CUFC vs CUFC - Episode 1/6

[Tom_CUFC]

First visit to Colchester, never had the pleasure of Layer Road, apparently this new gaff is shit but at least a) it won't be cold, b) we'll have a reasonable following, and c) I'll have had a few so it'll be alright.

We're so much better when we're on the front foot so I hope we take the game to them but that doesn't seem to be Derry's way, and particularly after 120 minutes midweek we might just try and control the pace to start with anyway. We have tended to look better, and more expansive, away from home under him though, so I hope he can use the momentum from Tuesday night to our advantage early on.

Gregory (assuming Norris injured), Taylor, Legge, Coulson, Adams, Dunne, Newton, Mingoia, Berry, Maris, Williamson for me, but suspect he'll start Long at right back and probably Pigott up front.

2-1 Cambridge.

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

I will be in attendance. Don't normally make predictions but I'm going to stick my neck on the line and say if it isn't a draw I think The U's might nab it.

 

[Habbinalan]

Geared up for 2 new "out of town" grounds - can't be worse than Oxford but pining for the likes of York and Daggers already.

4 points from Colchester and Doncaster would be a good return but 2 would probably be acceptable - even if it takes the wind out of our League Cup sails. Really pleased with Gregory's deut so not too bothered that Norris will still be out. Maris did enough to start ahead of Elito. Leon will be back but I suspect in place of Josh. I'd be happy to persist with Long at right back. Greg Taylor may get his start on Tuesday.

Gregory, Long, Legge, Dallison, Adams, Dunne, Newton, Mingoia, Berry, Maris, Williamson.

2-1 to the U's

 

[Casey]

If you drive don't park in the streets nearby. Wardens on the prowl.

Casey

 

[Arbury]

well the new ground can't be any worse than layer road, proper shit that place, we always played shit their to if I remember rightly.

As for the game, I'll be happy with a draw but hoping Derry plays it a bit canny, I'm not precisely smitten with him tactically but he does tend to get us playing on the front foot away from home, whether he's recruited the right personnel to carry on with this is another matter.

1-1

Mark sale in the tesco kit!!!!

KTF.

 

[dedwardp]

If you drive it is probably easiest to go into the Park and Ride at the stadium junction off the A12 - I think that it is about £3. Then just wander over the bridge to the ground. The WHCS is not a patch on Layer Road but that's the modern way I guess.

As for the game, optimistic for the season as you generally have to be in August, but that's tempered somewhat by some distinctly average displays in pre-season and the same old tendancies of capitulating as soon as the ball hits our net on Tuesday night. Cambridge seem relatively fancied too, so I'll predict a point.

 

[huddsmoose]

This is the worst I've seen us play for a while. I don't think we've done anything positive in the whole half.

Colchester should be 3 or 4 up.

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

Cambridge were poor, improved after the formation change mind. Colchester were throughly excellent however, on that showing would not be surprised to see them go up. The two wide men and Szmodzics were exceptional, as was Guthrie from deeper, excellent movement, excellent balls to compliment it.
Cambridge were very poor however.

 

[Vanni]

It's far too early but that's why I always had and will have doubts on Derry. I never bought into the wankfest last season because the good results were mainly down to the players we had on loan*. His style of management is only one of the morale boosting type, you know the type - 'at 'em lads' especially when we're chasing a game. As for actual tactics - forget it, he doesn't have a clue.

*Believe me, I do know firsthand the big improvement 3/4 decent loan players will do to a very average side.

 

[dedwardp]

Thanks for Brennan Dickenson, Gillingham. What a player.

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

Having had a read through the Cambridge forum, I don't think Dallison was that bad to be singled out (defensively, on the ball he was legit woeful).

I think Cambridge's main problems were that apart from Mingoia, there was absolutely nothing. Berry/ Newton/ Williamson/ Maris/ Pigott were unable to hold the ball at all, in Pigott's case it wasn't helped by a bunch of awful balls forward, but even then he wasn't as competitive as I've seen him regarding holding it.

Passing accuracy was awful, on the left hand side until Elito came on Cambridge had absolutely nothing. I'm genuinely trying to remember any time Williamson touched the ball on the wing, it was like playing with 10 men. I think he made one good run, Berry didn't release and then lost it. I thought Long played a little bit too high allowing Szmodics space to run in behind and Taylor was literally abused by Wright. Dunne was okay infront of the defence, but I think the bigger problem was that as Cambridge were unable to keep the ball it was coming back every single time. The movement and use of the ball was genuinely awful.

 

[Habbinalan]

U's were awful. On to Doncaster.