COLCHESTER POST-MATCH REACTION

Put it here......

Not great, it finished 0-0, but better, certainly the second half was a vast improvement although still ultimately frustrating. Now Saints just need to start scoring, I think that's a confidence issue. 5 games without a goal is plain crap.

Well we have to take the positives, a clean sheet and a half decent second half performance. Same formation as previous 4 games we have lost with two wide players, Chamberlain and Puncheon leaving our midfield short in the middle, suspect that is still Wilkins influence but hopefully Adkins will see that we need to beef up the midfield and stop allowing other teams the run of the middle of the park. First half didnt have much to offer and wish we would try and change things, how about kicking off attacking Chapel end first, just try something different.

Fair bit of possession but no real threat, looking back can't remember to many to threats at either end in the first half. Puncheon was pretty ineffective again cutting inside when he should pass outside and then passing when he had the chance to shoot. Lambert looked like he had weights in his boots, hardly ever got off the ground and Chamberlain had a quiet half. Second half saints did play with more passion and had a couple of periods where they piled on the pressure. Schneiderlin had a much better second half and Chamberalin made some runs though there were a couple of times he completely lost his man in tracking back. Think Adkins knows that we shouldnt have to be playing him week in week out and a couple of games on the bench might be useful, assuming we have anyone else to bring in. Butterfield had a good shot that just went wide for a corner and would like to see get forward more and try his luck. Schneiderlin also went close with a volley.

Adkins took off Puncheon and Harding to bring on Holmes and Dickson. Again a very poor performance from Puncheon and surely Adkins will relaise this guy is not delivering. Seems to have put on weight and looks more like a rugby league player. Both subs brought some pace to the left hand side and set up a good finish with pressure but not without a scare when we got caught on the break from a corner and Colchester had a great chance to steal victory, Odejeyi was clean through and should have shot but bottled it and passed to another player in a great positon but Davis stood his ground and the shot was reasonably comfortable for him. Surviving that let off, and who knows what damage that would have done if we had lost, saints pressed and a couple of Lambert freekicks brought out two great saves by their goalie low and down to his left.

Two games played and no goals but Adkins should have seen enough to know that he needs reinforcements. Midfield is being overun and Hammond had a shocker but who do you bring on? Up front Connolly supposedly has an injury which means down to two and Adkins said after game Barnard has an injury as well. With Lambert not just unfit but lazy not hard to see why we are struggling to score goals.

He now has a week to work with them and think Dickson did enough to be in the starting line up, can play Harding in midfield instead of Puncheon. Can we also stop the practice of lining 2 players up to take every free kick, fools no one and end result is normally a wasted ball, mind you Schneiderlins little jig on the spot is quite funny (guess not supposed to be) and bit like James used to put his hands on his hips!

Davis 6 saved us from defeat but his distribution still slow, that said his save is what we pay him for
Butterfield 6 bit slow but would like to see him as a midfield option to Hammond once Ricahrdson fit
Fonte 6 looked a bit iffy first half but improved and seemed to be getting some of his confidence back.
Seaborne 6 again after a shaky start thought he had a decent game for him mind you Col werent that good!
Harding 6 Did okay but in first half reluctant to get forward, worried about making mistakes with Dickson there?
Chamberlain 6 Quiet first half, 3 games in a week took its toll.
Hammond 4 Awful game, gave the ball away several times in midfield and looks overweight, needs a wake up call.
Schneiderlin 6 much better second half and tried to spark things
Puncheon 5 another poor game and with the crowd on his back needs to be dropped and suggest he works on his fitness, another one with no pace and his failure to track back puts defence under pressure.
Barnard 6 Plenty of graft from Barnard, had rough deal from ref all game and thought he won pen with cross which hit arm of Col player.
Lambert 5 free kicks apart very little. Never won a ball in the air all day as didnt jump and had a great chance 2nd half but was so slow in controlling the ball chance lost.

Subs

Dickson 6 did well when he came on, think he should be strating
Holmes 6 nearly scored with his first touch, shot just wide and delivered some good corners.
Guly came on for last couple of minutes

We played well at times and for a while passed the ball much quicker than we've been doing in recent games, but we still seem unable to create clear cut chances.

The defence was OK. Butterfield had a good first half but made an awful lot of mistakes in the second half. Fonte was solid. Seaborne was ok. Harding has been poor all season compared to last for me. Kelvin had clearly been told by NA to try to pass the ball out from defence and he made some good quick throws out to the wingers to start attacks.

The two wingers were probably our best player. Puncheon caused quite a few problems for them but could have passed it a bit earlier on a few occasions. O-C was very bright and his crosses deserved a finish. Schneiderlin generally played very well but is prone to making needlessly difficult passes which don't come off. Hammond contributed absolutely nothing and certainly didn't play like a captain.

Barnard worked hard as usual but didn't get much service. Lambert didn't look hungry at all and his touch was poor, but he was unluncky with the two free-kicks at the end.

Hammond needs his p45 not a wake up call

How Pardew made Hammond captain was beyond me but with a certain rumour doing the rounds ( ) maybe it isn't. He has never been good enough to be captain and seems to be getting worse by the game. Him and Puncheon are both a liability for me. Holmes will start for me in Puncheons place and I would be tempted to play Dickson with him. Tell Morgan to mop up and break up the attacks before releasing our wiide men or someone who is free.

Agree that Hammond has been really poor this season and certainly looked slow and heavy on Saturday. Certainly think Holmes should get a chance to start in place of Puncheon, interesting that Holmes and Dickson when they both came on combined really well, guess been on the same side in training but they worked together unlike Harding and Puncheon.

I don't know if Guly would be worth a shot in place of Hammond, certainly looks big enough as shirt hardly fits him. Team selection on Saturday might give some clues as Adkins will have had all week to work with them.

Richardson should be due back in October which is less than 2 weeks away so when he is fit you would assume he will go to FB which means Butterfield becomes another option for midfield.