... and in Other Football News

Rate him or not Harry Maguire’s biggest problem has always been his apparent value.

 

Agree, and that isn't his fault.

 

McGuire had the chance to go to Man City
More fool him choosing United

 

Free agent Elmo !
I'd have him back here thought he was great for us and his crosses where excellent .

 

I wouldn't, he's past it now. His crosses we're excellent about 1 in every 47 he did each game, nearly all of them were overhit and no where near the man in the box.

 

Didn’t realise Wayne Brown was managing in the football league.

 

Wouldn't have minded a Wayne Brown-like character in our back line this season.

 

Don’t think our defence has been an issue certainly wouldn’t disregard McLoughlin being that figure these days. Our attack has always been the issue this season not been smashed once this season, too many 1-0’s we’ve lost due to not taking our chances and them taking their 1 which will always happen given the quality gap between our squad and most others in the league.

 

Was an issue in the first third of the season from set pieces, but they seem to have found their feet bar the odd mistake.

Imagine what could be with an experienced leader back there though. Wouldn't take much to be a very tight defence.

 

True, set pieces don’t seem to be an issue anymore though. Set up issue or McLoughlin made that much of a difference especially given he didn’t touch the pitch until the 4 game win streak

 

Their main job is of course defending, and they really have improved massively (famous last words?!), but set pieces are an issue at the other end still though. Our 3 CB's should be weighing in with the odd goal here and there, which could make all the difference. They just don't carry any sort of threat. Same with midfielders.

 

All our central defenders are learning on the job, personally feel they would benefit from an older experienced head around them, guiding them on the pitch and helping their development. The goals given away at home to Barnsley recently were pure comedy.

That said we have also missed a hatful of chances up front.

S**t, no wonder we are struggling!

 

I think our biggest problem is the midfield, it still doesn’t feel right.

I’m disappointed Docherty hasn’t had a better season and as likeable Tom and Smallwood are, they aren’t a long term answer.

Moncur & Cannon might as well not have been here and I don’t think we’ve given Slater the chance to stake his claim.

Honeyman has been good at times but too often has to do it all, meaning no protection for the defence and not much being set up in attack.

 

I think our expectations of Docherty were too high in hindsight. Solid grafter and chipped in with assists and goals in League 1 but doesn’t have the technical ability to hack it in the Championship. Some of us thought he’d be due a call-up for the Scottish national team but McGinn, Gilmour and Ferguson etc. are head and shoulders ahead of him.

 

Martin Samuel' thoughts on Chelsea asking for the FA cup tie with Middlesbrough to be played without supporters.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...ture-integrity-given-root-cause-problems.html

 

Bristol City supporters deliver home truths to Nigel Pearson as he walks off after Barnsley loss


https://www.bristolworld.com/sport/...-to-nigel-pearson-after-barnsley-loss-3613117

 

It seems to be a coaching and planning issue which has continued under the new manager. We're not getting players into good positions free of markers (which s often aided by some crafty blocking). Delivery is generally good, and McLoughlin wins pretty much every header as a defender yet he's hardly ever on the end of a cross.

 

Lucky Frank Lampard's Everton scored 90+9 minutes to beat Newcastle 1-0

 

He's actually the full time manager of Maldon and Tiptree FC, who seem to have some sort of link up with Colchester. Signing a manager on loan, never heard such a thing.

 

I've been saying this for a while, midfield is where we need more quality. Smallwood is good defensively, but just lacks the ability to hold the ball and pass forward accurately on a regular basis. Docherty has loads of energy, but at this level lacks the ability on the ball, and like Wednesday evening a bit of a bull in a China shop, he was lucky not to have a penalty awarded against him. We need a couple of quality midfielders that can get us on the front foot, then you will see better service to the players upfront and to give Honeyman more time to play forward.