Colchester United (h): What 3 Things Do We Need To Do To Beat Them? | Vital Football

Colchester United (h): What 3 Things Do We Need To Do To Beat Them?

1. Play Scott Wharton. In his 10 games so far, we have conceded less than a goal a game and have kept 5 clean sheets. The two games he didn't play, we lost. He has also scored two goals in that time. Having Wharton in the side is the closest we can get to having Sean Raggett back.

2. Don't make Green play down the left. There was one telling incident against Wycombe when Habergham took an Eardley-esque free kick around the edge of the Wycombe defence, only for Green to fluff the shot with his weaker left foot. That is a waste, and he looks less effective there generally.

3. Colchester don't concede many goals, but there does appear to be a pattern: they keep things tight in the early stages of games but often concede a few later on. Of the 22 goals Colchester have conceded in their last 17 games, only 1 has come in the first 20 minutes but no fewer than 16 have come in the second half. That suggests either a lack of concentration, a lack of fitness, or both. With Lincoln's levels of fitness, that could prove decisive.
 
interesting point three there scotimp.

don't let them score an early goal. at their place after scoring early, they very effectively shut us out. and we need to be on our game from minute one of both halves.

this is last chance saloon for colchester regarding their v v slim chance of the play offs. they have to win this game, so they will be giving it everything... which might mean the game opens up in the second half.
 
Colchester are effectively out of contention partly because of the Coventry v Lincoln game which means at least one of them will get points. Colchester need to win all three of their games and hope that two from Lincoln, Coventry and Mansfield do not win another game between them. Possible, but as close to impossible as makes no difference.
 
picking two from those three:
mansfield have just gone ten without a win. and taken 8 points in 11 games.
from an outsiders perspective [i.e. a colchester fan] lincoln could lose to colchester, and easily lose at coventry and at accrington; plus a draw against yeovil. even our manager says it is the most difficult finish of all the top teams.
colchester win all three and... bingo.

it's a funny old game and impossible is just an opinion etc etc.

i will feel much better once we get the playoff spot mathematically confirmed, rather than hearing this team, and then that team, are out of it now.

uti.
 
1. They will expect us to press them hard for the first 25-30 minutes, when they will sit back, absorb pressure, and hope for a counter attack.
2. They will expect us to consistently float high crosses in at 30-45 degree angles towards Rheady.
3. They will expect us to float in high corners for their keeper to catch.
4. After 30 minutes they will not expect our wingers to advance to the byline.
5. Other than for set pieces they will not expect Bossie or our centre backs to ever advance beyond halfway.
6. At no time will they ever expect us to shoot from the edge of the penalty area.
7. They will time waste from the first minute, have already studied the Port Vale and Wycombe videos, and believe a draw is acceptable.

Based on the above we need to get rid of some of the predictability, and importantly, take some early chances.
 
1. They will expect us to press them hard for the first 25-30 minutes, when they will sit back, absorb pressure, and hope for a counter attack.
2. They will expect us to consistently float high crosses in at 30-45 degree angles towards Rheady.
3. They will expect us to float in high corners for their keeper to catch.
4. After 30 minutes they will not expect our wingers to advance to the byline.
5. Other than for set pieces they will not expect Bossie or our centre backs to ever advance beyond halfway.
6. At no time will they ever expect us to shoot from the edge of the penalty area.
7. They will time waste from the first minute, have already studied the Port Vale and Wycombe videos, and believe a draw is acceptable.

Based on the above we need to get rid of some of the predictability, and importantly, take some early chances.

And may I add an 8th and 9th point.

8 Stop with the bloody diagonal 50 yard balls and actually use the bloody ground.

9. Use our supposed peak fitness to play them off the park.
 
1. Learn to finish whilst we are on top, how many games have we been on top and unable to put the ball in the net, then have to fight after a break away goal.
2. Play Whitehouse in a similar role to that of Web key, he was all over the field - a free role if you will.
3. Play Palmer to start with, and rough up their back line with Rheady, then with 30 minutes left use Green upfront to attack a knackered defence.