Izzet - Ward is the right man for U's job (From Essex County Standard)

Well you would say that Izzet as you are like John Terry no one else wants you!

Well said, totally football! Agreed. I have always been an admirer of you, Kemal but this season your colleagues and in some instances, you have let your club and loyal fans down. We were expecting a tough start as, admittedly, the games scheduled were a tough array to deal with, but even I didn't expect to see us not win one single game, and lose games when we could and should have at least achieved a draw. As a team, you are currently inept and unable to deal with football at league one level. I hate to admit it but I did predict that we would struggle this season and only because I, like many other fans, do not see any positivity coming from the players or the management team. You only have to look at your warm up tactics, same old routines every game, so predictable, so mundane. Fitness lacking, and we have so-called professionals in the club to monitor such areas. You all need a reality check and to toughen up. Give us a WIN! That is all we ask - and sustain it! Up the U's!!

At a first glimpse, Izzet is only saying what any club captain would say.

But what he says is correct. We have been punching above our weight for 10 years now. Attendances have always been lower than most in league two. John ward cannot be held responsible for this. (to a degree).
Spot on about effort and giving something to the fans too. We do need something to cheer about.

Just remember Kem if you are reading this, most col u fans (but not on this forum) realise the effort that you put in is vital. Every team needs players like you.

Izzet will always give you 100%, first man on my team sheet!

I agree that that as Captain we should expect that sort of backing of JW from Kem, so I don't blame him for that.

But the relationship between the players and the fans has to be a two way thing. The fans should get behind the team and lift them when needed but the players also need to lift the crowd by giving them something to cheer. Generally speaking most col u fans (on this forum or not) would have to agree that we've not had much to cheer in a very long time. One win in nineteen games is not something we're going to cheer about.

Something is clearly wrong that the players are not performing to their full ability and ultimately that responsibility lays with the manager.

I can accept (and I think most fans would) losing to better teams or losing when we've been unlucky. I can't accept losing when it appears the players are not motivated, the formation doesn't appear to be work and silly "Sunday league football" mistakes are happening like not using subs on a very hot day.

I'm all for trying new things but I at least hope JW would appear to learn from his mistakes rather than keep repeating them.

Up the U's

We're not singing anymore!!! wrote:
I agree that that as Captain we should expect that sort of backing of JW from Kem, so I don't blame him for that.

But the relationship between the players and the fans has to be a two way thing. The fans should get behind the team and lift them when needed but the players also need to lift the crowd by giving them something to cheer. Generally speaking most col u fans (on this forum or not) would have to agree that we've not had much to cheer in a very long time. One win in nineteen games is not something we're going to cheer about.

Something is clearly wrong that the players are not performing to their full ability and ultimately that responsibility lays with the manager.

I can accept (and I think most fans would) losing to better teams or losing when we've been unlucky. I can't accept losing when it appears the players are not motivated, the formation doesn't appear to be work and silly "Sunday league football" mistakes are happening like not using subs on a very hot day.

I'm all for trying new things but I at least hope JW would appear to learn from his mistakes rather than keep repeating them.

Up the U's

This was expected by Izzet to come out and say this. But as he has said something that Ward would of wanted to hear he will be in the starting line up so hes trick worked. Not like CM.

I agree with "We're not signing anymore" here, I can't accept losing whenthe players have showed the lack of fight, ambition in the game. But sadly thats happening more and more now under Ward.

I've said it before, if Colchester United went out and got beaten but played very nice football I would be satisfied but like it is at the moment you are constantly hearing people leaving the south stand after the game and saying things like "useless, rubbish game" now management need to look at that and think would the majority of them fans come back?

Kem Izzet always tries to his best - he may not be our best player but he always seems to give his all. As such I value his opinion but I think he's talking as 'club captain' here - I'd suggest that if you took him to one side and asked for an honest opinion you may here a different view! As an aside I've just had an email from Tim Waddington on behalf of Robbie Cowling asking for my support regarding a 'change of hours' for the training ground at Tiptree - protecting the long term future of the U's. I hope this isnt the biggest problem on Mr Cowling's mind at the moment - I'd suggest that if he doesn't do something about the current manager he neednt worry about the future at all. The small fanbase that we have will have deserted the U's and will be watching Braintree where,incidently,the
y have a plain speaking,direct and down-to- earth manager who doesn't look at the opposition for excuses each time his team doesn't perform. Alan Devonshire may not be the most elequent of speakers but when you listen to him after a game you can hear the passion in his voice. That passion transmits to the fans and must influence the players under his management. Contrast his approach with that of our manager who, when the U's inevitably lose or draw, always says "I told they (the opposition) are a good side/big club". Anyhoo.....!!!

