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Reply | End of season reports and thoughts 24/25.
at 07:53 5 May 2025
Frankly, I’m relieved we haven’t made the Play Offs/Promotion, but delighted with a top ten finish.
Colchester United (IMHO) is work in progress and far from ready for Division One. Had we achieved promotion I suspect it is likely we would suffer a similar fate to Ipswich, repeatedly losing, and our nicely growing fan base is still too fickle and lacking resilience after so many false dawns in two decades of miserable decline.
We are too dependent on loanees (notably McDonnell) and lack enough cutting edge in the final third. The Academy hasn’t produced the intended pipeline of talent and what success has been achieved has resulted from the shrewd acquisition of experienced players known by the Cowleys.
In a classic Wenger like manner, the programme of change started with rebuilding our defence. This inevitably coincided with too many draws, but more clean sheets are a solid base. We have become hard to score against, that is, until we attack. When nine men are defending with only a solitary striker we are potentially invincible, but won’t score. We then become more adventurous knowing that wins are critical and suddenly we leak goals in abundance. We haven’t yet mastered the transition from being a defensively good team to an all round promotion sustainable team.
Consider Walsall’s season. Until the January transfer window, they were L2 nailed on Champions. Then loanee striker , Lowe, is recalled and they suffer relegation form. Yes, they remain in the play offs, but nobody expects them to progress. Consider how Mark Hughes almost turned Carlisle around. Resilience is a vital attribute, and Col U doesn’t yet have it. We plead for “two up front”. Until we have that resilience, I’m afraid a sole striker will remain our primary tactic. But we are making sound progress. |
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Reply | HL 2024/25 Charity Shield & Div One Play-off SF - Deadline Sat 3rd May 12.30
at 15:42 27 Apr 2025
1 - 0. BRISTOL CITY v PRESTON NORTH END (12.30)
2 - 1. COVENTRY CITY v MIDDLESBROUGH (12.30)
1 - 0. DERBY COUNTY v STOKE CITY (12.30)
1 - 0. PORTSMOUTH v HULL CITY (12.30)
0 - 1. WEST BROMWICH ALBION v LUTON TOWN (12.30)
0 - 2. HUDDERSFIELD TOWN v LEYTON ORIENT
1 - 0. READING v BARNSLEY
0 - 2. ACCRINGTON STANLEY v CHESTERFIELD
1 - 0. CARLISLE UNITED v SALFORD CITY
0 - 2. GRIMSBY TOWN v AFC WIMBLEDON |
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Reply | Electric U's are fully charged at the Eco Power Stadium on Easter Monday
at 22:32 21 Apr 2025
Day started with a bonus. Contrary to the website, the Belle View Bar welcomed away fans and there I bumped into a friendly Donny fan that I had met at Christmas in the Canary Islands. We had together listened to the I-Follow commentary from the Community Stadium under baking hot sun whilst sipping G & T's.
Was then good to see Wessex and Gerry, and then later, Durham (and family) arrived after we were 2-0 down. Our performance picked up after that, but we were blown away by the better side., albeit in the second half we dominated possession, but merely huffed and puffed in the final third.
I thought Lisbie was out of his depth and Simpson clueless beyond kneeing the ball backwards to keep possession (fair enough, but we need more forward movement). Things improved when Tovide and Scully came on, but we really missed Taylor and Payne.
Due to Saturday cricket commitments, that's me done "live" for the season unless we get into the Play Offs in seventh place (which means Sunday and mid-week games). I shall however, watch the whole of the Salford & Barrow games on I-Follow next day. It's been a good ride this season, but a few less miles in 2025-26 will be welcome. [Post edited 21 Apr 22:34]
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Reply | The Final Countdown - Matchday #44
at 15:25 20 Apr 2025
The Doncaster website suggests that the Belle View Bar will NOT be open for away fans. This is a real shame as we have always been made welcome.
I fear this is the legacy of Wrexham’s horrible fan behaviour last season as this is now happening too often. Ironically, one of the two locations where we get the best on-site welcome might be exiting the league (Carlisle & Tranmere). Incoming Shrewsbury leave us drinking outdoors in the rain and Cambridge is just awful.
