FA Trophy winners 2014 v Anglo-Italian Cup winners 1971 (Cambridge v Blackpool)

[Vanni]

Back to league action after our little Fa Cup adventure, and a tricky test awaits us in the form of Blackpool. I didn't go to Bloomfield Road for the one all draw between the sides back in October when Blackpool scored a late equaliser but, according to the match reports, a point apiece was a fair result in the end so no complaints from me.

Shaun Derry will most probably start the same starting eleven that played on Monday night against Leeds, although there's the chance Dunk will start but I don't think so think especially after watching how uncomfortable he looked when he came on against Leeds. I'm not expecting any changes on the bench either, and this is where we need to strengthen in January as it's pretty thin at present, and we don't have those couple of players who could come on and make a difference.

I'm expecting a tight match, possibly with just the one goal in it. Still, I'm going for a 1-1 draw, but won't be surprised if they beat us esp. since we tend to do better away from home.

 

[Habbinalan]

Back to league action after our little Fa Cup adventure, and a tricky test awaits us in the form of Blackpool. I didn't go to Bloomfield Road for the one all draw between the sides back in October when Blackpool scored a late equaliser but, according to the match reports, a point apiece was a fair result in the end so no complaints from me.

Shaun Derry will most probably start the same starting eleven that played on Monday night against Leeds, although there's the chance Dunk will start but I don't think so think especially after watching how uncomfortable he looked when he came on against Leeds. I'm not expecting any changes on the bench either, and this is where we need to strengthen in January as it's pretty thin at present, and we don't have those couple of players who could come on and make a difference........

Presumably Davies and Darling will be playing against Brighton in the FA Youth Cup on Friday night (Stoke await the winners in the 5th round). With Carroll (or Halliday if fit) coming in for Adams, the bench will pick itself. Still a bit thin on defensive and attacking cover but our first eleven should have a chance of picking up the momentum again.

I was impressed with Blackpool at Bloomfield Road (finishing aside) and was very pleased with a draw. They play some good football (ideally suited to our pressing game) and have some decent experience - just lacking consistency. They've managed a few clean sheets but still seem to struggle scoring, despite some experienced "names" up front - Philliskirk, ex-Posh Vassell, ex-O's Gnaduillet, ex-Luton Cullen.

My first L2 match since November and I'd be happy with a score draw to get back on track but hope for a swamping 3-1.

Norris
Halliday/Taylor, Legge, Roberts, Taylor/Carroll
Dunne, Clarke
Mingoia, Berry, Newton
Ikpeazu

Subs: Gregory, Adams, Dunk, Williamson, Maris, Carroll/Halliday? Piggott

 

[Laker]

I think this is a tough one. On the pitch, Blackpool have flown below the radar all season but they're a better side than most people give them credit for. I am hopeful Derry has got the mindset of the team sorted post-Leeds, we need to play Blackpool with a similar intensity to what we played in games won in December. There's a risk we might be slightly off that following the defeat/effort v Leeds.

 

[huddsmoose]

We're coming into a tough run of games now; Blackpool (h), Mansfield (h), Luton (a).

Get through that lot unbeaten and I'll be delighted. As for this one... who knows. I sort of expect a win given our current form, but a draw may not be a terrible result come the end of the season.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

I've got a nasty feeling about this one, next 4 games are all tricky so a poor result here wouldn't be a great start, however if we can come out and play like we did in the first 50 minutes on Monday then we'll have no problems.

New bloke in for Adams and the rest the same I imagine.

 

[Vanni]

I tend to check Flashscore when I need to check out our opponents home or away form, as form is calculated over the last five games unlike other footy sites, and can't say I'm too hopeful of getting a result. 3-1-1 in their last 5 aways, and they haven't conceded a single goal in their last 3 (a 2-0 win at Boro, a 1-0 win at Pools and a goalless draw at Grimsby). OTOH, they had Wycombe in the Trophy on Tuesday, and I think they fielded a strong side so our boys could be fresher having played the night before, although we played a stronger side.

A draw will be satisfactory I think, esp if we then beat Mansfield. Not holding out much hope for Luton though. Still, I'll only be convinced we're on the right track and really serious about our play off ambitions when we start beating the top 7 sides.

 

[Arbury]

Have to agree with my fellow u's on this one in that it's a tough one to call so think I'll go for 1-1.

Would gladly take a undeserved 1-0 though.

