Colchester Matrch Report Part 1 - teams and first half

So the Reds were in search of their first point of the season after the debacle at home to Coventry.

Those who have missed the halcyon days of Danny Wilson’s ‘five-at-the-back’ would have been pleased to see the new formation of the Darlington match continuing in this one, as the Reds fielded the following formation at the start:

Muller
Reid Sousa Nyatanga
Kozluk Werling
Ricketts Johnson Howard
Odejayi Ferenczi

There were substitute places for Colgan, Togwell, McCann, Mossto and new signing Kim Christensen. No sign of Devaney then – is he on his way to Cardiff, or somewhere??? It adds fuel to the rumour, unless someone knows he was injured.

The first half gave a great deal about which to be positive. The Reds looked comfortable at the back almost throughout the half and there were assured performances from Sousa and Nyatanga and a battling one from Reid, who played with passion throughout the opening period. I was left thinking that this could be a ‘clean sheet’ coming our way, but, hey, this is Barnsley, so wait for the sucker punches – and they duly arrived. The midfield also ticked away under the control of Andy Johnson as holding midfield player. Class players seem to have so much time on the ball when they get it and that was how Andy seemed throughout the first half. Ricketts darted around, showing excellent control and dribbling skills, perhaps at times going too much sideways than attacking directly, but the Us had problems all afternoon in getting the ball off him – but then so did some of the Reds players as well!! Howard was quietish in the first period, but always looked good when he got the ball. Up front, Odejayi and Ferenczi were getting little change out the Us back four, playing a lot as twin target men with their backs to goal, when we really needed a front player running into space for the through ball. This was a problem with the quality of our play throughout the match. The balance went something like – controlled and in control at the back; mostly clever in midfield; just nothing happening up front, which explains largely why it took until the second half for us to get our first corner and there were few shots at goal in comparison with our hugely dominant amount of possession.

Key incident of the half were as follows. An early shot by Kozluk. An attempted cross by Werling, which caught the wind and would have been an unintentional ‘goal of the season’ contender had it gone in, rather than landing on top of the goals, with the keeper back-pedalling in despair. The foul by the keeper leading to our penalty and the keeper sending off. It seemed a right decision, but it was at the far end of the ground, so I would like to see the replay. Whatever, Odejayi was through on goal and the keeper was last man – so penalty and sending off seemed right. Werling was booked for a foul on Yeates and this revealed a side of his game which the management will need to sort out. Werling thought that Yeates had fouled him a few minutes earlier, though no foul was given and his own foul on Yeates took the player up in the air and might have got more than a yellow. What bothers me is that he had ‘lost it’ a bit and had to get his own back. If he goes on like that, he might miss a fair bit of the season suspended and we might have a few games with ten men – management sort out needed on his attitude.

We had just gone into stoppage time when the Us did what they had looked incapable of doing all the first half – got a shot on target and a goal. Kozluk pushed up on the dangerous Elokobi, but the full-back, who looked a class apart for Colchester all afternoon (apart from when he swore at us!) dinked the ball past him into space near the corner flag, got in a low curling centre and Sheringham’s experience and class slotted home at the near post, with Muller having no chance. It was a class goal, but Kozluk will be disappointed to have been caught pushing up at such a critical stage of the half. This is the problem with wing backs – they need to ‘push up’ as wingers at times and risk leaving gaps at the back. I am not saying that the break wouldn’t have happened had we played Kozluk in a flat back four, but the risk is greater. The equaliser was largely undeserved, given some of our excellent and controlled play at the back and in midfield, but it was a very well constructed and taken goal.

 

RE: Colchester Match Report Part 2 - second half

The second half started with our eleven against the ten men of the Us and at 1-1, but neither stayed that way for long. Us won an early corner (remember we had not had one at all yet to my recollection!) and Johnnie Johnson rehearsed a well constructed training ground move as Connolly (teenager on loan from Arsenal) steamed in unmarked towards the near post and planted an emphatic header past Muller, who had no chance other than to hear the whistle as the ball flew past from close range. Connolly should have been picked up. Somebody didn’t mark him and we are again asking questions of our defence, which had looked so secure throughout the first period. They will need to study the replays and work out what should have happened to pick up Connolly’s quick run in and to get ball-side of him. So, 2-1 to the ten men and hardly a true reflection of possession and class.

