Colchester 2-1 Saints. Post match chat.

[saints-cris]

Just got back, foggy drive back!

 

The main thing for me was that it seemed to not be our day.. we didnt play very well to be honest and shouldn' have started 4-5-1, Connelly and Waigo should have started. Lambert just doesnt have he running in him to be on his own.

 

Colchester, our very own league 1 Derby County.. hoof, I resent the way they play, but they were annoying good at it, busy in midfield pick up the pieces, then hoof it. 2 good moves, but annoyingly exactly the same goals, why we didnt learn from he first one i dont know.

 

Referee, oh.my.god..! What a useless ****ing moron!! Officials were no better. First goal seemed offside, and the second goal, thankyou for giving them a goal kick when it was SO BLATENTLY a corner. Infact, i still have it on my phone, and i cant understand how they didnt see it, so they go up the other end and scored.

 

Ratings-

Bart - 7 - Good now that he has confidence, hes great coming for crosses, cudnt do anything about he goals really.

Thomas - 6 - Not great to be honest. Lame for going forward.

Trotman - 7 - Prob better just keeping hold of him, i thought he was okay.

Jaidi - 7 - Clumsy with passes, but again didnt really do too much wrong

Harding - - Did okay, didnt get as far forward as normal. Kept their winger quiet, but to be honest they never needed wingers anyway.

Antonio - 5 - He seems shot of his confidence which is what made him good, what was he doing after that brilliant ball from Hammond?

Hammond - 6 - Not one of his better games i dont think

Schneiderlin - 5 - Was he playing?

James - 7 - I actually thought he did well.. got stuck in, lacks creativiy though.

Lallana - 6 - Lively at times, run at them well sometimes.

Lambert - 6 - Please bloody run lad! He needs to play alongside someone.

Waigo - 7 - Made us look much more threatening

[St Marco]

Interesting to see James with 7 assists. To put that into some perspective for people. That is more assists then anyone in our team last year had for the whole season. Surman was top with 6. To put that into further perspective that means he has a 1 assist every 2 games ratio. To put that into even further perspective that is over twice as good as Morgan, who most feel to be our most creative player.

[Thedelldays]

Interesting to see James with 7 assists. To put that into some perspective for people. That is more assists then anyone in our team last year had for the whole season. Surman was top with 6. To put that into further perspective that means he has a 1 assist every 2 games ratio. To put that into even further perspective that is over twice as good as Morgan, who most feel to be our most creative player.

also he would be within the top 2 in the assists league for nearly all the teams above us

[Window Cleaner]

also he would be within the top 2 in the assists league for nearly all the teams above us

 

would this not be because James takes the corners? How many goals have we from corners (or other non-direct set pieces)?

[Thedelldays]

would this not be because James takes the corners? How many goals have we from corners (or other non-direct set pieces)?

he has not been taking corners all season (remember how bad lallana was) and im sure most teams have a "corner taker" or "free kick taker"

[Window Cleaner]

he has not been taking corners all season (remember how bad lallana was) and im sure most teams have a "corner taker" or "free kick taker"

 

 

It is a simple demand for information DD, nothing more.

[red&white56]

Been back for about 1 hour and had time to digest the game. In the first half we had periods of dominaton but no real sense of making a goal - their goal came a bit out of the blue, but it looked a well worked goal (couldn't see if it was offside or not but heard folks say that it was). After that they contained us well, using some tactics which were clearly designed to put us off our game - they worked because the ref let them get away with it.

 

Second half I think they were more of a threat than in the first half, but we pushed hard to try and equalise - but we lacked penetration in the final third. I thought our offside goal was a good goal, I was stood right behind the goal and had a reasonably clear view. Then Connolly's follow-up shot was blocked and went out for a corner, the ref gave them a free kick from which they went down to our end and scored. I couldn't see this goal, but I can't blame Bart for the first which was a misunderstanding between our midfield and defense - it was easy to tell this as about 6 Saints players were all arguing after the first goal.

 

After their second goal we continued to work hard but produced little end result. The penalty decision was the one piece of poor refeering that went our way all afternoon.

 

Antonio was next to useless - so many attacks were channeled through him and just broke down because he lost the ball. Harding was good again today - my MOM. Overall I thought the defense coped well, we lost the game in midfield imo.

