I've read Ritchie's comments and he certainly does have a key issue as to how he is going to motivate this group of players to perform to a standard higher than this today. He sent out an unusual formation and it is interesting that he says this was not to seek a draw. I can only think, then, that the idea was to contain a frustrate Colchester initially and then change the formation to a more attacking one in the hope of winning the game from a drawing position. Either way, it didn't work out. The team which started the game was Colgan Tonge Reid Carbon Austin Kay Burns McPhail Williams Nardiello Hayes The Colchester formation showed a 4-4-2 with Greg Halford joining Chris Iwelumo up front. Iwelumo in particular was a threat from the very first whistle and I thought he deserved his winning goal. Carbon managed to win about 50% of the high balls against him, but Reid rarely mastered him in the air. Halford's height was also a threat and he is remarkably good on the deck for a tall player also. Colchester had marginally the better of a poor first half of little pattern or control from either side. Iwelumo had a good header land on top of the net and Halford shot straight at Colgan when in a good position. Halford also almost managed to convert a cross which squirmed loose across the area, but Colgan covered well. For us, Burns had the two best strikes, forcing a really good stop from Davidson and hitting another with power, but swirling away just over and to the right of the goals. The threat from Iwelumo was obvious and I really wasn't surprised when he scored soon after half time. All it needed was the right sort of cross and he knew he had the beating of Reid and a fair chance against Carbon. He almost snatched another late on but for a truly, yes really amazing reflex save from Colgan. If it had happened in the Prem it would have been played over and over. More to come later.
Two things stand out here...........remember last season I said Greg Halford is one of the best players in this division. He played right wing when they were at the TARN last season. Stood art head and shoulders above (in more ways than one)the rest of the players on the pitch. Second I have said in the past that Reid is not a good central defender (same goes for Kay) Reid is good if he is up against a slighter guy. Reid has problems if he is up against a centre forward bigger or stronger than himself. Reid is not robust enough for this position in this league. But he is good in midfield. We need Kay and Reid in the middle of midfield. Both can get forward and score, both can pass the ball and both can add height when defending.
Chris Iwelumo How did he play overall? I think he was a Reds / Gudjon target (if it is the same one who played at Stoke).
just got back we badly need a anchor midfield man and a srong defence leader ritchie out ritchie out bring back gudjon
