Colchester United showing encouraging signs after transition

With ten games played, the U’s have now had some time for their squad to bed in and for their numerous signings to settle, at their new club.

It was without doubt a reset for Danny Cowley’s squad in the summer, with 14 new players arriving and almost as many departing the JobServe Community Stadium.

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“We expected a lot of change and I think it’s natural, when you finish 22nd in League Two that there is going to be change,” said the U’s boss.

“We probably didn’t anticipate as much as there’s been but with so many new players, so many new personnel and new partnerships and relationships, it’s our job to try to accelerate the process on the training ground and we’re working really hard to try to do that and develop the players’ game understanding and sync the players up and build the connection.”

It was always going to take time for things to settle at Colchester, after a pretty manic close season.

And at times, the large amount of transition that has taken place at the U’s has been reflected on the pitch; at times, it has been a rather erratic opening two months of the 2024-25 campaign.

But encouragingly, there are positive signs that the Cowleys have assembled a squad that is always competitive and are becoming increasingly difficult to beat.

(Image: MATT WILKINSON)

The U’s have 11 points and have lost only one of their last nine games in all competitions.

On three occasions, they have come from behind to take something meaningful from matches, this season.

The 13 league goals they have scored is a pretty healthy return so far and Colchester have shown they are not afraid to try their luck, in front of goal.

Indeed, only leaders Walsall have accumulated more than the 14 shots per game ratio that the U’s currently boast.

In addition, Colchester’s pass ratio (74.8 per cent) is among the top five for League Two, offering evidence that they are a side capable of building attacks.

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One of the contributory factors in the U’s favourable attacking statistics is the form of summer signing, Jack Payne.

The former Huddersfield Town playmaker is one of the most effective players in League Two, with four assists and one goal to his name to date, along with a pass success rate of 81.7 per cent.

Lyle Taylor and Samson Tovide currently have six goals between them and the likes of Alex Woodyard, Ben Goodliffe and Owura Edwards have also caught the eye, in the opening months of the season.

Colchester also reside in the division’s top ten for possession in games (50.1 per cent).

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

The Cowleys’ formations and team selections have been pretty fluid, so far.

Colchester have adopted three at the back with wing-backs in the majority of their games but have also opted for a four-man defence on occasions, depending on the opposition.

Of concern to Colchester’s experienced management team will perhaps be the 15 goals they have conceded in their ten games so far this season.

The vast majority of those – 13 – have come away from home, in defeats at Walsall and AFC Wimbledon along with the eventful 3-3 draw at Morecambe, where the U’s relinquished a two-goal lead against ten men in the final minutes.

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It’s proved particularly damaging and there is a pretty stark contrast between Colchester’s home and away form, even at this relatively early part of the season.

The U’s have won two, drawn two and lost one of their five league games at the JobServe Community Stadium, scoring six times and conceding only two; on their travels, they are yet to win, drawing three and losing two of their five matches on the road.

(Image: MATT WILKINSON)

Nevertheless, they have shown spirit and character, not least in their last away game at new leaders Port Vale, where Samson Tovide’s 90th minute equaliser showed a commendable trait of staying in games, much like last week’s draw at Leyton Orient in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

Talking of draws, on Chesterfield have shared the spoils in the fourth tier more than the U’s, so far.

It shows that Colchester are a tough nut to crack, as does their current run of one defeat in nine matches, in all competitions.

But they have won only two of those nine games and it is also an illustration of the U’s need to find some consistency, in order to challenge at the right end of League Two.

Needless to say, it is imperative that they continue to be strong at home but at the same time, improve their away form if they are to rise up the table and stay there.