Edited 28 December, 2009 by red&white56
remove the typos and added in the missing words

[red&white56]

So you were not in a good position?

 

I was 20 ft behind the goal so in a reasonable position, but not the best position to judge. However, I'm happy to provide a comment.

[Weston Saint]

also he would be within the top 2 in the assists league for nearly all the teams above us

 

http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/DivisionalAssists/0,,10794~200925,00.html

[Thedelldays]

http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/DivisionalAssists/0,,10794~200925,00.html

pretty poor effort from us in that table as a whole.

 

 

I would have thought Lallana would have had many more

[OldNick]

I've seen every home game and there has hardly been a decent cross.

well if you only count them from the bye line then perhaps you are correct. I have seen many superb crosses from many different players this season.

[shurlock]

Just back - close to three hours to get back to London.

 

I dislike Colchester and Boothroyd - saw comments from the Colchester fan abpve - if today wasn't pumping the ball forwards, they must be starved of football in deep, stone-age essex. Even without Platt, Boothroyd showed that he only knows how to play one-way - physical, longball and push come to shove dirty and cynical. I haven't been so p*ssed off with a team's spoiling tactics, from players to the groundstaff- for ages - how Trotman and Thomas got booked also totally eludes me.

 

A draw would have been a fair result. Shame we didn't get out of the traps quicker. In my mind, Pardew underestimated our ability to deal with the physical stuff and didn't put our best eleven out. I thought our defense did well - Jaidi and Thomas had excellent games - incredibly THomas was the focal point of many of attacks in the 2nd half, delivering some dangerous crosses.

 

While Im not a fan of James, he had a decent game. Problem is that none of our CMs are forward-minded enough, leaving Lambert isolated while Schneiderlin and especially James don't like to put their foot in. We need a strong bustling midfielder in the mold of a Racon; otherwise 4-5-1 simply puts too much pressure on the likes ofLambert and Lallana.

 

Pards also bottled the team selection over Waigo. Perhaps it was a hangover from Leeds and the belief that a boothroyd dogfight would not be Papa's kind of game but the difference between him and Antonio was light and day. Antonio has difficulties picking up the ball in deep positions and linking play up. Again pards possibly paid the price for being too cute and showing the opposition too much respect. Colchester are an organised side and Lisbie is a slippery customer but they're no Leeds or Norwich.

 

Once we started to play our own game, inspired by Connolly and Papa, we got a grip on and took control of the game - Jaidi should have done better with a near point-blank header, Lallana had a free header which he put over, Lambert hit the post, Connolly almost lobbed the keeper etc. Its not surprising that their no.4 their massive CB was voted MOTM. Even as their second went in -straight after a great Lambert freekick and a Connolly follow-up shot that was miraculously blocked on the edge of the six yard box, I thought we still had a sniff.

 

Fortune favours the brave - its in that mood that I left the game not so much disappointed as frustrated. Colchester were there for the taking.

Edited 28 December, 2009 by shurlock

[Graffito]

Hope you guys don't mind a Colchester perspective here.

 

You have a good side who can make up the gap and fight for the lower end of the play-off places. Leeds have the title and the U's, Charlton and Norwich are scrapping for second (sadly I think Norwich might nick it). That still leaves two places up for grabs and it could easily be you and Huddersfield.

 

Today, whether by luck or judgement, Boothroyd put one over on Pardew by playing Gillespie and Lisbie up front when Pardew was probably expecting us to play the big man and pump the ball up. Add in the fact that playing Lambert up front by himself against two very capable centre halves meant that for the first half he hardly had a kick. Once Connolly came on you were much more threatening.

 

We both had a goal ruled out and in both cases the flag was up long before the ball hit the net.

 

Your number 37 (Antonio?) was pants!

 

Anyway, good luck for the rest of the season. In truth I hope you don't make the play-offs because you're just going to get better the longer the season goes on, particularly if Pardew can do some dealing in January, and we could do without that sort of threat come the end of the season.

 

This is a pretty accurate assessment of the game. Both their goals came by neat passing though our immobile CB's. And I agree that Connolly has to play alongside Lambert.

[Block 5]

Just back.

Sh1t ground, sh1t fans.

Colchester seem to have built their shiny new stadium in the middle of a swamp.

I half expected to see Swamp Thing lumbering up the pitch towards me, through the fog.

