Dunne pulls no punches after heavy U's defeat

6:27pm Saturday 23rd February 2013 in Local Sport By Jonathan Waldron

Honest assessment - Joe Dunne admitted his U's side deserved nothing from their game against Tranmere Rovers. Honest assessment - Joe Dunne admitted his U's side deserved nothing from their game against Tranmere Rovers.

Joe Dunne admitted he told his players a few "home truths" after seeing his Colchester United side thumped 5-1 at home by Tranmere Rovers.

Goals from Max Power, Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, Ash Taylor, Cole Stockton and Michael O'Halloran gave Rovers an emphatic win at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Magnus Okuonghae scored what proved to be Colchester's consolation but the defeat leaves them three points adrift of safety in League One, with 13 games to go.

Dunne said: “It was a collapse in the second half and I’ve told my players what I think of it.

“We can’t make the mistakes we made defensively and not expect to get punished.

“We have a young changing room in there and there are a few of us who have lost 5-1 in there before.

“We have to respond and we can’t get downhearted – we have to keep going.

“I’ve told them what I thought and one or two got told a few home truths."

For more reaction to Colchester's defeat against Tranmere, along with a full match report and pictures from the game, see Monday's Gazette.

Comments(34)

Bampotonian says...
6:49pm Sat 23 Feb 13

Looking at the photos on the Tranmere home website doesn't make happy viewing either

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crazy comments says...
6:54pm Sat 23 Feb 13

Pity I could have not joined you in the dressing room as well Joe and told you a few home truths. Even our long standing lady fan called NORA will back me on this one. You need to build your team from the back.
Playing Thompson is a joke. Clifford is to light weight and has not got a bite in his tackles to someone like Izzet or Jon Jo. Also get rid of the whole of the hangers on in the back room and training staff, because thay are not doing their jobs neither. Its a shambles from top to bottom.

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down the line says...
7:06pm Sat 23 Feb 13

crazy comments wrote:
Pity I could have not joined you in the dressing room as well Joe and told you a few home truths. Even our long standing lady fan called NORA will back me on this one. You need to build your team from the back.
Playing Thompson is a joke. Clifford is to light weight and has not got a bite in his tackles to someone like Izzet or Jon Jo. Also get rid of the whole of the hangers on in the back room and training staff, because thay are not doing their jobs neither. Its a shambles from top to bottom.
Couldn't agree more.

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Layer Road Exile says...
7:43pm Sat 23 Feb 13

This really is a case of the blind leading the blind. Not since Crisp have we experienced an autocracy so devoid of expertise and we know where that ended. Now it's Cowlings way or no way and I noticed today that the entire Directors Box was populated by just three people and two of them are called Cowling. Whatever happened to the clubs board? It is also evident that Dunne and Kinsella are completely out of their depth and are attempting to lead a rag bag of inexperienced and loan players who look as if they have only just been introduced to each other. If we had a wise old sage like Ronnie Moore at the helm this lot might have a chance of survival but I'm afraid we're down while the kids are in charge of the kids. Shambles from top to bottom sums it up very well.

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Barside1 says...
8:17pm Sat 23 Feb 13

It is almost the anniversary of 'The Five Year Plan' - anyone remember that?

Perhaps the Gazette could tackle that one for us.

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jut1972 says...
8:18pm Sat 23 Feb 13

Which experienced manager would come in and take the job on the wages we can afford?

Cowling is taking a calculated risk that Joe comes good and he should be supported in that.

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Mr Honest says...
8:53pm Sat 23 Feb 13

Disgraceful, inept, shocking....no amount of words can describe todays performance. Id imagine only a gate of 2,500 on Tuesday. Yeovil probably cant wait to play us. Get rid of all these **** kids that cant get a game at there so called better clubs and playing awfully at ours. Dunne and Kinsella out.

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candy box says...
10:39pm Sat 23 Feb 13

Home truths Joe dunne you are clueless cant keep passing the buck you ain't fit to clean boots.

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wellnow says...
12:57am Sun 24 Feb 13

Yeovil havent lost in nine.don't look for a bounce back tuesday.a draw would be a result.come on joe forget the big idea new young look.put out a team to grind out afew points for f@#k sake.

