1 hour ago, Biddulph_PV said:

Agree though I do think Richard’s look decent. Not entirely sure where’d play though.

Isn’t he a striker? 
 

What’s been your best Rico Richards moment so far?

Not digging the lad out but there’s no way in this world should Paton be sat on the bench over him or Hackford.

Darren Moore may just be the most frustrating manager we will ever have.

 

10 minutes ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

Isn’t he a striker? 
 

What’s been your best Rico Richards moment so far?

Not digging the lad out but there’s no way in this world should Paton be sat on the bench over him or Hackford.

Darren Moore may just be the most frustrating manager we will ever have.

 

Agree that Paton or Tolaj should be in for Hackford but slightly harsh on Richards, before tonight he had played 47 minutes of league football for us, hard to judge on that but felt he had a good cameo against Newport, nearly scored a great goal.  Tonight he came on and for me the pick of our attacking options that we had out there.  In the second half we were poor again but if we were going to create felt he was the one who was going to do so.  He is clearly a winger or an attacking midfielder and not a striker.

2 hours ago, valefan79 said:

Agree that Paton or Tolaj should be in for Hackford but slightly harsh on Richards, before tonight he had played 47 minutes of league football for us, hard to judge on that but felt he had a good cameo against Newport, nearly scored a great goal.  Tonight he came on and for me the pick of our attacking options that we had out there.  In the second half we were poor again but if we were going to create felt he was the one who was going to do so.  He is clearly a winger or an attacking midfielder and not a striker.

I’m not having a pop at Richards the player. I’m sure he will go on to have a good career. I’m more concerned Paton didn’t get on over him. 
That’s criminal. 
Paton is on our books. He’s our player. He’s scored goals for us and got hung out to dry in the early games. 
 

For me, it’s a case of Moore saying he wasn’t good enough. Which is why he wasn’t brought on. Which I don’t agree with because in the early games, Paton was sacrificed because of Moores poor game plan. 
 

Bottom line is we are 5 unbeaten having won 3. 
Ultimately with the squad we have, I flip flop every other week as to whether Darren Moore knows what he’s doing. And I can’t be the only one.

Somebody else mentioned Gareth Southgate with England. It’s probably a fair comparison. And Sheff Wed fans said don’t get excited with the football he plays. 
Im not too fussed about being excited but just like Southgate he prefers to “game management” a match when we go one up. 
Probably explains the Fleetwood debacle last season. 
It’s all on the manager. 
When it works we love it. When it doesnt, at league two level, he will come in for huge criticism. 
Im still waiting to see Paton Stockley and Tolaj on from the start. 
To start Hackford again tonight was a kick in the teeth to Paton but to then bring on Richards instead of him was criminal. 
 

I’ve got a feeling it’s gonna be week by week. 
Love Moore or don’t want him at the club. The bloke will become Marmite.

 

I thought Richards was good and made us look significantly better up to the first goal.

He was playing on the right-wing which is both his natural position and a position which Paton couldn't play.

I like Paton but his competition is Tolaj, Stockley, and Chislett, not Richards.

7 hours ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

My biggest problem with Darren Moore tonight is that we started Hackford when he showed nothing on Saturday and then he brings on Richards who I’ve seen very little impact from. 
Meanwhile….. Paton, our own contracted player, with goals in him, sits on the bench. 
 

Paton was hung out to dry by Moore and his tactics in the first four games and it seems now that he’s out of favour over loan players up top who, in my opinion, aren’t better than him. 
 

Time to unleash Paton on Saturday, along with Tolaj, along Stockley. 
 

Come on Darren. Let’s see what the three can do. 
I don’t want to see Hackford or Richards starting over any of those three. 

Couldn’t agree more! Not sure why Ruari isn’t getting a look in. He’d be the first name on my team sheet. My boy ☘️💙

8 hours ago, valiant_593 said:

Subs made us look better as they should have started the game. No need for that back 5 and all of our creative players (other than Chislett) being sat on the bench. I don’t think the Tolaj sub was required though at that time 

I think it was difficult to predict the extent that Colchester parked the bus. It was their first 5-3-2 of the season and up until this game they have been the team in lg2 that have had the most shots.

2 hours ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

I’m not having a pop at Richards the player. I’m sure he will go on to have a good career. I’m more concerned Paton didn’t get on over him. 
That’s criminal. 
Paton is on our books. He’s our player. He’s scored goals for us and got hung out to dry in the early games. 
 

For me, it’s a case of Moore saying he wasn’t good enough. Which is why he wasn’t brought on. Which I don’t agree with because in the early games, Paton was sacrificed because of Moores poor game plan. 
 

Bottom line is we are 5 unbeaten having won 3. 
Ultimately with the squad we have, I flip flop every other week as to whether Darren Moore knows what he’s doing. And I can’t be the only one.

