Tuesday 23rd March 2021

[Boz]

In theory Colchester are probably a marginally easier opponent than Grimsby, as the Mariners had bottomed out when we played them, whereas Tuesday's hosts are still on the slide. Agree with BITDHSS, it's hard to call which Tranmere Rovers will show up, but we need something and ideally everything from this game, with a trio of more testing fixtures to follow.

George Ray, having finally looked more like the player we thought we were buying in recent months, is likely to miss this with a head injury. but Monthe deputised capably and Nelson is match fit, so hopefully no issues there. Jay Spearing has been one of our most reliable players recently, but with O'Connor not needed to do a man-marking job in central midfield this game, there might be a chance to give Jay a well-earned rest. No idea whether Nugent will start or we revert to Lewis as a false no 9, which worked on our last visit to Essex.

 

[Shrimper92]

Just win, please. Got to make the game v Colchester in April mean something. Can't have being sent down by them.

 

[RLC]

In theory Colchester are probably a marginally easier opponent than Grimsby, as the Mariners had bottomed out when we played them, whereas Tuesday's hosts are still on the slide. Agree with BITDHSS, it's hard to call which Tranmere Rovers will show up, but we need something and ideally everything from this game, with a trio of more testing fixtures to follow.

George Ray, having finally looked more like the player we thought we were buying in recent months, is likely to miss this with a head injury. but Monthe deputised capably and Nelson is match fit, so hopefully no issues there. Jay Spearing has been one of our most reliable players recently, but with O'Connor not needed to do a man-marking job in central midfield this game, there might be a chance to give Jay a well-earned rest. No idea whether Nugent will start or we revert to Lewis as a false no 9, which worked on our last visit to Essex.

I think O'Connor might be on international duty this week (there you are Masi, we are truly Big Time).

I think the result will come down to the freshness of our squad. If we can mix and match and put out a side that is reasonably sharp, we should win the game. If not, we probably won't.

A draw would not necessarily be a disaster, but it would be good to take sufficient points from this game and Mansfield next Saturday to go into the Easter weekend in the automatic places. It would also be good to put some breathing space between ourselves and Bolton.

I would assume Colchester's pitch is better than our own, which might allow us to play a bit of football like we did at Southend a couple of weeks ago.

 

[valefan16]

I think O'Connor might be on international duty this week (there you are Masi, we are truly Big Time).

I think the result will come down to the freshness of our squad. If we can mix and match and put out a side that is reasonably sharp, we should win the game. If not, we probably won't.

A draw would not necessarily be a disaster, but it would be good to take sufficient points from this game and Mansfield next Saturday to go into the Easter weekend in the automatic places. It would also be good to put some breathing space between ourselves and Bolton.

I would assume Colchester's pitch is better than our own, which might allow us to play a bit of football like we did at Southend a couple of weeks ago.

Colchester’s pitch wasn’t great yesterday, really bad bit down one of the flanks, although the other side seemed to play ok.

 

[masi51]

Bloody hell Tranmere are desperate..............Your so called International is not even your player..............He is on loan from Celtic

 

[RLC]

Colchester’s pitch wasn’t great yesterday, really bad bit down one of the flanks, although the other side seemed to play ok.

It will probably be another scrap like Grimsby then.

 

[valefan16]

It will probably be another scrap like Grimsby then.

If your wingers get at their full backs you should get joy down their right side but they looked ok enough in possession but absolutely zero goal threat yesterday. Score you’ll win I would expect. They weren’t terrible defensively bar the right back first half but their strikers looked so isolated. Can see why they haven’t scored many (9 in 20 I think)

 

[E10rifle]

Carlisle’s March to the title starts afresh. Imagine our pissing-about-with-it-sideways-passing-inside-our-own-half will play right into your high press.

 

[Robshep]

Bloody hell Tranmere are desperate..............Your so called International is not even your player..............He is on loan from Celtic

One of your other best players in League 2 is on loan from Peterborough. Whats the point of this piece of drivel

 

[Huntsman94]

Without being disrespectful to Colchester, I’d make a few changes here. Give the likes of Kirby, Ridehalgh, Lloyd, Nelson a start. Would even be tempted to start Burton up top. I don’t think that makes us necessarily weaker as those lads are all fairly fresh and would add some pace and enthusiasm to our play. Keep the likes of Feeney, Woolery, O’Connor in the team and give Macdonald, Kahn, Clarke, Spearing etc a rest.

A game we should win but don’t think it’ll be easy. Col U 0-1 TRFC my prediction.

 

[chipmunx]

Carlisle’s March to the title starts afresh. Imagine our pissing-about-with-it-sideways-passing-inside-our-own-half will play right into your high press.

pull your finger out Orient and beat them - we want to overhaul Carlisle - just for the meltdown that would happen amongst Carlisle fans on BBC Radio Cumbria

 

[dedwardp]

We've failed to score in 13 of the last 18 games, in two of those games the only goal we scored was an own goal. Now we're without a goal in the last five games and hardly a shot on target either. If Tranmere get one then they should be comfortable enough.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

We've failed to score in 13 of the last 18 games, in two of those games the only goal we scored was an own goal. Now we're without a goal in the last five games and hardly a shot on target either. If Tranmere get one then they should be comfortable enough.

I saw a Colchester fan saying that they've spent £28 per goal on iFollow since the turn of the year...

 

[Chris FGR]

Big game for us on Tuesday.
The under 18s against Leicester in the FA Youth Cup fourth round.
I'll be watching that.

Could be more future England players on show, and I don't mean for Leicester.

