let's talk about the Colchester United game

[selby]

  When I saw the team picked at Crewe before kick off I must admit my confidence of keeping Crewe at bay sank, first thoughts the same players, the same mistakes too easy to play against, it has  gone on too long, easy on the eye, but too easy.
   Now we go on to face a Colchester game who themselves took a bit of a beating at home to Barrow losing 4-1and having Fevrier  sent off to top a bad day, but finished what would have been a club record league run of nine games unbeaten, and we are just the team to get a team back on song when they are hurting, and they are a good side, and will be looking forward to put a wrong right against a team who have been easy to play through going way back.
  Wood is a must for me, and needs to play his uncompromising game, just defend and clear the ball, get the ball away from the area we are poor in, and be willing  for the defence to play a little deeper and stop teams getting behind especially in wide areas.
  The mid field have got to increase their contribution to the team when we don't have possession and get tackles in even the tactical foul on the half way line and break play up, don't let players run past you. This is the hardest part because over the last few seasons I have come to the conclusion they have never done it apart from Westbrooke, who himself gets about the field but is far from being the animal we need, and as a unit it seems it is just not part of their game unfortunately, easy on the eye is the be all and end all.
    The big question is with recent results in mind, will we once again go on a run of win one, have Colchester hit the wall (what would we give for a eight game unbeaten run)
  So we are back to the same old Questions  over the last few seasons,
   Can we get back on track? we have a chance as they are below ourselves on the same points which shows how poorly they started the season.
    Our play going forward has improved and we can play some good football, can we add that being hard to beat side of the game every successful side needs?
    Apart from consistency Grant has brought the team forward a long way, he needs time and I think getting rid of players is going to be his hardest job, not getting better in, what do you think?
   Mid week next to no away fans expected, and the weather now very autumnal, are you going to the game?
    Lots to discuss about this game, can we raise moral with a win? to go forward to the game at Peterborough, where we can go and just play with no real expectancy and no pressure, but if we get a result could fire up our season, anything in the league now a monumental effort needed, please have your say.                           

[Chris Black come back]

They have an ok away record but it is shit or bust. Won 3, lost 6, drawn 0. They’ve beaten Grimsby, Accrington and Gillingham away, a fairly average bunch. They are on a roll though away, having won 2 of their last 3 away games and the one they lost was Stockport.

[DMnumber4]

  When I saw the team picked at Crewe before kick off I must admit my confidence of keeping Crewe at bay sank, first thoughts the same players, the same mistakes too easy to play against, it has  gone on too long, easy on the eye, but too easy.
   Now we go on to face a Colchester game who themselves took a bit of a beating at home to Barrow losing 4-1and having Fevrier  sent off to top a bad day, but finished what would have been a club record league run of nine games unbeaten, and we are just the team to get a team back on song when they are hurting, and they are a good side, and will be looking forward to put a wrong right against a team who have been easy to play through going way back.
  Wood is a must for me, and needs to play his uncompromising game, just defend and clear the ball, get the ball away from the area we are poor in, and be willing  for the defence to play a little deeper and stop teams getting behind especially in wide areas.
  The mid field have got to increase their contribution to the team when we don't have possession and get tackles in even the tactical foul on the half way line and break play up, don't let players run past you. This is the hardest part because over the last few seasons I have come to the conclusion they have never done it apart from Westbrooke, who himself gets about the field but is far from being the animal we need, and as a unit it seems it is just not part of their game unfortunately, easy on the eye is the be all and end all.
    The big question is with recent results in mind, will we once again go on a run of win one, have Colchester hit the wall (what would we give for a eight game unbeaten run)
  So we are back to the same old Questions  over the last few seasons,
   Can we get back on track? we have a chance as they are below ourselves on the same points which shows how poorly they started the season.
    Our play going forward has improved and we can play some good football, can we add that being hard to beat side of the game every successful side needs?
    Apart from consistency Grant has brought the team forward a long way, he needs time and I think getting rid of players is going to be his hardest job, not getting better in, what do you think?
   Mid week next to no away fans expected, and the weather now very autumnal, are you going to the game?
    Lots to discuss about this game, can we raise moral with a win? to go forward to the game at Peterborough, where we can go and just play with no real expectancy and no pressure, but if we get a result could fire up our season, anything in the league now a monumental effort needed, please have your say.                           

Sorry if I have misread it, but when was Colchester's eight game unbeaten run?

This is their last ten league games: LLLLWWWDLL

[roversdude]

I’d swap Wood for Anderson and put Lawlor back in with the other 9 that started on Saturday

[RugbyRover]

Might be wrong but I think Lawlor let in three on his last outing, the last one being a bit of a howler.