Somebody else mentioned Gareth Southgate with England. It’s probably a fair comparison. And Sheff Wed fans said don’t get excited with the football he plays. 
Im not too fussed about being excited but just like Southgate he prefers to “game management” a match when we go one up. 
Probably explains the Fleetwood debacle last season. 
It’s all on the manager. 
When it works we love it. When it doesnt, at league two level, he will come in for huge criticism. 
Im still waiting to see Paton Stockley and Tolaj on from the start. 
To start Hackford again tonight was a kick in the teeth to Paton but to then bring on Richards instead of him was criminal. 
 

I’ve got a feeling it’s gonna be week by week. 
Love Moore or don’t want him at the club. The bloke will become Marmite.

 

I agree. I too flit betweeen Moore in and Moore out, basically because in the absence of any cohesion or noticeable pattern of play, all you have to go on is results. I was laughed at on Saturday for saying I didn’t think we were great, just up against a poor team. But hey presto, we play the same against a better team and come up short. 

I’ll be pretty concerned if Byers is out because the centre of midfield looks real worry. Croasdale has to start, but I’d be tempted to move Cover inside I think. He can’t be any worse than Garrity in that position.

Without that defensive shield I fear Notts County will play right through us and that our unbeaten run will end Saturday, unfortunately.

And then, by extension, Moore will find himself getting flak again.

5 minutes ago, VTID-New said:

Couldn’t agree more! Not sure why Ruari isn’t getting a look in. He’d be the first name on my team sheet. My boy ☘️💙

It would have been a good game for Paton as he likes dropping into those pockets of space and being a nuisance.

Agree with hackford in that he has barely touched the ball in the last few games.

We had been warned about DM from all his past employers supporters, even the "success" he has had came from the standard of players he had and not through his tactical mind which is limited to lumping it down the middle or slow no method building. From the teams I've seen this year the standard is very poor apart from a couple of teams so may fluke this through....that will mean we get at least a few months of him in next season.

Colchester tactics in that first half were a disgrace to football. They actually played some decent stuff in that second half when they had to come out. Ref again left a lot to be desired continually refusing to book individuals for timewasting. a meh result but another point on the promotion board. Hope Byers isnt out too long. Onto Notts.

The real loser was football last night.

Vale should win that game as they were the only ones interested in doing so .

Should have been 30 mins of extra time played first half .

I think they frustrated us so much we couldn't get going .

We never apart from first 10 mins of second half and at times last 10 got going .

For the footballing gods give them a point well I found it highly annoying .

If football is about feigning injuries and rolling around Colchester were world class at it .

I know we did business with them through C H but we didn't have to give them a point.

That s a give them a point assist from Ripley .

Very disappointed on reflection

Hope the players are and show it at NC .

Edited October 2, 20241 yr by Dipepa delight

I am not normally one for suggesting a player should be dropped, but that Ripley "save" cost us two valuable points and I am unconvinced he has the confidence of the defenders.

Moore said that players need to earn their place but from what I see right now, the opposition only needs to get a shot on target to score. I think it is right to give Amos his chance. Nobody should be certain of a place in this team with the squad depth we have.

It is one of life's mysteries that Paton isn't even getting game time just lately. I just don't see what he has done wrong. He has been played as a lone striker which does not suit his game. In my view, Hackford did not earn a start after Swindon and I suspect he will be back to the bench after his innocuous display last night.

Garrity's talents are wasted as a defensive midfielder. If Byers is out, I'd be tempted to play four at the back with Croasdale as the midfield cover. Then Garrity further forward into attacking midfield, with Stockley and Paton as the forwards i.e. 4-1-3-2.

Watching the Colchester goal this morning looks a really poor piece of goalkeeping. Worse than I thought in the ground last night.

1 hour ago, JoeB2 said:

I thought Richards was good and made us look significantly better up to the first goal.

He was playing on the right-wing which is both his natural position and a position which Paton couldn't play.

I like Paton but his competition is Tolaj, Stockley, and Chislett, not Richards.

I may be wrong but as I see it Paton's competition has been Hackford these last two home games, both of which Hackford has shown nothing. Paton should be starting ahead of him.

One of the most anti football displays I've ever seen from an outfit. They took the dark arts to a new level and in hindsight their 4-0 defeat Saturday was a bad result for us. They actually had some decent players on the bench and Egbo and Taylor especially made a difference for them when they came on. Hopefully we've learned a lot from that type of game because they won't be the last to try and defend on mass and if we are going to achieve the finish the squad are capable of, we have to see those games out. As has been mentioned, I don't see it with Hackford yet and actually forgot he was on the pitch during the first half but was it Paton's game against the giants of Colchester? Probably not and perhaps Tolaj up front from the start would have been a better option. But at least the unbeaten run continues heading into a run of matches against some of the better sides in the division.