shirt this season and last. He is not quick, he is not good in the air, he cannot hold the ball up, he cannot supply Fryatt with anything, he doesn't read the game well, he doesn't know what day of the week it is, let alone how to score, and he doesn't work hard enough. If Pearson would of taken the slight risk of playing Chambers upfront with Fryatt and changing the tactics slightly, getting rid of the hold up position, then i'm sure the result would of been different today. Chambers deserves a chance, he has been on the brink for so long and has played so little. If we keep sidelining him for the likes of Hayles and Dickov, it's inevitable that he will pack his bags when an offer comes round for him. He needs to have more of a chance, getting a whole game in the league, this league would allow him to flourish. Granted, when Howard and Fryatt are working well together then keep it as it is, but when one of them is out, don't pick from the old has-beens of Hayles and Dickov to try and replace them because they cannot.

I think Colchester deserve a fair bit of credit today, they had great work rate and closed us down which restricted us to pass it around the midfield. This resulted in the defence just booting it up for Hayles to run on (stare at and pretend he wants the bal) and this just gave Colchester possesion again.

Losing Cleverley early on was a big blow. His injury could be costly. As soon as we kicked off though, nobody seemed to really want it. Nobody was giving 100% and I think thats why we lost (and because of Hayles) but we can't expect to win every game of the season.

Although today was shit, we are still destined for promotion. A win at Posh would make it that much easier but we are likely to have a tough end to the season. I am still fairly certain we will win the league, but not with the likes of Hayles playing.

Apologies for the rant.

[potter3]

*GENERAL STATEMENT ALARM*

I was merely making a general statement about football formations

(given the possibility that we might have to play without Howard once more against the Posh).

*GENERAL STATEMENT ALARM OVER*

Ohh, well if it's done the right way it's a good formation, with the wingers basically playing up front, making it almost a 4-3-3

[carterfox90]

We were dreadful - I have just got back from what was a waste of an afternoon.

Getting over the finish line and promotion is getting as painful as trying to get over the finish line to achieve safety.

This is a case of deja vu.

I cannot see where we're going to get a win from next at home - Carlisle possibly, but Leeds and S****horpe?

For me we still haven't cracked this home form - in fact, it gets worse as the season draws, no sorry, crawls to its end.

spot on mate exactly how i thought

[carterfox90]

we were crap at home again end as usual why do they play like that at home?????/

[Koke]

we were crap at home again end as usual why do they play like that at home?????/

I think our home record is the best in the league.

[skinnydipper]

The ref looked a bit like Mike The Small Person from The Young Ones

And as a sufferer of small man syndrome he was desperate to be noticed

[colbo68]

We were crap today, worst performance of the season.

I don't think it's because we didn't have Howard, it was because of his replacement. Barry Hayles. He is terrible. Just because he is immobile like Howard, doesn't mean that he is the perfect replacement. He was shit today, work rate was poor, he didn't seem to want the ball at all, never got into a good position and was easily the worst player i've seen wear the mighty shirt this season and last. He is not quick, he is not good in the air, he cannot hold the ball up, he cannot supply Fryatt with anything, he doesn't read the game well, he doesn't know what day of the week it is, let alone how to score, and he doesn't work hard enough. If Pearson would of taken the slight risk of playing Chambers upfront with Fryatt and changing the tactics slightly, getting rid of the hold up position, then i'm sure the result would of been different today. Chambers deserves a chance, he has been on the brink for so long and has played so little. If we keep sidelining him for the likes of Hayles and Dickov, it's inevitable that he will pack his bags when an offer comes round for him. He needs to have more of a chance, getting a whole game in the league, this league would allow him to flourish. Granted, when Howard and Fryatt are working well together then keep it as it is, but when one of them is out, don't pick from the old has-beens of Hayles and Dickov to try and replace them because they cannot.

I think Colchester deserve a fair bit of credit today, they had great work rate and closed us down which restricted us to pass it around the midfield. This resulted in the defence just booting it up for Hayles to run on (stare at and pretend he wants the bal) and this just gave Colchester possesion again.