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Ozzie says...
3:18am Sun 24 Feb 13

I listened to Joe's feeble excuses on BBC Essex after the game and I earlier this week gave him the benefit of the doubt and wrote on this website encouraging every U's fan to stick with him and get behind the club! What a mistake! I have to say that over the 45 years I have supported the U's, this has probably got to be one of the most embarrassing, inept, lacklustre performances! I look particularly at our 'motivational' captain, Thompson, and our 'Premier league standard keeper' Walker and new left back Garmston. We looked pathetic! These players just do not cut it when you are needing players to grind out results! Mr Cowling, the ball lies in your court again I believe. I respect you for your financial support for the club, but if you have the club at heart, you need to think seriously about the managerial capabilities of Mr Dunne. I gave him the benefit of the doubt but now, like many fans, the time for him has come to depart. His inexperience is evident for all to see. I know he will be gutted by this reaction and probably blame the fans for this ill feeling,but life is like that. If I performed badly in my job I would expect repercussions. So must Joe Dunne - or he must do the reasonable thing and leave. There is still time for someone to turn this around but it does need fresh blood - and quick!! We are very quickly sinking into the mire and our first division status is sitting on a knife edge. One more home defeat on Tuesday and other results going against us, we will be in trouble and almost finished this season. I personally do not want to hear the excuses from Joe anymore, just be honest and admit that your team capitulated and gave up hope after 3-1! When you brought on Bond for Wright and Morrison for Porter, the writing looked on the wall. We were opened up all over the place and the defence looked vulnerable both on the ground and in the air and Walker so lacklustre that there were two goals where he just stood and watched the ball go past him! One word describes this performance - abysmal!! Up the U's!!

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Barside1 says...
8:44am Sun 24 Feb 13

Not that it has any bearing on things as such, but conceeding five goals in a home match at Layer Road was something that averaged out about once every 15 seasons.

I recall a 1-5 defeat against Peterborough many years back, in fact I think Colin Garwood scored 2 or 3 of their goals that day - long before he became a Colchester United player.

There was a 0-5 home defeat against Gillingham - in the FA Cup I believe, and a 0-5 against Luton on Boxing Day about seven seasons back.

I'm hard pushed to recall any more.

Now compare that with our record at WHCS and we have suffered being on the wrong end of nap hands ( and more ) on an average of just about every season.

Layer Road is sadly long gone, but with it much of the identity of what the club was about.

I always thought playing at Layer Road was worth a goal start, but it seems to me we are chasing games at WHCS.

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totallyfootball says...
10:04am Sun 24 Feb 13

How strange a few weeks ago Dunne was the man and woe betide anyone who said different? Time to wake up as this rudderless ship is heading into obscurity!

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lollardknight says...
11:46am Sun 24 Feb 13

We came away from the game and it reminded me of how I felt when I left early during Manager Williams last home heavy defeat some years back now.......same problems again! we have sold or let go some good experience players since we moved to the new boring ground, bad managers and players by the bucket load. Root cause a chairman and staff that have not a football clue, sorry to say but when he came here we were on the up as a small club punching above our weight as always but his appointments have been shocking. League two here we come, I thought our days of lower league football were gone but 'back to the good old days'. Yesterday £28 to watch a team with no CAPTAIN or anyone to confront opponents or the referee with decisions...offside players diving.....no pride no passion lightweight and really they don't care, most of these young loanees who think they are top class players the way they stroll around....keeper rubbish..center back terrible....kicked it out of play every play, left back did the same, some of these players can't kick a dam ball. We need john-joe, wilson, captain should be Eastman and cousins back in goal.

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brig 1 says...
11:54am Sun 24 Feb 13

I said before on here.Everything is too cosy.Bite the bullet Robbie and get somebody in who will crack the whip.
BobbyRobson had to do it at Ipswich when he first went there.
As for filling the side with youngsters Dick Graham tried it.Fans were,nt patient then,
even lest so in this modern age. As much as a so called legend. Dick still walked away into history

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Barsideboy says...
11:58am Sun 24 Feb 13

I love to see how when we are struggling alot of you on here are so quick to jump on the wagon and to criticise the manager, but when we win hardly anybody comments on how well we played? or to congratulate the team of their win!

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Mr Honest says...
12:56pm Sun 24 Feb 13

You got that wrong bellend boy. We do applaud the team but its a very rare occurence for a Colchester United team to play well and win. Thats why its mainly always negative on here because we have to put up with rubbish managers with rubbish players. Joe Dunne needs to walk. We need a completely fresh management team and we need to stop signing all these loan players who cant get a game at their clubs and couldnt careless about playing for the CUFC shirt.

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Barsideboy says...
2:02pm Sun 24 Feb 13

Bellend boy?? haha you are truly a clown!, a fresh manager? how is that going to help, we are in the **** due the plays JW bought in, yes Joe Dunne has bought in his own players but he has had a obviously had a tight budget due to the wages the previous players where on, people like JJ their not good enough for league1, league2 suits the way he plays, I agree on a lot you say Mr. honest but not on sacking Mr Dunne that's just the easy way out!

