Late turnaround in Colchester means that qualification is fully in our hands
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Weâre lovers not fighters
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Just a quick glance at some stats before bedâŚ
Surprisingly, given we were playing an U21 side, this game ranked 4th for most possession across all competitions this season with a possession at 61.4%. We had greater possession against Bromley at 69.9% (Carabao Cup), 68.7% against Bradford (MD1) and Exeter at 63.4% (MD4)
Today we amassed 25 total shots with 10 on target, our largest all season.
We made 535 total passes with a success rate of 84.7%. Our best success rate was against Stockport 87.4% (MD2) with 492 total passes.
We are averaging 2 goals per game under Duff, with us conceding 1 per game.
This was the first game this season we scored more than 2 goals in a game.
Boyd-Munce and McNeilly are our top scorers under Duff with 2, with Henderson, Bell, Lowry and Fink all on 1.
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McNeilly nailed on starter for Wigan. Not sure what else this match tells us, as I didnât watch it.
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McNeilly definitely starts for me. As for the rest,
Harvie is the only guaranteed in defence although Anders put in a good shift to displace Taylor but then thereâs the Allen conundrum. Grimmer / Huggins / Back - who knows!
We still donât know who will be GK. Leahy is very likely to start and Abbott if fit will be key I feel.
Hopefully weâll see âlast of the summer Fredâ feel weâve missed his pace last couple of games.
The rest - who knows! Whoâd be a manager?!!
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For those who didnât go or catch it on TV, FULHAMâs kids were boys. They were poor. No one had a bad game, but itâs hard to have a bad game against a side that weak. Not sure how this helps their development.
Fink looked really off it. Clumsy. Comical when he went through first time and fluffed the ball: Duff shouting âBradley fucking do it PROPERLYâ and turning his back said it all. Bit of luck with the second after being shoved off the ball before finishing.
Some of tonightâs starters looked like they should be ahead of Saturdayâs picks, especially Anders, Declan, and Caolan. The rest were a bit meh. Westy doesnât look up to it. Him and Fink felt like passengers. At least Westy showed he cared with how he reacted. Pretty sure Duff wouldâve liked him to collar the little Fulham runt who ducked out of the aerial challenge, but left his elbow in.
Curious to see who starts tomorrow. Iâd expect a lighter version of the first team: maybe Jaiden if heâs back, Ryan Cole, Lawrie Shala, Broady, and some U21s. No need to risk our pros against local fans, accountants, Bucks geologists, and scaffolders.
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Each to their own but I thought Fink had a good game and showed glimpses of the quality player weâve bought. Hopefully the goal will do him the world of good.
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Cole, Brody and Shala are all out on loan so doubt theyâll be available
Hasnât stopped us before in cups
True. Signs of a good player. Just not getting the rub of the greenâŚdonât think we are playing to his strengths. Ballsinto the box not making him play a pressing game. Him and Conor Taylor the two slowest under 24s Iâve seen in my life.
From the little bits of Fink Iâve seen, I think I could beat him over 10 yards. If he had one of those parachute training things on.
Have you written off Mullins?
FWIW I think Boyd Munce deserves a league start, although he would probably work better in a 3 than a midfield 2.
That was a very entertaining eveningâs football on a mild night. Itâs a shame for those playing that only 569 people could be bothered to turn up. Even Accrington got a bigger attendance.
2 things Iâd do immediately to improve the attendances - (a) revert to a 7.45 start & (b) have the terrace open as well as the Origin Stand. As much as anything else it gives a better atmosphere for the players. The average crowds at other games tonight seems to be 1,000 to 1,500. Cardiff v Newport was the glaring exception as 8,505 turned up. But the players deserve better support than 569 IMHO.
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Thereâll be more at Penn tomorrow!
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Fink is rubbish
Prove me wrong.
A draw with Gareth Ainsworthâs Gillingham would put us both through.
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Letâs engineer it!!
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It wouldnât. I know we all hate Col U, but they still get 3 points for winning games. Weâd go out on goal difference having only put 3 past the Fulham boys.
How do you work that out?!
Gills got a goal difference of 1 more than us meaning we have to beat Gills to.go through assuming Colchester beat Fulham U21 (assume only top 2 go throug?!)