 

We were unlucky not to get something from this game.

Poor officials (as usual), and ball boys that deserved a good kicking.

Good support from us though.

 

Revenge will be so sweet....... We will beat Colchester in the play offs....... You heard it here first!

[sandwichsaint]

Thought our disallowed goal looked offside.

 

The Connolly follow-up to Lambert's free kick rebounded off the keeper and then out via Connolly's shin. If this was the 'definite' corner/goal kick scenario that posters are refferring to and the one that led to their second then in fact the ref got that one right ... the only thing he got right all day.

 

Poor performance from Saints on the pitch, out-fought and out-thought in all departments today, and to cap it all, a dismal atmosphere in the away end; prob the single 'worst' Saints away game I've ever been to fans-wise.

[shedeight]

Another Colchester fan here.

 

The exchange of "Where are ya, where are ya?" and "We can't see you sneaking out" was amongst my favourite moments of this season.

 

Fair play to your support. Plenty of noise!

[Block 5]

Another Colchester fan here.

 

The exchange of "Where are ya, where are ya?" and "We can't see you sneaking out" was amongst my favourite moments of this season.

 

Fair play to your support. Plenty of noise!

 

Why did you build your stadium in a swamp?

Bring back Layer Road, I liked it there.

[joffystevens]

This game yet again shows we need a quality winger, lallana does a job on one side but I reckon he would play better in a more central attacking midfield role. Neither Antonio or Waigo were threatening enough, I remember Antonio getting into a good position in the 1st half only to blaze the ball 15-20 foot above attackers heads and out for a throw in.

 

As for Waigo he didn't really create anything, when the substitution was made I said to my mate that Waigo could impact this game with his pace against tired legs but yet again I have been proven wrong. I did get exited to see him score only to be brought back down to earth by the offside flag.

 

Our defence did cope well over certain periods and their goals did come from good passing. I though the referee had an average game but took too long to make decisions whether he was going to book players, etc and the game seemed to lack any pace to it. But the ball boys were possibly the worst I've ever seen. I used to live in harrogate and saw harrogate town play in the blue square north division and they had more balls readily avaliable when the ball was out of play. I think this is the 1st proffesional game in history that used one ball throughout the entire match!!!

 

I have confidence that we can bounce back and put in a better perfornance in weeks to come.

 

COYR's!!

[shedeight]

Long story which I won't bore you with, but the surrounding land you drove up towards the stadium today will be built on with 1,500 houses, a retail park and other residential facilities (doctors, schools etc). Because we got into the Championship in 2006, the stadium was fast-tracked ahead of the rest of the building.

 

The junction to the A12 will be built next year and the rest of the area will also be built up.

 

The car park is another matter, but it is rumoured it will be tarmaced next summer.

[AussieDog]

Apologies if I am just repeating anybody else, but I was hoping to read some constructive comments on here, but gave up reading after the 1st page. It seems that alot of saints fans have no sense of perspective. We suffered the same fate today as 8 other teams have done this season, against a team with the best home record in the whole league.

This time last year we lost at home to Forest and at that point I was pretty sure we would be relegated. A couple of months later we went into admin and I thought we might not even be around this season.

I've only been able to follow Saints online this season, but I have to say I have enjoyed pretty much everything since the Swindon game more than I have in years.

I'd love to see a league table just based on results since then. I think that would give us a better idea of how we really are doing in this league.

Give me another 4 months of the same and no matter where we finish I will be happy

[Tractor_Saint]

Couple of vids...

 

Lamberts penalty :

 

Lamberts Freekick :

 

Apologies for any swearing

[Chez]

what a bloody long and awful day. Over 4 hours to get there and a similar journey back. This reminded me very much of the old days. In between was two halves of `football' almost totally devoid of any football. They played it long, we copied. Why on earth we think that by booting it down the channels for Lambert to chase we are going to get anywhere I don't know. The alternative plan of smacking it long and high for Lambert to flick on is an equally crap plan.

 

I've suggested it to my pals for month or so now that we are perhaps flat track bullies and when up against the top 6 we are totally unproven. Yes we've beaten Charlton in the JPT and got lucky against Norwich in the same cup, but other that our record against the other decent teams is poor (allbeit that we faced most of them before AP got his team in place). But there are no excuses now against Leeds and Colchester. Both times we have failed to take charge in midfield like we do against the average sides and I have to ask the question again, is Hammond really top notch?

