| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's 20:33 - Jan 12 with 4824 views | durham_exile |
It is an absolute pleasure to write this pre-match statement, more so this week with Danny and Nicky Cowley at the helm for the Super U’s. DC and NC simply ooze confidence and it was evident from the reaction from the faithful last week at the County Ground.
“Danny Cowley’s Blue and White Army” they sang whilst Cowley ran along the touchline celebrating the 94th minute equaliser. The Cowleys have charisma for sure. How refreshing it was to see a Colchester player score a late, late goal. Just to clarify (thanks to Wessex for hunting out the Swindon video which confirmed that Bradley Ihionvien got the last vital touch after Conor Wilkinson’s clever backheel). And Matt Jay deservedly scored the opener just before half time.
Football managers come in various guises. Years ago, the great Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley epitomised greatness in a manager. They were animated on the touchline and involved, committed and totally absorbed by the football. More importantly they looked like winners.
DC and NC are similar in approach and commitment. They not only look like winners but also they are winners.
At last, the right appointments have been made for our club. definitely the best decision since Phil Parkinson was brought in. Their (DC & NC) task is not only to secure Football League survival but also to start to build for the future.
With 24 points from 27 games the Cowleys have 19 games to secure the 48 points needed for survival (just 24 more) but 50 more would give us a shot at the Play Offs. Impossible you say, but not if the Cowleys start to instil that confidence, belief and passion into the players.
Certainly, the profile of our club has been well and truly lifted. Danny Cowley is a regular contributor to Sky Sports. The National press have run articles and none of that would have happened prior to last week.
I’m not a betting man but the U’s odds of promotion were slashed from 1000-1 to 400-1 after their appointment. I must confess that I did put a cheeky tenner on promotion at the start of the season at may be 25-1. But what do I know?
Admittedly it is some years ago but we went 17 games unbeaten (yes really) and a similar Houdini performance would suggest the impossible could become reality.
Ok realistically we are looking at mid-table safety for the U’s with perhaps 62 points but break the remaining games after Saturday into three blocks of six and lets see where it takes us.
All the potential relegation candidates have just changed their managers David Artell at Grimsby, Karl Robinson at Salford, Troy Deeney at FGR and Steve Morison at Sutton.
Of course, what the Cowleys are providing is optimism which has been in short supply for years now. None of this means anything however if we cannot see off the Bantams on Saturday.
They are no mugs; Graham Alexander knows all about lower league football. Although he does have injuries, they are 10 points better off than the U’s and have just recruited Sam Walker the 8ft 6ins goalkeeper who played 213 games for Colchester, but he hasn’t played for us in years. They also defeated Derby County on Tuesday night in the Quarter final of the FL Trophy so their confidence will be high.
Our recent record at Valley Parade has been 1 win, 1 draw and 2 defeats. I’ve watched them all and the narrow defeats 2-0 and 2-1 have been hard to take. The 2-0 when we conceded two goals in added time. I met and talked to a Bantam supporter outside the ground who stated that we had been unlucky to lose and we had, but he then said well you did score a 97th minute winner at the JCS and that was hard to take for us too. Fine margins I suppose. Of course, our winner that day was scored by none other than Tom Eastman.
Last week DC made two changes to the team that lost to Gillingham. This week he has had a full week to assess his charges. They have also acted quickly to strengthen the defence with the arrival of right back Jayden Richardson on loan from Aberdeen.
I think that DC will line up as follows:
Goodman
Richardson Mitchell Hall Iandolo
Fevrier Read Miranda
Jay
Wilkinson Chilvers
Subs
Hornby Kazeem Edwards Ihionvien Hopper McGeehan Akinde
Notwithstanding the fact that we still have key injuries to contend with; Egbo, Tovide, Kells and Lawrence, I would like to see Wilkinson and Ihionvien up front and Edwards involved but DC will be aware that McGeehan is coming back from suspension and he has almost an embarrassment of midfield riches to draw from. I do think that both Greenidge and Dallison will miss out though.
DC’s use of substitutes was key last week and as Noah dryly observed we finished up with a 2,3,5 formation which he hadn’t seen since the 60’s. The last time I remember that formation it was probably on my Subbuteo pitch.
Although I do remember Chelsea from 1971 when they lined up against Forest and won 2-1 and I was there at the Bridge.
Bonetti
Webb Harris
Hollins Wilkins Hinton
Cooke Hudson Osgood Hutchinson Houseman
Those were the days!
Colchester weather will be 5 degrees Celsius and mostly sunny.
Scoreline; here we go, a thoroughly entertaining and exciting game with Colchester to score 4 in a 4-2 win against the Bantams. Wilkinson, Ihionvien (from the bench) Read and Fevrier.
Perhaps a larger crowd tomorrow pushing 5,000 with (600 from Bradford) and bring your blue and white scarf because they want a sea of colour at the JCS. I have already ordered my tickets for the forthcoming Salford, Morecambe and Harrogate Away games in anticipation of something special.
Enjoy the game and at 4:50pm perhaps the faithful will be singing;
“Danny Cowleys blue and white Army, we’re so good it’s unbelievable.”
Up the U’s
 [Post edited 12 Jan 2024 22:37]
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| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 19:12 - Jan 13 with 1010 views | durham_exile |
| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 19:05 - Jan 13 by CrashBandicoot |
We still to tidy up at the back, toughen up in midfield and bring in a consistent goalscorer. Though the nucleus of a good team is there but they do need to work harder off the ball and play with some more intelligence - we did see shades of that in the 2nd half. |
Crash
How were Edwards and Wilkinson when they came on.
