I cant see realistically how unless we go up or unless Armstrong suddenly dips in his goal tally, that he will be here next season.

I never buy the shirts so it doesnt affect me directly but have the club even communicated with those who have pre-ordered them about what is going on? I can understand the desperate begging but equally it is hard to expect people know they are almost sure that they cant attend when they themselves are (moreso relative to their own needs, in terms of paying bills etc) struggling financially considering the price increase. I have bought one, last week when there was still hope of attending. To be honest, I would want the links anyway (some wont be interested in behind closed doors) and I am not in a difficult financial position, my job can be done from home on full pay, so deferring my season ticket payment until next year isnt a big issue personally, but it is for many. For example @chaddyrovers will you be getting or have you got a season ticket this season? Would understand either way considering your personal circumstances. If you havent, or equally if regular fans havent been able to, they shouldnt be guilt tripped really. I think the approach of the Colchester chairman is very good and hopefully effective and I hope he has the support of the rest of the chairmen/women in the football league. https://www.cu-fc.com/news/2020/september/robbies-letter-to-pm/

Im guessing you mean 4-3-3 as per your comment? If so, then yeah if its in a 4-3-3 because he certainly isnt a central striker. I think people are getting a little carried away making out as if he is being scapegoated or suggesting that it is anything but fair to point out his pitiful goal record. He has improved in his general play lately but he has received plenty of constructive criticism over his time here. I thought it was a missed opportunity to leave him on for 90 minutes v a dismal 10 man Wycombe side, if ever there was a chance to get a goal.

The responses to this are interesting. Seems like the tables have turned in regards to fans perception of Brereton, mainly amidst younger fans: "Been fantastic for the team this year, just needs to start adding goals and assists one of the first names on the teamsheet with his speed and the way he can carry the ball in transition" "one of our best players start of this season, pre season and near the end of last season but people will be quick to blame him and say he's awful because the numbers say so" "Gets scapegoated too often, easily been our top 5 players so far" "overrated by fans who like him and massively underrated by fans who see 7mil and 2 goals in 2 seasons, reality is he’s average (if not slightly above) but still young and showing potential" I think that he definitely has been a different player from the one that for a year and a half was embarrassingly off the pace. But until he starts being more effective in front of goal, the customary dribbles and occasional neat touches are not enough IMO to justify some of these comments. He definitely isnt scapegoated, until he scores a goal in a meaningful game, its tough to go overboard. If thats an obsession with stats, I dont agree. Goals are a little more than a stat. I definitely think that he is not a central striker, just as much as he isnt a wide man in a 4-2-3-1. Probably as a 10 or as a wide striker in a 4-3-3 is his best position.

The pandemic leading to a reduced budget would be understandable, as it was they put us on the back burner and left the manager waiting ages for his budget because we clearly weren't a priority. Why anyone would defend them for it is beyond me. There is very little evidence that they know "everything that is going on" or have a real strong passion for the club, they have attended more in cardboard form to be fair post lockdown than ever before. Definitely seems to have been a change in Mowbrays comments since last Thursdays meeting too, maybe they have been spooked.

I never felt totally comfortable with Raya, all keepers make mistakes and behind a dreadful defence he made his fair share in that opening season. He improved when I watched him last season, yes the defence is better but also far less error prone and just looks more confident. Dont get any pleasure out of a move to Arsenal potentially not happening, I have no reason to wish any ill upon him. There was no reason for Mowbray to ever replace him with Leutwiler, that was bizarre. That being said, the decision to sell Raya for cheap, loan Walton and buy Gallagher cannot really be defended. Lets hope Kaminski is an upgrade, at the moment we are none the wiser really. Most of the shots he has faced have gone in, with only Fraser's one that I think he should have done better, and only one particularly meaningful save, the very good one at Bournemouth. Distribution seems decent and quick too, looks shaky at crosses. Hopefully he will get a second successive clean sheet. If Kaminski is weak from crosses, as Raya was, one thing that may help him that Raya was often left without (think back to Rotherham away with Mulgrew and Rodwell at CB) is Lenihan AND Ayala hopefully both giving him more protection.

