Colchester United supporter Si Collinson gives his U's views

We start well, conceded a sloppy goal, chase our tails for ten minutes, settle down and then from about 50 minutes onwards we seem to wake up remember we can play football and become a team that should be chasing promotion.

OK, maybe not every game, but for the majority over the last few months that’s how it seems.

Not playing overly badly for this level but getting fundamentals wrong and taking set backs to get us firing on all cylinders to get back on level terms and, in cases like the Tranmere game on Saturday, look like we could well go on to win the game.

What is the reasons for this? Set up? Psychological? There could be any number of reasons, both individually and collectively.

Firstly, I think that currently although the ideas and want for attacking football is there, we do not quite get the starting XI right and it takes the subs to get a hold of games.

Also we start strongly for ten minutes, but that is more about the opposition settling and while weathering the storm, they are working out our style of play then combating it.

This happens, we run out of ideas, keep playing forward and then boom get caught on the break and normally go a goal down.

It was not helped this past weekend by once of the sloppiest goals we have conceded for a long time.

The fact in the stands we were left scratching our heads as to what happened speaks volumes as we are used to seeing us let in crazy ones.

Then there is the pressure on the players that is threefold, firstly we are in danger of relegation so every game is key to win.

Secondly, we have a new manager they are still getting used to and trying to impress.

Finally we are trying a new style that takes some adjustment, coupled with the first two factors does lead to a lot going through the minds, rather than just go out and play.

This all leads to the simple question of what should we do? Personally I think we should start as we mean to go on in that the subs are able to have an impact and dictate a lot more of the attacking play.

So let’s tweak the starting XI to include the likes of Akinde, Sears and Jay.

Of course there are always opinions on who starts or who doesn’t between different fans, but there is no harm in changes, to shake things up and see if that makes a difference.

Then there is the way we attack, it is very full on for the last 30 minutes and this intensity goes up even more in the last ten, why is this? Is it because we are chasing the game?

Because players know the end is in sight so know they only have to last just a little longer or is it that the free for all, gung-ho spirit that comes from, oh well we are losing so what is the worse that can happen? We need to find a way to manage games better.

The top teams who play attacking football do not do it for the full 90, they have blocks of high intensity followed by periods of recharging.

This is something we need to do, this will bring the mad half hour into a structured 90 minutes and really improve our attack-minded football.

Finally manager and players need to be on the same wavelength for this to happen.

A number of times Ben Garner is screaming at the lads to speed up play only for them to slow down it right down especially when playing out from the back when wide players are in space.

Then at other times we rush it, when there is no option available.

I know the above all seems very negative and in part it is, but it is also a set of issues that are changeable and can be improved on.

This season we are cutting it fine, but ultimately I think it will be Rochdale and Hartlepool who drop and all of this needs to be nipped in the bud for next season if we are to have any chance of improvement going forward under Garner.

Enough of the negative and to finish on a positive note, one player who has really captured my attention is Jayden Fevrier.

Each time he has come on he is a positive player, willing to take on his man, tries to make things happen and always have a high intensity work rate.

Although we have used him mainly as a wing-back, I think he is more natural higher up as a winger or in a midfield three where he can use his pace and strengths to trouble opponents, very much like he has in the under-21s.

He's a player I would love to see us use more and one who has a fine future, if he carries on this progression.

Talking of the future, another home game awaits us on Saturday when Newport are in town.

Let's get behind the lads and hope everything comes together for the much-needed three points. Up the U’s.