Team vs Colchester

I think Orsi will be back on the bench and the team that played at Crewe will be something nearer to the starting 11 than last night.

Playing against League 2 bruisers is a different proposition.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Don't think I've got the brain power to pick the XI for Saturday, too many options.  

But I'd expect something like a return to the Crewe side, as others have stated the sides for the Luton games aren't ones we would get away with in the league.  Different prospect altogether.  

Orsi ran himself into the ground, which may make Hurst's decision a little easier.  Lloyd and McAtee linked up so well so keen to see them get another outing together.  Efete was brilliant last night but as was the pairing of him and Emmanuel down that right, that then leaves one of the back 3 to drop out.

Absolutely no idea in midfield.  Clifton doesn't get dropped.  But then Green, Holohan, Hunt and Morris have all performed excellently of late with only two other slots to fill.

Other than Clifton, I think the only nailed on starter is Crocombe.  Perhaps Waterfall as your captain too.

I'd be pretty surprised if McAtee didn't start on Saturday. Think Waterfall is more likely than Clifton in all honesty, he always plays. I'd also say Michee will play, question is where?

I would go for this.... attack minded but also good cover and an abundance of energy.
Saturday is a completely winnable game for me.

Bench of Battersby, Smith, Hunt, Efete, O'Neil, Morris

Quoted from Mariner_09

I'd be pretty surprised if McAtee didn't start on Saturday. Think Waterfall is more likely than Clifton in all honesty, he always plays. I'd also say Michee will play, question is where?

The advantage that McAtee, Lloyd and Emmanuel all have us that they weren’t involved in last night’s ding-dong battle. That, I suspect gets them the nod with Orsi (who ran himself into the ground), Efete (played in all last three games) and Green (likely injured) probably the ones to make way through absolutely no fault of their own.

Having thought about it, I expect we’ll see this:


Glennon and Amos are interchangeable really, but Glennon will have the fresher legs. You could also make an argument for Hunt instead of Holohan or Morris depending on how they’ve recovered, but I’d be surprised to see a major departure form this.

How good is our record with three at the back this season? Hurst says he doesn’t like it in general, but is clearly seeing the value in it regardless.

It'll be a brave man that dumps the 5 at the back line up. Think PH has found the golden chalice

I guess this is where the Data Analyst earns his keep.

It would be useful to know what type of goals opponents concede/score and plan our team to exploit it. Even things like what average goals conceded/scored against different formations could come into play.

Only downside is in this league teams can completely change at different points of the season.  

In addition to being very harsh on Orsi it would also be very Harsh on Smith if we return to the Crewe line up as he was outstanding last night .Harsh as it is I think it has to be as we will need to be on the front foot in home League games . Colchester have won there last three away games so this is going to be far from easy.

I’m shocked by the amount of people leaving Efete out of their teams!

Not saying he gets in ahead of Emmanuel, but why can’t he be deployed at RCB like he was last Saturday? The player we knew he could become is finally surfacing; I can’t see how he could be benched besides the possible need for a rest.

I'm pleased I'm not a 48 year old 5ft 5in retired left back from Rotherham. He's got one hell of a job on his hands to decide who to drop for Saturday.

Can't see us being to different from the Crewe game to be honest - dependant on any specifics we've noted with how they play or injuries.

Some seem to be dropping Efete very quickly and far too easily for me. He had an outstanding game away at Luton and slotted in nicely at Crewe.

What we get with playing him right of a three is he pushes quite wide when we have the ball and gets up to support Emmanuel, almost turning us into a more conventional back 4 with the ball. Think there is a very good reason most our attacks, and most our joy seemed to come down the right on Saturday (from memory admittedly). He also has the pace to get back in to the defensive shape quickly and also get us out of trouble with two slower centre backs.