Losing Cleverley early on was a big blow. His injury could be costly. As soon as we kicked off though, nobody seemed to really want it. Nobody was giving 100% and I think thats why we lost (and because of Hayles) but we can't expect to win every game of the season.

Although today was shit, we are still destined for promotion. A win at Posh would make it that much easier but we are likely to have a tough end to the season. I am still fairly certain we will win the league, but not with the likes of Hayles playing.

Apologies for the rant.

No need to apologise - playin Stales over giving the young strikers a chance at home makes absolutely no sense whatsover

[SamL]

I'd say one point gained, rather than two points dropped. A poor performance all round really, only Gilbert and Warner come out of the game with any credit.

On the positive side, one point closer to our overall goal of promotion.

[skinnydipper]

Losing Cleverley early on was a big blow. His injury could be costly. As soon as we kicked off though, nobody seemed to really want it. Nobody was giving 100% and I think thats why we lost (and because of Hayles) but we can't expect to win every game of the season.

The good news is we scraped a draw

[SamL]

Yet another poor performance against Colchester at the Walkers, that's three in a row.

[volpeazzurro]

Absolute rubbish!

That performance does nothing to diminish the notion that footballers are thick. How long should it take for it to sink in that Howard's not there and so there no point in 'hoofing' it up to the big man cuz we ain't damn well got one on the pitch. Somebody obviously forgot to tell Hobbs and Morrison for example that they have a midfield that they might consider passing the ball to short and on the ground once in a while. The fact that we are so many points clear at the top does means that we are any good, it's just show that the rest are even worse than us because my friends, our team is absolutely crap!

Cheers.

[Matt]

The ref looked a bit like Mike The Small Person from The Young Ones

And as a sufferer of small man syndrome he was desperate to be noticed

As I was asking DB11 but he hasn't replied yet, I think it is a requirement if you want to be a referee.

You have to be a small, normally balding man, who want to make a point and has to be centre of attention.

[Thracian]

We were crap today, worst performance of the season.

Worst performance? You obviously didn't go to Tranmere.

[suffolk fox]

The referee and his assistants today I believe were not qualified! It was a joke. There was an incident in the 2nd half where there tall striker was running towards our goal morrison played it against him quite clearly and the ball came off him went backwards towards our goal and the decision given was a throw in to them!!!???? it was amazing defied the laws of physics. I believe we will go up no problems let's be honest people we played shit and got a point.

All the teams around us have to play each other and games in hand are not easy I would rather have the points on the board. There is no way we will win at London Road next week. We have Howard, King, Cleverley and Mattock all out!

I suggest we do a Ferguson and like Man Ure we tell their respective international countrys they are all injured and then play them against the Posh anyway!!! (Apart from Howard who is suspended)

Relax people we are playing shit and still picking up points. We only have to finish 2nd. I can't see us losing five games of our remaining fixtures for us to do that. We will lose, yes, but not five. The other teams will still have to win theirs it ain't gonna happen we are up.

[Tilley]

Jesus, the more I think about it, the more I realise how terrible yesterday was.

On a good note, I am fast falling in love with about three young ladies down there. Shame I'm not getting a season ticket next season.

[lildave3]

Jesus, the more I think about it, the more I realise how terrible yesterday was.

On a good note, I am fast falling in love with about three young ladies down there. Shame I'm not getting a season ticket next season.

Send them to SK1.

[Tilley]

Send them to SK1.

Think a pre match piss up is on the cards for the Scunny game.

Pluck up the courage to get a few numbers I think.

[demon_dog]

Considering we are a team wanting instant promotion, we are making it hard work over the last few games.

Yesterday was no exception first half was complete and utter crap, second half started the same.

It was only when Dickov came on and scored that we seemed to start to play as if we wanted to win.

We were lucky against Millwall as they played poorly, if Posh play at their best next week and we play as we did yesterday I cannot see us getting anything from the game.

