Colchester Preview

Igor looks forward to the game against the Essex boys

By: Igor Wowk

GOAL DROUGHT OVER ? ~ THE VISIT OF COLCHESTER UNITED

The local Saturday sports paper, we have two in East Anglia, one printed in Norwich and one in Ipswich, (anyone remember the days when we had the "Last Sports" with Granville Shackleton ?) covers Colchester United, the Clarets next opponents.

They lost 1 - 0 at home on Saturday to Scunthorpe. A game which, apparently United never looked like winning. They are now on their third manager in less than a year in the shape of Steve Whitton.

Whitton replaced the itinerant Mick Wadsworth who gave as an excuse for resigning the fact that commuting from Pontefract was doing his head in. Wadsworth is now working at Crystal Palace, so its a much more straightforward journey, straight down the M1, M25, M1, Blackwall Tunnel, South Circular, and a few London suburb High Streets. So, interpret into this what you will. My own version would be that Colchester have a poor side and there is no money to strengthen.

The local paper have already printed all the excuses for their defeat in advance, i.e. Burnley have loads of money, fans, a fab ground and good players. This could be a chance for the likes of Payton to really fill his boots and get the goal difference up to a respectable level.

United are one of the few sides to have scored less goals than Burnley and have let in more than any other side, really BFC ought to hire the cricket scoreboard from next door. Nevertheless football being the funny old game that it is, the result will probably be a lot closer than anticipated. However Stan could probably field David Blunkett in goal and get away with it on Saturday.

The big question is whether Burnley have the capability to capitalise. On the plus side the Clarets have met three sides with potentially good defences and prospects so far in the shape of Bournemouth, Chesterfield and Stoke in terms of this Division, so against a weaker side they may go to town.

In a perverse kind of way United is a sterner test, as no doubt Colchester won't be remotely interested in trying to win this game, and in the past, a lot of the Claret's problems have been caused by failing to put away the Division's weaker sides. This weakness re-surfaced somewhat at Oldham where the Clarets made a hatful of chances but put away only one, when a bit of steadier finishing would have sewn the game up by half time It always concerns me when a side dominate but fail to convert this into goals, which is the whole point of the game. There is no point shutting sides out, containing them in midfield etc. if they can't be put away. Three points from Colchester is just the same as three points from Wigan, the only difference is that its easier to get them from Colchester.

I sense that with a big squad at his disposal and the need to keep all parties interested, Stan has a feeling for which games are more winnable than others and will pick the side accordingly and make substitutions as well. In the light of this I would like to see Lee given a start and to be told to go out and make a name for himself. Basically if he can't score goals against Colchester at home, then what was the point of buying him in the first place? The score will give a big indication as to whether the players really believe they can do it this year.

One hopes that they will burst of the traps and overwhelm the opposition from the off, resulting in an early goal, which will immediately put the kybosh on the opposition plan early doors, leaving the way open to finish them off before the half time oranges. Lets hope that Stan selects personnel and a formation that will enable this to take place.

CHURLING

Its difficult to do this with 14 points from 7 games. However one churl that would appear to be very premature is of the "How are we going to cope in Division One next season ? " variety. Hopefully like Watford and Bradford City. If we have 60 points after 30 games by all means curl away on this one, but in the meantime lets enjoy the 0 - 0 draws and 1 - 0 wins along the way.

Up the Clarets

Igor

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