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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! 12:48 - Jan 16 with 1032 viewsdurham_exile

Happy New Year. The vaccine is being administered to the most vulnerable and to date more than 3.5m doses have been given within the UK. At last, some encouraging news to combat this shocking COVID virus.

And of course, Colchester are unbeaten this year (we have not played a game yet!).

Today a local derby against Cambridge United, which will go a long way to determining how serious we are about challenging for any form of promotion this year.

A victory after 5 winless games is vital especially as we have slumped to 13th in the table.

Carlisle 21 39
Newport 20 38
Cambridge 22 37
FGR 21 37
Salford 22 36
Cheltenham 21 35
Crawley 22 34
Morecambe 20 34
Orient 22 33
Exeter 20 32
Walsall 22 30
Mansfield 23 29
COL U 21 39

Carlisle were exceptionally good when we played them at Brunton Park, Newport were fluky against us, Morecambe slaughtered us 2-1, Exeter are our bogey team, and Cambridge beat us when we should have drawn. Losing to Scummend was a disgrace.

Performances recently have been poor, no woeful. There has been no passion, no commitment, no effort, and no confidence. We were abysmal against Marine and that has cost us £250K this season in lost revenue.

Our real slump started at the Abbey Stadium and then we lost to an exceptionally good Morecambe side, we lost to relegation certainties Scummend and then clung on to draw with Cheltenham. Am I being too harsh, no definitely not? A lot of rubbish has been spoken this year about it will be a good season just to survive. The league is the weakest for years and however bad the finances may or may not be four teams will still be promoted. Why should it not be Colchester in the top seven mix.

Stevenage continue to be the Colchester B team with Chuck Norris the latest to depart to the Hertfordshire side. We wish him well. We could lose Cohen Bramall as well and that would be a disaster. He is valued at £225K and a decision will have to be made soon because he can leave at the end of the season for free. But would he go if we could guarantee League One football for him come August?

Certainly, there is no movement in to the club. A striker is definitely required. Kurtis Guthrie has moved to Port Vale, but he would not have returned to the JSCS under any circumstances. We do not want Sears back; he is past his best. We want a decent striker preferably 6ft plus and a physical presence, but they are not queuing up to come and in truth availability of such players is slim.

A new manager is also required but that is also not going to happen. SB has no clue when it comes to tactics involving strikers and after the success of Jevani Brown as a make shift number 9 other teams have found out the perfect way to stop him and we have given him no service whatsoever in recent games.

The injury to Harry Pell has restricted our midfield options, but he should be back today. SB does not know his best XI and his obsession with playing Courtney Senior is bizarre in the extreme. Given our squad I would play 4,3,3 today and make that a genuine 3 up front.

Dependent on fitness I would go with.

Gerken

Welch-Hayes Eastman Smith Bramall

Pell Stevenson Chilvers

Folivi Brown Harriott

Subs:

George Senior Lapslie Cowan-Hall Bohui Tchamadeu Tovide

We have had three weeks on the training ground to get the tactics right and to prepare for this game.

Stop the playing out from the back, which puts our defence under pressure, get the ball forward quickly and look to play the ball to the feet of our strikers, Brown and Folivi. When fit Harriott is our most skilful attacker and can deliver a decent cross plus he is not afraid to hit the ball from outside the box.

If SB is bold and the midfield is fit then Pell, Stevenson and Chilvers offer a combination of passing, intervention and linking up with the strikers.

Give Brown support from Folivi and play them as a genuine partnership. After all we cannot do any worse that we have been doing. But SB must be bold, adventurous, and confident.

Weather is 4 degrees Celsius and showery in Colchester. It is dry in Durham, but the view is seasonal with lying snow after two days of the white stuff.

Let us hope that the players can turn things around and deliver three points today. The supporters deserve it and after a miserable spell without any joy we are overdue a victory.

Try and enjoy the game.

2-1 Colchester (Brown and Bramall)

Up the U’s



Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 13:40 - Jan 16 with 700 viewsnoah4x4

Easter Eggs in Tesco must mean.........