How did Richardson play.
Was Chilvers really appalling. | |
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| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 19:13 - Jan 13 with 1005 views | SparkfilmsTV |
The Cowley factor must have added around 1,000 to the gate which is incredible.
No management appointment has ever made an impact like that.
I had to check back to what they achieved at Braintree and it is even more impressive than l realised at the time.
Their journey is a wonderful adventure - well worth checking out on the wiki page.
I was elated when the news of their appointment filtered through - it was something l had been hoping for many years.
Just about to watch Mark Allen v Ali Carter.
😊😊 |  | | |
| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 19:33 - Jan 13 with 993 views | bwildered |
A hard fought draw a fair result for both sides. Inevitably a overload on the right hand side led to the usual Andy Cook goal, but not with a set piece headed goal but rather a well taken shot across the area than went in off the far post goal.
The visitors physical style and hard press made it difficult for the U’s to get a foot hold in the game, but a fantastic drop down and shot by Hopper saw his neat finish level the score against big Sam.
Edwards and Wilkinson, who showed some nice touches, livened up the final minutes.
First impression of the Cowley era, work rate up, defended the set piece better and looked harder to beat, and still in games in the final stages .
[Post edited 13 Jan 2024 19:35]
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| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 19:35 - Jan 13 with 991 views | Witham |
Edwards and Wilkinson (particularly) played positively. Sadly Richardson seemed out of sorts but then he was isolated on the right with no forward runner to aim at | | | |
| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 20:22 - Jan 13 with 963 views | CrashBandicoot |
| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 19:12 - Jan 13 by durham_exile |
Crash
How were Edwards and Wilkinson when they came on.
How did Richardson play.
Was Chilvers really appalling. |
Wilkinson was very good but should have been on from the start as he created a lot. Edwards was good and Richardson showed his ability a few times but needs more match time and fitness.
Chilvers was good on occasion but wasteful at other times, he tries to do too much on his own (saying that so did Jay as well) [Post edited 13 Jan 2024 20:27]
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| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 21:19 - Jan 13 with 930 views | durham_exile |
| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 20:22 - Jan 13 by CrashBandicoot |
Wilkinson was very good but should have been on from the start as he created a lot. Edwards was good and Richardson showed his ability a few times but needs more match time and fitness.
Chilvers was good on occasion but wasteful at other times, he tries to do too much on his own (saying that so did Jay as well) [Post edited 13 Jan 2024 20:27]
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Thanks Crash
Another week and the Cowleys will have their best XI sorted and perhaps another addition to the squad. | |
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| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 23:12 - Jan 13 with 881 views | wessex_exile |
| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 10:20 - Jan 13 by durham_exile |
Most impressed, tickets ordered yesterday, on the doormat this morning.
Next week's weather will cast doubt on Fridays game but hopefully it will go ahead.
Plenty of bright sunshine this morning.
Up the U's |
As a side note, Chris and staff in the ticket office are superstars and deserve all the praise we can give them! |  |
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| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 23:19 - Jan 13 with 880 views | durham_exile |
| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 23:12 - Jan 13 by wessex_exile |
As a side note, Chris and staff in the ticket office are superstars and deserve all the praise we can give them! |
Totally agree Wessex
They are always very efficient and from my placing order to receipt of tickets within 24 hours is tremendous.
Just hope the weather in Salford next Friday is not too bad because I always look forward to the games at Moor Lane. | |
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| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 13:49 - Jan 14 with 782 views | bwildered |
| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 19:35 - Jan 13 by Witham |
Edwards and Wilkinson (particularly) played positively. Sadly Richardson seemed out of sorts but then he was isolated on the right with no forward runner to aim at |
Richardson made a couple of vital blocks and showed up also at the visitors by line, vital now in supply to the forwards. Unfortunately the tussle with Cook saw the lose ball sit up just right for the shot which lead to the goal .
Will be interesting to see a Wilkinson /Hopper comb, just needs a decent supply . [Post edited 14 Jan 2024 13:50]
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| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 07:47 - Jan 18 with 607 views | burnsieespana |
I see Eliot Ward was also in the dugout V Bradford.
Have Marshall and Hussey gone? |  | | |
| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 09:12 - Jan 18 with 586 views | wessex_exile |
| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 07:47 - Jan 18 by burnsieespana |
I see Eliot Ward was also in the dugout V Bradford.
Have Marshall and Hussey gone? |
Neither are listed on the Who’s Who page on the OWS, so it would appear so.
https://www.cu-fc.com/club/whos-who-contact-details/ | |
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| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 10:24 - Jan 18 with 570 views | RSCOSWORTH |
| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 13:49 - Jan 14 by bwildered |
Richardson made a couple of vital blocks and showed up also at the visitors by line, vital now in supply to the forwards. Unfortunately the tussle with Cook saw the lose ball sit up just right for the shot which lead to the goal .
Will be interesting to see a Wilkinson /Hopper comb, just needs a decent supply . [Post edited 14 Jan 2024 13:50]
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The standard unfortunate deflection in the penalty area off of Mitchell. Must be the unluckiest centre back we've ever had. |  |
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| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 10:34 - Jan 18 with 562 views | RSCOSWORTH |
| Bantams have their feather's ruffled by the resurgent Cowley inspired Super U's on 07:47 - Jan 18 by burnsieespana |
I see Eliot Ward was also in the dugout V Bradford.
Have Marshall and Hussey gone? |
I did wonder if they'd gone. Etherington as well. Must admit Konchesky doesn't fill me with confidence as U21 lead. | |
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