Colchester United

[ripton]

Colchester United
The history and how it all started!​

Right hear we go then, i am a loyal Colchester United fan so i thought id give it a go myself. The essex side are currently in league one, where a mid table finish is predicted by most. The U's highest league finish ever was a few seasons back when they finished 10th in the championship, this was after Phil Parkinson guided the club to promotion from league one for the first time ever only to promptly leave and join championship rivals Hull City. Then current number two, Geraint Williams took over and as previously mentioned guided the club to 10th, a great achievment, however many had put this down to the squad Parkinson had built rather than Williams's magic. Colchesters success hadnt gone unnoticed the U's lost several key players over the summer and Williams struggled to rebuild, the days of success where gone as Colchester made a quick return back to league one. The following season started poorly and Geraint Williams didnt last long, Paul Lambert took over, however the damage had been done, and despite some good work by Lambert Colchester where to remain in league one for another season. Paul Lambert then controversially left Colchester to join local rivals Norwich City, and this is where i come in, George Ripton takes the hotseat at Colchester United, many doubting the descision by the club, but i have faith in my ability and was relishing the challenge.

​

---------- Post added at 07:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:26 AM ----------

Targets
​

My aim was pure and simple to get the club back up to the championship in the first season, however i also had a long term plan in place to be a premiership side within five seasons. I felt this was possible we have a good chairman in Robbie Cowling who is willing to back me when needed, plus a new 10,000 seater stadium with lots of room for expansion. Back to this season tho and i new it wasnt going to be easy, league one is as tough as it has ever been with the likes of Leeds, Norwich, Southampton and Charlton all gunning for promotion.
​

Transfers
​

My first signing as Colchester manager was right back Tim Clancy who i paid 20k for from Kilmarnock. Right back was my main concern and to get Tim in was a great bit of business, i was sure he would go on to make that position his own.

Next up i brought in Nathan Clarke from Huddersfield for 120k, Nathan has great experience at this level and i was delighted to bring him in, competition would be good now with Nathan, Pat Baldwin, Paul Reid and Magnus Okuonghae all fighting for those two central defender positions.

My third signing was Paul Wotton from Southampton for just 10k a real bargain. Paul was a no nonsense defensive midfielder who was also great on the ball and had a wealth of experience. Pauls leadership qualities meant i made him captain shortly after his arrival.

Next up came my biggest signing of the window we managed to bring in exciting young goalkeeper Jason Steele from M'boro for 400k, it was quite a high price and meant there would be no more funds, but it was never a risk, Jason has a great future ahead of him and has also been touted as a future england keeper, so to bring him in was a real coup for the club.

My last signing was to be Nacer Barazite who i brought in from our parent club Arsenal on a season long loan, I was sure Nacer would be a massive player for us this season and his technique and skill on the ball was a welcome addition to our side.

Going the other way however where a few players, youngsters Dickey, Rafter and Paveet where all released i didnt see the potential in them, Phil Ifil was sold to Burton for 5k, after bringing in Clancy at right back and having sufficient cover in John White and Alan Maybury Phil was now surplus to requirements at the club. Centre back Matt Heath left for 1k to Notts County, troublesome striker Jamie Guy was released, whilst Joel Thomas (Forest Green), Sam Cocoran (Grays), Russell Malton (Bishops Stortford) and Medy Elito (Dover) all went out on loan.​

---------- Post added at 07:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:00 AM ----------

Pre Season

Eastleigh 0-2 Colchester
Vernon, Screen og

Heybridge 1-4 Colchester
Thomas, Fox, Lisbie, Malton

Colchester 2-4 Cardiff
Gillespie, Platt

Colchester 1-4 Aston Villa
Lisbie

Chesterfield 2-2 Colchester
Gillespie, Platt
​

Pre season had been pretty average really, two wins against lower league opposition, when we stepped up in class we where beaten comfortably, and it finished with a draw against league two side Chesterfield. The big kick off was fast approaching and confidence wasnt exactly sky high, however i was sure my team was good enough and it was just a matter of time.​

 

[ronnierattleby]

good luck frank

 

[ripton]

The big kick off!​

Norwich Away
We cldnt have been dealt a tougher game to start the season as we travelled to recently relegated Norwich City, it was to be a big test, and to add a bit of spice former U's manager Paul Lambert would be in the opposite dugout.​

Starting Eleven
Lisbie Gillespie
Hackney O'Toole Wotton Barazite
Tierney Clarke Baldwin Clancy
Steele​

Result Norwich City 0-1 Colchester United
A great result, it was a well balanced even game, however a 48th minute screamer by captain Paul Wotton was enough to secure the win for the U's and bring all 3 points back down the A12 to Colchester.​

 

[Gromit243]

carry on with the storyy man!