1. Soon be the end of the pandemic.

2. Soon be cricket.

3. Soon be time to contemplate resuming visits to Torquay FC and Hartlepool.
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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 14:13 - Jan 16 with 689 viewsdurham_exile

Starting XI

Gerken

Eastman Sowunmi Smith Bramall

Pell Stevenson Chilvers

Poku Brown Harriott

Subs

George Senior Clampin Bohui Tovide Tchamadeu Marshall Miranda

No Folivi or Welch-Hayes

If he plays 4,3,3 then ok if 4,5,1 then no

Up the U's

Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 14:57 - Jan 16 with 667 viewsgerry_us

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 13:40 - Jan 16 by noah4x4

Easter Eggs in Tesco must mean.........

1. Soon be the end of the pandemic.

2. Soon be cricket.

3. Soon be time to contemplate resuming visits to Torquay FC and Hartlepool.


Erm...those two teams are the Conference. What are you suggesting?

I understand Cambridge are only fielding an eight today, plus a Cox obviously.

Remember Harry Carpenter commentating after the Oxford-Cambridge boat race in 1977 -
'Ah, isn't  that nice.. The wife of the Cambridge President is kissing the Cox of the Oxford crew.'
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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:00 - Jan 16 with 666 viewsdurham_exile

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 14:57 - Jan 16 by gerry_us

Erm...those two teams are the Conference. What are you suggesting?

I understand Cambridge are only fielding an eight today, plus a Cox obviously.

Remember Harry Carpenter commentating after the Oxford-Cambridge boat race in 1977 -
'Ah, isn't  that nice.. The wife of the Cambridge President is kissing the Cox of the Oxford crew.'


Sounds like a Brian Johnson classic.

Great to hear the U's running out to the Post Horn Gallup.

Up the U's

Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:06 - Jan 16 with 662 viewsdurham_exile

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:00 - Jan 16 by durham_exile

Sounds like a Brian Johnson classic.

Great to hear the U's running out to the Post Horn Gallup.

Up the U's


Sowunmi and Smith with two early chances

Bright start

Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:09 - Jan 16 with 658 viewsgerry_us

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:00 - Jan 16 by durham_exile

Sounds like a Brian Johnson classic.

Great to hear the U's running out to the Post Horn Gallup.

Up the U's


PHG, absolutely brilliant. Takes me back a LONG way.
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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:11 - Jan 16 with 655 viewsdurham_exile

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:09 - Jan 16 by gerry_us

PHG, absolutely brilliant. Takes me back a LONG way.


Yes the good old days.

Why did we not cover the pitch?

Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:13 - Jan 16 with 651 viewsdurham_exile

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:11 - Jan 16 by durham_exile

Yes the good old days.

Why did we not cover the pitch?


Shocking and undeserved goal

Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:24 - Jan 16 with 631 viewsdurham_exile

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:13 - Jan 16 by durham_exile

Shocking and undeserved goal


Colchester have been the far better team but still trail to a tap in goal.

Come on the U's

Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:37 - Jan 16 with 614 viewsdurham_exile

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:24 - Jan 16 by durham_exile

Colchester have been the far better team but still trail to a tap in goal.

Come on the U's


Brown, Harriott and Eastman all playing well.

We must get back into this game soonest.

Up the U"s

Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:40 - Jan 16 with 610 viewsdurham_exile

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:37 - Jan 16 by durham_exile

Brown, Harriott and Eastman all playing well.

We must get back into this game soonest.

Up the U"s


Harriott deserved equaliser

1-1

Come on

Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:40 - Jan 16 with 610 viewsgerry_us

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:37 - Jan 16 by durham_exile

Brown, Harriott and Eastman all playing well.

We must get back into this game soonest.

Up the U"s


Who needs strikers?
OG's accepted.
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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:43 - Jan 16 with 609 viewsdurham_exile

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:40 - Jan 16 by gerry_us

Who needs strikers?
OG's accepted.


Probably our best 45 mins in the last ,6 games.

Can we win this I reckon so.

Up the U's

Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:49 - Jan 16 with 599 viewsdurham_exile

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:43 - Jan 16 by durham_exile

Probably our best 45 mins in the last ,6 games.

Can we win this I reckon so.

Up the U's


Good to see Colchester getting the ball forward quickly.

Bramall, Harriott and Brown have played well down the left.
Eastman has combined well with Poku.
Pell and Stevenson have battled well in midfield. Smith has played well too.

Second half push on to win the game.

Up the U's

Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:52 - Jan 16 with 596 viewsnoah4x4

Definitely our best 45 minutes in 2021.....

