Colchester v Notts

[Wooderson]

Tough game for us but one we need to win really if we are to maintain our slim hopes of automatic promotion following a decent victory v Coventry last time out... Three points could potentially make things interesting with two winnable ones after that - Yeovil (H) and a hopefully on the beach (almost literally) Grimsby (A).

So Saturday is key really - win and it gives us a chance to put pressure on Exeter and Wycombe. Lose or draw and I think it's play-offs at best for us.

However, we haven't won back to back games since September, and as much as I would love us to change that, I'm not sure Colchester, a decent side, will be forthcoming. I hope Forte gets another start after his brace last week, but victory may be a bridge too far. 1-1.

 

[LongEatonPie]

Dont lose I think is the phrase we need to be thinking as Notts fans. It was a huge win at the Lane a last minute winner earlier in the season. When they quite rightly levelled moments earlier, a point would have been fair then but we snatched it.

I am not sure how United have gone from there but they were a very good side last time out.
With 2 winnable games following I think a point is obtainable.

 

[LongEatonPie]

As a side, I’m not saying we can’t make autos I’m just saying let’s secure that playoff spot and try. I actually think Notts would do better playing home first though.
A win Saturday and Exeter and Wycombe losing and we have a sliver of a chance.

 

[Optipez]

Think we need twelve points for a chance at the automatics.
Also think three more points will get us to the play offs.
Hope Nolan goes for the win which means putting Stead and Saunders on the bench and not bothering plonking Smith there.
Ameobi and Forte to start, why oh why wait forty two fucking games to try that combination , and keep Virtue wide right.
Colchester looked a good team at ours and a defeat wouldn't be a surprise to be honest but lets just play like we mean it rather than being timid.

 

[dedwardp]

We're very hit and miss - inconsistency has cost us a real shot at a top three spot to be honest, at the least we ought to have been in and amongst the play-off picture as we were going into the New Year. A terrible run of form throughout January and February has collapsed our season, epitomised by losing 1-0 in back to back home games against Yeovil and Barnet, with a 1-0 loss at Crewe thrown in the middle for good measure.

A lack of cutting edge up front has probably been our downfall, we've generally been fairly solid at the back but just don't finish very many of the chances we create.

We're still frustratingly close to the top seven as everyone above us seems to keep losing as well. We would have to win all four of our remaining games to even give ourselves a slim chance of taking seventh, and even that's probably not enough now. Although with our final games against Notts County, Lincoln, Swindon and Exeter, it isn't going to happen anyway.

We do have a better record against the teams above us than the teams below us though, and I do fancy us to win on Saturday. I think it will feel a little bit like last chance saloon, so hopefully we'll go all out and play well. We'll probably then lose at Lincoln next weekend to end our season once and for all.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Interesting reading dedwardp. Draw suits us more than our opponents. I find it very difficult to predict as it’s a decent side with a poor away record at an incredibly inconsistent team. Last chance saloon for both for different reasons.

Before the win against then Sky Blues I fully believe we don’t deserve promotion of any sort but that game and performance felt like pre Xmas Notts which was Top 3 good. But back to back wins? Then again? Nahhhh chance

Prediction 2-1 home win

 

[dedwardp]

One thing that could swing it tomorrow is the contrasting experience of the two sides, though. We pretty much have the youngest squad in the Football League and, at times, particularly when there is increased pressure, it can become a little bit like men against boys.

Our inexperience can seem to be quite costly when there feels like there's more at stake. It was one of the main reasons we were relegated in my opinion, as we could look like a decent side for an hour and perhaps deserve to be in front, but we'd completely crumble when the game started to turn and find ourselves a two or three goals behind within a five to ten minute period.

Notts have one of the older sides in the division with plenty of experienced heads, which may well give them that edge tomorrow as it often does in the tighter games. Just that extra bit of know-how to see through a difficult period and then go and nick a goal up the other end which, given our inefficiency in front of goal, is usually decisive.

 

[Youpies]

Old = slow though in our case. We make it work at home by squeezing everything through the middle. Team size that play on our high defensive line and get the ball wide quickly have a lot of joy.

My first trip to Colchester. Hoping for a win but expecting no more than a point

 

[LongEatonPie]

Whats happened in football. I remember the days when I was a lad that you used to go round saying "My teams gonna tonk yours" and "your teams poo".
Now its all Gentlemanly and its "I think you will beat us because" and "We never win this type of game"

Anyway, I am going all out and saying I think it will be a draw

 

[jacobncfc]

Lovely day for it, always enjoyed a trip here tbf, just a shame the ground is so dull.

Wouldn’t say a draw suits either team, really. Colchester need a win to maintain any hope of sneaking into the play-offs, as do we to maintain any hope of putting pressure on Wycombe. Would consolidate our play-off place I guess but think that should be okay anyway with two home games left.

 

[LongEatonPie]

Dare I say we are getting a bit of form up.
A win next week and we have got to believe going into the play offs.
The Fortshow has arrived!

 

[jacobncfc]

We won an away game!!!

 

[dedwardp]

Well, I thought that game was a decent reflection of an ultimately disappointing season.

Played ok without looking like anything special, we were on top for large periods of the game, but failed to make that time count. Should have been more than one goal up, but then moments after hitting the post Notts go up the other end and put the ball away when they finally got their chance, turning the game on its head.

If we don't sign a goalscorer in the summer then there's no hope for next season.

 

[Youpies]

Ahh football. I thought that while Colchester had the better of the first half, Notts controlled the second half. If Col U had put away the first half chances they'd have been home and dry with the second half a formality. Notts just took their chances.

Vurtue had a poor first half but was fantastic bsecind half. Noble continues to frustrate me as he was poor for long periods and there is still a missing person on our left midfield. I hope Jorge can find his early season form much like his team mates. We look like the side that never gave up in the first 3 months of the season. We seem to be hitting form at the right time even if autos are not very likely

 

[Optipez]

Three points away, massive for us. Ameobi and Forte both scoring, why oh why did Nolan wait until last week to stumble on this pairing when the supporters have thought it the most obvious pairing all season.
Still, nine points to play for and no reason why we can't get them.
Only listened in the radio but Dewardp sound's pretty spot on with his view of Colchester struggling to score two and imploding when the going gets tough.

 

[jacobncfc]

Saw the two sides of this Notts team and this season in one game there.

The first half was dreadful. We approached it as we have done basically every away game since September - passive, slow, like we’re just waiting to concede. No one was making a tackle, there was no energy to our play, it was dreadful and we were lucky it was only 1-0 at half time.

The second half was the Notts team that we see at Meadow Lane more often than not. Pressing the ball high, getting it forward quickly, winning every second ball, that kind of thing. Why we haven’t approached away games like that from the start I have no idea and it’s what’s going to cost us automatic promotion.

We managed to turn the second half into an end to end battle, and once that’s happened we generally end up winning.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Well I got that wrong, welcome surprise 3 away points

Ahhhh hindsight Jacob, if only it was that easy. You sound like Colin Slater in every previous season. “Notts need to become more consistent” I’m guessing he meant consistently good lol. It ain’t that simple, it don’t work like that buddy sadly