KTF

 

[SVH]

Looking at their recent results I don't share the same view as my fellow U's fans.

On paper their attacking force should be banging goals in but they aren't. Coming off the back of a draw and two defeats I think we will make it three. 2-0 to the U's.

 

[Laker]

Meh. Played poorly, though not for want of trying. Just one of those games. Unbeaten run extended, let's move on to next week.

 

[Arbury]

Rather frustrating that, thought we done enough to win it but without really hitting the heights of previous games, we just lacked that cohesion and passing in the final third to put Blackpool under a sustained amount pressure.

Uche was poor today I felt but Derry will not take him off even when he's clearly knackered, that's one derrys faults I feel, when and what subsitutions to make, granted the bench isn't blessed with quality but I still think he could use it better.

Shout for Adams in his 2nd half performance at right back, was actually better than what he is at left back.

James dunne was fantastic.

I need a ticket for Luton.

KTF

 

[Arbury]

Oh and berry needs to get some variation on his pens, far to predictable putting it the same place every fecking time!!

KTF

 

[Habbinalan]

Two good defences, keepers and midfields combined to stop weaker forward options scoring. Potts was stand out for Blackpool and their defence dealt well with a less dynamic Uche than we've seen recently - he spent a lot of time pushed wide left. Both teams had chances to get 3 points but we had loads and still didn't score.

Although the red card looked harsh and the pen was for a pull back when Newton wouldn't have got to the ball anyway, Potts was lucky not to be sent off when he much more obviously pulled back Luke Berry when clear on goal..

Without significant improvement in striker options, we still look top 10, pushing for playoffs, as do another half dozen teams apparently - so we still have a chance if we can find goals from somewhere.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Game was on a knife edge for a long time and it really could've gone either way, of course once we got the penalty then we should've gone onto win it, 4 points dropped against Blackpool this season could be costly. Much like when we missed an opportunity against Orient, if we can come away with 3 points from the next one then it's still a good return, we certainly need to rest up this week though because we've looked tired for most of the last 130 minutes of football we've played.

Roberts and Dunne our two best players for me, Roberts an absolute colossus and Dunne as per usual was here there and everywhere winning the ball back, hopefully having a slightly better midfielder alongside him going forward in Lewis will allow him to not have to cover so much ground, otherwise I fear he'll end up running himself into the ground, he's every as bit important to us as Bez and Uche.

Carroll was solid if not spectacular IMO, another of the modern breed of full backs who looks really good going forward but a little suspect at the back, we were getting caught out quite a lot down his side in the first half and I must admit when I saw Adams called in at half time I assumed it'd be for him. More solid defensively second half and looks like he has a decent pass at his disposal too, yes he had a couple of long punts near the end but that was only because as soon as he got the ball everyone else ran away from him!

Clark was bang average and Newton did nothing but get in the way when he came on, useful players for us to have to come off the bench and fill in but hopefully Lewis will start going forward and will prove to be an upgrade for us in that position, because we need it to help out Berry in front of them.

Maris I feel for because a winger he is not, but the story of his season for the most part has been good off the bench, poor when starting. He really shouldn't be on set pieces either, both Mingoia and Clark are far better at it. We're in serious need of a proper left winger, either through Dunk or Elito returning to fitness or, more likely, by bringing in someone on loan for the rest of the season so we don't have to rush them back.

Likewise as we've all established, we need another option for Uche as we've got absolutely sod all at the moment, if we don't sign anyone this week I'd much rather see Foy brought on than Williamson who has time ran out a while ago and has offered us absolutely nothing when brought on either up front or out wide, and Piggott was just summed up when he tried to hit one into an empty net at half time and managed to hit it 10 yards over and into the NRE, hopefully we can get rid of at least one of them but I suspect it's going to be hard to do that.

Obviously what Saturday showed is we don't really have a plan B, I don't particularly blame Derry for that, we all know that our first XI is probably top 5 material but we are seriously struggling after that, which is why we still have a couple of very important signings to make and 3 key players to get back to 100% as soon as we can (Halliday, Dunk, Elito). We're still in a really good position, a few of the teams around us play each other next weekend so it's a great opportunity for us to either make up some ground or build up a gap behind us, and also to help take the pressure off a little bit when we go to Luton the week after. If we can get out of the next 3 games with 5+ points then we'll be in a great position to really attack an easier part of our fixture list after that.