Vital’s inside track with Colchester

In the build up to this weekend’s Colchester vs Southend fixture I managed to prise Vital Colchester editor Matthew Calmus away from his busy schedule…

…to ask him to fill us in on something`s Blues fans may or may not know about their Essex cousins.



Given that you were a Championship side last year, how do you feel about this season in League 1?

We went into the season with one of the strongest-looking teams in the division; it was a fresh start after an emotional summer losing Layer Road, but a new era in practice where Colchester began the season as promotion contenders, not relegation fodder.

Instead, there we grumblings about the New Stadium effect and Geraint Williams had to deal with the newfound expectation of having the most backing of all-time to invest in any Colchester squad in history.

Once the confidence was gone after a few bad opening results it was clear that Williams had to go. We`ve coped without him, and established names like Karl Duguid, who have all moved on. My personal opinion is that Colchester were not ready for the standard of game in the real season after some of the small sides we faced, and obviously beat, in pre-games. Not ideal to play non-league minnows when you need real tough workouts.

The season has been a mix of success – with a long non-losing steak and an improved defence and failure – with the poor start. I`d say bets for a U`s play-off place, despite optimism, are all but off.


Who would you say has been your best player this season and why?

Easier to tell you who our worst player has been – Steven Gillespie. I`ve not doubt if he were fit we would have challenge for the title right away. The summer price-tag and his position meant he was always going to have pressure, but he was also essentially filling the huge boots of U`s players Kevin Lisbie and Jamie Cureton before that. Can he do it? I`d like to say yes, but he hasn`t really been on the pitch consistently for a run of games long enough to say!

We`ve three best players this season:-

Consistency – Paul Reid, summer signing from Barnsley has basically kept club captain Chris Coyne out of the starting XI.

Flair – Mark Yeates. Fabulous little player.

Emerging Force – Dean Hammond has proved his quality and drive for us.



If you could have one of our players, who would it be and why?

Is it blasphemy to say none?! Adam Barrett used to be a target, and he`s good in the air. We seem to be in the market for a centre-half; I also used to this Alan McCormack was very productive, myself.



With the Loan window open at present where would you like to strengthen and with what players?

Yes, in a word. It would be nice to get this Jimmy Walker saga – is he ours or theirs – but clearly the club needs a goal-getter. Curo could have returned on loan, and Jermaine Easter was unlucky to get injured early on. We just need a striker, or a fit Gillespie!



In your eyes who is Colchester`s greatest all time player and why?

So many to choose from, and hard to do so! I`d pick controversially Karl Duguid, but not because of the derby red card in 2005/6!

Because of his loyalty, and his goals in the Championship season against Ipswich, as well as the injury he went through but recovered from, Karl will always a special affinity with the side. The other reason I choose him is because I am too young to remember Peter Wright, Micky Cook and all the other oft-motioned names. I hope Duguid will manage the team one day – and that longer-term fans are not offended by my choice!



What player would you personally pay a taxi fare to leave your club and why?

Phil Ifil. Yes, he formally of Spurs. The man is cursed! He scored an own goal, gave away a penalty and had a red card (rescinded) all more or less in the same month at the end of last season. For his big fee and wages, as well as the like of bombing forward, he has been a real let-down.



Which Southend United player will you fear most on Saturday?

Barrett has the odd goal in him and will be looking to assert himself as the skipper now Kevin Maher has gone.



What is your most memorable Colchester United moment or match?

My most memorable moment was being at Layer Road while it was being auctioned off last summer, there was a lot of emotion that day; I spent it at the old place that everyone admired secretly for being as outdated as it was. I can say I kicked a ball on the grass that day, a special memory indeed. Layer Road was the club`s source of pride, and it was a wrench to leave.



What is the relationship like between the board and the fans?

Some were sceptical of Robbie Cowling`s motives when he took control of the U`s, but he also represented the chance to be dynamic and the club could rely on his links with West Ham. Having said that, it was not down to Cowling`s management allow that Colchester posted record profits recently; that was more the team`s effort and wise transfer policy, that was long in place before Cowling arrived.
I`m not happy with the youth team and scouting cuts he announced recently, but overall he, and most of the board, are well liked for listening to the fans and backing the management.



And finally would you care to give a prediction for the weekend`s game?

Hope the home crowd will help us – 3-1 to the U`s! May the best team (in Essex) win!!



Special thanks to Matt for the lo-down, can’t agree with his match prediction but then you wouldn’t expect me to, would you?

What do you think the result will be?