Stags Vs U's

[AdamStag]

So, Saturday sees a match up between 2 of the early season favourites (according to the bookies, at least) who both have 4 points from the opening 2 games.

Seems Colchester are up for making more of a go of it this season than last, whereas our position of 8th was ultimately very disappointing.

Colchester have already played 2 sides who could potentially make the playoffs in Notts Co and Port Vale, so this could be a tricky game - hopefully we can add to the 11 goals we've scored in the 3 games so far.

High scoring game that could go either way? i'll go for 2-2

 

[Conker]

Really rate Colchester and I think they should be challenging for the top seven, I'll be surprised if it's not a very tough game.

I would take a point now despite it being at home, but i'm very unsure what to expect tomorrow. It's been a good start despite the disapointing draw at Yeovil but this team and new style of play is a unknown entity at the moment.#

You could argue for Butcher over MacDonald and Sweeney in at CB with White going RWB. That would mean dropping probably our most valued player in CJ Hamliton but he's wasted on the wrong side of the pitch.

 

[dedwardp]

Last season was a real let-down having been in touch with the top three at Christmas, we were awful in the New Year. This year we've added some physicality to the side with Harry Pell in the middle and Frank Nouble further forward and so far the signs have been good.

Was pleased with the point at Notts County on the opening day, even if that is starting to look less impressive, but last week I thought we were excellent against Port Vale. Fluid, attacking football and a couple of really well-worked team goals, the only disappointment was that we didn't score four or five as we ought to have done. Think everyone was left feeling quite optimistic that we should be hitting the top seven this season.

I think we're still too cautious away from home, and the talk from McGreal this week is about 'bridging the gap to the bigger teams like Mansfield' which, frankly, sounds like nonsense. Doesn't fill me with much hope for today. We don't score enough goals, Mansfield seem to like hitting the net already so expecting a narrow defeat to be fair.

 

[WH_Stag]

If we play like we did on Tuesday, no problem great win. However league is different and colchester are a good side... very tough game, would love a win 1-0 2-1?

 

[Conker]

I'm worried how we will match up against a big physical side with this new formation and style of play, hopefully it's unfounded.

I would not be cautious against Mansfield currently, yeah we are a serious threat attacking but as Yeovil shown we are not quite up to grips with three at the back yet.

 

[Conker]

I did say I would take a draw......

Only one team in that contest actually had any ambitions to win it, such a horrible way to drop points by either a huge goalkeeping mistake or a foul. Flitcroft made his first mistake of the season by not starting Davies against a physical side and it's no surprise we were much better once he came on.

Still we performed well but I cannot be arsed for another season like last and dropping points at home against teams that are performing mediocre at best against us.

 

[AdamStag]

Colchester looked an alright side, I dare say probably not going to be much fun to watch over a season mind. Whereas I’d be highly surprised if they finished above us, they’ll be challenging the playoffs.

It’s annoying that once again Logan’s cost us, he’s just a liability - the goal is an absolutely joke - watch it on tv tonight! How he can’t catch thatcher isn’t beyond me.

Don’t feel like we weee robbed of 2 points as we didn’t really do anything to deserve to ne infront in the first place.

 

[Conker]

Colchester looked an alright side, I dare say probably not going to be much fun to watch over a season mind. Whereas I’d be highly surprised if they finished above us, they’ll be challenging the playoffs.

It’s annoying that once again Logan’s cost us, he’s just a liability - the goal is an absolutely joke - watch it on tv tonight! How he can’t catch thatcher isn’t beyond me.

Don’t feel like we weee robbed of 2 points as we didn’t really do anything to deserve to ne infront in the first place.

Really? I feel robbed, we offered much more than Colchester.

 

[AdamStag]

Really? I feel robbed, we offered much more than Colchester.

Well I’m clearly not thrilled by it, but it was our first shot on target. Colchester came for the point and we allowed them that with a silly free kick and then a simple cross was missed by Logan.

If anything, we robbed ourselves

 

[Conker]

Well I’m clearly not thrilled by it, but it was our first shot on target. Colchester came for the point and we allowed them that with a silly free kick and then a simple cross was missed by Logan.

If anything, we robbed ourselves

Well I do understand that.