It then went from bad to worse when Reid was given a straight red for a clash with Sheringham. My view of it was that Reid, who seemed to have an empassioned, battling mentality throughout, did lead with his arm raised and did seem to clip Sheringham’s face with his hand. There seemed no punch, nor any elbow involved, but Teddy made more than the most of it and Reid had to go. It would bear looking again at the replays as there did seem some intent by Reid, but it happened quickly. At this point I was asking myself how an earth, having dominated the first half and playing against ten men, we can find ourselves 2-1 down and with ten men ourselves. You will regard the Reid incident either as a travesty of justice, or as a reckless challenge. If it were the latter, it could have cost us the game.

From this point on the Us were lifted and took the game to us, playing their characteristic good passing from back to front. I could see the risk of our ‘doing a Coventry again,’ although heads did not drop as much as in that game and the support from fans was good and must have sustained the players. Davey needed to change things before we conceded another and Togwell came on for Johnson at the same time as Grant McCann for Dominic Werling. Togwell seemed to go to right back with Kozluk switching to left, although this changed yet again with Toggers pushing into midfield and Sousa going to left back for a time. The replacement of Werling was wise, as he had been booked, seemed to be getting even more exasperated and had clearly been given a final warning by the ref – we had a chance with ten against ten, but nine against ten would have been a mountain. It was a wise move to bring him off.

With a more running style, we started to get back into the game, but with nothing happening in the penalty area for us. Sousa put a header wide from McCann’s corner. Ferenczi finally got near goal with a header, but it was not giving any prospect that an equaliser would come. Muller made an excellent same from a Johnson free-kick and caught crosses for fun.

The final change came when Ricketts was replaced by Kim Christensen, giving us three strikers up front, all of whom were at least 6’2”. I could guess how we were going to try to play the last fifteen minutes or so!! Ricketts had done his bit and reminded me at times of Clint Marcelle at his best, but without the threat to goal, nor the finish, as he did not run past the strikers at any time. A problem for us had been poor quality of crossing and this continued. However, two good ones eventually found Ferenczi’s head, but he flashed both narrowly wide – remember these are only his second and third attempts on goal in a match in which we dominated the first half – therein lies a problem, but a solvable one! After the latter header, Stan buried his head in the turf, as so he should have. On the other hand, the goals will come for him if he keeps battling.

There then came another of the game’s talking points – we got a free-kick about twenty-five yards out. This was lined up by Grant McCann for his left foot and the players jostled around the edge of the area. Suddenly the ref blew to stop play and all eyes turned towards a prostrate Elokobi on the edge of the area. The ref went over to his assistant and I could see a second red card coming if someone were identified. In the event neither official had seen anything, nor, by the stunned silence, had anyone in the crowd. Just makes you think that this was an attempt to cheat, which should have got a yellow, as Stan did for ‘diving’ (I thought he was fouled) in the first half. Either way McCann’s free kick bent just past the post with the teenage stand-in keeper rooted to the spot.

Just five minutes to go and McCann’s shot seemed to hit a Us’ player on its way towards goal. The ref points to the spot for an unlikely penalty. However, with our performance, we probably deserved it. Howard again sent the keeper the wrong way in spite of some psychology from Teddy S. Interesting that Howard, celebrating passionately the equaliser, was buried under a pile of just three other players – a bit worrying for team spirit and commitment, I thought.

Our game was lifted again and Howard really started to put on the style, pulling strings all over the place and making runs. He found space down the left cleverly and put a left foot shot six inches over. Stan should have won it at the death as another good cross was headed wide.

 

RE: Colchester Match Report Part 3 - overall match and player analysis

Overall match analysis:

There were aspects of truly excellent football from the reds a lot of the time. It is really important that the fans get behind them and lift them if things don’t go right at the start of the season. We can’t afford this to become an expensive disaster and there is no reason that it should do. The potential of some (not all) of the new players is enormous and they just need time to find a formation which works and to learn each others abilities to knit as a team. Best football was at the back, where the class of Sousa and Nyatanga was clearly evident. Dennis was my man of the match by a short straw from Howard, who was the hero on the day. Dennis had so much time on the ball and looked thoroughly at home in the central defensive role. The back three must be maintained on this evidence and really looked the business. Reid made up what he hadn’t got in terms of the touch of the other two with passion and commitment, which are qualities the whole side will need. He seemed more comfortable within a three-at-the-back formation.

The wing backs looked at bit out of their normal role. It is worth recalling the huge contributions on the promotion season made by Nicky Eaden’s and Neil Thompson’s breaking forward into space and their crossing as build up to goals. Have a look at the video and see how many goals came from these wide players and the quality crosses they delivered from the space they found. Werling has pace, but is yet raw and needs to be developed. Kozluk played with passion and commitment and may yet make a good wing back.