When will Club (management and players) realise the stark truth that they do not hold a divine right for fans to turn up and cheer them when the current style of lack-lustre, half-hearted, and narrow play is so depressingly awful. And as fans we're not in a panic ust because of the displays in competitive games so far this season -rather we have been ground down and hardened in our views by the majority of performances over the last season or two as well. I agree, Kemi, that most of the time you do look as though you are trying rather more than many of the guys around you on the pitch. But I do suggest that you get your own house in order play-wise (e.g. ability to pass the ball constructively and accurately) or, I guess, you really don't have to bother with any of that whilst Ward is in charge. Maybe that's why you seem to appreciate him so much!

More lies and disinformation ‘super waluigi’ what a surprise! From 2008/09 to 2011/12 we’ve enjoyed a top8 budget in League One, how exactly is that punching above our weight which has been artificially bulked by Cowlings investment? If anything given the budget, Ward’s two finishes on 62pts and 59pts are poor value for the millions of Cowling’s money spent on them.

Even under the 65% of turnover cap on first team wages, we have revenue from hospitality, conferencing, events, kiosk catering contracts, stadium sponsorship, insurance commissions and other sales, etc, to add to the gate receipts from attendances. When you look beyond just the first team wage budget, Cowlings support has given Ward: a brand new training facility; the opportunity to stay overnight for long distance away games; the costs of rent, policing and stewarding etc met to allow the club to even spend 65% of its turnover on wages; to name but a few advantages. Further still Cowling is still financing the Category Two youth academy and the U20 players who can make a contribution to the first team.

It’s all a far cry from the days of Layer Road under Peter Herd when everything had to be paid for from our 3k attendances. Indeed we have significant advantages over most of our League One rivals with old stadia, those that have to travel hundreds of miles on the day of their away fixtures, and those crippled by loan repayments.

Punching above our weight to the extent that we did under Wignall, Wadsworth, Whitton and Parkinson during the later Layer Road days in 2012/13 and beyond would involve automatic promotion and establishment in the Championship!

‘super waluigi’ you can keep typing nonsensical claims that you’re presenting a ‘neutral’, or ‘unbiased’ viewpoint from your fallacious fence all you like. Your third rate contributions clearly show otherwise; let’s be clear you’re pulling the wool over no one’s eyes from your overt Ward apologist agenda. The lady doth protest too much, methinks!

Medicated Soap wrote:
More lies and disinformation ‘super waluigi’ what a surprise! From 2008/09 to 2011/12 we’ve enjoyed a top8 budget in League One, how exactly is that punching above our weight which has been artificially bulked by Cowlings investment? If anything given the budget, Ward’s two finishes on 62pts and 59pts are poor value for the millions of Cowling’s money spent on them. Even under the 65% of turnover cap on first team wages, we have revenue from hospitality, conferencing, events, kiosk catering contracts, stadium sponsorship, insurance commissions and other sales, etc, to add to the gate receipts from attendances. When you look beyond just the first team wage budget, Cowlings support has given Ward: a brand new training facility; the opportunity to stay overnight for long distance away games; the costs of rent, policing and stewarding etc met to allow the club to even spend 65% of its turnover on wages; to name but a few advantages. Further still Cowling is still financing the Category Two youth academy and the U20 players who can make a contribution to the first team. It’s all a far cry from the days of Layer Road under Peter Herd when everything had to be paid for from our 3k attendances. Indeed we have significant advantages over most of our League One rivals with old stadia, those that have to travel hundreds of miles on the day of their away fixtures, and those crippled by loan repayments. Punching above our weight to the extent that we did under Wignall, Wadsworth, Whitton and Parkinson during the later Layer Road days in 2012/13 and beyond would involve automatic promotion and establishment in the Championship! ‘super waluigi’ you can keep typing nonsensical claims that you’re presenting a ‘neutral’, or ‘unbiased’ viewpoint from your fallacious fence all you like. Your third rate contributions clearly show otherwise; let’s be clear you’re pulling the wool over no one’s eyes from your overt Ward apologist agenda. The lady doth protest too much, methinks!

