The U's-letter: Issue #11
This week's round-up ahead of the derby
Saturday is derby day. After the disaster of our visit to London Road last year, we head into this one at least with a bit of momentum behind us and some wind in our sails. After two more wins, this time in two different cup competitions - one in the FA Cup against Woking and one in the pizza/used cars cup against Chelsea Academy - the mood around the fanbase feels very different. And I should note, two more clean sheets in there as well of course.
But, as already touched upon, a lot of us are scarred after our visit up the road last year. That 5-0 defeat was almost definitely the lowest point in Bonner’s tenure, and two games later it told, as he lost his job. That afternoon was likely the one that a lot of people turned on him for good, after a truly unforgivable performance.
You might look at this positively and say what last year means is the bar is pretty low. We play a team who are yet to keep a clean sheet this season, and we have the opportunity to go into it with an underdog mentality that could play in our favour. But one thing we have to continue doing is being resolute defensively, and keep that up for 90 mins, and with the lack of rotation options available to Monk that will be a huge ask. But we live in hope…
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📰 News From The U’s 📰
Lots less news this week, the main one being that Brewboard won’t be our front of shirt sponsor next season, and we’re on the hunt for a new one.
Garry Monk has also been nominated for the October Manager of the Month award.
✍️ At The Match ✍️
Woking 0-1 U’s
This wasn’t a game UTAS had a writer at on-hand to supply us with a report, but from everything we’ve heard, it doesn’t sound like we missed anything at all. A game that was destined to be instantly forgotten by everyone involved will now be remembered fondly solely for the name of the goalscorer who put United into Round 2: James Brophy.
After a few millennia of trying to add to his single United goal tally, he finally managed it with a confident finish into the top corner after a lovely move from United involving Nlundulu, Kaikai and Digby. The biggest success from this game was just making it into the second round and collecting the prize money, hoping that we can overcome Wigan at home again to make it to round three.
🧐 View From The Away End 🧐
Woking FC
From Ben Musgrove
For me, it was a bit of an opportunity lost. I think we dealt with the initial pressure well and grew into the game, but never really had the attacking quality to carve out the chances we needed to get that telling moment. Similar pattern to some of our League games in that we can have possession without hurting the opposition, and then get stung by one silly moment.
The main criticism of the manager, currently, is going forward. We don't manage to fashion chances for our goalscorers with any regularity, don't have a huge amount of quality there when we do, and so can ultimately get stung by a team that managed to find a moment of quality on the ball instead.
When we look at the highlights for this one, we have three 'moments' - and none of them fall to a forward. Dyche (centre half) misses a point blank header, Andrews (central midfielder/auxiliary left back) has a free kick hit the post, and Moss (right back) misses a point blank header while being held. The Cambridge goal, by contrast, is a sequence of technical quality, stretching the defensive line quickly to create central space for a forward - and we never managed to do that all afternoon.
So, not unexpected, but disappointed not to have made more of what felt like a real opportunity within the game itself. If we'd gone to extra time, or even sneaked a winner, I don't think there would be too many U's that felt it was an unfair reflection. But our failings are pretty typical of us!
FANCY BEATING US AT EFL FANTASY? LINK BELOW 👇
🔢 Stats Corner 🔢
The starting shirt numbers of Chelsea Academy’s players on Tuesday night added up to 576. Up to 940 for the whole squad.
🔮 Opposition Preview 🔮
Peterborough (A) - Saturday 9th November
Last 5 (all comps): WWLWL - In their last 6 games, they’ve scored at least 3 goals in 4 of them. They know where the back of the net is.
Last time out: U’s 0-1 P*sh, 24th February 2024 - That lot secured the double against us by beating us in that grim post-Neil Harris week at the Abbey.
Our H2H: P46, W15, L20, D11.
Manager: Darren Ferguson. We know all about him. Sitting in 13th going into this game they’re probably not quite as good as they expect to be, but still with plenty of quality across the pitch and a manager who knows how to bring it out of them.
One to watch: Kwame Poku. Seven goals and four assists in the league so far this season, terrorised us at London Road last season. Not looking forward to seeing him again.
Former U’s players: Not that I can see.
🏟️ Under The Other Stands 🏟️
Off the pitch, the big news in League One is after their cup loss to Salford, Paul Hurst was sacked at Shrewsbury. That’s two of the bottom four currently managerless, and top of the betting market at the moment is Dino Maamria and Gareth Ainsworth.
On the pitch, only a couple of league fixtures to discuss due to all the cup action, but Wycombe smashed Stockport 5-0 away from home on Tuesday night in what was a huge statement that took them top of the league.
Burton and Crawley drew 0-0, probably the perfect result for us. Stevenage getting beaten 4-1 at home (by Bolton, granted) and then needing penalties to beat Guiseley in the cup might indicate they’re the ones that end up getting dragged into the relegation battle later in the season, at least based on the showing we saw at their place the other week. Here’s hoping anyway.
Speaking of the cup, Bristol Rovers also needed extra time to beat Weston-super-Mare, and Northampton lost at home to Nile Ranger’s Kettering, with the ex-Premier League starlet netting the winner in extra time. And always good to see Milton Keynes getting beaten by AFC Wimbledon, especially on their own empty, soulless patch.
💻 On The Web 💻
Great interview with ex-U’s forward Darran Hay, talking about our last win at London Road.
Elite goal from a long throw in the cup, as Tamworth cup hero Tom Tonks (what a name) gives ex-U’s favourite Chris Maxwell a bit of a nightmare moment.
🕺 What’s Spinning? 🕺
Brophy scoring means our record player’s been spinning solely miracle based tunes. ‘You Sexy Thing’ by Hot Chocolate, obviously, but primarily this 70s banger:
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