The defence linked well with the midfield three, in which Johnson looked a class player, again with so much time on the ball. He is the sort of player who can control a game from centre midfield, given the chance. Ricketts darted to and fro and was hard to dispossess. Howard came truly alive in the last quarter, when he looked a resourceful threat both from the scoring point of view and in creating attacking situations.

Now to the biggest headache – the link play between midfield and attack. It just did not happen. Remember the promotion season again – we had the ultimate workhorse in Wilkinson and Ferenczi is similar, but we also had a darting goal sniffer, various in Andy Liddell and John Hendrie, both of whose running off the ball pulled the defence around and gave options for passes to midfielders. Odejayi is too similar too Ferenczi and wasn’t making runs into space. It was obvious in the first half that the team expected to find one of the strikers running into space down the wing, especially the right wing, which is presumably what was planned, but Kay wasn’t on the same wavelength and there were several occasions when the ball played down the wing just ran out of play. The whole problem was best typified when Andy Johnson showed super skill to kill the ball at his feet, jink to make space, look up and wait for his passing options in runs being made by forward players. That’s when he and the team had the problem, because too often there was no obvious movement up front. So Johnson waved his arms expecting something to happen, shielded the ball with huge skill, looked again – still nothing. So he ended playing the easy ball, which was our problem all afternoon – not having players making probing forward runs into the box – even some more runs from midfielders would have been helpful, which Howard started to do towards the end. Ricketts needs to see himself as apotential goalscorer and make some runs late into the box. The quality of crosses needs attention – good ones almost brought goals, but there were too many poor ones.

Christensen looks a player very like Ferenczi and Odejayi, so it would seem that only Mostto will give us an alternative style up front. We missed the darting runs of Nardiello.

Player analysis:

1. Heinz Muller – 7: not at fault with the goals and I am convinced that he will become one of the best keepers in the Championship. He has great height, but is not muscle-bound like some traditional keepers. He seems to have excellent reflexes. His height and agility means that he catched crosses well, even under pressure.
2. Paul Reid – 6: would have been 7, but for the sending off, which I think might have proved to have been disastrous for us. However, he played with the greatest commitment and passion and I suppose you can’t have both. The team needs his commitment and effort.
3. Dennis Sousa – 9: and my ‘man of the match’ on account of the class and quality he showed throughout. His class meant that he was always comfortable on the ball; he had the pace to close down attackers; he marked space well, rather than jumping in to commit himself; he passed the ball well; I don’t think he missed a tackle, nor a header. He reminded me of a young Ruud Gullit and I think we have unearthed a real star defender. He looked less convincing at left back and there is no doubt that his best position is the central of a back three – an ideal sweeper.
4. Lewin Nyatanga – 7: almost as good as Sousa. Composed on the ball and won everything in the air. An assured performance throughout, which belied his years. I know we won’t be able to keep him, but he is clearly one for the future – he’s the business now.
5. Rob Kozluk – 6: at fault for the first goal, but an honest broker who will give us great service and commitment, no doubt. Needs to develop into the role of wing-back, which seems a little unfamiliar to him (as it will also to Hassell, when he’s fit, I think.) Reasonably good in the tackle and some good passes, but needed to get forwards further as wing-back in order to make the sort of crosses Eaden used to. The quality of crosses matter when you have three 6’2” forwards to aim at.
6. Dominik Werling – 5: bears a frightening resemblance to Mike Tyson and plays a bit like him, too!! No comparison with Elokobi. Has raw pace, but also raw skill and needs further development. On this evidence, no more than a squad player. The left wing-back position will really matter in creating chances, so we need to improve the quality there. Trouble with his temper, which was also a concern.
7. Rohan Ricketts – 7: pretty much in the thick of the action. Runs well with the ball and is hard to dispossess. A winger, but comfortable in a running midfield role and he could make that position his own. Needs to be prepared to make runs into the box beyond the strikers as an alternative source of goals. His efforts stopped at the edge of the area and he didn’t seem inclined to get shots away, which was a problem we had all match in the final third. He should watch the Clint Marcelle collection of goals to play this role effectively. Nonetheless, he controlled a fair bit of the play and will cope more than adequately at this level.
8. Andy Johnson – 8: reminded me of the role of McHale of old, who, given the chance, could control the whole game by pulling the strings. I can see why Davey has brought him and he has unmistakable quality. I can tell Keith Creamer at Norwich that he is still the business on this showing. However, as a quality ball winner and ball passer, we need to give him something to pass to. The forward movement off the ball was our biggest problem, both in the strikers and the midfielders.
9. Brian Howard – 8: quietish first half, but really came alive in the last quarter, during which time he might have had his own hat trick and made chances for others as well. Good penalties (no chips, thank heavens). Overjoyed with his equaliser. Quality player and one capable of the forward movement we need from midfield.
10. Kayode Odeqjayi – 6: I think we need to bring him along gently. He has undoubted ability and pace, but I would think a few appearances coming of the bench would be best. Never stopped running and chasing, but needs to make runs off the ball, rather than chasing lost causes. Played too much with his back to goal when we needed (and the team seems to expect) forward runs into spaces down the wings.)
11. Istvan Ferenczi – 6: just loved the problem the announcer had getting his name right! Our target man for sure and a good one. Held the ball up well and laid it off fairly well, but with limited opportunities to find players coming into the box. Not enough attempts at goal – he does have a long back-lift, so needs to be complemented with a quicker forward like Mostto. Three headers, two of which should have been on target. Will keep working no doubt and will get a dozen or so this season. Keep him as the Wilkinson target man.
12. Sam Togwell – 6 (sub): brought better movement to the side, both at right back and in midield. We need that movement.
13. Grant McCann – 6 (sub): good left foot and close with the free kick. Too good to be out of the team and may thrive in a midfield three with wing backs to support his passing, which is quality. He is also a player who scores goals from midfield, so, boy, do we need him to do that!
14. Kim Christensen – 5 (sub): hard to say. Tall – reminds me of a striking Eric Tinkler. A bit too like Ferenczi and Odejayi on this showing, whereas another Nardiello running striker is what we need. Not on long enough to be sure, hence 5. Seemed to have good technical skills, but did not get close to scoring.
15. The referee!!! He will get a lot of the headlines. He seemed to be very zealous to make an impact, sending off two in a match which was not ill-tempered and giving two penalties to us. The Us had more grievance than we did about him. It was a pity that he had such an impact on the result, but I thought him just a tad over-zealous, but no more. If this is his first season on the list, he is clearly keen to make an impact of the type which says, “They’re not going to do that on my pitch.” His booking of Teddy S must have been for celebrating in front of the Reds fans – I think.