Yeah I'm not making out we had plenty of chances, and Colchester generally defended well but we kept trying to break them down and eventually did via a great goal by Davies.

 

[AdamStag]

Well I do understand that.

Yeah I'm not making out we had plenty of chances, and Colchester generally defended well but we kept trying to break them down and eventually did via a great goal by Davies.

I’ve still not seen us win under flitcroft at home - Went to only 1 friendly this season which we drew against sheff Utd and missed the win over Newport As was In Holland. Maybe it’s just me!

His record of conceding late is getting boring

 

[dedwardp]

Been out all afternoon but from what I've been reading, it sounds like we couldn't string two passes together today. General consensus seems to be that Mansfield had most of the ball but did next to nothing with it and both teams will need to be much better to make any serious challenge this season.

 

[Conker]

Been out all afternoon but from what I've been reading, it sounds like we couldn't string two passes together today. General consensus seems to be that Mansfield had most of the ball but did next to nothing with it and both teams will need to be much better to make any serious challenge this season.

We did little with it but that was due to Colchester being a really good solid unit.

I’m just gutted that pretty much in the last kick our goalkeeper has made a complete howler to share the spoils.

Clearly two of the better teams in the league today IMO.

 

[dedwardp]

I just think we're too cautious/negative away from home. We seem to be fearful of the teams that are expected to do better and it doesn't make sense to me, as nobody is particularly standout. When we try to play and take teams on we are more than a match for anybody, but instead we put in displays like today where we're almost just looking for a point and expecting to be beaten. It's incredibly frustrating.

I guess both teams are feeling their way into the season though. Mansfield are clearly doing better under Flitcroft now than they were at the end of last season, whilst we've come back from behind on the road twice this week which probably shows more of a steeliness than we've had before, so perhaps promising signs for both teams.

 

[Conker]

I just think we're too cautious/negative away from home. We seem to be fearful of the teams that are expected to do better and it doesn't make sense to me, as nobody is particularly standout. When we try to play and take teams on we are more than a match for anybody, but instead we put in displays like today where we're almost just looking for a point and expecting to be beaten. It's incredibly frustrating.

I guess both teams are feeling their way into the season though. Mansfield are clearly doing better under Flitcroft now than they were at the end of last season, whilst we've come back from behind on the road twice this week which probably shows more of a steeliness than we've had before, so perhaps promising signs for both teams.

You being too cautious is definitely fair, you only looked like you wanted to score in extra time and you got very lucky to do so.

We did edge it but only have ourselves to blame. I feel like if Davies started we would have maybe got another goal but that’s done with now.

I tipped Colchester for the top seven, and I still feel like that’s a fair prediction after today.

BTW under 200 traveling was a abysmal effort I thought.

 

[dedwardp]

BTW under 200 traveling was a abysmal effort I thought.

Yeah, that's fair - we had near enough double at Notts County a fortnight ago which is an almost identical trip so would have expected similar to be honest.

 

[Stringy]

I thought 1-1 was a fair result as there was very little between the sides. Conceding at the end of the game still feels like two points dropped though.

 

[Conker]

I think it says a lot that Colchester manager admitted he came to nullify the threat that Mansfield seem to present this season.

The plus side is that we will perform better than that, and I don't think we will see many teams come to Field Mill that are up to the task like Colchester. Away games are likely to be a different story.

Big debate about Conrad Logan at the moment, It was a dreadful mistake but I think he's generally a good L2 goalkeeper. He looked really overweight yesterday though - I'm not sure how much that effects a goalkeeper though.

 

[AdamStag]

I think it says a lot that Colchester manager admitted he came to nullify the threat that Mansfield seem to present this season.

The plus side is that we will perform better than that, and I don't think we will see many teams come to Field Mill that are up to the task like Colchester. Away games are likely to be a different story.

Big debate about Conrad Logan at the moment, It was a dreadful mistake but I think he's generally a good L2 goalkeeper. He looked really overweight yesterday though - I'm not sure how much that effects a goalkeeper though.

His weight shouldn’t affect a fundamental basic like catching a ball from a throw in. It was quite simply not acceptable.

He’s made numerous mistakes over a long period of time and I do wonder what bobby has to do to get a game. Whether he’s be the answer is a different matter, but Logan is making too many errors.