Forum | Super U's to prevail against the Exiles in the Principality tonight by durham_exile

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Super U's to prevail against the Exiles in the Principality tonight 16:50 - Oct 27 with 1673 views

Well this has been an exciting week in the annals of Colchester United — two home victories against two of the more challenging sides in the league and this has propelled the U’s to 9th in the table.

Then we have a home draw in the FA Cup 1st Round against Marine AFC which, and no disrespect here, should see the U’s comfortably through to Round 2 on the 7th November. Finally, our second Away match in a few days against Scunny has been postponed after 8 of their players and staff tested positive for COVID-19.

Before that of course we have an intriguing game at Rodney Parade against the league leaders Newport County managed by Michael Flynn. Now Flynn is one of those managers that I dislike, cannot tell you why, I just disagree with his methods and smarmy way that he conducts himself also the smugness with which he behaved after their Cup heroics in recent seasons. Anyway, I am sure he does not care what I think about him!

Newport are a workmanlike side who have managed the parting of the ways with Jamille Matt without incident and will be a tough nut to crack this evening at 7pm. But here is the thing this league is wide open, and they may be the early pacesetters, but there is no reason why Colchester cannot prevail in South Wales this evening.

Now I am beginning to learn very quickly that SB is going to achieve results for his charges through attrition rather than expansive attacking football and so I need to reassess my strategy. Sadly, he is not going to play 4,3,3 with the three attackers Norris, Brown and Bohui preferring a 4,5,1 even at home and so I need to get with the programme. I may not like it, but it seems to be bearing fruit.

I have watched every league game this season through iFollow and I am disappointed first that MTC clearly did not work out at the club (one appearance of 20 minutes at Reading) when on a season long loan made him the ghost of Christmas Present. This after Macca Bonne was the ghost of Christmas Past. Then we produced a rabbit out of the hat to obtain a very exciting young player from Breda via Manchester United, namely Josh Bohui who looks like becoming the ghost of Christmas Future.

He has shown through cameo appearances, limited to 8 minutes, that he is quick, pacy, skilful and has an eye for goal. I thought that he would play on Saturday at home to Harrogate but he didn’t even come on as a sub. SB used Brown as a lone striker, but he was isolated too often then when Norris replaced him on 71 minutes he became the lone ranger (striker) in his place and the skilful Chilvers was replaced by Sowunmi at the same time and Poku was replaced by Senior on 77 minutes. We dropped deeper and deeper and it became a struggle a war of attrition. But the result was ground out after goals by Harriott and the outstanding Stevenson.

At Newport SB is unlikely to be expansive and so we can expect another turgid 4,5,1 formation. SB may be getting results, but he is never going to win friends or influence people with these tactics. But does he care, probably not. The aim must be to get out of this league and if these methods are effective, then they will persist.

In truth the only area where I disagree with SB is upfront. Defence and midfield are perfectly fine.

So, expect the following tonight:

Gerken

Welch-Hayes Eastman Smith Bramall

Pell Stevenson Chilvers

Poku Harriott

Brown

Subs:
George Sowunmi Senior Norris Scarlett Gambin Bohui

I would replace Harriott and Poku with Norris and Bohui in the starting line-up but that is not going to happen, so I need to accept it.

The advantage of playing Newport now is that their pitch has yet to resemble a ploughed field and therefore our style of play will be reasonably well suited to the conditions.

The Newport weather is going to be 8 degrees Celsius tonight with rain showers.

Notwithstanding the severity of the test tonight, Colchester can secure a third successive victory for the first time in the league since April 2018 and thus inflict a first and second goal against the Exiles for their first time in 299 minutes of football.

Enjoy the game, and a Colchester victory by 2-1.

Up the U’s

Durham_exile

Super U's to prevail against the Exiles in the Principality tonight on 18:12 - Oct 27 with 920 views