Pell making a huge difference, but Sowunmi looks like a calamity waiting to happen.

I'd switch to a back three, load the defensive midfield and try to stop Cambridge in the middle third. We can't play out of defence in these conditions.
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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 16:23 - Jan 16 with 577 viewsgerry_us

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 15:52 - Jan 16 by noah4x4

Definitely our best 45 minutes in 2021.....

Pell making a huge difference, but Sowunmi looks like a calamity waiting to happen.

I'd switch to a back three, load the defensive midfield and try to stop Cambridge in the middle third. We can't play out of defence in these conditions.


Senior on soon Durham?
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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 16:34 - Jan 16 with 567 viewsdurham_exile

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 16:23 - Jan 16 by gerry_us

Senior on soon Durham?


Only if we don't want to win the game.

I would give Samson Tovide 10 minutes and see what he could do.

Oh no Senior is coming on for Poku

Shocking

Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 16:39 - Jan 16 with 558 viewsdurham_exile

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 16:34 - Jan 16 by durham_exile

Only if we don't want to win the game.

I would give Samson Tovide 10 minutes and see what he could do.

Oh no Senior is coming on for Poku

Shocking


On a day when the players have to get stuck in.

Senior has wussed out of two challenges.

Not good enough.

Come on the U's

Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 16:44 - Jan 16 with 552 viewsdurham_exile

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 16:39 - Jan 16 by durham_exile

On a day when the players have to get stuck in.

Senior has wussed out of two challenges.

Not good enough.

Come on the U's


Pell unlucky.

Senior injured get him off.

I would gladly drive him to whichever club would be interested in signing him.

He is bloody useless.

Up the U's

Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 16:53 - Jan 16 with 540 viewsdurham_exile

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 16:44 - Jan 16 by durham_exile

Pell unlucky.

Senior injured get him off.

I would gladly drive him to whichever club would be interested in signing him.

He is bloody useless.

Up the U's


A much improved performance but only one point.

1-1

Durham_exile

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 16:56 - Jan 16 with 539 viewswessex_exile

Tough game in very difficult conditions. Certainly an improvement on some recent performances, and whilst we might just have deserved a second with Pell's instinctive flick (who was immense btw), we could just have easily lost it with that late chance for Cambridge.

Up the U's
Poll: How will we do in 2016/17
Blog: Knees-up Mother Brown #23

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 16:59 - Jan 16 with 535 viewsbwildered

Over elaborated passes in bad conditions, target man would have made things simpler. Eastman MOM should have put him upfront last ten minutes.

Poll: No half measure either 1 or 2 ?

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 17:04 - Jan 16 with 534 viewsMoor_Pinot

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 16:56 - Jan 16 by wessex_exile

Tough game in very difficult conditions. Certainly an improvement on some recent performances, and whilst we might just have deserved a second with Pell's instinctive flick (who was immense btw), we could just have easily lost it with that late chance for Cambridge.


Yes, could easily have lost that, though it would have been undeserved. I agree with Durham, absolutely no harm in giving the lad Tovide ten minutes. He is unproven so unknown to opposition teams. Tactics like this are beyond Ball of course, but if we are ever to win again something more creative is needed. Agree, Senior not in the same league as Pell where commitment is concerned. Pity we can't move him out into the National Lg.
Rotten conditions today so a point against the team who are third must do. It ain't gonna happen for us this season though. We've several decent players but not enough collectively from management or players to suggest we can challenge. We win far too few games.
Nice to have Pell back - he's a all the better when he gives his all like today and leaves aside any moaning!
Up those 12th placed U's

Moor Pinot

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 17:06 - Jan 16 with 531 viewsbwildered

No stripes blue kit, post horn gallop , heavy pitch , Layla played at half time, was I watching Time Tunnel . Where were Lewis , Gibbs and Hall ??

Poll: No half measure either 1 or 2 ?

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Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 22:37 - Jan 16 with 478 viewsoxfcolu

Never mind the excuses we need to win today any win will do! on 17:06 - Jan 16 by bwildered

No stripes blue kit, post horn gallop , heavy pitch , Layla played at half time, was I watching Time Tunnel . Where were Lewis , Gibbs and Hall ??


Oh happy days. And thanks for the memories. 😁
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