We're letting our manager down, admits U's skipper Wordsworth (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Not just your manager that you're letting down your SUPPORTERS too!

Yes the vast majority of the players have let the manager down, some of them should be greatfull there playing league football at all.
Of course they're letting fans down but I don't think they really care. When ever they score they never really seem to want to celebrate with the fans, for about 5 seasons there seems to be an us and them attitude, not like danns, iwelumo etc the only one player in the team that there is a genuine affection to is duguid, funnily enough from the same team as danns and co.

Ha, understatement of the year so far!

Let's applaud the previous refreshing honesty from the manager/owner and now this refreshing honesty from the skipper/players.

As I said in a previous blog, it is vital that professional footballers are able to take and accept public criticism. After all, if they ever do make it to the top, their personal errors will be dissected on a weekly basis by pundits like Alan Hanson and the red-top papers. However, it is vital that such criticism is constructive, be this from the manager, owner, or from fans in a blog like this. What disappoints me is that so much destructive fan criticism tends to appear below Jonathan Waldron's excellent reporting.

The club, its owner, Joe Dunne and the dressing room have all committed to a new style of attractive play that is initially alien to some of our squad, but its benefits have already been demonstrated by our Arsenal loanees; that have both been sadly injured (and hence the wheels have come off). We need to adopt this style to attract other like loanees from top clubs. This is not to say that the remainder of the squad are bad footballers, simply that it does take time to effect positive change. Look how long it took now attractive footballing sides like Swansea to adapt and build success.

It is not that we have played particularly badly in some recent defeats (although some have been dire). It has been more a case of a few individual errors and a lack of concentration (perhaps not following managerial instructions?) causing us to leak goals. My heart was lifted on Saturday to see Tom Eastman regain his more normal composure and confidence after having had a shocker (his first) at Milton Keynes. Also that Mark Cousins was at his bravest, having previously been dropped. Joe Dunne is right to create more open competition, more honesty and hence more fight for places. These were both professional reactions to justified public constructive criticism by professional players (just like Woody's confession above).

But deprived of Watt, Eastmond, and latterly Massey, is it any surprise that after a month of initial joy (where the U's couldn't stop winning) we are currently seeing a repeat of what happened during the dire run just before Joe took over? To get the very best out of decent honest players like Sears, Henderson and Wordsworth within the new system, it is evident that we do need a couple of playmakers (like Watt and Eastmond); an omission which Joe Dunne and Robbie Cowling will no doubt remedy in the transfer window given their injuries. Joe also needs to sell a few players to create the wages, so one does expect a fair bit of upheaval. But let's consider this more;

Our defensive line up hasn't fundamentally changed since those early Joe Dunne successes, but the pressure it has been under has been immense, perhaps due to weaknesses in midfield. Whilst endeavoring to play the new passing style, we have been too easily dispossessed (or a stray pass has not found its target); the defence then having to deal with strength sapping waves of attacks. After some pretty awful experiences just prior to Joe taking over (and also a one off at Northampton), Magnus, Eastman, Rose, Wilson (and Potts looks decent) were superstars during the October when they kept four CLEAN sheets, some against good opposition (after having none for months!). Then suddenly in November/December they are villains, but (IMHO) this is possibly nothing that a couple of new players in front of them to suit the new system won't remedy (e.g. in the absence of Watt and Eastmond). They have not suddenly become poor footballers/defender
s; merely players struggling under a new system that remains imperfect as regards available personnel, but a system that is the right one to pursue for the long haul.

Colchester United has committed to this new philosophy from its Category II Youth Academy to the First Team. It's the system adopted by most truly succesful teams. Until the transfer window opens, we probably will struggle. But let's be patient, and get behind both the manager and the team. It will end well.

Noah, please cut down your comments. I only read the first and last paragraph as I dont have the time. Dont start talking about philosophies. Its the rubbish we hear from Brendan Rodgers every week. Football is a siole game and people are trying to complicate it. Wordsworth hurry up and go and sit on the bench at the Championship club you are joining. I see John Ward is the new Director of Football at Plymouth. Yet another failed Manager back in work.

Yep you've let the manager down, but Woody you've let the team down too, with your lack of motivational techniques to the whole team. And lack of communication. As a leader in my profession, motivation, communication, team work, and providing a positive vibe altogether are the main skills, along with others - which you lack to provide. This is evident in the performances we have seen. Wordsworth I hate to say it but you lost my faith a while back when you said that you want to leave, yet you still accept captaincy. What does that show to the rest of the team - follow a leader even if he doesn't want to be here. You've left the whole club down, the support, and the town.

As harsh as Steve's comment sounds. I agree with him.

Glad you've chosen to move on, at least this way we can get a decent captain in the side, to motivate the players, shout at them, more important communicate with them.

I wish the Gazette would not publish player interviews like this one. Pull your finger out, Mr. Wordsworth, and try a lot harder. You are judged by your actions, and not by your intentions.