 

[ripton]

Cup Fever Hits Town!​

Reading Home
We hosted Reading at home in the first round of the Carling cup, it was to be another real tough test and with it being just three days since the Norwich game i decided to make a few changes to the side.​

Starting Eleven
Platt Gillespie
Perkins O'Toole Wotton Vincent
Tierney Clarke Baldwin Maybury
Steele​

Result Colchester United 3-2 Reading (aet)
What a great game and a great turnaround by us, captain Paul Wotton was sent of after 38 minutes and Reading responded with two goals before half time, the tie seemed dead and buried, however i rallied the troops and Steven Gillespie pulled us back level with two second half goals, to extra time it went and that man again Gillespie won the game and completed his hatrick, through to the next round!​

Back to league action.​

Colchester 3-1 Yeovil
Lisbie (2) Hackney​

Colchester 2-0 Gillingham
Platt, Lisbie​

MK Dons 1-1 Colchester
Reid​

Our great form and unbeaten record continued with two good solid home wins, followed up by a point away at fellow promotion hopefulls Milton Keynes. I was delighted by the way the team where performing.​

 

[Man v.1]

Nice start to the season mate! Maybe you would like to post some screenshots or something? (H)

 

[CJ]

definately following as i support colchester myself ( sort of ) i did a colchester season recently as well and got to 8th in championship after 3 seasons, i would recomend getting cristaldo on loan mate he bangs them in

 

[ripton]

Carling Cup Round 2
Swansea City 2-1 Colchester Utd (aet)​

We travelled to championship side Swansea in high hopes of coming away with a result, and everything was going to plan we put in another top draw performance, and we where rewarded with our efforts when in form striker Kevin Lisbie banged in the first goal of the game in the 75th minute. It was now a case of hanging on which we done so well until a silly mistake allowed Swansea to draw level in the 92nd minute. Again it went to extra time, and Swansea went ahead through Lee Trundle, and this was enough to see them into round 3.​

Back to back defeats!
Colchester United 1-2 Leeds United​

Just four days after our long trip down to wales we faced in form Leeds United, and suffered the worst possible start as Luciano Becchio scored in the 1st minute of the game, however we responded brilliantly with Kevin Lisbie scoring straight from kick off, the game was then in deadlock until Becchio hit his second on the hour mark, we just cldnt break down Leeds to draw level, which meant it was now two defeats in a row.​

---------- Post added at 04:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:40 PM ----------

Nice start to the season mate! Maybe you would like to post some screenshots or something? (H)

Thanks and yeah im a bit of a beginner on here my first ever story so not sure how to add screenshots, any help would be appreciated tho thanks.

---------- Post added at 04:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:43 PM ----------

definately following as i support colchester myself ( sort of ) i did a colchester season recently as well and got to 8th in championship after 3 seasons, i would recomend getting cristaldo on loan mate he bangs them in

Thanks, did you thats a good achievment i hope to do the same, and yeah ill have a look for him cheers.

 

[Man v.1]

When you are in the game, just press print screen and paste it into Paint and save it as .jpg file. Then host it using an image hosting website. As for me, i'm using imageshack for my pictures.

 

[ripton]

Back to winning ways!
Johnstone's Paint Trophy Round 1
Barnet 0-1 Colchester United

A good solid win down at Underhill saw us not only get back to winning ways but through to the 2nd round in a competition i was looking to do well at, youngster Anthony Wordsworth bagged the winning goal shortly into the second half and we held on well.

Performance of the Season!
Southampton 1-4 Colchester United

We pulled off a great victory as we went down to St Marys and smashed the saints 4-1, we dominated the game throughout and the goals came from Barazite, Clancy, Vincent and Perkins with Lambert getting a consolation goal for Southampton.

Swindon 2-2 Colchester United
Lisbie, O'Toole​

Colchester 1-1 Hartlepool
Gillespie​

Tranmere 2-2 Colchester
Lisbie, Hackney​

Three games and three battling draws, perhaps i would have expected a bit more especially at the home game against Hartlepool, however i was not complaining we travelled away to Swindon and Tranmere without losing which isnt bad at all.​

 

[CJ]

yeah he basically got me promoted and i managed to get him on 12 month loans 3 years running, lol they kept putting him up for loan and then his contract run up so i signed him on a free

 

[Max]

Good start mate, great results vs Southampton & Norwich.

 

[ripton]

Promotion Hopefulls Clash
Colchester United 2-1 Charlton Athletic

The U's produced another fine performance in seeing off Phil Parkinsons Charlton side, the teams where pretty evenly matched in a first half without any goals. However three minutes into the second and colchester broke the deadlock Steven Gillespie with a real poachers effort, the U's held on up until the 80th minutes when Leon McKenzie looked to have snatched a point for Charlton only for Gillespie to pop up and smash in the winner in the last minute, another great three points.

Colchester United 2-0 Huddersfield
Barazite 2​

Shootout Drama
Johnstone's Paint Trophy 2nd Rd
MK Dons 2-2 Colchester United (3-4pens)​

Colchester progressed to the third round after coming through a tough fixture away at stadium mk, the game looked over when a Steven Gillespie double put the U's 2-0 up, however the dons pulled level and forced the game to penalties. Colchester kept there nerve to score 4 of the 5 pens, whilst the dons cold only manage 3, round 3 here we come.​

 

[Kanye Guest]

Hi, I absolutely love this thread, I am Colchester pushing for automatic promotion. I would recommend Michal Pazdan, Brillliant CB/CDM.

 

[Ec]

Nice Living in Colchester, so I sort of follow them, used to see them alot at Layer Rd, seen thm a few times at Weston Homes, up the U's!