At Leeds I pointed to the missing Schniederlin, today he played but the 5 man midfield stole his space and he looked a little lost. James yet again failed to show enough quality, pace or power. Hammond also did his running in treacle routine and never made any second ball his. A passing team like us needs to dominate the middle and we simply never did. Again. Why James stayed on the field instead of Morgan I will never know.

 

Bart 5 - some truley woeful kicking. Even with time he still managed to drop kick it to Connelly rather than Lambert and surprise surprise Colchester won it.

Thomas - 6 solid game, no more than that

Jardi 7 won everything but we were undone by a slide rule pass and his lack of pace was exposed

Trotmann 7 pretty much the same thing. Distribution is not the best but solid showing

Harding 10 I thought he was outstanding. Won everything in the air, bullied the wide man and distribution down the line decent. Not sure what more he could have done.

Lallana 5 tried harder and harder but not quick enough to cause them any problems or close them down quick enough or pick up second balls. As we chased the game he came inside and stole Connellys space

James 4 worked hard enough, but simply not quick enough or good enough on the day

Schneiderlin 4 looked lost and unsure as to his role. Poor decision to take him off in my opinion.

Hammond 4 again gave everything, no complaints there, but they were sharper in the middle

Antonio 4 a couple of good runs right the byeline, but in congested areas his lack of tight control showed up. A much better player when coming on off the bench when the space opens up. Lets use him that way.

Lambert 4 no service, crap service, but he looks tired and that zip of a month ago is not quite there

 

Connelly 6 busy but not overly effective as the service was so ****. We improved when he came on though moving to 4-4-2

Waigo 5 didn't get the ball enough so couldn't hurt them. Pity as when he did get it we looked a threat.

Gobern 1 poor cameo, some poor control and passes. I think he almost cost us badly with a woeful pass, but then redeemed himself in the space of about a minute. Not sure as fog was so thick at that point.

 

We showed a fair amount of fight, but we didn't win nearly enough second ball which points to tiredness. Pardew got it wrong with 4-5-1 and he got it wrong keeping James on instead of Morgan. I also think starting with Waigo then bringing on Antonio is the right combination.

Edited 28 December, 2009 by Chez

[Andy_Porter]

how come his crosses are never brought into question..?

 

Because Lloyd James put in a few woefull performances last season and a big chunk of our fanbase can't see past that and he's become our latest scapegoat.

 

I've seen every home game and there has hardly been a decent cross.

 

****ing hell, maybe you should be our new manager you obviously know everything about football. Infact, can you play full back for us?

[NN2 Saint]

People slagging off Colchester are quite amusing they won fair play to them. We looked crap for most of the game today just like we have done every game recently since Wallsall I would say. I slated Antonio on a topic couple of wks ago, seems like some other people see that now theres a reason why Reading let us have him. Thank god January is almost ere the team needs shaking up.

[Chez]

Apologies if I am just repeating anybody else, but I was hoping to read some constructive comments on here, but gave up reading after the 1st page. It seems that alot of saints fans have no sense of perspective. We suffered the same fate today as 8 other teams have done this season, against a team with the best home record in the whole league.

This time last year we lost at home to Forest and at that point I was pretty sure we would be relegated. A couple of months later we went into admin and I thought we might not even be around this season.

I've only been able to follow Saints online this season, but I have to say I have enjoyed pretty much everything since the Swindon game more than I have in years.

I'd love to see a league table just based on results since then. I think that would give us a better idea of how we really are doing in this league.

Give me another 4 months of the same and no matter where we finish I will be happy

 

I've also enjoyed things greatly since Swindon, but the fact is we have murdered the poor teams, but when up against the better sides we have struggled to dominate and I think that shows how good we are - possible play off candidate. My sense of perspective tells me that we are a decent side, but we are still short. If the right player become available in absolutely any position apart from in goal we should sign them. We can improve everywhere

[Genk]

Because Lloyd James put in a few woefull performances last season and a big chunk of our fanbase can't see past that and he's become our latest scapegoat.

 

 

 

****ing hell, maybe you should be our new manager you obviously know everything about football. Infact, can you play full back for us?