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candy box says...
2:36pm Sun 24 Feb 13

Barsideboy are you employed by col u

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crazy comments says...
3:03pm Sun 24 Feb 13

Joe! I have had a word with Paola as he is looking for work, and he said that he would love to come and train the boys for a week. He will start of with a short steady five mile run. Then once the lads have wiped the sweat from their brows it's into the gym. A few press up's and then on to the weights to strengthen those leg muscles. Once the lads are nice and flexible its then out onto the pitches.Time then to practice new ideas on free kick and corner routines to try and baffle the opposition. Then we play three defenders against five attackers with quick passing and overlaps with each other,so that each player will know exactly where the ball is going to be played and what direction he will be going to receive the return ball. Finally its shoooting practice. Cardboard cut outs spread across the box and first time shooting. If after those four hours they feel knackerd then Paola will add on another two hours the following day to help them get up to his fitness levels. L.O L.

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BlueandWhiteBaz says...
3:09pm Sun 24 Feb 13

Anyone who would bet The U's will survive the drop need to go to the doctors to get their head tested. This inexperienced side is going down and you need to believe it. For the second week in a row it was men against a young boys team.

Cowling is the problem with Colchester, having only time for his Tiptree projects leaving the first team to go to rack and ruin. There is not enough good senior professionals down the spine of the team to carry the youngsters and; on top of that, we have a rookie manager who has made too many mistakes and is still making them.

The trouble is with all dictatorships there is no democracy and, if you sack JD who is going to want the job under Cowling's guidance. This man may be paying the bills, but as a club he is ripping the heart out of it. This will be the second relegation he has orchestrated with no signs that life in League 2 will be any better. There has not been even a sniff of a cup run in any of the cups under his tenure and, if I had to speculate, I would say he's the man most likely to take this club out of the football league altogether rather than create a side able to gain promotion. With poor gates this season, the budget will need to be cut considerably further next season, so what hope is there and what encouragement is there to buy season tickets in the close season. This club is spiralling down faster than a bob sleigh run and I don't see anything likely to change it.

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wellnow says...
3:57pm Sun 24 Feb 13

Look whose at wembly again!

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bennyontheterrace says...
8:58pm Sun 24 Feb 13

Inexperienced management team, inexperienced captain, inexperienced squad - we need an experienced coaching team with Col U in there blood, may be worth giving Wignall and Foley a call..

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We're not singing anymore!!! says...
9:03pm Sun 24 Feb 13

Barsideboy wrote:
Bellend boy?? haha you are truly a clown!, a fresh manager? how is that going to help, we are in the **** due the plays JW bought in, yes Joe Dunne has bought in his own players but he has had a obviously had a tight budget due to the wages the previous players where on, people like JJ their not good enough for league1, league2 suits the way he plays, I agree on a lot you say Mr. honest but not on sacking Mr Dunne that's just the easy way out!
Completely agree with you Barsideboy. It's amazing how short sighted some or most of the fans on here seem to be.

Look at QPR and all the money they've spent. Harry the miracle worker is in charge and even he can't work his magic. Still bottom and at least 7 points from safety.

Poor Joe has a fraction of the budget. It seems unless you come in and get nothing but wins you're out of your depth.

Like I've said in a previous post, the results against the top 8 teams don't mean a thing at the moment. We lost on Saturday but are still not beyond staying up, we're only 3 points from safety. It's the teams around us we need to beat, they are the six point games.

How many other teams have lost to Tranmere, Swindon and Sheff Utd this season, quite a few I would think !!!!!

We might not get anything against Yeovil but lets not stop backing the team.

Up the U's

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Dug says...
9:20pm Sun 24 Feb 13

I'm sorry, but if Col U had beaten Tranmere, then it would have meant something. To suggest it 'don't mean a thing' is a strange observation to me.

I'm sure Shrewsbury were pretty pleased to beat Tranmere at their place the previous weekend, especially as they've now gone on to win again yesterday and have given themselves daylight.

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We're not singing anymore!!! says...
11:14pm Sun 24 Feb 13

I think you know what I mean but perhaps you're just being pedantic. So to make it a little clearer for you:

Yes, three points against Tranmere would have helped but as a few of the other teams around us also lost we didn't really lose too much ground in the table.

When we beat Preston the other week we didn't really gain too much ground as the others around us also won. The only good thing was, it brought Preston back into the struggle.