If this was on Facebook I would be Clicking 'LIKE'

Medicated Soap wrote:
More lies and disinformation ‘super waluigi’ what a surprise! From 2008/09 to 2011/12 we’ve enjoyed a top8 budget in League One, how exactly is that punching above our weight which has been artificially bulked by Cowlings investment? If anything given the budget, Ward’s two finishes on 62pts and 59pts are poor value for the millions of Cowling’s money spent on them.

Even under the 65% of turnover cap on first team wages, we have revenue from hospitality, conferencing, events, kiosk catering contracts, stadium sponsorship, insurance commissions and other sales, etc, to add to the gate receipts from attendances. When you look beyond just the first team wage budget, Cowlings support has given Ward: a brand new training facility; the opportunity to stay overnight for long distance away games; the costs of rent, policing and stewarding etc met to allow the club to even spend 65% of its turnover on wages; to name but a few advantages. Further still Cowling is still financing the Category Two youth academy and the U20 players who can make a contribution to the first team.

It’s all a far cry from the days of Layer Road under Peter Herd when everything had to be paid for from our 3k attendances. Indeed we have significant advantages over most of our League One rivals with old stadia, those that have to travel hundreds of miles on the day of their away fixtures, and those crippled by loan repayments.

Punching above our weight to the extent that we did under Wignall, Wadsworth, Whitton and Parkinson during the later Layer Road days in 2012/13 and beyond would involve automatic promotion and establishment in the Championship!

‘super waluigi’ you can keep typing nonsensical claims that you’re presenting a ‘neutral’, or ‘unbiased’ viewpoint from your fallacious fence all you like. Your third rate contributions clearly show otherwise; let’s be clear you’re pulling the wool over no one’s eyes from your overt Ward apologist agenda. The lady doth protest too much, methinks!

Wow. What are you attacking me for????
What the hell are you going on about????
Read it again.
It says "Attendances have always been less than most in league 2".
That includes The Parkinson reign, before and after.
No lies.
Keep taking that Medicated soap!!!! Lol

Add to the above.
I never mentioned budgets.

Seems that you need to get your facts straight before you can out think me.

It seems you spent an age typing and got everything wrong.

Izzet you're not even the man for your job. He said what every captain would say... Just doing his job.

But then again he's also saying it, because Ward is the only Manager that thinks Kem's still got it. But I'm afraid to say Kem that you have been poor this year and last, and your time has come to the end. You also seem to keep passing the ball back, which causes the game play to be boring.

I'm worried about tomorrow... and I will support the Ward Out chants.

I'm going to keep this short because I have little to add other than what has been said from each angle. For the record I think that the dialogue over the last week on here has been good. Many contributors who famously seem to be at each others throats have met in the middle and more productive blogs have been the result. This is good because everyone on here whether they are pro Ward, anti Ward or "on the fence" -(my current position by the way- post because they want Colchester United to be as successful as they possibly can and, at the very least, showing some fight and desire. Nothing I say would be different to any other posts on the subject of the recent horrifying results but all I would plead for is perpective. YES this has been a terrible start and the diffocult fixture pattern is not an excuse. What I would say is that, the Tranmere defeat aside, if you spread the other results over the course of a 46 game season they wouldnt be terrible results. Indeed the the Sheff Utd and Preston results would be deemed to be two very good points. My reason for posting is simple. All the talk of "Ward out" chants throughout the game? Please dont. Give the team and Ward a chance today. If it's a disastorous display and we lose then if you must, reserve it for the end. A negative vibe around the stadium will play into Doncasters hands and we're effectively putting a noose around our own neck. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I want to see a successful Colchester Utd, hopefully with Ward as manager having turned it around. If he can't then, yes, he needs to move on but right now he is the manager and responsible for our club and that's what we should be focused on. Let's be positive and see where that takes us. If it doesnt work and the players dont show up then reserve it for the end. Here's to celebrating 3 points by 5pm and 6 points by 9.45pm Tuesday. We've got a decent team. It can be done.
(PS - It did intend it to be short!)

Excellent post Eddy.Well done.
Hurling abuse at JW and chanting for
his dismissal would be an own goal,because it is likely to affect the players' confidence and then we really will be in trouble.All the very best to JW and the team this afternoon.
Up the U's.
Eddy,thanks again.