Papa John’s Tournament???

[Audrey]

Thought Grant got back well to prevent another of their chances.

[RobertT]

Overall, lucky to be only a goal down.  The second string are having a tough time against more experience opposition and the tough conditions with the wind being a real pest.

Ward - think he could have taken a bit more responsibility in that half and took the risk of cleaning house from the corners.  Couple of good one on one saves though.

Francis - not going to judge his career on that half, he's a bit all over the place and a few yards behind the pace of the game.  Couple of nice passes when there has been time.

Minturn - similar to Francis, completely disconnected from Grant at times, getting caught watching the game and has tried a little too hard in the last 10.

Grant - couple of good clearances but he was about to let rip at Minturn before, I assume, remembering he is coaching a youth player through a game.

Crichlow - a mixed bag.  Got to wonder if he gets coached through a game by more experienced players around him?

Dabre - I don't see an immediate future for him beyond five to ten minute cameo's, and not at left back if we were ever defending a lead!  Great skills, not much positional sense and no patience when defending, chases the ball, the players, bits of rubbish, anything near him.  Like a Jack Russell.

Lyden and East - look good on the ball, a bit flimsy off it that half.

Gilbert - he really hasn't kicked on.  Still kind of drifting through a game without ever really getting a grip on it.  Nice technique, is it enough?

JML - I like what I see.  Not that he has played well, but he looks like a player you could coach and try and get the good bits out of him.

McKirdy - done OK, got annoyed, had a grumble, couple of good touches, couple of blind alleys.

[Nomoreheroes]

The bits I have enjoyed:

- McKirdy's curler from the left
- McKirdy remonstrating over Francis's yellow was funny
- McKirdy quickly trying to cross for Crichlow's goal

What I didn't enjoy:
- Lack of defending
- Poor passing
- Dribbling down blind alleys

[Peter Venkman]

Grant, JML and McKirdy our best players for me so far, Lyden grew into it but the rest were all disappointing, still the wind will be behind us 2nd half so it could easily change.

[Peter Venkman]

If anyone was in any doubt as to Colchester taking it more seriously than we are....here are the 1st team appearances of both sets of players, its a shocking difference of experience.

If you take Grant out of our side (the only one with 100+ games) we can only muster 258 appearance between 10 players including Ward and McKirdy, we have 7 players with 20 or less 1st team starts.

Ward 60
Grant 626
Crichlow 18
Minturn 1
Francis 0
East 3
Lyden 49
Dabre 3
JML 20
McKirdy 98
Gilbert 6

If you look at Colchester they have 5 players with 400+ appearances each and only 3 starters with less than 20 1st team starts.

Turner 17
Welch_Hayes 105
Chambers 794
Smith 422
Skuse 604
Judge 426
Sears 445
Chilvers 76
Jasper 19
Dobra 41
Coxe 13

We have 3 teenagers starting and Colchester have zero.

[Crackity Jones]

Thanks for that PV. Really puts into perspective the difference in the two sides

[Peter Venkman]

Thanks for that PV. Really puts into perspective the difference in the two sides

Putting it into perspective we are doing OK TBH.

[Nomoreheroes]

Thanks for that PV. Really puts into perspective the difference in the two sides

So does the score! 😂

[Peter Venkman]

I love Dabres youthful enthusiasm but his quality isn't really there yet, raw.

[Jimmy Quinn]

I reckon JJ has his own PA working for him feeding him stats as there's no way he would have time to gather so much information whilst summarising the match!

[Peter Venkman]

McKirdy bored tries a shot from almost 40 yards, its not a good shot!

[Peter Venkman]

I reckon JJ has his own PA working for him feeding him stats as there's no way he would have time to gather so much information whilst summarising the match!

I like statistics even if many are meaningless! oh and I can multitask!

[Jimmy Quinn]

I enjoy them just don't know where you get the time to compile them!

[Peter Venkman]

Att: 1,728 with 58 from Colchester.

[Peter Venkman]

I enjoy them just don't know where you get the time to compile them!

Takes just a few minutes TBH mate.