Not sure where our fans can get a decent drink pre-match. |
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Reply | Happy League 2024/25 Week 38 (of 38) - Deadline Saturday 26th April 12.30
at 21:35 18 Apr 2025
2 - 0 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS v LEICESTER CITY
1 - 2. LUTON TOWN v COVENTRY CITY (12.30)
0 - 1. CARDIFF CITY v WEST BROMWICH ALBION
1 - 0. HULL CITY v DERBY COUNTY
2 - 0. MIDDLESBROUGH v NORWICH CITY
1 - 0. MILLWALL v SWANSEA CITY
0 - 1. EXETER CITY v HUDDERSFIELD
1 - 0. STOCKPORT COUNTY v LINCOLN CITY
1 - 0. DONCASTER ROVERS v BRADFORD CITY (12.30)
0 - 1. SALFORD CITY v COLCHESTER UNITED |
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Reply | Average attendance
at 07:36 16 Apr 2025
I can explain some empty seats…..
My pal and me have had Season Tickets high in the South stand for over a decade. However, my pal is now a tad unsteady on his feet so for the last two seasons cannot easily climb to the top of the stand. Hence, we have instead found and sat in vacant seats lower down.
In recent sell-out games this has not been possible and it is painful seeing him struggle using the outer walls as an hand rail and then battling across packed rows to get to our original seats whilst I steady him by holding his arm. I have noticed at least a dozen other older supporters that must be assisted and embrace this same approach. For 2025-26 he has relocated lower down.
This highlights a longstanding criticism of the stadium, steps too steep and no handrails. I take a size 14 G shoe and only my heels fit the steps, so I must go down sideways. Surely the cost of installing central hand rails in each aisle would be trivial? Why not dedicate a safe area to over 65’s as none of the stands have deeper safe steps?
It is a miracle nobody has been hurt on these steps, but one day it will happen. |
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Reply | Happy League 2024/25 Week 37 (of 38) - Deadline Good Friday 18th April 15.00
at 06:01 13 Apr 2025
2 - 0. MIDDLESBROUGH v PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
3 - 0. BIRMINGHAM CITY v CRAWLEY TOWN
2 - 1. CHARLTON ATHLETIC v NORTHAMPTON TOWN
1 - 0. READING v LINCOLN CITY
1 - 0. ROTHERHAM UNITED v MANSFIELD TOWN
0 - 1. STEVENAGE v BLACKPOOL
1 - 0. AFC WIMBLEDON v CHESTERFIELD
0 - 1. MILTON KEYNES DONS v NEWPORT COUNTY
2 - 1. SALFORD CITY v ACCRINGTON STANLEY
1 - 2. TRANMERE ROVERS v DONCASTER ROVERS |
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Reply | Exiles to be exiled at Rodney Parade by superb Super U's
at 14:19 12 Apr 2025
Due to a cricket commitment this morning I’ve not travelled and have to be content with I-Follow Audio.
Currently watching a very entertaining Swindon 3-4 Bradford on Sky Sports +. A great advert for L2, but I fancy Rodney Parade being a more subdued affair with a single goal deciding it. |
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Reply | Crewe v Cheltenham tonight
at 22:40 10 Apr 2025
I think this is less stressful than fear of exiting the EFL Gerry.
Durham’s optimism has (for once) been justified. Unlike John Cleese (Clockwise), I can handle the Hope. It is the despair that is the killer. My biggest fear is we snatch promotion then lose 44/46 in League One. |
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Reply | Crewe v Cheltenham tonight
at 21:58 10 Apr 2025
FT 2 - 3
Not great football, but five goals and a result favouring Col U
What more could we ask for? |
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Reply | Crewe v Cheltenham tonight
at 21:49 10 Apr 2025
85 mins
Crewe 1 - 3 Cheltenham
Now we need Grimsby to slip up. [Post edited 10 Apr 21:49]
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Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 22 | | Comment Votes: | 0 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 22 |
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