And so that is it. I a convinced that we have unearthed some gems and some crocks in the new signings. However, on balance, if we get into a good run, watch this team really start to show its quality. If the confidence comes and the link play with the forwards develops, we could be a force to be reckoned with, at the same time as playing some of the technically best quality football at Oakwell for a good few years. Worst case scenario – players get booed – confidence ebbs – team spirit goes. Disaster. I think the key is the fans, who can make the difference in supporting this intriguing side through the early days and helping its confidence grow into, possibly, as memorable a one as the days of Glavin and co.

Keep supporting – its’ more important right now than ever!!

 

RE: Colchester Match Report Part 3 - overall match and player analysis

Thank you for that. Very Comprehensive, why are we all worried ???

 

Werling has raw pace , erm no

kayode the same mark as reid .......... :'( :'( :'(
reid was appalling , his distribution crap and gave away at least 5 free kicks away when no need to do so .

 

The referee...

To be fair had no choice with either penalty or the red card for Gerken... the Reid one was off camera on the highlights but reports suggest it was fair, so don't think from those decisions alone that one can say he was trying to get his name in the headlines.

 

RE: Colchester Match Report Part 3 - overall match and player analysis

Very comprehensive analysis - thanks.</p>

Interesting you should compare AJ to McHale - I said a couple of weeks ago that I saw AJ as McHale to Howard's Glavin.</p>

Interesting that he also splits opinion just as McHale did - is probably doomed in the same way to be an unsung and unappreciated mainstay of the team.</p>

 

RE: Colchester Match Report Part 3 - overall match and player analysis

like togwell was last season

 

RE: Colchester Match Report Part 3 - overall match and player analysis

Ok then, if Muller was not at fault for the goals , even tho they came from crosses, can we expect him to be dropped for the next game?
Colgan was, Muller is supposed to be better at organizing the defence and crosses.
2 goals both from crosses and the defence look no better.

I am only pointing out that there are similarities to last week and Colgan was dropped and lambasted on here, yet Muller lets goals in and he is praised. Very Fickle Barnsley fans!!!!

 

Its Colgans fault.
The second gial who was marking? theres were 4-5 defenders there. Very poor goal

 

RE: Colchester Match Report Part 3 - overall match and player analysis

we are not all worried,you are the most negative poster on this board.

 

Thanks very much.

Very comprehensive

 

RE: Thanks very much.

He must bea secretary... typing that fast ffs.... must be a copy and paste.

 

RE: No secretary - copy and paste nt nt

 

Cheers for that. I agree, let's get behind this team!

 

RE: Colchester Match Report Part 3 A very good read & encouraging too. nt