 

[Chris FGR]

Our 3 games after Tuesday are Boton (H), Bradford (A) and Salford (H). If we don't win tomorrow i can't see us staying in the top 3 much longer.

Whitehouse will be back from suspension which gives us 1 proper CM, doesn't look like Adams will be fit though.

Not looking forward to our game on Sky given Bolton's current form, with a weakened midfield we won't be able to keep the ball and will be chasing shadows like we were at Cambridge.

 

[E10rifle]

pull your finger out Orient and beat them - we want to overhaul Carlisle - just for the meltdown that would happen amongst Carlisle fans on BBC Radio Cumbria

I’ll have to ask dedwardp if he can spare one of his extra fingers. We’re pretty much in flip-flop mode already. Good win at the weekend but I doubt we can be arsed to follow it up. That Mid-Table Cup isn’t going to win itself.

 

[hellogregory]

pull your finger out Orient and beat them - we want to overhaul Carlisle - just for the meltdown that would happen amongst Carlisle fans on BBC Radio Cumbria

Do you really think we give a fuck about that?

If there is a meltdown, it won’t be anything to do with barrow.

 

[Holty10]

Our 3 games after Tuesday are Boton (H), Bradford (A) and Salford (H). If we don't win tomorrow i can't see us staying in the top 3 much longer.

Whitehouse will be back from suspension which gives us 1 proper CM, doesn't look like Adams will be fit though.

Not looking forward to our game on Sky given Bolton's current form, with a weakened midfield we won't be able to keep the ball and will be chasing shadows like we were at Cambridge.

Are none of the midfield due back by weekend then? We'll happily have the ball if you allow it, especially to settle into the game. I think half our plan is to tire the opposition out with recycling the play from side to side.

We definitely have our vulnerable moments where there is space in the midfield for a quick break. But we have played well against the better teams.

 

[loz]

I think we will get back to winning ways at Scunny, I will go for a narrow 1-0 victory in a dour game

You think a scunny player is going to put one past his own goalie?

 

[Chris FGR]

Are none of the midfield due back by weekend then? We'll happily have the ball if you allow it, especially to settle into the game. I think half our plan is to tire the opposition out with recycling the play from side to side.

We definitely have our vulnerable moments where there is space in the midfield for a quick break. But we have played well against the better teams.

Other then Whitehouse obviously, not sure. Even if Adams is back, our bigger problem is that having lost Winchester in January and then lost players like Sweeney and Moore-Taylor long term, both who were capable of stepping into the ball playing holding role in midfield, we don't have anyone seemingly capable of controlling things in midfield. Isaac Hutchinson, a young lad signed on loan from Derby, was meant to be Winnie's replacement, but tbh when he has played he's looked pretty lightweight and ineffective.

Given we are generally a possession based side it's been a problem adjusting to not having a ball playing midfielder and has led to some pretty inconsistent form of late, as we give the ball away too often which puts pressure on our defence. Against a side like yourselves that is going to be a major problem.

 

[Bottega Don]

You think a scunny player is going to put one past his own goalie?

Our back four is going to consist of our third choice RB, our fourth choice CB, our second choice RB playing CB and our second choice LB.

If you don't manage to score your managers should go at that point

 

[AR27]

Our back four is going to consist of our third choice RB, our fourth choice CB, our second choice RB playing CB and our second choice LB.

If you don't manage to score your managers should go at that point

We played against the worst defence in the league on Saturday and didn't lay a glove on them.

Only way we're scoring is if one of your lot put it on a plate for us, because we won't create anything for ourselves.

 

[Vanni]

Go on you mighty Latics! And you beautiful Staggies! And you awesome Ewes!

 

[Pablosammy]

Hope for something like last week. But can't really see Tranmere and Exeter not winning. You never seem to know with Mansfield, hopefully they turn it on and it's a tiring game.

I'm not so sure. Colchester have conceded just one goal in three games, and we're really struggling to net from open play at the moment... 5 hours and counting.

0-0 wouldn't surprise me at all.

 

[northstandexile]

I'm not so sure. Colchester have conceded just one goal in three games, and we're really struggling to net from open play at the moment... 5 hours and counting.

0-0 wouldn't surprise me at all.

Surely the referee will give you a penalty or two.

 

[Holty10]

I'm not so sure. Colchester have conceded just one goal in three games, and we're really struggling to net from open play at the moment... 5 hours and counting.

0-0 wouldn't surprise me at all.

Yeah it's not guaranteed. You're not odds on with the bookies, so they don't think it's a formality. But it just looks like if you score, you win.

 

[Si Robin]

Go on you mighty Latics! And you beautiful Staggies! And you awesome Ewes!

I concur

 

[Huntsman94]

Surely the referee will give you a penalty or two.

Three just for luck?

 

[Moomin]

Must win for us at Oldham really. Curle is yet to win a game so it’s only a matter of time before they get it, hopefully not against us. Always rated Nicky Adams and McAlaney is very good.

Fancy this will have goals in it. We’re now missing Joel Randall which is big blow...Randall Williams back in training but think it may be too soon for him tomorrow.

Think it will be a 2-2 draw which isn’t really enough and puts even more pressure on Saturday’s game. Just don’t lose, City.

 

[GTFCfish]

I'm not so sure. Colchester have conceded just one goal in three games, and we're really struggling to net from open play at the moment... 5 hours and counting.

0-0 wouldn't surprise me at all.

If John-Lewis hadn’t managed to hit the bar from two yards out it would’ve been two in three games.