 

Andy, I agree with you entirely

[Genk]

Thought Antonio was poor today. I will be honest, I rated him after Bristol Rovers in the Cup and was excited about his presence on the pitch but having started games, he hasn't really performed. I think it may be worth keeping him on at the club this season as an impact sub, but start with Papa.

[Chez]

I've seen every home game and there has hardly been a decent cross.

can't agree with that at all. Waigo has put in some terrific crosses, as has Antonio and Harding. James often crosses from far too deep, but he swings in some decent ones every now and then (the last home game was not a good example). I think he doesn't go further forward as he knows he can deliver a decent cross without going further forward or maybe he just doesn't want to risk getting to the byeline and leaving us exposed should we not score.

 

ANother thing I'd say is that we've got to the byeline more times this season than the previous 10 seasons combined. Harding put in an absolute beauty from the touchline today. It reminded me of the Steven Gerrard vs Wolves goal during the week, only this time it was Gobern on the end of it and he showed zero desire. If he'd gritted his teeth and stuck his head in there he'd of scored but he never went for it at all. Very dissapointing.

[WGC Saint]

Been back for about 1 hour and had time to digest the game. In the first half we had periods of dominaton but no real sense of making a goal - their goal came a bit out of the blue, but it looked a well worked goal (couldn't see if it was offside or not but heard folks say that it was). After that they contained us well, using some tactics which were clearly designed to put us off our game - they worked because the ref let them get away with it.

 

Second half I think they were more of a threat than in the first half, but we pushed hard to try and equalise - but we lacked penetration in the final third. I thought our offside goal was a good goal, I was stood right behind the goal and had a reasonably clear view. Then Connolly's follow-up shot was blocked and went out for a corner, the ref gave them a free kick from which they went down to our end and scored. I couldn't see this goal, but I can't blame Bart for the first which was a misunderstanding between our midfield and defense - it was easy to tell this as about 6 Saints players were all arguing after the first goal.

 

After their second goal we continued to work hard but produced little end result. The penalty decision was the one piece of poor refeering that went our way all afternoon.

 

Antonio was next to useless - so many attacks were channeled through him and just broke down because he lost the ball. Harding was good again today - my MOM. Overall I thought the defense coped well, we lost the game in midfield imo.

 

Just about sums up my view of the match. Didn't see much wrong with our 'offside' goal and overall the ref was an absolute ****.

 

First half dire second much better and we deserved a point at the minimum.

 

Antonio was shocking I'm afraid. We looked so much more of a threat when Waigo & Connolly were on the pitch.

 

Looking forward to the U's coming to SMS where I think we'll see a very different outcome.

[Chez]

Thought Antonio was poor today. I will be honest, I rated him after Bristol Rovers in the Cup and was excited about his presence on the pitch but having started games, he hasn't really performed. I think it may be worth keeping him on at the club this season as an impact sub, but start with Papa.

 

agree with that. He still offers us a great threat of the bench. The Leyton Orient game is a prime example where he ran them ragged when he came on. Given space he is a threat, probably the best sub we have had for a long long time.

[Chez]

Looking forward to the U's coming to SMS where I think we'll see a very different outcome.

 

they've already been and picked up a point in a 0-0 draw. So 4 from 6.

[Saint_clark]

How sh*t were their fans by the way?

[Chez]

bet they wish they stayed at Layer Road.

[Arizona]

BTW, if you thought Saints ticket office was bad, you should see the queue for collections at Colchester. When I got there 20 mins before K.O. there was a queue going halfway accross the carpark, easily the length of the Northam stand.

 

Also, I can't help but think if the fog had come half an hour earlier, the game might have been called off.

[Andy_Porter]

 

Also, I can't help but think if the fog had come half an hour earlier, the game might have been called off.

 

I said exactly the same thing on the way back, never seen so much fog at a match before.

[shurlock]

I said exactly the same thing on the way back, never seen so much fog at a match before.

 

The fog was pretty thick but hard to see how the game would have been called off. the view from the stands was arguably misleading - no doubt was easier for the players at pitchside than our angle suggested.

[sandwichsaint]

Some Col U perspective (off the pitch) and on it.