[Corky]

Second worst home match I've seen this season (after Millwall)- we just laboured. King and Oakley weren't at it, Hayles tried but no-one was in support. If Dyer had put that chance away it would've been shown on Crimewatch- three points for us would've been daylight robbery.

Hopefully next week will be better, with better officials too.

[leicesterseddon]

runaway leaders at the top of the league at home against a middling side in a terrible division, and we managed about 3 shots on target in an hour and a half of playing. to say it was terrible would be an understatement. no plan A and no plan B.

on the bright side, they weren't brilliant either and we're a point closer to promotion.

[colbo68]

Absolute rubbish!

That performance does nothing to diminish the notion that footballers are thick. How long should it take for it to sink in that Howard's not there and so there no point in 'hoofing' it up to the big man cuz we ain't damn well got one on the pitch. Somebody obviously forgot to tell Hobbs and Morrison for example that they have a midfield that they might consider passing the ball to short and on the ground once in a while. The fact that we are so many points clear at the top does means that we are any good, it's just show that the rest are even worse than us because my friends, our team is absolutely crap!

Cheers.

its not that the players are 'thick' as you crudely put it. The fact is that the team does not have a plan B - it seems obvious that if Howard is not playing, we neither have the tactical plan, nor the ability on the ball to be able to bring it down, play it on the floor and hit sides with pace. This has not been a problem this season because the general standard of our players has been good enough to do well in a poor division. My fear, as I have been consistently stating for perhaps three months, is that if we rely on Big Steve next season and do not have a plan B to fall back on, we will not do well - can nobody see that our league position belies the fact that we actually are not a good footballing side.... I have said before and will say it again that the test of Pearson will come next season and, from what i've seen over the past few weeks particularly, I'm not convinced

[DB11]

And can I ask you your view on the freekick the referee gave them, when Hayles got took down and got given nothing, then a minute or so later the same thing happens infront of our penalty area, the referee gives them the freekick again and it leads to their first goal?

If it wasn't a freekick for us, then how could it have been a freekick for them? It was almost the same scenario.

Also on the requirements list to become a referee does it state you have to be a short, normally balding man who like to make a point and be centre of attention? Or is it just a coincidence most referees are like that?

It could have been a free kick. Soft, yes, but it wasn't a blatantly incorrect decision. However, I thought that the Hayles one was a free kick too.

And is it not actually common that small people do jobs in uniform to feel powerful?? Seems like it.

Danny Boy, their free kick they scored from was very soft, even you know that.

Great goal though.

Soft doesn't mean it wasn't a foul BUT in comparison to the rest of the game and decisions that he was/wasn't blowing up for, the challenge that he gave them a free kick that they scored from didn't really align with the rest of the decision he was (or wasn't) giving.

Somebody's gotta put a ban on 4-5-1 - no matter what the team and no matter what manager!

It's the sh*tt*est formation ever created.

Apart from 10-0-1 of course. Megson-stlye.

I think you'll find that formation is already banned

As I was asking DB11 but he hasn't replied yet, I think it is a requirement if you want to be a referee.

You have to be a small, normally balding man, who want to make a point and has to be centre of attention.

Give me time <_<

[morris1234]

Yes we missed howard but i thought it would be the perfect opportunity to start knocking it about on the ground again but no!

I was bored first half, they pass it well and hold the ball well and were spinning off our players too easily. Im just fed up of relying on howard at the minute i dont want to play hoofball, fair enough if it gets us the points i couldnt care less but, like yesterday, what happens when howard is not there?

For me it was a decent game and am happy with a point. I think however we could have won IF somebody were to stand up and take the game to colchester but no, it looked like everybody expected somebody else to do it. Poor attitude, decent-good performance, decent tactics and great crowd. especially the back of sk3, loved it.

roll on the big one

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Not sure if this has been said publicly, and I haven't scanned the thread, but it looks almost certain that Cleverley is out for the rest of the season.

Info given to me by the player himself, via the medium of Facebook.