Absolutely. Definitely worth posting.

Would make no sense if we are scrapping with League 1 clubs for below average right backs. Im sure that the twitter account that linked Travis to Coventry.

He is the fool as long as he takes the credit for being the fool! But say that all of the season is behind closed doors, or even most of it, take the £230 stream value from my £399 season ticket and I have £169 off my next season ticket. Could Waggott stomach giving season tickets for £230? Surely his eyes would light up that he could say up it by £50 as you say, its still "only" £280 and then you have managed to make it whereby season tickets are at £449 without any further rises. Follow on with an amazing price freeze to reward loyalty and get behind the lads and job done!

One thing certainly is inevitable, that Waggott will bump up the price next year again to offset the discounts, and then ultimately the year after that even a price freeze and the prices are still massively up. Hope not but im sure hes already dreaming up his motto questioning our committment.

"The vaccine is coming" could take over from defenders if and when we sign a left back!

Hopefully there will be a level of compromise with playing it out from the back too much because our centre backs are not the best on the ball. We needed more than anything someone who could defend, on our budget a player good at doing both was unrealistic. Ayala defensively is as good as we could have got, I would have much preferred Ayala to say Naby Sarr who many wanted who is good on the ball but really poor defensively. Both centre backs are good in the air too, Kaminski had looked shaky from crosses and that was his weakness based on what the Belgian football expert said (interview on Radio Lancashire) back at Gent so hopefully that will help him out a tad.

Of course, probably frustration talking, because there is no reason in my opinion to take such draconian measures, there should be compromise like with other industries who the government clearly recognise are also vulnerable financially such as pubs, restaurants etc and I just hope that there is a u-turn and a bit of common sense. That being said, if it had been confirmed before the season that there are no fans allowed all season but you can pay 400 quid anyway purely out of financial support, I and the very vast majority wouldnt donate money because, thats a luxury a working class man (or woman) couldnt afford or justify. Ultimately I have taken a slight risk which I was prepared to but it will be disappointing the longer that I cannot go and attend.

As @Mattyblue says Warnock tends to get results to get into the top 6 so its flawed to compare "Warnock style" football and "entertaining" football on the assumption that both are getting the exact same results. Warnock doesnt think, right well im gonna finish 11th anyway so I may as well do it in the most boring way possible. Mowbray himself said at the weekend that we need a few more senior heads because its very difficult to maintain consistency with 8 or 9 young lads in the team and he is right. Hes signed an experienced keeper and Ayala so hes clearly keen to address that, hence his seeming frustration that he cant get more over the line. It doesnt mean that Mowbrays approach is incorrect regarding style but that is assuming that we can get results like this; I dont get the constant contempt now in the football world for anything but playing it from the back, results are almost secondary now, I mentioned it in the Premier League thread about Burnley. Thats not to say even without considering the current economic climate that we shouldnt do anything but use the academy to our advantage but our side is already young and full of talent, in many cases, home grown. We already have Lenihan, Nyambe and Travis regulars in the team and Buckley and Rankin Costello in the squad, then Armstrong, Dolan, Brereton, Davenport etc on top that. The main worry with many is the contractual situation. But the focus should always be on results, whether the best way is passing from the back or being more direct. Indeed the squad that Mowbray has built means there is little scope for direct football, now we wait and see if it is more effective than the first style Mowbray adopted when we went more direct to Graham. Indeed playing a higher press and some younger players shouldnt be done because it is fun, because it is pretty, and as if the alternative is "boring" (subjective) football getting the same results, it should be done only if those young players are worthy of playing, and if that style of football is condusive to getting the best possible results based on the squads skillset. As it stands, I would suggest that doing both of those may well be the best way to get results though. The younger lads that havent yet progressed into the first team properly, Magloire, Carter, Thompson, Vale, Butterworth etc, I dont think there is any urgency to get them involved in the first team in the immediate future as the squad is already packed full of young talent, unless of course any are deemed to be worthy of a spot in the squad, perhaps down to an injury crisis. They may be better suited out on loan.

