2 sides in every game

[chriseastwood]

Disappointed as I am tonight, many people are missing out one vital fact when blaming Clark or the players for dropping deep. There is another team on the pitch, one trying to get an equaliser. As they push players forward, are our midfield supposed to let them run on by in the hope that we'll break it up and counter-attack with numbers. or, should they track them back and try and nullify their threat. Fact is that Colchester were as well organised and strong a side as I've seen here for a long time. They bossed the middle of the park, played simple balls and kept a good shape throughout. They also closed us down energetically for 90 minutes. We had a good spell after the interval, but to be fair they fully deserved the point.

When teams push more men forward, it's obvious that you have to have more players tracking back. When the two teams are pretty evenly matched, as is the case most weeks in this league, then it can appear that we sit too deep. Until we become a fully dominant side, then any team will be able to push us back if they throw men forward. Our midfield isn't strong enough to hold its shape and we don't clear our lines very intelligently at times.

that notwithstanding, we've been done by two set-pieces (it was a penalty, I thought) and the free-kick was very well taken. Other than that, we defended as a team reasonably well. We took our chances when they came and had Hammond blazed his free-kick like he did with the one in the first, everyone would be on here saying what a great result it was, what a brilliant comeback, well done Clark for making subs that effected the outcome, etc. Fine margins but nothing to slit wrists about!


Midlander (on his mum's computer)

[kosi]

Good post. They looked a very good side and well drilled under a very good young manager in paul lambert. I expect them to be challenging next season. Who did handle it for their pen by the way?

[Deleted]

I thought Colchester Utd did a very 'good job' on us last night. After just five minutes it seemed clear to me where the game was heading. In the first half they 'man marked' us out of it, closed us down quickly and completely disrupted our usual passing style. They were first to ball and when they had it I thought they looked really dangerous. After about 20 mins I was screaming for a 'serious tackle' (if you can dig it?) on the small blonde lad who seemed to running the show for them. I did think it was penalty and I was relieved to go in at half time only one nil down.

I commented to my mate at the interval that we were about to see what Lee Clark and his team are made of. Happily for 20 minutes of the second period we did every thing right. We stood up to their man to man tactics, imposed our game on them took the lead. Incredibly, everything seemed to fall apart in the final 15 minutes and we seemed to invite pressure on to ourselves. It was no real surprise but a huge disappointment when the free kick went in on 90 minutes.

That said, all in all I was impressed with Colchester Utd, they reminded me very much of MK Mongs when they came here with their in your face tactics and quick break aways. In fact, I think we could have easily lost that game, just as we could the Leeds Utd game the other week and the sooner our players start listening to Lee Clark etc and not forgetting that the job isn't finished until the final whistle goes, the better.

Bring on 'The Wall'!

;D