 

Off the pitch: Arrived at 12.00 and easily found and parked up at the station car park (GBP2) as advised on awayfans and on their website. Visited three pubs, all very normal (drank beer, played darts badly, watched Sky football), caught the shuttle bus to ground at 13.50, two minute wait for a bus, GBP1 return, arrived at the ground at 14.00 and footie burger for the usual 3 quid plus a programme for the usual 3 quid. More beer on the concouse for my passengers. After the game we left at the final whistle and made our way to bus queues, mixed queueing but well-stewarded and no hint of trouble, caught the second wave of buses after approx a 10 minute wait, back in the car at 17.30 and out on the A12 at 17.40.

 

I thought their new ground (location aside) was excellent; smart, tidy, all the facilities you need, good views from every seat and I thought better than average (friendlier) stewards. No one loves an old ground more than me but where would you honestly site a small, ambitious club; in Col's shiny new stadium or, for example, in Southend's relic of an arena? Write-on, those who intend to write and complain, but I don't see anything very out of order there.

 

Where the problems did kick-in was with one of the worst ref displays I have ever seen! I don't usually moan about refs but today's was something special! Absolutely no protection given to the players or their skills, it was like a time-trip back to the '70's. Col players pushed, pulled, held, tripped, and kicked anything that moved. Lambert was battered throughout the first half as was Lallana and then Morgan was taken-out, literally, with an elbow to the side of the head (presumably why he was subbed off at HT)which was 'missed' by both ref and lino and should have been a straight red. We then had Col players diving and falling down trying to get us booked and sent off, and hey, it worked! A final card count of 3 yellows to Saints and 1(!) yellow to Col was an absolute travesty of the play I saw.

Lambert was also illegally blocked out in the box for a def penalty(he couldn't go down, he was being physically restrained by two defenders who had him in a rugby hold).

 

Not sour grapes, but a nasty after-taste. Saints deservedly lost it, primarily with their selection and then their first half performance. If you play 4-5-1 and set up for a scrap why not play Wotton? He's not very good but it would have been his sort of game. Why leave Connolly and Papa (two of our best players) on the bench (and start with LJ/Antonio?), that doesn't make sense. How fit was Lallana? Why not play DC (or even Papa) in that position? Where was the service to Lambert suppposed to be coming from in that line-up?

 

Should have played:

 

Bart

 

 

LJ/WT Jaidi Trotts Harding

 

Papa Morgan Wott Hammo Connolly(or Lallana)

 

Lambert

 

I don't have a problem with 4-5-1 if we play Papa and either Connolly or a fit Lallana, the problem comes when they score first and we never threatened first half. 4-4-2 was a different story and we gave it a good go at 0-1 and fair to say that 0-2 was against the run of play and killed the game.

 

Conclusions (?) = nothing new

 

We can't defend in open play very well, the other team's counter attacks are always dangerous, we need a pacey CB or RB asap (both please!)

 

Midfield is ponderous and one-paced, ball retention is poor, the other team has far too much time and space to build attacks or pick their forward passes; we need either a strong defensive mid or a fast, mobile, attacking mid (Lallana?) (both please!).

 

We rely far too much on Lambert (even though we have been sharing the goals out with AL/DC/PW etc); he's good but he's not that good! We are asking him to get on the end of, and challenge for and win, low percentage balls and also to chase any number of lost causes, and then set himself up, and then score himself; how often is that going to happen? I don't think another Saints player got in their box in open play in the first half. What a difference in the second half once DC came on... we desperately need a third striker to take some of the workload off of RL.

 

Ignoring their Boothroyd-inspired 'dirty Leeds' impression Col definitely did a job on us today. They are probably less good player for player but today they had the better game plan and executed it well, that's why they are where they are in the table.

 

In terms of the play-offs I look at it that in the 23 reverse fixtures we have to get all the points we got first-time round, plus an extra 10 from somewhere. On that basis not a good start to the second round of fixtures, -1 today and we now need to repeat all our first round results PLUS 11 extra points from the remaining 22 games; a tall order but not impossible if we bring in more depth and experience in the window.

 

 

COYR's!

[Goalie66]

Just back from the game too. Tempo much better 2nd half because we started to move the ball to feet rather than air. Sides in this division ,like Colchester are organised and strong and intimadating but looked vulnerable when we ran at them and gained space off their markers. Connelly gave himself that extra yard by turning defenders and coming for the ball. He is an experienced pro and the likes of Sneiderlin, Llanna and Antonio are still learning and guile is need against such sides as we wont compete for brawn in midfield.