Football/sport will be a total shell then at the start of next season. Massive job loss, many peoples mental health impacted, clubs going bust. The risk of having a low percentage of a ground open, people spaced out and socially distanced outdoors, following hopefully successful pilots is much safer than opening pubs, restaurants (even with a curfew) and offices. At the start of next season, or even the season after, the virus will still be here. Definitely regret getting my season ticket. Money down the drain.

Very sorry to hear that you are going to lose your job. My personal opinion is that many others will due to unnecessarily draconian measures all things considered. I am not suggesting pretending that it doesnt exist but I think that the pilots and the phasing back of fans should continue. Even if you are willing, the vaccine will not totally eridicate the virus. If it ever comes. We are probably going to have to live with it.

I disagree. Not to get too much into a covid debate as I am totally fed up with it but the deaths/hospitalisations are so low relative to what they were and the collateral damage ecnonomically, job loss, mental health etc is huge. And most importantly, the process would be gradual, and it would be based on strict procedures regarding limited capacities and social distancing to minimise the risk. Even if a vaccine came it will take a long while it wouldnt totally eridicate the virus as not every single person would have it. Totally fed up with it all.

Shit news. Surely with very limited crowds, a gradual process, plenty of procedures in place, all socially distanced and of course pilot events, there is no need to pause things. We cant wait for a vaccine which may never come and even if it does wont totally eridicate the virus. Depressing update. Football games are played before 10 o clock and the curfew doesnt come out until after then anyway.

Yeah I think the deal was announced on Friday but one thing is for sure, that he wasnt very close to signing for us to the point that Jaquob Crooke was posting ? emojis and basically preparing fans expecting an announcement. Apologies if ive got mixed up but I think you have said in the past that he hasnt got any direct sources and I would have to agree. He very much goes as vague as possible with what he can gather from the public domain. Rich Sharpe seems to be the main person regarding transfers but he himself is more of a person who will check and usually deny a rumour once it is already out there.

I dont think he is in the know at all chaddy, he was adamant that we wanted and had bid for Phillips at Charlton for ages (which all stemmed from that phoney "twitter journalist) he seemed sure that we were about to sign that Maghoma from Poland and on Friday he had to backtrack after implying that Manning was about to sign, admitting no insider knowledge at that point on a rumour that stemmed from Rich Sharpe claiming historical interest in previous transfer windows. I think its just a junior journalist, not at the direct local newspaper of the club, who does get to attend press conferences but otherwise is very much summarising and pulling together what he can from the public domain and being as vague as possible. Rich Sharpe is very slow to get news but he does at least seem to have a direct line to the club in terms of being able to dismiss stories that arent true. The left back story came from him that we were going to get an answer within 24 hours, whether people on here got their indications from him or vice versa, it seems that the left back was never as close as they said.

I thought that Buckley had by far his best performance for us at Charlton away last season in the 10 role. Whilst of course that isnt available in the 4-3-3, I think he seems particularly comfortable on the half turn in attacking areas so would probably be best further forward ahead of the sitter.

Yeah you would like to think that a player wasnt being held back solely to be a catalyst for us to maintain our status in the kids league. He would likely struggle to stay in football if that was the case when he left.

@chaddyrovers nope certainly not ITK nor have any desire to be! I got the Garner information from the Lancashire Telegraph: "Mowbray has spoken about the financial difficulties of doing loan deals for Premier League prospects, but Rovers were understood to have reached an agreement with Manchester United for teenage midfielder James Garner." I agree that left back is the key signing and we do need a back up keeper. Mowbrays comments about Bell and LB not being the priority are a concern. Also a shame that another target who we were close to (and dont know the identity of) got away at the last minute as others have done. I think the Manning rumours were just a perfect example of transfer rumour chaos! Wed been linked with him prior, it snowballed into Rich Sharpe reporting simply historic interest, some people had wrong information that a deal had been done and it all snowballed to the point that our fans were mocking QPR fans on twitter! Very much so. Any hopes of a late transfer splurge based on sales of King and Raya seem fanciful in the extreme.

Would love us to suddenly have some money to play with but seems that wont be the case.