Just got back into cold and wet Maidstone after a worrying 2-1 reverse my third away game on the trot!

First half lots of nice possession mainly due to Woods and Featherstone but no one ran in beyond Amond so as a result we create very little opportunities. Fair play to Dave Jones he tried to change it, even in first half, with Oates down the centre and Amond wide left but it changed nowt! Colchester poor and flat first half with Prior, despite on hash of one clearance, making 2 good saves. He is a competent keeper.

Second half little better Amond with hardly any service into feet and subs 5 minutes too late. Thomas rolled the ball into the net for a neat finished but he cramped up every time he ran in the last 15 minutes. Ultimately we created very little as shown by Harrison pushed forward in last 7 added on minutes.

Prior 6 clean handling and one excellent throw out
Richardson 6 did very little wrong defended well won headers and tried to pass it simple
Donnelly 7 MOM reads the game so well at the back but a soft penalty conceded
Walker 6 Ok, but distribution was wayward at times
Harrison 6 Ok tried hard and cleared lines effectively enough
I thought Walker and Harrison should have been closer together for their opener
Oates 5 Tried hard, but touch and self belief lets him down
Woods 6 fine in possession
Featherstone 6 ditto
Alessandra 5 twist and turns maybe one more time than necessary but does keep possession
Thomas 6 inconsistent great goal love to see a player pass it into the net but wasted 2 good crossing opportunities
Amond 6 tries hard, but has no searing pace but poor lad got very little to his feet after the first 20 minutes suggesting the instruction as to give it too his feet, but it never happened.

Subs not really on long enough to make an impact.

So where do we go from here. Despite my username philosophy we have to simply pass and move the ball quicker into the channels with more direct passing and and have at least 1 midfielder prepared to run beyond Amond or we will not create chances. Over to you Mr Jones, Millhouse terrace and the Town End. Even in the warm up the striking of the ball looked like that famous race horse 'Wayward Lad' and the best drill was Sam Collins with the back 4 all in a line practising heading and volleying it clear. This in my view is systematic of a lack of belief and the only way this can be injected is through a 'Vic roar' and fans encouraging he team rather than on their backs in the remaining matches.

It's all we can do. Disgraceful that's it's come to this AGAIN , like....

Why is it these days fans seem to accept shittiness so readily?

Isnt it getting to the point that rather than just supporting the team its nearly time for a proper protest against this chairman.

It will be too fucking late if we are relegated or worse liquidated.

Now its not for me to start any protest but fucking hell we got more angry just to get rid of martin scott.

Even the fanbase has been sanitised. Doesnt anyone get angry anymore.

I have only been to 4 games this season yet feel more angry than all of you put together.

Sleepwalking into oblivion.

Just having a quick brew in a services in Grantham before continuing journey home....

Bit of a dull game. They weren't much better than us if at all. The first came from us not clearly our lines properly and then we left their lad unmarked in the box for a simple header.

The second was just silly. It was definitely a penalty, or rather, the ref was always going to give it. Donnelly was caught the wrong side and as you will always see when that happens either the forward slows down to invite the foul (or rather, the slightest touch) or the defender attempts the impossible tackle from behind - one touch and he'll go down and that's exactly what happened. Silly and a bit naive. Just avoid doing the obvious - ie touching the forward at all from behind, try to go around him goal-side. I'd have let him shoot and take my chances rather than do what Donnelly did. Maybe I'm being a little harsh, the game is a fucking doddle from the stands.

Probably didin't deserve to lose but didn't deserve to win either. We seem to be ok-ish at working the ball to the edge of the box but then try 8 passes too many to create the perfect chance. We also slow things down too often. There were a couple of times we broke but the ball carrier would then check their run before playing it sideways or backwards allowing Colchester to get back into shape.

Thomas' goal was really well taken. No one else in our side would've finished it in my opinion. Left the keeper flat footed. Quality. He created a little bit of space in the box on the right of the goal before finishing with an unexepcted toe poke into the far left corner. No one was prepared for it.

Anyway, off home now.

I don't know if we have enough quality to stay up. But just think about the side we had when we stayed up the year before the great escape as well as the great escape team - this team certainly seems to have more than those teams going forward, it's more a case of whether we have enough at the back.

Going to be another tight season but we have to keep the faith......we are definitely capable of turning a few teams over before the end of the season

Keep what faith?

What is this faith of which so many speak.

Faith that the smell of bullshit will one day fade away from the club.

lol

Faith in the players ability to keep us up - nothing more

It's got to the point now where I check Newport and Orient scores before our. Newport had a man sent off today so that won't help their cause.

Disagree with the subs not making an impact. Rooney assisted the goal and had a shot blocked. Who knows what the score would of been with him on longer.

People keep pointing to the goals Amond has scored as a reason for keeping him in the team, but he's not much use up front on his own. He's a hard worker but too small to win much in the air and his hold up play is let down by a poor first touch.

I definitely hope to see Rooney start on Tuesday. Tough call on who should make way.

I can't fathom why we signed a poacher type forward who was on fire when we signed him and regardless of the manager he's either played wide or as a target man type, which he just isn't.

Why the manager tries to shoehorn players into unfamiliar positions generally is just silly.

Have a way of playing that suits the players at your disposal even if it's shit to watch, just keep us up and rebuild in the summer

Rebuilding in the summer sounds nice. I can see plenty moving on but can anyone else foresee anyone of the required level being brought in as long as Coxall is here? He's already proven he's not responsible enough to control the wage budget after numerous signings last season left us struggling to pay the bills. Now the wage bill has been lowered we're stuck with kids making the numbers up. I expect more of the same come summer, especially if other teams don't manage to prolong our torture of only just avoiding the drop once again.