As we still have to play Stevenage, Hartlepool, Bury, Oldham, Shrewsbury and Carlisle these are the games that really matter. By beating these teams it means they can't gain points on us (in fact the opposite), therefore, in theory being a six point game.

Gaining points from any of our other remaining games would be a bonus and make things a little easier but it's not the worst thing if we only pick up the odd point. The six games mentioned above are far more important. If we win all of those then that would put us on 50 points and possibly be enough to make us safe. Of course, that's only if we win those six games.

I hope that explains my comment about losing to Tranmere 'don't mean a thing'

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BlueandWhiteBaz says...
7:03am Mon 25 Feb 13

We're not singing anymore!!! All of the teams you listed we play away from home apart from Shrewsbury, and now look at how we've performed generally away fom home. I'll say no more!

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We're not singing anymore!!! says...
7:51am Mon 25 Feb 13

They are still more winnable games compared to teams pushing for promotion. And still six pointer games.

Those teams are around us are there because they have similar form.

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Mr Ed says...
12:02pm Mon 25 Feb 13

im glad i dont waste my money going to watch them play.
Still useless . perhaps the manager could get a job with Armitage Shanks, coz thats where he's going...down the pan.

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Steve86 says...
12:49am Tue 26 Feb 13

I personally feel that the squad would benefit with Magnus the beast in defensive midfield. I say... Place Eastman back in defence, Wright with Magnus in midfield. Clifford down one wing, Massey down the other. Drop Porter. I don't know if you guys agree, but I reckon this will work.

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Boris says...
1:07am Tue 26 Feb 13

We're not singing anymore!!! wrote:
They are still more winnable games compared to teams pushing for promotion. And still six pointer games.

Those teams are around us are there because they have similar form.
You are an incorrigible optimist. Teams fighting to avoid relegation can be as hard to beat as those going for promotion.
I'm an incorrigible optimist too. I expect us to lose against Yeovil, but I'm going to be freezing there to-night in the crazy hope of seeing us win.
Up the U's.

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We're not singing anymore!!! says...
9:51am Tue 26 Feb 13

Boris wrote:
We're not singing anymore!!! wrote: They are still more winnable games compared to teams pushing for promotion. And still six pointer games. Those teams are around us are there because they have similar form.
You are an incorrigible optimist. Teams fighting to avoid relegation can be as hard to beat as those going for promotion. I'm an incorrigible optimist too. I expect us to lose against Yeovil, but I'm going to be freezing there to-night in the crazy hope of seeing us win. Up the U's.
You're right Boris, I am an Optimist.

I agree that the teams fighting relegation can be just as hard to beat as teams pushing for promotion. But the point I was trying to make is that they are as inconsistent with their results as us.
Blueandwhite was saying our away form has been poor this season. But anyone in the bottom half of the table hasn't had consistency otherwise they wouldn't be in a similar position to us.
We had one purple patch when Joe first took over, we only need another patch like that and we could make it easier for ourselves. It’s not impossible

I for one would rather back Joe and the lads until the end of the season. Once the season is finished, that's when I think we should analyse what happened or what went right or wrong.

Support them to the end of the season……that’s what we’re all supposed to be…..SUPPORTERS!!!
!!

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BlueandWhiteBaz says...
1:59pm Tue 26 Feb 13

With Cowling's interest only being in his Tiptree projects it was a foregone conclusion what this season was going to bring. His interest in what is going on with the first team and the WHCS, unless it concerns the sales of corporate boxes etc., is non-existent. It doesn't matter how many millions you are worth, or how much you have to PLAY with, if you are not going to invest it in the the whole reason for the clubs being. In addition he rid himself of people who knew the business and now we have to put up with his appalling judgements on managers, ticket prices and everything else. What we need is a chairman who has the club at heart not someone who only has West Ham at heart!

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the allotments says...
4:12pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Surprise no one has thought jonjoe might be okay in midfield,at least he'd get stuck in.

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John Vencato says...
10:56am Wed 27 Feb 13

1st I see Joe in mass and he is a lovely chap the town needs to stick with him and see the blight through:
2nd Regarding tactics, it is a fact that defence takes 50% less force than to attack:
At 1-0 down the team should go into a defensive posture, wear them down, then catch them on the break when they are tired and frustrated.
The Italians have been doing it for years. 4 World Cup Titles 6 Final appearances,1 Euro Win and 3 Euro Finals cant be bad:
There has to be a new Tac it is no point in going for hell and glory all the time with trying to put goals away when the defence is left wide open:
John Vencato+

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