 

Still it was not a bad performance and a draw would have been a fair result. We have room for improvement as the youngsters gain experience and we bring in another winger, a holding midfielder, right back and sweeper type defender. Colchester will probably not improve while we have far more scope for getting considerable better. At the end of the day this was a bad result not a totally bad performance.

[Arizona]

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Disappointing defeat, but not a season ender. If we are going to challenge for the play offs we need to put together a decent run, starting now, and ending in late May. Two or three more defeats like that in Jan/Feb and it's over for this season.

[SaintRobbie]

Disappointing defeat, but not a season ender. If we are going to challenge for the play offs we need to put together a decent run, starting now, and ending in late May. Two or three more defeats like that in Jan/Feb and it's over for this season.

 

I think that's a fair summary to be honest. We can make the playoffs but will need consistency again to rise the last few places to get there, then you have to wonder if we'll have the talent to get through them ayway.

 

Mid-table is a result this season - afterall with Lowe/Wotte and the kids we'd be League 2 next season so surviving and finishing roughly where we are is a bonus.

 

That said... we can do it!!! COYR!

[Saint_clark]

Because Lloyd James put in a few woefull performances last season and a big chunk of our fanbase can't see past that and he's become our latest scapegoat.

 

 

 

****ing hell, maybe you should be our new manager you obviously know everything about football. Infact, can you play full back for us?

 

I have often said that for every one good cross of James' there are 5 or 6 absolutely shocking ones that either don't beat the first man or go straight to the keeper.

Not to mention he NEVER goes to the byline, even if there is no-one within 10 yards of him as happened a few times yesterday...

[Thedelldays]

no matter what you say about james..

 

he would be in the top 2 assists stakes for most of the teams above us...

 

yet, he is sh1t..? maybe "sh1t" is the standard for this league

 

how many assists does lallana have..? he is suppsed to be the U21 (depsite not really being an U21) and wanted by prem clubs..

[Saint_clark]

no matter what you say about james..

 

he would be in the top 2 assists stakes for most of the teams above us...

 

yet, he is sh1t..? maybe "sh1t" is the standard for this league

 

how many assists does lallana have..? he is suppsed to be the U21 (depsite not really being an U21) and wanted by prem clubs..

 

I'm not really sure what you mean by this, as that list posted earlier shows he hasn't even got 4 so far this season...

[Thedelldays]

I'm not really sure what you mean by this, as that list posted earlier shows he hasn't even got 4 so far this season...

 

this

 

also he would be within the top 2 in the assists league for nearly all the teams above us

 

he has not been taking corners all season (remember how bad lallana was) and im sure most teams have a "corner taker" or "free kick taker"

 

James would also be..(right now)

 

top at MK Dons

2nd at Millwall

2nd at Brizzle rovers

top at Brentford

 

yes, he is turd for league 1

 

if it is just league games..

 

would put him 2nd and huddersfield

2nd at leeds

and top at colchester

 

im sure most teams have a player that takes most of the corners like him...and did lallana have that duty for the first fistfull of games..?

[Saint_clark]

I get it now, but I stand by my original point.

When you stand there and pump the ball into the box without trying to get in a more dangerous position, then you are bound to create a goal eventually.

In other words, I near guarantee you that if you looked at that "stats" page in our programme, James would have a huge amount of crosses already but hasn't even got 4 assists...

Edited 29 December, 2009 by Saint_clark

[Thedelldays]

I get it now, but I stand by my original point.

When you stand there and pump the ball into the box without trying to get in a more dangerous position, then you are bound to create a goal eventually.

again...he MUST be the higher standard of league 1

 

too many times I get told I am unrealistic...for once here..I think I am the realistic one..the facts speak for themselves

[Saint_clark]

I think he's very good in CM, but I don't think his crossing is as good as people say.

[Thedelldays]

I think he's very good in CM, but I don't think his crossing is as good as people say.

maybe not..but the facts are there to see...put him in most teams above us, he would be in their top 2 assists bracket...

 

harding has none, lallana has less than him...maybe the standard of this league is farking poor and he is pretty good for league 1..?

[Andyb1]

Wasn't at the game but does anyone else notice that Trottman constantly misjudges the flight of balls and runs underneath headers? He did it a lot on Saturday and the first goal yesterday seem to come from him doing exactly the same thing.