The U’s arrived at the DW stadium for the first time since 2003, the weather was dry but overcast, the pitch was pristine and the attendance a decent 8,048.
That is good as it got for TH and his charges, who were frankly woeful.
The U’s lined up 4, 5, 1
Jones
Olufemi Kent Eastman Briggs
Sembie-Ferris Edwards Sordell Gilbey Harriott
Porter
Subs:
Parish, Moncur, Elokobi, Bonne, Ambrose, Lapslie, Szmodics
For the first two minutes the U’s were on the attack and forced an early corner but within 5 minutes we were a goal down to the impressive Daniels and after a cruel deflection gave the splendidly named Max Power a fortunate second the match was over as a contest on 14 minutes when Daniels scored his second and Wigan’s third.
The faithful who had been strangely quiet from the start, managed a chorus of Humes Out but even that was almost apologetic. It seemed that both team and supporters were resigned to a disastrous result.
Now I called for managerial change on September 2nd and remain of the opinion that TH should go. Why?
Well once again he left George Moncur on the bench and reluctantly brought him on after 65 minutes when we were already 4-0 down. I thought that TH had worked out that he is our most creative and influential midfield player. Clearly TH bears grudges and was obviously teaching him a lesson as to who is in charge.
Olufemi had a shocker and time after time was poorly positioned allowing Yanic Wildschut the freedom of the DW stadium. TH did nothing but allowed Frankie Kent to play part time right full back and advanced the unfortunate Olufemi to a right sided midfield role essentially playing 3, 6, 1 but not addressing the problem satisfactorily. This surely was a game for big George Elokobi to bring his experience to bear.
Chris Porter was poor but in fairness will not yet be fully match fit after a spell on the sidelines when he was replaced by Moncur on 65 minutes, Marvin Sordell was given the job of ploughing a lone furrow in attack with no success.
Dion Sembie-Ferris was isolated on the wing and received no support at all during the game, when replaced by Ambrose again on 65 minutes, we lost another opportunity to bring on an attacker (Bonne). Equally Edwards’ replacement on 75 minutes was young Lapslie who had no opportunity to influence the game.
Gilbey had perhaps his worst ever game in a Colchester shirt, Harriott and Sordell had no support throughout either.
The great man’s post-match comment was simply brilliant “they obviously wanted to attack us” — really! A team who have won 4 and drawn 3 at home wanting to attack, now there is a novelty.
Now the key word this season is consistency or lack of in the U’s case. Four victories followed by 3 straight defeats, but it is the manner of those defeats. Unlucky against the Shakers, profligate against the Shrews and utterly woeful against the Latics. This is the most frustrating part of supporting a TH team. You never know whether you will get brilliance or utter abject rubbish.
I’m not bothered how good Wigan were or Will Grigg; but why Col U were so poor. Incidentally when we win, the other team are usually poor according to their manager or the press which is bizarre but so often true!
Now after 43 years of supporting the U’s there should be no surprises, every aspect and gamete of emotion has been experienced; the defeats, the disappointments, the euphoria, the ecstasy, but with TH you get someone who remains static within the technical area, he fails to inspire and I noticed that when some of the players advanced towards the faithful (many of whom had already left) he half-heartedly applauded from the dugout, before disappearing down the tunnel.
The defence for TH will argue (with some justification) that injuries have once again proved costly at varying times:
Walker
Brindley
Wynter
Harney
Vincent-Young
Kent
Elokobi
Porter
Garvan
Massey
Any squad will at some stage be tested to the limit through injury, it is how you cope and the strategies that are adopted to cope with these pressures that is important.
A home double-header against Port Vale and Walsall awaits.
No-one likes either defeats or the fall out that accompanies them; but once again instead of pushing for the top six we are perilously close to the bottom four. Since TH is secure (unlike Cooper at Swindon, who despite a play-off position last season has paid the price for an indifferent start) we are forced to carry on with the present incumbent.
That doesn’t mean that we have to go quietly into that good night — Humes Out!
Up the U’s
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