This article was originally published as part of UTAS’ weekly column in the Cambridge Independent. You can find it online here and in print in your nearest Cambridgeshire newsagent every Wednesday, or Coconut Tier members can read the piece below.
It was Neil Harris himself who said he wouldn’t pay any attention to the league table until 12 games had been played. With 14 now under United’s belt, and at least 12 played by every team across the division, he might use this little break in league action to load up his preferred football app and take a look at the third tier table.
What he’ll see is his United side gatecrashing a top half of the table filled with sides who kicked off the season with very different ambitions to us. On the latest Not The Top 20 podcast, host Ali Maxwell described the U’s as “the polar bear in Arlington Texas”, a reference to an internet meme that probably doesn’t need too much explaining.
Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Leyton Orient served as a potent reality check. It made it four games without a win, 10 goals conceded in four games, and yet another game where United have conceded first – that’s now nine out of the last ten. Regardless of opposition, Harris must find a way to reverse these trends. For many, it confirmed the fact that competing for the play-offs was always a pipe dream. And with the league table starting to take shape now, looking around the rest of the top half, the size of that potential challenge is becoming apparent.