From what I've seen Jones is making steady progress with a poor side. I, like everyone else, expected a quicker turnaround in form after his much anticipated appointment. I still remain hopefully he can put some results together.

Must admit I'm very underwhelmed and have been since day one which might seem a really odd thing to say. Obviously I'm not writing anyone off, he's only been here 2 minutes and I can't imagine he would want failure on his pretty reasonble CV....but....I really would've expected a better return pointwise from the games he's been in charge of, regardless of the opposition. From an outsider looking in but one that gets to see the results of training every week, we haven't changed much if anything for the better. There's no marked difference or improvement since Hignett left.

Yes, it's still the same players so you can't expect miracles but it really doesn't take miracles in this league, the vast majority of teams are much of a muchness and I would've thought a man of Jones' knowledge and experience would be quick to find the tweaks to make us into a side that is difficult to beat.

Again, maybe harsh but Jones really doesn't come across very well. Admittedly all managers have different styles but he seems almost disinterested on the touchline or rather, sat in the dugout. Again, there are many ways to inspire people or get them to do what you want but bloody hell, the bloke comes across so dull and uninspiring (to me).

I was thinking about managers generally in the car on the way home yesterday. What, REALLY, is the difference or has been the difference between Moore, Hignett and Jones? Not a lot really. Can't really mention Murray as he was never given a chance BUT Moore and Hignett came in and at least they were able to give the squad the required kick up the arse/arm round to get some decent results/get us out of trouble. Whereas Jones got a decent 70 minutes and then more of the same.

The only bloke to seemingly set the side up consistently well was Collins. Maybe it's because he's been in and around the players for so long and with him only recently stopping playing the players have more respect for him. Who knows. He must be wondering what he needs to do. My only worry about Collins is the transition from caretaker to full time manager doesn't always work. As soon as they are appointed full time, things seem to change for the worse.

From all of the past few seasons I will admit to this one being the one I am most worried about. I genuinely even had belief during the Great Escape season and can recall Mr I saying I was deluded, but I honestly felt we could get out of the shit. This year I am concerned.

Going back to managers, there is a part of me that sees the logic in keeping the same manager through thick and thin. Take Alex Neil at Norwich as an example. They were probably expected to go up but they had an absolutely shocking run but he avoided the bullet and they've turned things around to a certain extent. I would imagine, if you're a player and the manager is under pressure, you have a scapegoat if you play less than your absolute best. If the message from the top is that he is going nowhere then could this not have the impact of players upping their game? even a little bit? I don't know. But if he is on a sticky wicket and you fancy a change, maybe you won't run through walls for him.

Hignett put this squad together with a way of playing in mind. Obviously it became clear pretty quickly that we were never going to be good enough to go up but at absolutely no point did I expect this. I can't see Jones making any better a job of it with the squad we now have after the January transfers.

I have doubts about Dave Jones having seen that Steve Howard interview that's doing the rounds.....he was about to sign the arrogant plank for Wednesday before he got sacked. Got to question any managers judgement after that revelation

Absolutely fucking ridiculous people ALREADY questioning ANOTHER manager. Absurd even.

We are down to the barest of bare bones, arguing the toss about whether Lewis Hawkins (who's had a really poor season and was the worst outfield player in that Stevenage game he looked devoid of confidence) could have started is by the by he's had loads of opportunities in a rubbish midfield it's not going to make much of difference.

You do realize my post was a joke right PJ (albeit I would question anyone wanting to sign Howard at that point)?

Chips wasn't. I respect the fact he might have made some seemingly bafflingly decisions but it's probably understandable risking Bates at Luton when you literally don't have another centre back to pick. What else can you do with this squad? In the win against Stevenage Collins was able to select a half decent eleven, with a reasonable bench Jones is down to picking from 12/13 players who would even conceivably start.

Have to agree, it sometimes baffels me what managers get paid for.

He has completely changed the way we play. No more tippy tappy stuff at the back which everyone complained about. Made changes to personnel, moved a few people on and putting his faith in the youngsters.
Would like to see some additions to the squad but feel despite the results we have made progress.
I know given where we are in the league the only thing that matters are points on the board but lets not get too despondent just yet. This is a big week for the club and 6 points would be huge.

You reckon the manager has 'moved a few people on' are you serious? Since the start of January steps have been made to reduce our wage bill as much as possible. Not a care who went, just anyone with a taker. We are in the absolutely baffling situation of not being able to fill our bench whilst having players out on loan.

Actually now you come to mention it PJ was one of those on here criticizing and questioning Paul Murray in the handful of games he actually got in charge, taking over a team rooted in the bottom 2. Hmmm the plot thickens, I remember that very well!!

Before we start on yet another manger, let's not forget where the real responsibility lays.

Sorry Geoff but if what is going on at pools, curently, doesnt make you extremely despondant I doubt anything ever will.

And I DO hope you are right about progress being made.

Has he won yet like?


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We need wins and quickly - but I can't see how blaming Jones makes any sense. We have had some tricky away games lately, all at promotion contenders. All I'm saying is that I have seen improvements. These now have to be turned into wins, and quickly.

Thomas slowly getting match fit and scoring on Saturday is the thing that has given me most encouragement - that and young Fryer starting to look a better bet in goal than Bartlett.

Other than that, a 3 man managerial/coaching team stills looks like a luxury when experience is so thin on the ground on the pitch.

I wonder how long is fair before the fans do start to blame Jones?

Equally I wonder how much longer the fans will give Coxall before blaming all of this on him.

I did read somewhere else, one contributer still claiming IOR had put £14m of their own money in, and defending Coxall in that regard.

I am sure it had been ascertained that the £14m was bollox.