I'd have

Super Louis Jones

Bailey   Wood    Nixon

Molyneux   Close      Westbrooke     Maxwell

Faal    Hurst

Ironside

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I don't think he'll change alot unless he has to.

The performance was decent v Crewe so I think he'll want more ofthe same, and hope the home advantage will just tighten up the concentration levels.

[roversdude]

I think it will be same starting 11 barring injuries

[selby]

Must admit it is the first sentence  the game on the BBC result report on the Barrow game I have miss read and refers to Barrows  record obtained in the game I miss understood.
  I put it down to an age thing and beg forgiveness me lud, at least the realisation of the truth gives me a little more hope for the game tomorrow, and thanks to those who pointed the mistake out.
  I could claim I put it in on purpose to see how alive you were, but nah it was a B*****K I admit.

[selby]

  I would play Wood, and if I thought the game in midfield  could be a slog I would leave Close out and consider playing him in the cup game that will be a much more open game, Peterborough will be a much more open game with Peterborough going all out for a  win and could leave space we can exploit further forward.
  Fergie will want to put us away early doors, and then rub it in.

[GazLaz]

Think we are a knocking bet at -0.25 on the Asian handicap.

[selby]

 We need a win as simple as that v Colchester anything at Peterborough would be a well earned bonus, Colchester the more important to keep us out of the mire.

[ncRover]

I would expect the Peterborough game to be called off

[Nudga]

I would expect the Peterborough game to be called off

How come?

[Donnywolf]

Not too bad weather wise . Source BBC

Pitch will be covered I would presume and I will have several layers so nothing too serious by look of it

[The Beast]

I would expect the Peterborough game to be called off

How come?

There’s a chance tonight’s game could be off, hoping not.

[ncRover]

I would expect the Peterborough game to be called off

How come?

Temps from -2 to 3 forecast for Peterborough that day and they don’t have undersoil heating

[The Beast]

I would expect the Peterborough game to be called off

How come?

There’s a chance tonight’s game could be off, hoping not.

Game on, plumber’s sorted it.

[normal rules]

I would expect the Peterborough game to be called off

How come?

Temps from -2 to 3 forecast for Peterborough that day and they don’t have undersoil heating

They reckon frost covers are good to -8

[normal rules]

Rovers are 19/20 tonight for the win. (Skybet) with Colchester at 5/2.
Over used term and perhaps too early but tonight is a must win game IMO.
Colchester are level pegging with rovers points wise, Almost same GD but they have played one more game and 5 points from drop zone is way, way too close.

[Avsuptem]

I think we are a far better team than our league position suggests and tonight that will become quite evident. 

[normal rules]

I think we are a far better team than our league position suggests and tonight that will become quite evident. 

I so hope you are right.
A loss tonight is unthinkable.

[CaptainStock]

The fact we went to Crewe, who are doing very well in the league, played them off the park for the majority of the game says to me we will be okay with everyone slowly starting to get back to fitness. I wouldn't change too much (maybe start Wood to help build his fitness) and try carry on the positive performance from Saturday.

I wouldn't put much thought into Peterborough game, we need to focus on the league

[roversdude]

The fact we went to Crewe, who are doing very well in the league, played them off the park for the majority of the game says to me we will be okay with everyone slowly starting to get back to fitness. I wouldn't change too much (maybe start Wood to help build his fitness) and try carry on the positive performance from Saturday.

I wouldn't put much thought into Peterborough game, we need to focus on the league

Just looked at Peterborough’s current position and hopefully they see the league as their priority

[Plumbster]

I do worry that we can find a way to lose whoever we are playing, especially in the pressure of a must- win game, so fingers crossed for tonight

[steve@dcfd]

So it looks like
               Jones
   Anderson Wood Senior
Nixon Bailey Close Maxwell
                Rowe
          Ironside.  Faal

[GazLaz]

Think we are a knocking bet at -0.25 on the Asian handicap.

We were good things tonight.

[SydneyRover]

Lawlor will really have to work hard to get his spot back, which is a good thing

[scawsby steve]

Lawlor will really have to work hard to get his spot back, which is a good thing

Well said, Syd. However, there's one poster on here who's always knocking Jones, and actually blamed Louis for their goal tonight.

Unbelievable.

[mushRTID]

Great to see having options from the bench come on and win it for us. Moly was superb.

[danumdon]

Lawlor will really have to work hard to get his spot back, which is a good thing

That's why we pay managers the big bucks.

Many on here were of a mind to have Jones dropped after Saturdays match, GM bit the bullet and kept faith with him, the result a very good game from Jones, didn't have too much to do but did it all competently. The late save when Bailey of all people played their striker through on goal was the pick, if that had gone in and with a 5 mins plus left to go we would of all been fearing the worst.

Lets hope that bit of faith by GM pays him dividends with LJ, well played fella.