RickH

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d7/Colchester_badge.gif[img]

Background

Colchester United Football Club is an English football team who are just beginning their second season playing in the Championship. The club was formed in 1937 and currently play their home games at Layer Road, a ground renowned for its atmosphere, largely due to the distance between the pitch and the fans! Their new home at Cuckoo Farm, on the other side of Colchester, bordering the A12, is currently under construction.

Their highest ever league finish was achieved in 2006–07, when they ended the season in 10th place in the Championship. This was largely due to the scoring triumphs of deadly duo, Jamie Cureton & Chris Lwelumo. However, both strikers have moved on in the close season.

Team Details:

Nation: England
Year Founded: 1937
Status: Professional
Reputation: Regional
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Favoured Personnel: Karl Duguid, Sam Stockley, Chris Iwelumo, Joe Dunne, Scott McGleish, Pat Baldwin
Fierce Rivals: Ipswich, Southend, Wycombe
Other Rivals: Cambridge, Peterborough
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £2.8M
Stadium: Layer Road, Colchester
Planned Expansion: Due to move into the 10,000 capacity Cuckoo Farm on 01/07/2008
Stadium Capacity: 6,215 (2,049 seated)
Pitch Dimensions: Length(102m) Width(65m)
Maximum Pitch Dimensions: Length(107m) Width(74m)
Training Facilities: Adequate training facilities
Youth Facilities: Average youth facilities & Youth Academy
Continental Competition: None
Media Prediction: 17th
Squad Average Age: 25
Squad Personality: Determined
Captain: Karl Duguid

Squad

First Team:

GK - Mark Cousins
GK - Aidan Davison
GK - Dean Gerken
DRC - Bela Balogh
DRLC - George Elokobi
DRL - John White
DRC,ST - Adam Virgo
DL - Danny Granville
DC - Pat Baldwin
DC - Matthew Connolly
D/WB/AMR - Karl Duguid
ML - Johnnie Jackson
MC - Kemal Izzet
MC - Anthony Wordsworth
AMLC - Mark Yeates
AMC - Luke Guttridge
FC - Teddy Sheringham
ST - Jamie Guy
ST - Kevin Lisbie
ST - Clive Platt

Reserves:

DC - Tom Devaux
DC - Mitchell Nelson
DM - Kevin Watson
AML - Kevin McLeod

Brief Summary:

Right as the sub-heading suggests, this will only be a very frief summary as i have plenty of playing to do, as i suspect most of you have !

The main issues to note are the obvious sale of Iwelumo and Cureton, which poses a potential goalscoring problem, whether or not Sheringham is too far past it to get the job done remains to be seen.

The main problem area highlighted at the beginning of the game is the Goalkeepers, there is definately room for improvements. On a positive note, Bela Balogh looks to be a decent player for the club.

Happy gaming guys!

RickH

Right, would be appreciative if a mod could fix the badge if possible.

First signing of the season has been a free transfer, Seyfo Soley (DC,DM). Has previously played for Genk, and most recently, and relevant, played 6 games for Preston, also in the Championship.

The fans expressed their delight at his signing.

First couple of friendlies have been successful, with Jamie Guy scoring a handful!

ksav

About to start up, wish me luck.

Looked much improved in the demo, though I had to tinker with it i.e. Yeates not being a right winger.

Balogh does look like the star of the side, and by the looks of it we finally have been given the finances we deserve, with megabucks Cowling there :cool:

RickH

Well, after my optimism at the beginning, im being given a stern test !

Transfers to date have seen Soley and Tom Heaton come in, Heaton was a steal at £16k from Man United ! As well as 2 young West Ham players, Kyel Reid and Tony Stokes who were encouraged to join the U's on a loan basis after the Hammers were announced my parent club. Neither are first team players.

Unfortunately Johnnie Jackson made his way out of the club as the board accepted a £1M bid from Stoke.

Results havent been going my way either, apart from 2 victories in the league cup seeing me into the 3rd round, the league has been tough.

A 1:1 - Stoke
A 1:4 - West Brom
H 1:1 - Cardiff
A 0:3 - Barnsley

Using a simple 4-4-2 formation, experimenting with player & team instructions. The main weakness is obviously away, i think a more defensive mentality and line will be beneficial in future!

RickH

Its 1st January in the first season and i have been sticking with my 4-4-2, im not doing terribly, but lack of squad depth really hits me hard when i get an injury to an important player.

Currently sitting 16th in the table with only 32 points from 26.

Top scorer: Kevin Lisbie 14
Most Assists: Teddy Sheringham 9
MOM: Kevin Lisbie 5
Yellow: Luke Guttridge 8
Red: Three players 1
Av. Rating: Teddy Sheringham 7.19

Looking to start spending some of the money i earnt from Jackon's sale, but attracting players isnt the easiest thing to do with the U's, also looking forward to the move to Cuckoo Farm.

I am also finding that it is vital that you capitalise on EVERY home game, as the difference in quality / results between home and away at the moment is crazy.

col_utd

I only got £300k for Jackson, he went to Millwall! I'm only one game into the season currently, but lost that 3-0 at home to Stoke. Still only got Deano in goal and no bck on the right side for Duguid. So a few things need sorting out.

RickH

I have finished my first season, just staved off relegation, signed plenty of bosmans and have a stronger squad this season i think, oh and i have moved to Cuckoo Farm

I'll update more later on !

RickH

bah, boo no edit

col_utd

I get the feeling I'm goning to have a very long hard season. But then every new game I start with Colchester the first season always is.

TJ07

anybody playing with the u's at the minute?

i love the challenge of trying to get them established in the championship and then in the prem. Have only managed 7th so far in 4 seasons.