ARTHUR Read says he is relishing being a part of the Cowleys’ new-look Colchester United side.
And the talented midfielder believes the U’s new management team have already stamped their mark on the squad.
Read scored a superb winner to help Colchester claim their first victory under Danny Cowley with a 1-0 victory at Morecambe last weekend.
It extended the U’s unbeaten run to three matches under their new boss and Read feels what they have been working on is now showing on the pitch.
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Read said: “I’m really enjoying playing under the new management team.
“I think there’s a clear style of play and identity to what we want to do, with the pressing and the winning the ball back high, the keeping the ball in their half and creating a lot of chances which we’ve done more and more, the last three games.
“It’s been good to be a part of. You can tell the standards and every little detail has probably gone up a notch or two.
“That’s not just because the manager has come in but we have to, in the position we’re in.
“There’s a lot of differences in terms of what we’ve done before, with the pressing more intense which obviously takes a toll on your body but as you can see, it’s a lot more effective winning the ball up high and getting more chances from that.
“That’s what we’ve been working on in training, the high press. I think that was the first sign that it’s been working.
“When new managers come in which has happened quite a lot this season, you don’t really know what’s going to happen so you’ve always got to keep high standards and keep trying to perform as much as possible.”
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Read scored a magnificent free-kick to secure Colchester victory at Morecambe.
It was his fifth goal of the season, a strike that boss Cowley likened to one former England star Paul Gascoigne might have scored in his pomp.
“I was buzzing with that,” added Read.
“To be fair, I haven’t practised free-kicks in training for a while – maybe I just won’t practice any more and just leave it to the games!
“I think that win has been coming, it’s been brewing the last few weeks.
“It’s crucial to be picking up points, so it was a massive away win.
“They had a few chances, as they will because they’re a good side.
“But I think we nullified it quite well and we limited their chances."
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